Loyalist College partners with Prince Edward County to launch new transit options for students in health care programs

Belleville, ON, Oct. 2, 2024 – Students in health care programs at Loyalist College now have improved access to experiential learning opportunities in Prince Edward County, thanks to a new shuttle service launched in partnership with Prince Edward County municipal services. Developed as part of the HealthPULSE (Partners United in Local Solutions for Everyone) initiative, the shuttle addresses one of the major barriers to hands-on health care training across the region: transportation.

HealthPULSE is a collaborative network composed of leaders from Loyalist College, Quinte Health, the City of Belleville, the City of Quinte West, Hastings County and Prince Edward County, established to help advance innovative solutions to local health care challenges.

Operating four days a week, a shuttle operated by Quinte Transit connects Loyalist students from programs such as the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Social Service Worker, and Massage Therapy to health care facilities across Prince Edward County. Key partners include organizations such as Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital and the H.J. McFarland Memorial Home, supporting hands-on learning experiences directly embedded in critical community services.

President and CEO of Loyalist College Mark Kirkpatrick highlights the shuttle’s role in supporting the student experience. “Our students often juggle academic, personal and professional responsibilities,” he observes. “This shuttle service reduces one of the hurdles in their training, making it easier for them to access real-world learning environments and connect with the communities they will serve as members of the health care workforce.”

With strengthened ties between the college and Prince Edward County, students can build relationships with local health care providers, increasing the likelihood that they will continue working in the area after graduation, helping to address ongoing staffing shortages, and contributing to the long-term well-being of the community.

“We are pleased to be a supporting partner in providing this shuttle service as a component to the HealthPULSE initiative, ensuring students have a safe and reliable method of transportation to local health care facilities to receive hands-on training,” says Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson. “This is a great opportunity for the students in health care programs to work alongside health care professionals and local organizations, engage with residents and to gain experience in the workplace.”

“The HealthPULSE shuttle is a great example of how our innovative partnership can solve some of the most challenging issues our region faces,” adds Quinte Health President and CEO Stacey Daub. “Finding a creative solution that gets health care students to service organizations across our communities is a ‘win-win’ – getting students the much-needed placement they need and supporting our region to grow our next generation of health care workers.”

About Loyalist College

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

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Contact: 
Hannah Brown          
Director of Marketing and Communications
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com