Money shot: Getting vaccinated could earn you cash at Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University, in Sydney, N.S., is offering cold, hard cash as an incentive for students to get their COVID-19 vaccines.
The university has launched an online contest so that students who get vaccinated or tested have a shot at the grand prize.
"If a student gets vaccinated or tested, they can send in the information to our team and their name gets entered into one of four prizes - $5,000 is the grand prize," explains Judy Kelley, manager of health and counselling.
Cassie Gillis is a CBU student who has already submitted entries - both for her vaccination and for testing.
Gillis says a cash prize like that would make a big difference towards tuition, so she expects plenty of other students will take part.
"That incentive alone is just going to be enough to like, push people over the edge," says Gillis.
"No one can say that $5,000 isn't a lot of money, especially for a student, and in your undergrad, that's completely changing to whether or not you would have to apply for a student loan."
Peter Halpin is executive director of the Association of Atlantic Universities. Halpin says while each Maritime post-secondary school has its own culture, something like this could catch on.
"Well, I think it's an innovative and great idea," says Halpin.
"It wouldn't surprise me if other universities in the region and across the country undertake similar vaccine promotion programs."
At Cape Breton University, the response so far has been good with more than 300 entries in the first 24 hours.
Officials say students can enter as many times as they get tested, or vaccinated, and having numbers go up on campus, is a win-win.
"We're really excited about the opportunity to open it up and get things moving again here on campus," says Kelley.
"So the more people who are vaccinated, and the more people who are tested, the faster that's going to happen."
For Gillis, who finished her undergrad degree during the pandemic and is now starting a new one, she just wants campus life to be back to normal sooner than later.
"Capers - get out there, get vaccinated. Get tested. And let's flatten the curve together," says Gillis.
The contest runs until September 4.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.