Shadd Health & Business Centre is a Montreal vocational and community learning centre named in tribute to Mary Ann Shadd, offering career-oriented training.
Shadd Health & Business Centre is part of the English Montreal School Board and is located at 1000 Old Orchard Ave., Montreal, QC H4A 3A4. The school describes itself as more than a vocational institution and as a dynamic community learning centre. Its facilities listed include a cafeteria and a lab.
The centre is named in tribute to Mary Ann Shadd (1823-1893), a pioneering American-Canadian educator, writer, and advocate for civil rights and gender equality. Mary Ann Shadd was the first Black woman in North America to publish a newspaper and establish a school for Black children. On September 18, 2024, the Quebec National Assembly formally recognized the centre for its dedication to educational excellence and its role in honouring Mary Ann Shadd's legacy.
The school offers programs including PAB Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions, Pharmacy Technical Assistance, Accounting, Secretarial Studies, Daycare Educator, and Individualized Administrative Studies, which is new. Its programs are designed to help students attain the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. The school's mission is to offer students the opportunity to master the competencies required in their chosen trade, through career-oriented, hands-on training for diverse professional pathways. Continuing education courses are designed for healthcare workers, first responders, caregivers, and others, including CPR and Basic Life Support training.
Shadd is committed to providing education in an inclusive environment that fosters critical thinking and life-long learning. It promotes respect for the individual, embraces diversity, and fosters the development of diverse talents. Admission routes include program-specific conditions for each program, and Recognition of Acquired Competencies (RAC).