Issue link: http://georgiancollege.uberflip.com/i/1503118
20 GEORGIANVIEW SPRING 2023 STORIES OF IMPACT Grey County Budgeting for the future of nursing Our government leaders are meant to inspire the community and advocate on behalf of the greatest good for the constituents they serve. Recognizing the critical shortage of nurses impacting the local health-care system in the wake of COVID-19, Grey County boldly stepped forward in October 2021 to announce $1 million in support of capital renovations at the Owen Sound Campus. As part of the ongoing health-care initiatives reserve fund, this contribution to the Frontline Support campaign is a commitment to help curb the impact of the current health-care crisis through a properly equipped and furnished nursing degree program. It was also a pledge to provide opportunities for promising local students to complete their training and start their careers close to home in Grey County, something not possible under the previous model. "Very often, the urban hospitals that provided placement opportunities for students in the final part of their programs were able to hire them upon graduating," said Grey County Chief Administrative Officer Kim Wingrove. "This put rural communities like Grey County at a real disadvantage when competing for badly needed new registered nurses." Impact To achieve the success we have thus far for our Frontline Support campaign, Georgian has relied on the visionary generosity of donors, partners and volunteers. Collectively, the community support received to date has allowed Georgian to create a world-class program unlike anything seen before in the community, and also demonstrate that we are all in this together. We cannot slow down now − it is time to do even more. And we are ready. Here are a few stories of impact. | Members of Grey County Council tour the Nursing and wellness wing while it's under construction (April 2022). | Georgian opens the ultra-modern Nursing and wellness wing at the Owen Sound Campus on Sept. 22, 2022. | Georgian opened ultra-modern Nursing and wellness wing at the Owen Sound Campus Sept. 22, 2022.