UPEI Health and Wellness Centre receives LIVE WELL PEI Wellness Grant
The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre has received a grant from the provincial government’s 2024–2025 LIVE WELL PEI Wellness Grant Program to educate UPEI students about reducing harms related to alcohol through awareness campaigns and education modules.
The provincial government announced on February 4 that it is providing $136,000 in grants to support 30 innovative projects that promote healthier communities and help prevent chronic diseases through community and school-based initiatives.
“These projects reflect the creativity and dedication of Islanders in building healthier communities. Funding from the LIVE WELL PEI Wellness Grant Program empowers organizations and schools to implement meaningful initiatives that improve quality of life and promote healthy lifestyles,” said Minister of Health and Wellness Mark McLane in a news release.
The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre is partnering with fourth-year UPEI nursing students to educate other students on reducing harms related to alcohol through awareness campaigns and e-learning modules.
Adrienne Fudge, Registered Nurse, UPEI Health and Wellness Centre, said the project was developed by students for students.
“It was amazing to watch the future nurses come together to bring forward creative and innovative ideas and methods of education delivery to reach students at UPEI,” she said.
The initiative allowed them to create a poster and an e-learning module on Moodle (a student resource on the UPEI website) to educate fellow students about the new low risk drinking guidelines, the provincial “Less is Best” campaign, and alcohol harms and ways to reduce them.
“We were thrilled to receive funding through the LIVE WELL PEI Wellness Grant program,” said Fudge. “Reducing alcohol harms and ensuring we have current alcohol policies in place are priorities within our university community. This grant gave us the opportunity to work directly with students to raise awareness, share resources, and improve on a safe, healthy culture for everyone at UPEI.”
The students connected with community and campus partners—LIVE WELL PEI; UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment; UPEI Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office; UPEI Healthy Campus Committee; and the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre—to deliver their message.
Marilyn Barrett, Director of Distributed Medical Education and Family Medicine, congratulated Fudge on her successful grant submission and the nursing students on their collaboration with the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre.
“The University is actively updating practices and policies to ensure we are aligned with CPHO’s low risk drinking guidelines, and the funding helped support this work. We know peer support and influence is important in behaviour change, and being able to support students do this important work removes barriers to education,” said Barrett.
UPEI nursing student Sophia MacEachern said being involved in the LIVE WELL PEI grant program was a rewarding experience.
“I feel proud to have been a part of a project that not only helps students make safer choices but also creates a supportive community focused on health,” she said. “It is fulfilling to see how this initiative has empowered students to take charge of their own well-being.”
Yahia Ghander, another nursing student involved in the project, said receiving the grant gave students an incredible opportunity to address alcohol education at UPEI and promote healthier behaviours among their peers. He is excited to see how the alcohol education module they created will support student well-being in the future.
To read the PEI government’s news release, visit RECIPIENTS OF LIVE WELL PEI Wellness Grant Program.
