John Abbott Teacher Awarded PIM Grant for Groundbreaking Youth-in-Care Education Initiative

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (Québec) May 12, 2025 – John Abbott College is proud to announce that Stephanie Myers, teacher and Pathways coordinator, has been awarded a substantial grant from the Pôle interordres de Montréal (PIM) program for her innovative project aimed at improving access to higher education for youth-in-care across Quebec.

Her two-year initiative, titled “Enabling Access to Higher Education for Quebec’s Youth in Care through Targeted Transition Initiatives,” is being conducted in partnership with McGill University’s Branches Community Outreach Program and will directly support vulnerable youth as they navigate pathways to post-secondary education.

The project will deliver targeted outreach to two key groups:

• Youth who have aged out of the care system (18+) and have not yet pursued post-secondary education
• Youth currently in care enrolled in grades 9 through 11

Through high-quality guidance, personalized mentorship, and access to essential information, the initiative aims to build confidence and empower participants with the tools to make informed decisions about their educational futures.

In its second phase, the project will also extend support to youth in care currently enrolled in CEGEP by offering personalized tutoring and mentorship through McGill’s Branches mentorship network. Importantly, the outcomes and resources developed through the project will be shared with other post-secondary institutions across Quebec to broaden its impact and ensure systemic support for this underserved population.

Congratulations to Stephanie Myers on the successful launch of this important and much-needed initiative.

NOTE: Should any current or former John Abbott students, faculty or support staff be interested in joining the newly struck Youth in Care Advisory Group please reach out to Stephanie directly at stephanie.myers@johnabbott.qc.ca