Through a formal Memorandum of Understanding, CNC and Providence Living are working together to deliver CNC’s Practical Nursing Diploma in a way that closely aligns education with real-world employment. The partnership aims to support students financially while integrating hands-on training and return-of-service employment opportunities, ensuring graduates are well prepared to continue their work at Providence.

For industry, partnerships like this offer a direct pipeline to skilled workers trained to meet organizational needs. Providence Living is actively involved in supporting students throughout their education, including providing funding for tuition, supplies, and licensing costs, and offering clinical training opportunities within its care environments. This approach allows students to gain practical, on-site experience while employers benefit from graduates who understand Providence Living’s workplace expectations, culture, and standards of care.

For CNC, collaboration with industry ensures programs remain responsive, relevant, and aligned with workforce demand. Regular partnership meetings support continuous feedback, allowing curriculum delivery and training experiences to evolve alongside industry needs. The result is a program that balances academic excellence with applied learning and employment readiness.

This partnership illustrates the value of industry working alongside post-secondary institutions to co-develop talent. By customizing training, offering on-site learning opportunities, and supporting students through to employment, CNC and Providence Living are strengthening the northern workforce and demonstrating a model that other industries can build upon to meet current and future labour demands.