Nursing students from rural communities on the North Island will have more opportunities to pursue their career paths closer to home thanks to new funding.
The B.C. Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills is providing a one-time grant of more than $451,000 to add eight seats at the Mix̱alakwila campus in Port Hardy.
North Island College president and CEO Lisa Domae said the expansion follows calls from communities for more local training that leads directly to in-demand careers.
“By making choices to grow our nursing program, we’re supporting students and helping address critical workforce needs in rural health care.”
The new funding allows the college to expand the program to 32 seats, with eight seats each in Campbell River, the Comox Valley, Port Alberni and now Port Hardy.
Students will begin the program in fall 2027 and graduate in spring 2029.
Port Hardy Mayor Patt Corbett-Labatt said the expansion is welcome news for North Island communities.
“I’m truly happy to see the program being offered locally because we know that when people train at home, they stay at home and that makes a real difference for the future of health care in the North Island.”
The college said the expansion will help address staffing needs at hospitals in Port Hardy and Port McNeill, as well as the Cormorant Island Health Centre.
The grant was announced at the college’s board of governors meeting April 16 in Port Hardy.
At the same meeting, the board approved a $65.7-million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year and said it is positioning the college to balance its budget in 2027-28.
