Left to right: Debbie Wiggins-Colwell, Mayor of Tantramar, Ian Freedman, CEO, Yorkville University, Hon. Rob McKee, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Minister Responsible for Additions and Mental Health Services, Julia Christensen Hughes, President and Vice Chancellor, Yorkville University, Michelle Grimes, Principal and Vice President Academic, New Brunswick, Yorkville University, James Mbewa, Nursing student — Yorkville University, Seemabin Odd, Nursing student — Yorkville University, Jessie Johnson, Dean, School of Nursing, Yorkville University
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing now operates as a Yorkville University program, strengthening the healthcare talent pipeline for New Brunswick and Canada.
New Brunswick, September 14, 2026 – Yorkville University marked the completion of its acquisition of the former Beal University Canada with a ceremony today, joined by the Honourable Rob McKee, Minister of Justice and Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Additions and Mental Health Services, as well as Mayor Debbie Wiggins-Colwell of the Town of Tantramar, to celebrate the milestone.
The transaction, first announced in July, has successfully closed.
With the acquisition complete, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program is now part of Yorkville University. The program continues without interruption, with no changes to curriculum, clinical hours, or academic standards. As a result, nursing students remain on track to graduate with a recognized degree that meets the College of Nursing of New Brunswick (CNNB) licensure requirements.
“It was meaningful to celebrate this milestone today alongside Minister McKee and Mayor Wiggins-Colwell, as well as faculty and staff, students and members of the local academic community,” said Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes, President and Vice Chancellor of Yorkville University.
“We’re proud to bring this program into the Yorkville family. This milestone reflects months of careful, collaborative work, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this transition a smooth one. This is great news for New Brunswick and for Canada – it means more nursing graduates entering the workforce at a time when the healthcare system needs them most.
Ian Freedman, CEO of Yorkville University, said the transaction’s closing marks an important step for the province’s healthcare workforce.
“New Brunswick needs more nurses, and this closing means Yorkville can now scale a proven program to help meet that need,” he said. “We’re committed to growing this program responsibly, with student success and community impact at the centre of everything we do.”
Yorkville University will continue to provide updates as its newest students and faculty settle into their new academic home, and remains committed to supporting them through every step of the transition and beyond.
About Yorkville University
Yorkville University began with a bold vision: to offer flexible, rigorous, and career-focused programs that transform lives. Since 2004, Yorkville University has expanded to campuses across Canada, offering both online and on-campus learning modalities. Our graduates have advanced their careers through programs in the behavioural sciences, social sciences, nursing, business, education, design and the creative arts. Yorkville University’s student-centred, practitioner-oriented approach equips graduates with skills that employers value, making us one of Canada’s largest private universities. Learn more at https://www.yorkvilleu.ca/
