The Marion L. Reid grant in action: Investing in PEI’s next generation

When Renee Gardiner graduated from l’Université de Moncton in 2025, she already knew where she wanted to go next. 

Now working as a registered nurse in maternity and pediatrics at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, she’s exactly where she hoped to be: making a difference in her own community.

Her path was shaped in part by the Marion L. Reid grant, which she received during her final semester. The grant now provides students in eligible health care programs across Canada with $3,500 annually for up to four years, in exchange for a two-year return-in-service commitment in PEI.  Receiving this gave Renee more than just financial relief - it gave her peace of mind. 

“It helped me come out of school with no debt and no loans, which was great,” she says. “But knowing for certain that I’d be coming back to PEI felt amazing because it gave me a real sense of direction.”

After gaining seasonal experience at Prince County Hospital as a personal care worker, Renee knew she wanted to return for her preceptorship – a supervised, hands-on training placement for nursing students in a real health care setting. She submitted her placement request early and received confirmation well before her classmates, who were placed at other sites. That on-site familiarity gave her confidence to head into full-time work at PCH after graduation.

Now, she’s part of a close-knit team supporting mothers, newborns, and pediatric patients through major life transitions, with compassionate care.

“I love how much you have an impact on a family during their time in the maternity unit at the hospital,” Renee says. “Their entire lives are changing during this stay and getting to be a part of that is such a rewarding feeling.”

The shift from student-life to full-time nursing was an adjustment, but it has pushed Renee to grow and there’s no doubt that she’s loving it. 

For Renee, working where she grew up offers her a sense of comfort and familiarity, but also purpose. She feels appreciated by her team and proud to care for a community that means so much to her. The maternity unit challenges her in new ways, and it’s sparked a drive to keep learning so she can contribute even more to the health care system on the Island.

Renee’s experience shows how support like the Marion L. Reid grant helps bring eager, skilled professionals to PEI. By easing financial pressure and encouraging return-in-service, there’s now a growing workforce helping to strengthen the health care system, one exceptional graduate at a time. 

Head to Marion L. Reid to find out more about the grant, eligibility, and the full list of supported programs.