With just 12 days of classroom instruction and one final placement remaining before graduation, Anna Napper thought she was nearing the end of her studies at Trillium College's Kingston campus.
Her tuition was paid in full, her courses and placement were scheduled, and she expected to graduate from the Early Childhood Assistant (ECA) program on December 16, 2026.
Then, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, the college announced it was suspending classes indefinitely amid interruptions to provincial student assistance funding.
Now, despite having paid more than $11,000 toward her education, Napper has no confirmed date to return to class, complete her placement, or receive her diploma.
"I would have expected the college to have planned and allocated sufficient funding to cover the cost of providing instruction throughout the entire duration of our program, especially when students like myself had already paid their tuition months before the suspension," Napper told Kingstonist.
Documents provided to Kingstonist confirm that Trillium received $10,999 in Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) payments toward Napper's education, including $6,801 in February and $4,198 in July. An additional $272.94 payment was received in March.
The college's statement of account shows a balance of zero.
Napper, who lives in Verona, said she has also spent money on textbooks, transportation, and other expenses associated with her education.
Her schedule shows she was midway through a Curriculum Planning course when classes stopped. A Job Search course was to follow, before her final placement from November 9 to December 16.
Instead, she and the other 17 students in her class are waiting for answers.
"This delay will definitely affect employment opportunities, future education plans, and other commitments that other students and I have already made," Napper said.
College explains suspension
In its October 16 announcement, Trillium attributed the suspension to interruptions in funding through OSAP and the province's Better Jobs Ontario program --- interruptions it said had been escalating since August 1.
"Trillium has carried the cost of continuing education during this period and has offered affected students interest-free payment arrangements," the announcement stated.
"Early responses show that many students cannot replace OSAP or Better Jobs Ontario funding from their personal resources."
The college described the suspension as temporary rather than a permanent closure, and said students would not be academically penalized for missed classes. It promised another written update by Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
In an October 20 email to Napper, Trillium Vice-President of Operations Amanda James explained why students whose tuition was already paid were also affected.
"Unfortunately, an individual student's tuition being paid in full does not necessarily mean sufficient funding is available to continue operating their program," James wrote.
She said tuition revenue must cover instructors, support staff, rent, utilities, and other operating expenses, and that the number of fully funded students remaining in some classes might be insufficient to sustain instruction.
"We recognize how disappointing this is, particularly for students who have met their financial obligations."
James said the college would make every reasonable effort to preserve original graduation dates, but could not guarantee they would remain unchanged.
For Napper, the explanation raised questions about how tuition payments received months earlier had been allocated.
"While I understand that operating a college involves additional expenses, I find this extremely concerning," she said.
"I believe students deserve transparency about how tuition revenue was allocated and why the college is now unable to continue providing instruction to students who have already paid."
Napper said she has requested alternative arrangements to complete her coursework and placement, but has received no confirmation that such options will be available, nor information about possible refunds or transfers.
'We made sacrifices'
Another Trillium student, Michelle Needham, 44, said the interruption threatens both her education and the financial arrangements her family made so she could return to school.
A mother of three who previously operated her own daycare, Needham decided to pursue her ECA certificate after years of raising her children.
"Going back to school as an adult comes with many challenges, especially when you have a family and bills to pay," she wrote in a letter describing the suspension's impact.
Her family planned to manage on one income rather than two while she completed her education.
"We made sacrifices because I believed that getting my education would help me build a better future and allow me to work in a field I truly love," Needham said.
Like Napper's, Needham's tuition is fully paid, and she was scheduled to finish December 16. She has 13 days of classroom instruction and her final placement remaining.
Needham receives financial assistance through Better Jobs Ontario, including a basic living allowance, and is concerned the suspension could interrupt that support.
"With the pause at Trillium, our funding is expected to stop, which means some of us could suddenly have no income coming in. What are we supposed to do now?" she expressed.
She said her family's expenses, including housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and her children's activities, will continue regardless.
"I chose to return to school at 44 because I wanted to create a better future for myself and my family," Needham imparted.
"I should not have to fear that I will be unable to afford basic necessities when I am only days and weeks away from completing my education."
Other students report different financial pressures.
In an Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, email to Kingstonist, Trillium student Kyle Frederick alleged that students were repeatedly contacted by email, telephone, and text message about making alternative payment arrangements, sometimes before payments were due or the province had explained possible alternatives.
"I truly feel the students are being bullied by Trillium to pay their bills and keep the lights on while the issues were not caused by the students nor was it under their knowledge or control," Frederick wrote.
Kingstonist requested further information and supporting correspondence, but had not received a response by publication time. His allegations about the frequency and content of payment demands have not been independently verified.
Local MPP calls for OSAP payments to resume
Kingston and the Islands Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ted Hsu has called on Premier Doug Ford and Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn to restore OSAP funding to eligible Trillium College students.
In a statement shared on social media, Hsu read accounts from students who said they have been forced to abandon their studies, face unexpected tuition demands, or are struggling to support their families.
One student said they had maintained a 93 per cent average, but had been forced to leave school with five months remaining before graduation because they could no longer afford tuition.
Hsu also claimed Trillium's Kingston campus passed a ministry inspection just two months ago, including a review of program delivery, student files, and attendance records. Kingstonist has not independently confirmed the outcome of that inspection.
"If you want stricter OSAP eligibility criteria, introduce them. If you want more inspections of private career colleges, conduct them," Hsu said. "But don't force students to abandon their education, to lose their chance to graduate, or to face sudden repayment obligations."
Hsu urged the province to release promised OSAP funding to eligible Trillium students rather than subjecting them to a blanket suspension affecting private post-secondary institutions.
The MPP also noted in a Facebook post that "these students are future Personal Support Workers, Law Clerks, Community and Developmental Services Workers, and Early Childhood Assistants... and I learned that 3 in 4 are hired by their placement employers after completing their placements."
He added, "I’m staying in touch with Trillium College and its students, and I’ll keep pressing the government to act swiftly and release OSAP funds to Trillium students."
Province defends funding freeze
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, Quinn announced the suspension of OSAP payments to private post-secondary institutions following an investigation into irregularities in the student assistance system.
The government cited concerns involving enrolment verification, unusual application patterns, and relationships between some private career colleges and immigration-related businesses. Information arising from the investigation was also referred to the Ontario Provincial Police, according to the province.
Trillium College has not been publicly identified by the province as an institution suspected of wrongdoing.
In a statement to Kingstonist, Bianca Giacoboni, Quinn's press secretary, defended the decision.
"Evidence of systemic issues that have compromised the integrity of the OSAP system left our government with no choice but to pause OSAP payments to all private institutions to protect taxpayer dollars and hold bad actors accountable," she said.
"We recognize the impact that this pause is having on students and are working to develop options for low-interest, third-party loans facilitated by financial institutions to support students through this period of transition."
No timeline was provided for those loans.
Giacoboni emphasized that responsibility for operating private colleges rests with the institutions themselves.
"The day-to-day operations of post-secondary institutions, including private colleges, are the responsibility of the institution."
Although the province suspended OSAP payments, Trillium made the subsequent decision to suspend instruction.
In an October 20 statement, Quinn said OSAP payments would not resume until a strengthened validation process was implemented, expected in the new year, subject to proposed legislation.
Students ineligible for provincial protection fund
The ministry also confirmed that Trillium students are not currently eligible for assistance through Ontario's Training Completion Assurance Fund (TCAF).
The fund is intended to help eligible students complete their education elsewhere or obtain refunds when a registered career college ceases operations.
According to information provided by the ministry, because Trillium has announced a temporary suspension rather than a closure, its students do not qualify.
The ministry did not identify an alternative mechanism to assist students whose tuition is fully paid but whose education has been interrupted.
Waiting for answers
Kingstonist contacted Trillium College seeking clarification about tuition already received, alternative arrangements for students nearing graduation, potential refunds or transfers, and plans for resuming instruction.
The college was asked to respond by noon on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, but no response had been received by that deadline.
Students are awaiting the college's promised October 23 update.
"We have done our part," Needham wrote. "We have committed ourselves to our education, made financial sacrifices, and worked hard to get to this point."
"We are not just numbers or applications. We are parents, students, and people trying to make a better life for ourselves and our families. We deserve answers, and we deserve to know what support will be available to help us get through this difficult time."