Workers add the finishing touches to Holland College’s new student wellness centre.

With a goal of supporting students by reducing potential barriers to education and creating opportunities for success, BMO has made a $50,000 gift to the Holland College Foundation’s Thrive campaign. The campaign is a $2.5 million fundraising effort to establish a centre for student wellness, resilience, and success at Holland College. A slate of entrance awards for students who have diagnosed learning disabilities or mental health issues will also be established as part of the fundraising effort.

The gift from BMO will be designated towards the student financial aid envelope within the campaign.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of students that are arriving on our campuses with learning challenges or mental health issues,” said Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald, Holland College President. “This need will continue to grow due, in part, to the fact that today’s students, from primary to post-secondary, have had their learning impacted and their mental health affected by the pandemic. We are grateful to BMO for their commitment to working with us to remove the barriers that students face in pursuing post-secondary education. BMO’s support will also contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of our communities, as students will build resilience and learn coping skills during their educational journeys that they can carry forward throughout their lives.”

“BMO is proud to support Holland College’s Thrive campaign to help drive progress for student wellness, resilience and success, and to create more opportunities for individuals overcoming diagnosed learning disabilities and mental health issues pursuing post-secondary education,” said Marc Champoux, Regional President, Atlantic, BMO Wealth. “Enabling access to services and programs that remove barriers to inclusion is essential to an inclusive society where everyone can thrive."

A broad, integrated suite of services will be offered through the centre. These include mental health supports, a health clinic, academic support services, and career and academic counselling. Lifelong determinants of health such as sleep, diet, exercise, and social interaction will also be emphasized. Satellite offerings will ensure all students have access to resources, regardless of their location.

To house the centre, the college is renovating and expanding a 4,300 sq.-ft. building, doubling its size. Renovations and construction began in April of 2023, and the centre is scheduled to be operational in September of 2024.

Learn more about the Thrive campaign here.