Calgary (National Times): Right now, in Canada, students interested in becoming optometrists have limited options. There are only two optometry schools in the country, at the University of Waterloo and the Université de Montréal, and the programs are in high demand. Many prospective students leave the country to study, and often do not return to Canada to practice.
Seeing this gap, Alberta’s government has signed a letter of commitment with Mount Royal University to support them in working with the University of Waterloo to explore the potential of offering optometry training in Alberta.
“This is a great opportunity for Alberta. Mount Royal University has a strong reputation for providing high-quality health-related education, and we’re confident this partnership will help strengthen Alberta’s ability to train the health professionals we need to support the province’s growing population,” said Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education.
“We are committed to improving Albertans’ access to the health services they need. By offering optometry training in Alberta, we can expand educational opportunities for students and encourage them to build their careers here,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventive Health Services.
As part of this initiative, the province will provide Mount Royal University with a $300,000 grant over two years to support a feasibility study. This study will explore program delivery, potential curriculum, a financial model for the program, and regulatory requirements. The Alberta College of Optometrists and the Alberta Association of Optometrists have also expressed interest in the partnership and will be included in the study.
“Mount Royal University is grateful to the Government of Alberta for its support as we build on our strategic partnership with the University of Waterloo to address the increasing demand for vision care and optometry education for Albertans,” said Tim Rahilly, president and vice-chancellor, Mount Royal University.
