My name is Jonathan Louis and I am a practicing Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) working in Toronto. I’ve been a nurse for 7 years, working in various settings and areas. My passion has always been in helping others, hence why I chose the healthcare field as a career path. Going to college to become an RPN has allowed me to obtain the foundational skills and attributes that it takes to become a healthcare professional. It has also opened my eyes to the vast amount of opportunities that are in this field whether it be through employment or furthering your education. I’ve loved every bit of this career and my passion has driven me to strive for greater achievements, which is why I chose to utilize OntarioLearn to further my education.

OntarioLearn has been a great platform in allowing me to learn and study at my own pace, while working a full-time and part-time job to make ends meet. The flexibility of the Registered Practical Nursing (RPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Pathway program has given me the chance to begin my journey to become a Registered Nurse (RN). The bridging program has been insightful, informative and learner friendly, especially for someone who has been out of school for over 6 years. I feel supported through OntarioLearn due to our facilitators being only an e-mail away. They’ve been supportive and helpful even though they are not interacting with us on a day to day basis teaching classes. The courses are well-designed and easy to navigate, allowing the students to focus on their learning. Choosing this pathway to further my education and invest in myself has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The opportunities that are on the other side of the finish line are worth all of the hard work we put in as students. Overall, OntarioLearn has given me an opportunity to make my dreams become a reality in an accommodating way by offering an easy to use platform, accessibility and knowledgeable facilitators. 

Jonathan Louis
Nursing Transformation:
RPN to BScN Pathway
Cambrian College

My education was challenged quite a bit during the 2020 pandemic, as I was nearing the end of my high school career and starting my first job in a public library. Switching from in-person to online was a challenge that felt lonely, confusing and overwhelming. However, what started as an isolated experience ultimately prepped me for a world that increasingly blended remote work and virtual education. 

At 18, I didn’t feel ready to move away for post-secondary during such an uncertain time, so I explored other paths. I fell in love with my public library and knew that helping my small corner of the world was something that I wanted to learn more about. That’s when I discovered the Library and Information Technician program at Confederation College, hosted by OntarioLearn. The program allowed me to continue to work while I studied, with access to a wide range of resources and a community of classmates who shared my passion for libraries. 

OntarioLearn helped me acquire the skills and confidence I needed to grow in my career, while making me feel just as connected and engaged in my courses as I would have been in a classroom. 

Evelyn Robinson
Library and Information Technician Diploma
Confederation College

When I look back on the winding, rewarding road of my career, OntarioLearn stands out as one of the constants that helped me grow, pivot, and pursue meaningful work while balancing the demands of a busy life. As a nurse working in both emergency and occupational health settings across Canada, I’ve needed education that could keep pace with my travel-heavy contracts, variable shifts, and personal commitments. OntarioLearn’s clean, intuitive format and truly accessible delivery made continuing my education possible in a way that felt organized and achievable rather than overwhelming.

I completed the Occupational Health Nursing program offered through Durham College in partnership with Mohawk College via OntarioLearn. This program was a cornerstone in shaping my professional path, allowing me to expand into industrial nurse contracts across oil and gas, potash mining, ammonia extraction sites, Pembina gas storage construction, dimensional lumber, pulp and paper, and industrial lodging projects—working seamlessly between emergency and occupational health nursing roles.

Funny enough, I often joke that I’ve taken courses at nearly every college in Ontario! I first attended Loyalist College from 1991 to 1993 and returned in 2016 for short courses, completed my Emergency Nursing certificate at Conestoga College between 2014 and 2018, and found my way to Durham College for the Occupational Health Nursing program. OntarioLearn made the “many colleges” journey smoother, letting me learn consistently on one reliable, accessible platform regardless of which college offered the course.
One of the most fulfilling outcomes of my ongoing learning has been my current journey completing an Executive MBA with a focus on Health and Safety at the University of Fredericton. My capstone project led to national speaking opportunities and research on anti-human trafficking, demonstrating that continued learning isn’t just about career progression—it can be about making meaningful contributions to issues that matter deeply. This work, though on a heavy topic, has been a profound reminder that learning can be a catalyst for real-world change.

OntarioLearn’s flexibility has been key to balancing my work in high-responsibility environments while pursuing personal and professional growth. Whether I was on a night shift in a remote camp or working full days in a fast-paced emergency department, I could log in, see exactly what I needed to do, and complete my coursework without barriers or confusion. That ease of navigation and clarity in course structure made it possible for me to keep learning, even when my schedule was unpredictable.

For me, OntarioLearn has been more than an educational platform; it has been a trusted partner in my lifelong commitment to learning and improving the care I provide. It has allowed me to integrate learning seamlessly into my career, empowering me to pursue opportunities I might never have imagined when I first set foot in a nursing classroom.

If there’s one message I could share with future learners, it’s that the journey of lifelong learning is absolutely worth it—and platforms like OntarioLearn make that journey accessible, clear, and inspiring, no matter where your path may lead.

Laura Jeffries
Occupational Health Nursing Program
Durham College

After recently being downsized after 20 years working in accounting for a local Top 500 firm, I found myself needing to find another new job. This was not easy.  Many questions arose:  Where do I start? How do I put together a resume? What skills does the work force need now (after 20 years, a lot of changes have happened)? What happens if I cannot find a job soon?

I had to take stock on what I knew and then put together some goals and plans.

First, I had to think can I still learn (you know the saying – it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks) or was I too old?

Second, as a Sheridan College alumni (from the last century), I decided to reach out to Sheridan and discuss the upgrading courses available. After discussing with a very good mentor, I decided the best route to take was to upgrade my overall Microsoft skills, hopefully benefitting myself and any new employer.

Next came a whole new set of worries: 

• Sheridan advised that courses are done through what is called ‘OntarioLearn program’.
• So now all new questions: How does this work? Will I need to travel to some other campus to learn? Am I too old to really learn this stuff? How good is this program? Will the pace be too fast for me?  Will it maintain my overall interest in order to continue?

After taking a few days to think this all over, I decided to ‘GO FOR IT’ – after all education is where it’s at.  I reached back to Sheridan and said, ‘What happens next?’ and this is where everything starts to change.

I was connected to the OntarioLearn program and then I started to realize that I had made the right choice.