How tuition support is boosting PEI’s health workforce

For Noah Costello and Holly Savoie, choosing a career in health care wasn’t just about finding a job, it was about finding a deeper purpose.

Thanks to the Licensed Practical Nursing and Paramedic Support Program, both Noah and Holly were able to pursue their purpose without the financial burden of tuition. 

Launched in 2023, the program covers full tuition costs for eligible students in Holland College’s LPN and Paramedicine programs. In return, graduates commit to working in PEI’s health system for at least two years, helping to strengthen and sustain the province’s health workforce with additional dedicated professionals.

Noah, now one of the Island’s paramedics, first studied history at UPEI before realizing it wasn’t the right fit. After joining his local fire department and responding to medical calls, he discovered a passion for paramedicine. 

“I was going to go back to school either way,” he says, “but learning about the tuition support here on PEI changed everything.” 

He’s now working full-time in Charlottetown and preparing to return to Holland College to become an Advanced Care Paramedic. 

“Every day is different. One day I’m helping someone experiencing cardiac arrest, the next I’m bringing someone to the cath lab. That variety is what makes this work so meaningful.”

Holly, a newly graduated Licensed Practical Nurse, spent seven years as a Resident Care Worker before deciding to deepen her role in patient care. With help from SkillsPEI and her case manager at Career Development Services, she upgraded her education and enrolled in the LPN program. 

“It was hard, especially as a single mom, but so worth it,” she says. 

The tuition subsidy allowed her to focus on school while continuing to care for her family, which might not have been possible otherwise. 

“Being able to pursue this career without the weight of tuition made all the difference.”

Holly now works full-time at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she’s part of a collaborative care team.

 “We’re always learning from each other,” Holly says. “That’s what makes nursing so rewarding.”

The Licensed Practical Nursing and Paramedic Support Program is one of several provincial government initiatives helping Islanders build meaningful careers in health care.