CARLETON-SUR-MER – An agreement has been reached between Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles and various partners to address the operating deficit at the Carleton-sur-Mer campus sports centre.
Built in 2012, the centre includes a gymnasium, a training room, and a golf simulator.
The facility operates on an annual budget of approximately $70,000 but faces a deficit of around $40,000. According to a CEGEP analysis, only about 25% of the available time slots are dedicated to teaching and student use. Additionally, demand for the gym exceeds its capacity during 50% of the available slots. On weekends, families and the general public can rent the gym.
In the fall of 2021, an agreement was reached with the organization Bouge pour que ça Bouge. The CEGEP reports that this collaboration has significantly boosted the sports centre by optimizing the use of space and improving the range of sports activities.
Since the service is available to the entire population, the CEGEP entered into discussions with nearby municipalities and Service Secours to finance part of the deficit. This was followed by agreements with the Ministry of Higher Education, which is contributing $13,740, the sports centre’s portion of revenue under the agreement with Bouge pour que ça bouge, which is contributing $18,000, and the Emergency Services, which is contributing $15,000.
The municipalities of Carleton-sur-Mer and Maria were also contacted. “The Town was in favour of supporting the maintenance of this infrastructure to keep it open to the public. It’s $6,000 per year for three years,” explains Carleton-sur-Mer Mayor Mathieu Lapointe. The municipality of Maria will contribute $4,000.
Other potential partners have been approached, and the CEGEP is awaiting confirmation of additional funding.
GASPÉ – A sharp increase in applications from students in the region and the rest of the province offsets in part the massive loss of international students in the first round of registrations for the fall semester at Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles.
According to data from the registration period that ended March 1, the college has received 717 registrations compared to 783 at the same time last year. Of the registrations 306 were from the region, and over 250 from elsewhere in the province.
The retention rate for students from the region is 80%. “The demographics are improving in the Gaspésie. More students were enrolling in CEGEP in the region. We have about fifty more admission applications this year, and the retention rate is 80%, which is very pleasing,” says Director of Studies Serge Rochon.
However, the outlook for international students is less optimistic. “We are seeing a significant drop in the number of applications from international students. We are down 42%, which is significant. Despite this, we are able to offer almost all programs at Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles,” says Mr. Rochon. Applications for international students have dropped from 302 to 176.
“For months, the government has been saying, ‘We’ll impose this measure, or it will be more difficult for post-graduation permits,’ because students, once they graduate, would like to stay in Quebec and work to meet our labour needs. This rhetoric, which we’ve been hearing for months, has made students less interested in coming to study in Quebec,” says Mr. Rochon.
The Adventure Tourism Technique program has already reached capacity in the first round, while only a few spots remain in the second round for the medical archives, marine engineering, legal technology, police technology, and computer technology programs.
Due to budget caps imposed by the Quebec government, the Police Technology program will not require practical labs for its first year, as budgets for capital investments have been capped by Quebec. This work is planned for the summer of 2026.
“We have a cap, but we’ve prioritized Police Technology. In the first year, there are mainly theoretical courses on professional knowledge, psychology courses, which means we didn’t need labs in the first year,” says Mr. Rochon.
On the other hand, an extensive revision of the Early Childhood Education program failed to attract enough students to revive the course.
“We had renewed the program. We had developed partnerships with daycare centres in the Côte-de-Gaspé region. There were jobs available upon entering the program, paid internships. Despite this, we had few applications for admission. We will look into this with our partners to make the program as attractive as possible. The training is less attractive to young people. There is the whole issue of working conditions. We see that they are negotiating, and we hope that with better conditions, we will attract young people. It is our great disappointment to be forced to suspend only one program, and that is Early Childhood Education Techniques,” analyzes the director of studies.
Last year, the CEGEP found housing solutions for out-of-town students, including a public call for student accommodations in Gaspé, which resulted in a surplus of available housing. “With our partners, there is still space, and we are hopeful of housing all our students in Gaspé next fall,” he says.
In Carleton-sur-Mer, a new residence is under construction with about twenty spaces. Meanwhile, the residence project in Grande-Rivière is moving forward with the Ministry of Higher Education, but nothing has yet been finalized. “The budgetary context makes it difficult to have new projects these days. But with private partners, we found solutions. I don’t think we have any particular issues in Grande-Rivière,” notes Mr. Rochon.
In the anglophone sector, 17 registrations were received at Gaspé campus. “It was 22 last year. It’s a slight decrease, but there’s still room. We often have registrations in the second, third, and fourth rounds. There are also agreements with English-speaking CEGEPs that often arrive during the winter semester,” says Mr. Rochon.
CARLETON – At Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, a quiet revolution is underway. Beyond the classrooms and labs, a shift in commuting habits is taking place, driven by a commitment to sustainability and a recognition of the power of collective action. The institution is actively encouraging employees and students to embrace eco-friendly transportation, and the results are impressive.
Annie Léonard, a Cégep employee, is a prime example. For the past two years, she’s been a regular rider of the REGIM (Régie intermunicipale de transport Gaspésie Îles-de-la-Madeleine), the regional bus service. Her employer subsidizes a portion of her bus pass, making it a financially attractive alternative to driving. But for Annie, the benefits extend beyond cost savings. She’s consistently impressed by the dedication of the REGIM drivers, who go above and beyond to serve the students, whom they also drive to the Cégep since 2014. “The drivers make an incredible effort to best serve the students,” she says. She’s witnessed them adapt their routes to accommodate students, even turning back if they’ve missed a stop. They keep lost items safe and recognize the students who’ve misplaced them, creating a sense of community on the bus. “It’s more than just an environmentally conscious choice,” Annie explains. “It’s a humane experience.”
For Cégep employees, the incentives are clear. Parking spaces on campus are expensive, designed to discourage single-occupancy vehicles. This has fostered a thriving carpooling culture, with teachers sharing rides and splitting parking costs. The Cégep has also installed electric car charging stations, which are used by a growing number of teachers. This visible commitment to sustainability creates a positive atmosphere, demonstrating that the institution is taking concrete steps to reduce its carbon footprint.
A partnership between the Cégep and REGIM has further amplified the impact. The REGIM now provides bus service for students, replacing the traditional yellow school buses since 2014, according to the bus company. This collaboration, as Annie notes, fosters a sense of shared responsibility between the municipality and the region.
Annie has also seen firsthand how raising concerns can lead to positive change. She’s previously requested improvements like better lighting at bus shelters and a crosswalk near a stop, demonstrating that the Cégep administration is receptive to suggestions.
The financial benefits of taking public transit are undeniable. Considering the wear and tear on a vehicle, the rising cost of fuel, the carbon tax, and on-campus parking fees, the subsidized bus pass, costing Annie only $60 per month (down from $100), is a “no-brainer.” Despite this, the bus service struggles to fill up its seats on some days, showing partial adoption at best from the local population.
While electric cars may not be accessible to everyone, there are always options for those wishing to lower their ecological footprint. Simply filling up your car with colleagues, instead of driving alone, is a great start. The Cégep’s efforts demonstrate that real change is possible when individuals and institutions work together. All it takes is a willingness to ask.
Do you have a story to share about commuting in the Gaspésie? The Gaspé Spec invites readers to reach out and share their experiences with public transportation, whether it’s a wish for improvement or a positive story about how the REGIM has helped them. Let’s continue this conversation and work towards a greener future for our region.
Full disclosure Arthur Poirier-Roy works for the Cegep.
