Education for the greater good: County of Simcoe contributes $500,000 to enhance student learning at Georgian

Nov. 8, 2016

Warden Gerry Marshall and members of Simcoe County Council presented Georgian College with a $500,000 cheque on Tuesday, Nov. 8 to support learning opportunities for students from across the region.

The donation is part of Simcoe County’s annual pledge to improve access to quality postsecondary education. The County has, in particular, supported the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences and the John Di Poce South Georgian Bay Campus in Collingwood.

Improving access to local postsecondary studies is a priority for the County of Simcoe, which is why it continues to invest in Georgian.

“County Council understands the vital role that our region’s postsecondary educational facilities play in the economic growth and social well-being of our communities,” says Warden Gerry Marshall.

“This is a true two-way partnership as 44 per cent of students studying at Georgian College are from Simcoe County and 66 per cent of graduates end up living in our communities. Georgian College is fueling our workforce, helping us attract employment opportunities and providing our residents with access to higher education, training and skill development.”

Georgian College President and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes said the County’s partnership and collaboration have helped the college continue to be a trailblazer in postsecondary education.

“Georgian is grateful for the County’s contributions to Georgian and our students,” says West-Moynes. “We particularly appreciate the County’s support and financial investment in the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences and the John Di Poce South Georgian Bay Campus, which are key contributors to the social and economic fabric of the communities they serve.”

More than 3,000 students study in the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences annually, and over 8,000 clients receive care at one of six community health clinics. The clinics, which are open to the public, offer services in such areas as optical, speech and hearing, oral health, esthetics and massage therapy, acupuncture and in a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Recent Practical Nursing graduate Dickon Worsley chose to study at Georgian because of its high graduate employment rate and the opportunity to experience hands-on learning.

“Thanks to the support of donors such as the County of Simcoe, I was able to study in a state-of-the-art facility and in a program that offers real-world learning through labs and field experience,” says Worsley. “Not only did I have the chance to hone my skills in practical labs, I was also able to build on my competencies and confidence. I know I am job-ready because I had access to the best educational experience possible.”

The John Di Poce South Georgian Bay Campus has experienced substantial growth since opening in 2011, allowing for increased program diversity. Thanks to its modern videoconferencing facilities, the campus provides local students with the opportunity to study in Collingwood together with classmates at the Barrie and Muskoka campuses.