Owen Sound Campus at Centre of Bruce County's Push to Train More Early Childhood Educators
Bruce County is offering up to 50% tuition support for students in local Early Childhood Education programs at Georgian College in Owen Sound to help address the regional shortage of qualified ECEs.
Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus is at the centre of a regional initiative to train and support future Early Childhood Educators (ECEs), as Bruce County works to address a growing shortage in the child care workforce.
With local diploma programs and financial support now in place, the effort aims to make it easier for students in Bruce County to pursue careers in early learning.
Georgian College offers a full-time, in-person ECE diploma program at its Owen Sound campus. Bruce County is subsidizing a bursary for eligible students from the county, covering up to $2,000 per academic year.
The bursary is renewable for students in good academic standing who continue to demonstrate financial need and maintain a Bruce County home address at the time of selection.
“A child's early experiences lay the foundation for lifelong learning, and the cornerstone of this foundation is their relationship with educators,” said Tina Metcalfe, Director of Human Services at Bruce County. “Through Early Childhood Education programs, students can make a meaningful and lasting impact for children in our community.”
Deb Bumstead, Program Coordinator at Georgian College, added: “Georgian College is proud to offer pathways that help early childhood educators earn the credentials they need to become skilled, knowledgeable and capable professionals. Thanks to our partnership with Bruce County, aspiring early childhood educators in the region have access to meaningful support as they pursue their careers in the early learning sector."
A second training option is available through Fanshawe College’s satellite site in Port Elgin, which delivers its ECE diploma program in a hybrid format. The program allows students to attend classes in person or online during evenings and weekends, making it accessible to those who are working while studying. Students with relevant diplomas or work experience may also qualify for an expedited pathway.
Bruce County subsidizes tuition for eligible students enrolled in the Port Elgin program, covering up to 50% of tuition costs.
“Fanshawe is excited about the opportunities this partnership brings to Bruce County, as part of our commitment to unlocking the potential of our students and the communities we serve,” said Heather MacKenzie-Card, Acting Associate Dean of Fanshawe’s School of Access Studies and Regional Delivery. “We are proud to be contributing to addressing a vital need in the community.”
Metcalfe emphasized that workforce development remains a key priority in the region’s long-term planning: “Working together with community partners to attract students to early childhood education is an integral goal in our child care and early years service system plan. Increasing enrollment in early childhood education programs will help address the local need for qualified early years educators, ultimately benefiting our communities by ensuring access to high-quality childcare.”
Applications for the September 2025 intake are now open at both Georgian and Fanshawe Colleges.
More information on eligibility and financial assistance is available from Georgian College, Fanshawe College, and Bruce County’s Early Years and Child Care Services.