Fleming College has announced the creation of its largest-ever endowed fund for student financial assistance, made possible by a transformative $1.5 million donation from The Joyce Family Foundation.
Historic Gift Creates Lasting Impact
The landmark contribution, announced on November 27, 2025, will establish an endowment that provides 11 annual bursaries of $5,000 each to students facing financial or other barriers to accessing post-secondary education. This represents a total annual disbursement of $55,000 in direct student support.
"This historic gift, which establishes our largest fund for student tuition assistance, is a meaningful investment in Fleming College and in the young people of our region," said Maureen Adamson, President of Fleming College and Interim President and CEO of Colleges Ontario.
"We are deeply grateful to The Joyce Family Foundation for their commitment to reducing barriers and supporting Canadian youth as they pursue education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities."
Supporting Local Students in Need
The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary Program will specifically focus on supporting young people from the Peterborough and Kawarthas region, helping them access any of Fleming's full-time programs by offsetting tuition costs. This targeted approach ensures the funding directly benefits the local community.
Katie Pezoulas, Executive Director of Advancement and External Relations at Fleming College, emphasized the timing and importance of this investment. "This extraordinary gift from the Joyce Family Foundation demonstrates the profound impact philanthropy can have on students' lives," she said.
"At a time when inflationary pressures are making education increasingly difficult for families to afford, this investment will be transformational. It will open doors for young people who might otherwise be unable to pursue post-secondary education and ensure they have the support they need to succeed."
Continuing a Legacy of Educational Support
The Joyce Family Foundation was created by the late Ronald V. Joyce, co-founder of the iconic Tim Horton's coffee franchise and a well-known champion of philanthropic causes. The foundation has maintained his commitment to supporting education and youth development across Canada.
Rob MacIsaac, Board Chair of The Joyce Family Foundation, explained the motivation behind the gift. "Ron Joyce believed in the power of education to change lives, and he held great respect for the role colleges play in preparing young people for meaningful careers," MacIsaac stated.
"This bursary program reflects his steadfast commitment to empowering Canadian youth facing barriers, ensuring they have every opportunity to pursue education and build brighter futures."
The official announcement was marked by a special ceremony at Fleming College, where Maureen O'Neill, Executive Director of The Joyce Family Foundation, and Linda Ricker, the Foundation's Director of Finance, joined college leadership and current students for tours of the School of Health & Community Services and the School of Trades & Technology, followed by a formal cheque presentation.
Fleming College, named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, serves more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students across its campuses in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. The college offers more than 85 full-time programs across various disciplines and has built a network of 95,000 alumni since its establishment.
