New funding will help former military fast-track through college, university courses

The provincial government announced new funding to help former military fast track through post-secondary courses. Bryan Bicknell with the story.

They stood on guard for Canada, but some in the Canadian Forces are not sure where they stand when their time in the military is over.

“It can be very difficult,” said Andrew Malison, a master sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy and the military connected career consultant at Fanshawe College in London, Ont.

“We are very group-oriented in the military. We have a lot of close friends, a lot of close family. And when you leave that, you leave part of your family behind. So, transitioning out and finding your next journey can be extremely difficult when you’re searching for that next support group,” Malison explained.

Malison was on hand at Fanshawe College Friday as Graham McGregor, Ontario’s minister of citizenship and multiculturalism, along with Nolan Quinn, minister of colleges, universities, research excellence, and security announced $575,000 in funding to recognize skills veterans learn during service as college and university credits.

“This initiative will expedite their studies, ensuring military connected learners can join the workforce faster, supporting a smooth transition to civilian life, and building a strong talent pool for Ontario,” said Quinn.

“We rightly recognize them for their service while they’re in service, but we need to do a better job, all of us, on that, but also on recognizing their service for what they do here in Ontario when they come home,” added McGregor.

With the funding, prior learning and assessment recognition projects have been launched at colleges and universities across Ontario, including: Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Canadore College, Lakehead University, the University of Waterloo and the University of Windsor.

Fanshawe College will create a database of course equivalencies that recognize prior military training.

Fanshawe College became the first military connected college back in 2020. That has resulted in a 92 per cent increase in military connected learners, with more than 400 who now study at Fanshawe.

That’s something that’s near and dear to Fanshawe President Peter Devlin, a former commander of the Canadian Army.

“Fanshawe College is developing a reputation as a college that supports military connected learners. Their families as well. And so, it provides a level of confidence that coming to Fanshawe is a wonderful career opportunity,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Colleges, more than 149,000 Canadian Armed Forces veterans reside in Ontario. Each year, between 8,000 and 9,000 are released from military service.