Interviewer: Rachel Martin
Interviewee: Aiden

Aiden was diagnosed with a brain tumour before the age of two. Over the years, he underwent multiple surgeries, received chemotherapy and faced a number of complications along the way. Aiden recalled, “I had to wear an eye patch for a time as one of the nerves behind my eye was damaged during a surgery. Thankfully, the nerve eventually healed completely.”

Now 17, Aiden has graduated high school and is looking ahead to his next chapter. He is following his passion and will be starting the paramedic program at Northern College in Timmins this September. As Aiden prepares for college, the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant is helping make that next step more affordable. The program supports students entering high-demand healthcare fields in designated regions of Ontario by covering tuition, books and other direct educational expenses.

There are currently three regions of Ontario that offer the Learn and Stay Grant: Northern Ontario, Southwestern Ontario and Eastern Ontario. How it works is that you have to remain working in the region for half of the time that you attended school. For example, for a four-year nursing degree, you would have to stay in the region and work for two additional years. The applications are completed through the OSAP portal. If you fail to meet the grant requirements, the grant money is converted into an OSAP loan that would need to be paid back.

Aiden learned about the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant in high school. Living in Northern Ontario means that he is able to access the grant at his local college and save even more money by living at home during his studies. For Aiden, the grant means spending less time worrying about the cost of textbooks and more time focusing on the program he’s excited to begin. “I’m hoping that this will be an opportunity to get ahead after graduation as I won’t have to spend years paying back student loans.” At a time when post-secondary costs can feel overwhelming, the grant provides a meaningful head start.

Aiden shared that he has wanted to be a first responder for as long as he could remember. “I did a paramedic placement in high school and loved it so much that I put extra hours in. I enjoy the fast pace, the unpredictability and the fact that no two shifts are ever the same.”

As a result of the cancer diagnosis, he spent much of his early childhood in a medical setting, surrounded by medical professionals. Looking back, Aiden believes those early experiences helped shape the career path he has chosen. For Aiden, pursuing a career in healthcare is also a way to give back. “I look forward to caring for people who need support, just as medical professionals once cared for me.”

If you are considering work in the medical field, the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant is a great way to save money on education costs, work an in-demand job and, maybe even, discover a new part of Ontario. To learn more, talk with your POGO School and Work Transitions counsellor or click here.

This article was written as a collaboration between childhood cancer survivor Aiden B.M. and Northern Ontario POGO Counsellor Rachel Martin for the fall 2026 issue of empowerMEnt, the POGO School and Work Transitions Program Newsletter.