WELLINGTON, PEI, July 28, 2020 – The PEI French Health Network (PEIFHN) is pleased to announce the recipients of three scholarships for 2020: Caroline MacDonald, entrance scholarship; Emma Sweeney, scholarship for ongoing education; and Mohsin Khayrattee, scholarship for migrant or international students.

The names of the three recipients were randomly drawn as part of the PEIFHN’s annual contest for Prince Edward Island French-speaking students enrolled in a post-secondary health program. A third category was added this year to offer a scholarship to a French-speaking student from outside the province who is enrolled in a post-secondary health program on the Island. The scholarship initiative helps ensure these future young professionals are included in the PEIFHN’s recruitment efforts and encourages them to stay in the province after completing their program. 

Caroline MacDonald – Entrance scholarship, health students 2020: Caroline recently graduated from Colonel Gray High School and will begin the undergraduate Kinesiology program at the University of Moncton in September. She chose this field of study because it combines her two passions: biology and the human body. She appreciates the opportunity to become a physical activity specialist who uses movement for prevention and treatment of the human body. After graduating from her bachelor program, Caroline would like to complete training in athletic therapy, then resettle in Prince Edward Island. The student is committed to maintaining her first language. “I enjoy seeing my optometrist because she speaks French, which really simplifies things for me. I think that in any given emergency, it’s easier for the brain to use the mother tongue to explain pain.”

Emma Sweeney – Scholarship for ongoing education, health students: Emma completed a year in Health Science, and is now enrolled in the Multidisciplinary program at the University of Moncton. She will attend prerequisite courses for the nursing program. After completing her high school curriculum in French, the student thinks that preserving her language is essential. She maintains that patients should always have the option to receive services in the language of their choice – not only in Prince Edward Island, but across Canada. The young woman loves helping those around her and believes that being bilingual will create different opportunities for her. “I don’t know exactly which specialities I would like to pursue yet – but one thing I do know for sure is that in the long term, I want to be helping people.”

Mohsin Khayrattee – Scholarship for migrant or international students: Mohsin Khayratee is a migrant student from the island of Mauritius. After spending 10 years in the health sector, he moved to Prince Edward Island to start a new adventure and continue his career. He is currently enrolled in the RN Bridging Program, which will give him the proper licence to work in the Island’s facilities. “The path of an immigrant can be a battlefield – there are a lot of obstacles,” explained Mohsin. “I was lucky to be accepted into my program in Prince Edward Island. People here are very friendly.”The versatile student speaks four languages. He hopes to land a bilingual position that will allow him to communicate more easily with patients. The caregiver role is a source of satisfaction for Mohsin. He considers nursing to be a noble pursuit and finds it very rewarding on a personal level. 

The scholarships were initiated to support and promote the training of professionals who can have a positive influence on the offer of French-language services in Prince Edward Island. On top of having the chance to secure a scholarship, 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 in turn informs students of training and employment opportunities in the province. 

“It is a real pleasure to support our young adults in their studies,” said director of the PEIFHN, Elise Arsenault. “Encouraging Islanders to pursue their studies in French and maintaining a direct connection with the students in our community is essential for our organization.”

This year’s applicants who wish to be eligible for the 2021 scholarships must update their information in the online registration system on the PEIFHN’s Web site during the following school year, before the next deadline. 

For more information on the scholarships or on the health student database, please contact Karine Gallant by calling 902-854-7444 or by sending an email 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 2018-2023: 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.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Cloé Hudon, Communications Manager (student employment)

Email: cloehudon@gov.pe.ca

Karine Gallant

Telephone: 902-854-7444

Email: karinegallant@gov.pe.ca