NEWS January 22, 2010

Ontario is ensuring that Kingston area youth and Aboriginal students at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College have the support services they need to succeed in postsecondary education.

The McGuinty government has created a bursary program to help Aboriginal students with financial need attend college, university or Aboriginal postsecondary institutions. The government is also investing in a range of Aboriginal student support services at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College and at postsecondary institutions across the province.

The local college and university are also providing Kingston youth with a range of innovative supports to encourage them to pursue postsecondary education or training, and to support first generation students’ success.

QUOTES

By helping Aboriginal and First Generation students get the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, we can help them reach their full potential and we can build the highly skilled workforce we need to make our province more competitive and build prosperity for all Ontarians.”

– John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Minister of Research and Innovation.

“Kingston’s economic success is dependent on our ability to mine the gifts and talents of our youth. This investment will help young people in Ontario get the skills and training they need to prepare for the high-skill jobs of the future,” said John Gerretsen, MPP, Kingston and The Islands.

"We are pleased to receive this funding as it allows us to provide greater access and support to our aboriginal and first generation students. This investment will enhance program and services designed to assist students in achieving educational and career goals through St. Lawrence College," said Chris Whitaker, President and CEO, St. Lawrence College.

“This funding will help enhance the programs, supports and services Queen’s offers to aboriginal students. We want to maximize our students’ opportunities to pursue their goals and strengthen the aboriginal community on campus, in Kingston and beyond,” said Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University.

QUICK FACTS

§ The government is investing $723,000 and $380,000 to support Aboriginal learners at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College, respectively.

§ St. Lawrence College will also receive $133,000 while Queen’s University will receive $342,000 in funding to attract and support first generation students in 2009-10.

§ The McGuinty government is investing a total of $26.4 million in Aboriginal postsecondary education in 2009-10 and has invested more than $32 million to support first generation students since 2007.

LEARN MORE

Explore what you can do after high school.

Find out more about Ontario’s colleges and universities.

For further information

Please Contact:

Office of John Gerretsen, MPP

613-547-2385