Plans are underway for Belleville's Loyalist College to open a new campus in Port Hope next year.

A special ceremony was held in Port Hope on Tuesday for the announcement.

The College will welcome 120 students at the Port Hope Campus in 2023, increasing to over 400 by 2026.

The additional information is included in a release issued on Tuesday. It is included below.

RELEASE - Today, Loyalist College announced its plans to welcome students to a new campus in the Municipality of Port Hope, opening its doors in Fall 2023. As part of the College’s commitment to expanding access to education, Loyalist’s new campus in Northumberland County is an essential pathway for learners of all ages to pursue life-changing educational opportunities within their community. Loyalist College Port Hope is now accepting international applications in Business, Computer Systems Technician and Global Project Management programs, and will begin accepting domestic applications in early October.  

Programming at the new campus was selected with the aim of building on, and expanding, regional strengths in Northumberland County. Loyalist’s investment in the latest learning technology, cutting-edge facilities and development of industry-aligned curriculum will ensure its graduates are career-ready. The College’s additional new location will connect local companies related to precision agriculture and supply chain management with a new source of talent and support regional economic development. 

At the announcement, Loyalist College Acting President Mark Kirkpatrick was joined by Mayor of Port Hope, Bob Sanderson, former Loyalist College President, Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, and Hon. David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservations and Parks and the MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South as well as Loyalist faculty and staff.  

 “Our small, innovative team at Loyalist College is known for developing responsive programming that benefits students as well as our local industry and community partners in the Bay of Quinte,” said Mark Kirkpatrick, Loyalist College Acting President. “We’re excited to share this vision and expertise with our neighbouring community of Port Hope – a region also experiencing rapid growth with a shared commitment to giving back to its community. I’d like to personally thank both Mayor Sanderson and Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan for recognizing the importance of removing barriers to education in this region and championing this project.”   

The new campus will offer Loyalist’s signature caring, inclusive learning and working environment, hands-on training and industry connections on the site of the former St. Mary’s Elementary School in downtown Port Hope. The College will welcome 120 students at the Port Hope Campus in 2023, increasing to over 400 by 2026.   

“A new Loyalist College campus signals that Port Hope is a place for opportunity and growth,” noted Bob Sanderson, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope. “We are thrilled that Loyalist College is building on the successes they have established since first offering programming in Port Hope in 2017. Their presence in the Municipality brings scores of benefits to the downtown and our whole community and we commend Loyalist College for their forward-thinking approach to delivering post-secondary education to Port Hope and Northumberland County.”     

About Loyalist College   

Loyalist College is located on the territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, and the Haudenosaunee people. We acknowledge our shared obligation to respect, honour, and sustain these lands and the natural resources contained within. Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $396.3 million annually to the regional economy – based on an October 2021 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit loyalistcollege.com.