Avery Cassidy (left) and Katrina Schwab (right) are two of eight students to receive the grants

By Tommy Osborne

CNC Dental Assistants

CNC grants keeping needed dental workers in the north

Jan 13, 2026 | 3:32 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The College of New Caledonia has announced eight students in the Dental Assistant Certificate Program will have their full tuition and supplied covered, thanks to funding through the Community Workforce Response Grant.

“Receiving the grant allowed me an easier way to do all my studies without worrying about the financial burden on top of myself and my parents. It was easier to not have to worry about working, alongside doing my studies. Last year when I was in college, I used to commute every weekend to work back in Quesnel, and then I’d come up every Sunday, so it’s a lot easier now not having to worry about that,” said Avery Cassidy, a student in the program.

“It’s given me a lot of relief, so I’ve been able to focus more fully on my studies, and I gained extra motivation knowing that I have that financial support,” added fellow student Katrina Schwab.

For Cassidy, commuting from Quesnel every week added a lot of stress, especially in the winter with dangerous driving conditions, so having living expenses on top of tuition covered has given her greater opportunities to excel.

Playoff Push

Cougars enter key home stretch with playoff positioning on the line

1h ago

Otway Nordic Ski Club

Tuition waiver for biathletes

3h ago

Drax UK exit sparks B.C. debate over forests, pellets, and jobs

5h ago

“It’s a lot easier to go to bed and know I’m going to be able to make it to class on time the next day and not have to worry about studying late into the night, not worrying about how my classes are going to go,” Cassidy said.

The grants are provided by both the federal and provincial government, which was secured by the BC Dental Association which then selected CNC as a partner organization.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for students just to really focus on their studies, get excellent grades, have a great college experience, and not have to worry about the financial aspect of college throughout the program, and also alleviate the stress of loan repayment when college is done and they can focus on their career,” said the CNC Dental Assistant Certificate Program Coordinator Cyndi Lewis.

The grants are greatly appreciated by the students, as it allows all of them the chance to fully focus on the program without additional financial challenges, but the benefits of these grants go well beyond the individual students themselves, as it helps recruit and retain these future dental workers to stay in Northern B.C., where workers are needed.

“This initiative focuses on supporting vulnerable and underrepresented students, particularly in rural and remote communities to pursue dental education and join a healthcare workforce in critical demand,” said Dr. Jillian Belbin, the BC Dental Association President.

“We service and have students coming from all over the region, including Prince George, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Burns Lake, Dawson Creek, and we do have students who’ve received the grant from all of those areas, so we are really supplying workforce to the whole region,” Lewis said.

It’s proven to work, as both Cassidy and Schwab say they are either planning on working, or already are working, in Northern B.C. communities.

“I do have a job back home at my own dental office in Quesnel, and after that I’m going to work for a couple years, and I want to come back to school at CNC to become a dental hygienist,” Cassidy said.

“I’m definitely going to be moving back to Fort St. John when I’m finished with the program. That’s where all my family and friends are, so I have some jobs that have good potential for me,” Schwab said.

Lewis adds this is the first time CNC has received this grant, and she says she and the College are very proud to have been chosen amid many possible partners, calling it a “feather in the cap” of the College and program.