Image from the County of Lennox and Addington - Facebook
A new hands-on learning program at the John M. Parrott Centre (JMPC) in Napanee is giving students real experience as they train to become Personal Support Workers (PSWs). Called the “Living Classroom,” this partnership between JMPC and the Limestone District School Board combines classroom lessons with practical, on-site training.
From their first day, students learn PSW theory and then apply it immediately while working with JMPC staff and residents. The program builds strong relationships and helps students decide early if this career is right for them.
Funded by the Ministry of Education, the classroom was created in a former storage room inside the long-term care home. With two cohorts already completed, more than 25 students have been hired as PSWs at JMPC.
As Ontario faces a PSW shortage, this program is helping fill local gaps while giving students real-world experience and smoother transitions into the workforce.
