WELLINGTON, PEI, July 15, 2019 – The PEI French Health Network (PEIFHN) is excited to announce the recipients of its two $1,500 bursaries for 2019: Larissa French and Mia Campbell. The names of the two recipients were randomly drawn as part of the PEIFHN’s annual contest for Prince Edward Island Francophone or Francophile students enrolled in a post-secondary health program.
Larissa French – Entrance scholarship, 2019 health students: A recent graduate of Bluefield High, Larissa will begin the first year of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Prince Edward Island in September. She chose this field of study because she has a passion for biology and chemistry, and wants to help people in her community. Furthermore, she likes the fact that her workdays will often be different from one day to the next. “Careers in healthcare are among the most rewarding careers in the world. I hope to pursue my studies at the master’s level and become a nurse practitioner someday. I think it is important to be able to offer French-language health services to accommodate the different cultures that are present on the Island. Offering French-language health services demonstrates our province’s inclusivity and our country’s bilingualism.”
Mia Campbell – Scholarship for ongoing education, health students: Mia just completed her first year of occupational therapy at Université de Montréal, after having obtained a diploma in health sciences at Université de Moncton. She has always wanted to work in healthcare. Her professional vision is to be able to collaborate with her clients to create a plan to help them overcome their challenges and reach their goals. “I decided to study in French because I believe it is essential to understand and be understood by your healthcare professional. During my university studies, I have learned the extent to which a helping relationship is supported by efficient communication. Without quality communication, we cannot develop a patient’s trust, nor understand his or her goals and concerns. As a bilingual Canadian citizen, I believe it is my responsibility to continue practicing my second language to be able to offer the best possible service in both of our official languages.”
The scholarships were initiated to support the training of professionals who will have a positive influence on the offer of French-language services in Prince Edward Island. Besides the bursaries offered, all applicants are automatically added to the PEIFHN’s health student database. Every year, the Health Network forwards its list of bilingual students to the Department of Health and Wellness’s Recruitment and Retention Secretariat, which also informs students of training and employment opportunities in the province.
“We are happy to be able to support the studies of young professionals who plan to offer French-language health services during their career, said the PEIFHN community co-chair, Claude Blaquière. It is also vital to put incentives in place to encourage students studying off-Island, to make it easier for them to choose to settle on the Island. That is why we are currently trying to enhance our collaboration with the province and in so doing, create new supports for French-speaking health students.”
This year’s applicants who wish to be eligible for the 2020 scholarship for ongoing education must update their information in the online registration system on the PEIFHN’s Web site during the next school year and before the next deadline.
For more information on the bursaries or on the health student database, please contact Karine Gallant by calling 902-854-7444 or by sending an e-mail to info@santeipe.ca.
The PEI French Health Network is a non-profit organization that collaborates with various partners in order to improve access to quality French-language health services and programs for Prince Edward Island’s Acadian and Francophone population. The organization brings together representatives from target community groups, educational facilities, health professionals, health service managers and the provincial government. It is also one of the 16 networks that make up the Société Santé en français and Healthbound 2018–2013: Towards Access. The PEI French Health Network is funded by Health Canada within the framework of the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2018–2023.
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Media contact:
Karine Gallant
Telephone: 902-854-7444
E-mail: karinegallant@gov.pe.ca