Winnipeg English language school to close following federal funding cuts [Video]

A school for English language learners in Winnipeg will be shutting its doors for good.

As of Feb. 1, 2025, the Enhanced English Skills for Employment (EESE) school will no longer receive funding from the federal government.

“We’re both terrified and outraged,” said executive director Louise Giesbrecht.

For the last four years, the school has been operating out of the Canadian Mennonite University. It runs 10-week programs throughout the year, with more than 200 students enrolled each term.

EESE focuses on further developing the skills of those who have basic knowledge and understanding of the English language. According to Giesbrecht, 96 per cent of those enrolled received a post-secondary degree prior to their arrival in Canada.

To keep up with costs, EESE receives around $650,000 from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) annually, in addition to funding from the province. But this year, Ottawa is reallocating funds to support early-stage …