Grant Funds Nursing, Paramedic, Lab Technology Students Who Stay Local
Upfront tuition, book, education costs available
Blanche River Health applauds recent news of the expanded Learn and Stay grant, a program funded by the Ontario government that connects underserviced communities with more nurses, paramedics and laboratory technologists.
“Cost can be a huge barrier to pursuing post-secondary studies, and I encourage locals to look into The Learn and Stay grant because it provides upfront funds to cover tuition, books and other educational costs,” said Joan Brazeau, Interim President and CEO, Blanche River Health. “In exchange, graduates will work and provide care for patients in the areas in which they studied for a term of service after they graduate.”
The Learn and Stay grant is available to those who enrol in nursing, paramedic and medical laboratory technology programs in priority communities.
“Expanding Ontario’s Learn and Stay grant to include nurses, paramedics and med-techs in more underserved and growing communities is another innovative solution that’s connecting people to care, closer to home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “It’s also one more way we’re making sure that all Ontarians in every corner of the province, no matter where they live, have more convenient access to the care and support they need.”
Grant applications for the 2023-24 academic year open this spring, targeting 2,500 postsecondary students who in enrol in the following programs and regions:
- Nursing programs in northern, eastern and southwestern Ontario
- Medical laboratory technologist/medical laboratory sciences programs in northern and southwestern Ontario
- Paramedic programs in northern Ontario
“This is a historic investment in our students and in the future of our health care workforce in Ontario,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “By providing targeted financial incentives to encourage students to learn and work in priority communities, the expanded Learn and Stay grant will ensure that our health care professionals get the training they need to make immediate impacts in local hospitals, long-term care homes and other health care facilities after they graduate.”
Blanche River Health is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas.