In this picture: (l-r) Kent Scales, Chair of the Holland College Foundation Board of Directors; Holland College President Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald; Hon. Jenn Redmond, Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population; and Chrystil Baytos, Holland College Student Union Board of Directors.

Holland College and the Holland College Foundation celebrated the launch of Thrive, a campaign to support the establishment of a visible and accessible centre for student wellness, resilience, and success today. An approximately $5.9 million renovation and expansion is being made to a property located at 275 Kent Street in at the Prince of Wales Campus, for which the Province of Prince Edward Island has committed matching funds and operational support. $2.5 million is being raised by the Holland College Foundation through the Thrive Campaign. Thanks to the generous support of the donor community, the campaign has already raised more than $2.1 million.

“The needs of our students are growing and changing, which has challenged us and presented us with an opportunity to innovate and shift the way we deliver supports,” said Holland College President Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald. “Establishing this centre will allow us to integrate and enhance existing and new supports that will be more effective in helping our students build resilience and coping skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.”

A broad, integrated suite of services will be offered through the centre, including mental health literacy and support, a health clinic with access to primary health care and healthy living resources, academic support services, and career and academic counselling. Through technology and satellite offerings, all students across the province will have access to all resources, regardless of the campus they are attending.

“It’s an exciting time at Holland College, and it’s inspiring to see so many members of our community share our vision and pledge their support to this project,” said Kent Scales, Chair of the Holland College Foundation Board of Directors. “Personally, I feel it demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of the impact the centre will have, not just on our students themselves, but on our community as a whole.”

To house the centre, the college will revitalize an existing 4,300 sq.-ft. building and double it in size. Construction began in April 2023, and the centre is scheduled to be operational for students in September 2024.

“Partnering with Holland College to offer support services to students during their post-secondary studies will help to ensure we build strong and resilient students which will enter the workforce with the tools and resources to jumpstart their chosen career path,” said Hon. Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island.  “The student wellness centre will provide a new entry point for accessing quality and timely services such as primary care, mental health, academic and career supports that will complement existing services in the province.”

In addition to the construction of the centre itself, a slate of entrance awards will be established for students who are entering college with diagnosed learning disabilities or mental health issues.

To learn more about the Thrive campaign and how you can contribute, visit this page.