Kenjgewin Teg and Cambrian College expand nursing education on Manitoulin Island – June 16

M’CHIGEENG FIRST NATION, ON – Kenjgewin Teg and Cambrian College have signed a partnership agreement to offer Practical Nursing at Kenjgewin Teg, creating new opportunities for learners while helping address the growing demand for healthcare professionals across Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island) and the surrounding region.

The partnership brings together the strengths of both institutions to increase access to nursing education closer to home. Cambrian College will provide faculty and academic oversight for the program, while Kenjgewin Teg will provide classroom and laboratory space at its M’Chigeeng campus, along with student support services and culturally grounded learning opportunities.

The agreement outlines a collaborative approach focused on student success through academic excellence, wraparound supports, mentorship, wellness resources, and Indigenous learning experiences that reflect the values and priorities of the communities served by Kenjgewin Teg.

“Supporting local and immediate needs for more health care professionals is what our partnership will support – and it makes perfect sense that our two Northern Ontario places of learning are working together toward this goal,” said Dr. Beverley Roy, President of Kenjgewin Teg. “To provide the best learning experience for students, Kenjgewin Teg and Cambrian College will be bringing our strengths to this partnership.”

“This partnership represents an important step toward improving access to healthcare education opportunities for Indigenous learners and strengthening the healthcare workforce across Manitoulin Island,” says Kristine Morrissey, President of Cambrian College. “By creating opportunities for students to pursue nursing education within their communities and in culturally supportive learning environments, we are helping build pathways to meaningful careers while addressing the growing demand for healthcare professionals in Northern Ontario.”

Practical Nursing is a four-semester Ontario College Diploma program delivered through a hybrid model that prepares students for rewarding careers as Registered Practical Nurses. Approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario, the program combines classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory learning, and extensive clinical experience to prepare graduates for the realities of modern healthcare practice.

Students will benefit from smaller class sizes, practical training in high-tech nursing labs, and more than 700 hours of clinical experience in a variety of healthcare settings. Students who successfully complete the program will graduate with an Ontario College Diploma from Cambrian College and will be eligible to apply to write the College of Nurses of Ontario registration examination and pursue registration as a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario. Career opportunities for graduates include long-term care facilities, community and home care, acute care hospital settings, medical clinics, and physicians’ offices.

Unique to Kenjgewin Teg, students will also have the opportunity to participate in Anishinaabe-aadiziwin learning. Anishinaabe-aadiziwin is Kenjgewin Teg’s voluntary distinction program designed to foster cultural learning, language revitalization, land-based experiences, and a deeper understanding of Anishinabek history and Anishinaabe ways of living and doing. Students complete a minimum of 24 hours of approved activities, which are tracked electronically through the Anishinaabe-aadiziwin Passport. Learners can participate in opportunities offered through Kenjgewin Teg or pursue activities independently, such as language learning, ceremonies, cultural teachings, and traditional arts and crafts. Students who successfully complete the program graduate with Anishinaabe-aadiziwin Distinction, receiving special recognition at graduation and a certificate acknowledging their commitment to cultural learning alongside their academic studies.

The first cohort of the PN program will start on September 8, 2026, with an application deadline of August 28, 2026.

For more information about the program and how to apply, visit

https://cambriancollege.ca/programs/practical-nursing-ke.