Student nurses receive cheques

Premier Paul Okalik and Ed Picco, the minister of health and social services, has handed out bursary cheques ranging from $500 to $2,500 to students at Nunavut Arctic College’s health career access and nursing programs.

Those receiving bursaries last week included:

* Health Career Access: Mishael Gordon, Taina Kubluitok, Gloria Mimialik, Jessinta Niakrok and Ragee Tasiutaq.
* Nursing, first year: Micah Arreak, Eva Eeseemailee, Charlotte Osler, Linda Porter, Mona Ulayuruluk and Charlotte Zawadski.
* Nursing, second year: Pallulaaq Ford, Sarah Kilpatrick, Theresa Koonoo, Rebecca Lonsdale, Andrea Mclarty, Michelle Modesto and Susie Pearce.
* Nursing, third year: Sipporah Peterloosie.
* Nursing, fourth year: Lily Amagoalik and Asenath Idlout.

Despite his department’s deficit, Picco said the future of Nunavut’s nursing program, which costs about $1 million a year, has never been in doubt.

“I’m glad that we’re adding to the deficit,” joked Okalik. “But we don’t mind. It’s an investment. I wished I could have had this support when I was in school. I just paid off my student loan last week.”