Two people in a healthcare setting with the words "The Living Classroom"

GUELPH, Ontario – On November 21, 2024, the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) and St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph (SJHCG) will host an event to celebrate the first cohort of learners enrolled in the The Living Classroom program at SJHGC.

This unique initiative provides learners with the opportunity to earn their Personal Support Worker (PSW) certification in a fully immersive healthcare environment. Students actively engage with healthcare clients, staff, and families throughout their certification journey at St. Joseph’s. This partnership is designed to foster a compassionate community of PSWs, equipping them to enter the workforce with confidence upon graduation.

Beginning in September, 20 learners and their instructor began their program at SJHCG in a space equipped for healthcare training. Paired alongside their classroom learning, the PSW learners are practicing their new skills in “real time” in client care areas. Getting to know SJHCG staff, clients and families is an important part of their learning. The learners will have two practical placements at SJHCG along with a third placement either at SJHCG or another care provider in our community. Our first cohort will graduate from the program in June 2025.

Media are invited to an event this November to tour the learning spaces at SJHCG and learn more about The Living Classroom.

EVENT DETAILS:

  • DATE: November 21, 2024

  • TIME: 4-5pm

  • LOCATION: St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph. Bob Ireland Family Auditorium – 1st Floor, 100 Westmount Road, Guelph ON

Media are asked to RSVP to heather.loney@ugdsb.on.ca.

The Living Classroom program is funded by the Government of Ontario and led by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) through the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI), in partnership with the Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA).