ALGONQUIN COLLEGE
Algonquin College marks 50 years of nursing education with professional panel

Algonquin College marked a major milestone, celebrating 50 years of nursing education with a high-profile regional nursing panel event that brought together alumni, faculty, students, and health-care partners to honour the program's legacy and explore the future of the profession.

Since 1975, nearly 16,000 Algonquin College nursing graduates have gone on to strengthen health care across the National Capital Region, the Ottawa Valley, Eastern Ontario, and beyond. For five decades, the College has been a training ground for skilled, compassionate nurses who make a meaningful difference in hospitals, long-term care homes, community clinics, and public health settings.

"This anniversary is a powerful reminder of the impact our graduates have had on communities for half a century," said Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and CEO. "As we celebrate 50 years of nursing education, we are also looking ahead with excitement and purpose through the launch of our standalone Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Algonquin College will continue to prepare nurses who lead with competence, compassion, and professionalism. We are also pleased to share that we have raised over $50,000 to support nursing initiatives thanks to generous donors, with additional gifts still in progress.

To commemorate this legacy, Algonquin College marked 50 years of nursing education on Jan. 29 with Honouring 50 Years of Nursing at the Ottawa and Pembroke campuses. The event brought together healthcare leaders and students to reflect on the evolution of nursing, current challenges, and innovations shaping the future of care, reinforcing the College's leadership in nursing education.

The celebration also served as a launch point for the College's next chapter in nursing education: the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) degree program, beginning September 2026 at both the Ottawa and Pembroke campuses. Building on Algonquin's reputation for hands-on, high-quality training, the program expands access to degree level education close to home. Graduates will be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurses (NCLEX) and CNO's Jurisprudence exam to become a Registered Nurse in Canada.

Algonquin College's nursing programs remain deeply connected to real world experience. Between September 2024 and September 2025, more than 2,500 learners in Practical Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs completed clinical placements with healthcare partners across the region, contributing more than 1,500 hours of patient care in a single fall semester.

As the demand for nurses continues to grow, Algonquin College remains committed to preparing adaptable, practice-ready graduates who will lead with heart for the next 50 years and beyond.

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) program.