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Pioneering Practical Nursing in the Living Classroom
Insights from Algonquin and Fleming Colleges Following the transformative impact of the Living Classroom’s PSW programs, the Ministry of Long-Term Care agreed to fund an expansion into Practical Nursing (PN) education. Two Living Classroom (LC) education partners were early adopters, launching pilot cohorts that adapted the LC framework for PN students. Algonquin College, with its…
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Experiencing Three Vibrant Partnerships in Action
In late March, Katrina Street, Instructional Designer, Patty Attwell, Communications Manager, along with a videographer and a photographer, visited three Living Classroom (LC) sites. The goal was to interview staff, students, and residents for an upcoming Onboarding Training Resource being developed for new partners. The visits enabled the partners behind these varied LCs to share…
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From Classroom to Career: How Upper Grand District School Board, St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph and Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home Built a Workforce Through Belonging
Following the successful opening of the Living Classroom at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph in 2024, the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) expanded its innovative Living Classroom model for Personal Support Worker (PSW) training to a second site at Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home in Fergus in September 2025. More than just a training…
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Case Study: H.J. McFarland and Loyalist College – A Progressive Collaborative Partnership Cultivates Dynamic Learning
In a progressive collaborative partnership, H.J. McFarland Memorial Home and Loyalist College have cultivated a dynamic learning environment at their recently launched Living Classroom (LC). This innovative model is redefining how future Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are trained, seamlessly blending academic instruction with invaluable hands-on experience directly within a long-term care (LTC) setting. An integrated…
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Case Study: Prescott and Russell Residence and École des adultes le Carrefour: An immersive approach to training Francophone PSW
In September 2023, the Prescott and Russell Residence, a long-term care home in Hawkesbury, Ontario, established its new PSW Living Classroom in partnership with the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO)’s École des adultes le Carrefour. The program was launched after CEPEO submitted a project proposal to the Prescott and Russell Residence…
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The Living Classroom and the Wisdom of Indigenous Ways of Knowing
As we observe Indigenous History Month, we honor the rich heritage, profound wisdom, and enduring resilience of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. This month offers a vital opportunity to reflect on how we can better integrate Indigenous knowledge and practices into all facets of our society, particularly in areas as crucial as healthcare education. We are…
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Students learn practical skills by taking turns as the patient John M. Parrott Centre’s “Living Classroom” is changing how future PSWs train
88.7 myFM News – May 2025: A new hands-on learning program at the John M. Parrott Centre (JMPC) in Napanee is giving students real experience as they train to become Personal Support Workers (PSWs). Called the “Living Classroom,” this partnership between JMPC and the Limestone District School Board combines classroom lessons with practical, on-site training.…
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From CTV News Youtube Channel Students gain skills through hands-on learning with “A Living Classroom” approach
CTVnews.ca – YouTube, May 2025: The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has partnered with the County of Simcoe, and Trillium Manor long-term care home in Orillia, to support the unique Living Classroom approach to learning for Personal Support Worker (PSW) students. Watch the PSW students in action and hear what some of the partners…
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Zoe LeBlanc, 20, a personal support worker student through the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board's new Living Classroom, is seen with Trillium Manor resident Lynn Arsenault in Orillia. Gisele Winton Sarvis/OrilliaMatters Living Classroom provides a “gateway” into healthcare careers
BarrieToday.com – May 2025: A new partnership between the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) and the County of Simcoe is offering students a unique hands-on learning experience. Called a “Living Classroom,” the partnership offers local personal support worker (PSW) students a chance to gain both practical skills and theoretical knowledge directly within a long-term…
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Tristh Baird, Director of Wellness at the Village at University Gates Trish’s journey began in the Living Classroom, where learning met real-life experience
SchlegelVillages.com, April 2025: Trish Baird began her journey with Schlegel Villages in the Living Classroom at the Village of Riverside Glen, where she thrived with the hands-on experience. Before even graduating from nursing school, she was offered a casual position in long-term care and later a RAI backup position at Riverside Glen. The Living Classroom,…