Students, teachers rally to save 'unique' City School in Hamilton, once pitched as a model to other cities
CBC
For 52-year-old student Heather Kennedy, getting an education through Mohawk College's City School program was providing hope she'd be able to bring in more money to help her family.
Kennedy was hoping to become an administrator after taking free courses through the program. With its upcoming closure, announced alongside other cuts at the college, she's worried she won't be able to achieve that goal.
"I think it's a shame," said Kennedy.
City School is a free service that offers post-secondary and employment-pathway courses to the adults in the community and has been run by Mohawk College in Hamilton.
In December, as part of cuts due to new limits on international students and a lack of provincial funding, the college announced City School would be winding down its operations and stop offering courses as of March 31. Drop-in locations closed on Feb. 10.
Kennedy was among a group of people that rallied on Feb. 19 outside of Mohawk to protest cuts to colleges and to advocate for City School.
She said she found out about the program in 2024 while looking at flyers at a food bank. She enrolled and started a course called College 101. She's currently taking two courses in hopes of working for a non-profit.
Kennedy said she applied for the courses because she wants to "improve [her] life" and learn new things. She added the courses have helped her a lot.
"I'm trying to get a leg up so I can earn more money and help my family. It's helped me learn a lot of skills. So I'm happy about that," she said.
Kennedy works as a caretaker, but said at a time when prices keep going up and life is getting "harder and harder," she wants to contribute more to her family's finances.
Kennedy is not alone in her disappointment with the closure.
Partners of the program started a petition, which has garnered more than 300 signatures from community members and 30 community partners.
Erin Carr, executive director of the Solidarity Place Worker Education Centre, one of the non-profit organizations that partnered with City School, said he started the petition in late January after conversations with the union.
"City School was on the ground, popular, free and accessible education, which is something in our province we're sorely lacking," he said.
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