Each and every year, Quinte News will look back at the year that was and 2025 is no different.
Our first reflection involves Loyalist College.
To say it was a stressful year for our community college would be the understatement of the century.
Not only did it have to deal with a strike by support staff, a massive reduction of international students, program cuts and layoffs, they released details that over the next two years they would be dealing with a $24-million deficit.
The school required a provincial government loan as well.
Kirkpatrick says the reduction in staff was gut-wrenching.
“I’ve said since I’ve worked here that the most amazing people are the people at this institution. They’ve done nothing wrong. They’re great people, they did nothing that puts them through this. Whether it’s the people we’ve had to say goodbye to or the people that have had to continue to work here. I have nothing but respect, gratitude to all of them.”
His full interview on the changes to the school are below.
Moving forward the school will run with about 85-per cen domestic students and enrollment of between 2,300 and 2,500
Meantime, new programs were launched by the school.
The new programs are said to be part of the college’s broader strategy to ensure its long-term sustainability while supporting workforce development and meeting community need.
Mental Health and Addictions Worker, Addictions and Mental Health, Community Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician Program, Acupuncture Program, and Renewable Energy Systems.
They expanded local access to skilled trades training with the launch of two new apprenticeship programs called Electrician – Construction and Maintenance and Industrial Electrician.
The college also congratulated 10 skilled trades students as recipients of 2025 Schulich Builders Scholarships. The scholarship provides financial support for tuition, tools and living expenses as students complete their education and pursue their careers.
Loyalist also received a grant of $480,000 to launch the Rural Learning Initiative, a pilot program that looks to remove transportation and cost barriers for up to 365 students completing field placements, clinical practicums and other work-integrated learning (WIL) activities.
