New report celebrates Georgian College’s bold innovation and lasting impact  

Georgian College’s second annual Impact Report takes a tour through the innovative, meaningful differences it has made across Central Ontario in the last year – from unique programs that support labour-market needs and economic development in local communities and industries, to initiatives that champion changemaking, sustainability and a sense of belonging. 

Released on Wednesday, the report – Innovation for a Strong Future – contains highlights from the previous academic year, celebrates all Georgian has achieved, and reiterates the college’s deep commitment to students, alumni and its seven campus communities. 

Two people wearing blue suits stand together and each hold up a book reading "Innovation for a Strong Future."

Georgian’s people, programs and partnerships are essential to strengthening our economy, addressing critical workplace shortages, solving complex local and global challenges, and ultimately ensuring a strong and sustainable future. What drives us is an innovative spirit, relentless creativity and a desire to lead meaningful change.

– Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College

In the report, Georgian illustrates how it continues to innovate for a future-focused workforce and collaborate to solve complex challenges, such as by launching a Registered Practical Nurse-to-Registered Nurse bridge program to meet health care shortages and introducing 17 new programs to meet local labour-market needs.  

The report shines a light on how the college has deepened its commitments to sustainability, changemaking and belonging through various initiatives designed to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These include a new Changemaker Workplace designation with the Barrie Chamber of Commerce for small- to medium-sized businesses to connect employers and students who share likeminded values, and a motorcycle pilot program with Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka to support youth facing barriers to postsecondary education or meaningful employment. These initiatives not only demonstrate Georgian’s dedication to sustainability but also inspire hope for a more inclusive and sustainable future.  

Georgian is deeply grateful to its partners and donors for their invaluable contributions to the college’s growth, success and the positive impact made throughout Central Ontario and beyond. Their support has been instrumental in our journey, and Georgian’s proud to share these collective achievements with them.  

Impact Report highlights:  

  • Georgian’s total economic impact in the region is $1.7 billion, a figure that underscores the significant role the college plays in the local economy.  
  • Georgian’s presence supports one out of every 15 jobs in the region, demonstrating its substantial contribution to employment and economic stability in Central Ontario.
Five people wearing convocation robes stand together in front of a large 100K marquee sign.
Kevin Weaver, centre, President and CEO, Georgian College, with members of Georgian’s now 110,000 alumni.
Four people wearing suits stand outside under a tent and next to a backdrop reading "Georgian" and several image boards of a building design.
Georgian College announced in June it’s expanding its presence in downtown Barrie. Kevin Weaver, President and CEO of Georgian College, second from right, made the announcement alongside Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, left, and Dino Melchior and Jamie Massie.
  •  Georgian announced up to 800 students will study at an iconic location starting in 2025 – directly across from City Hall in Barrie City Centre. This strategic move not only offers a convenient and vibrant learning environment but also contributes to the revitalization of the downtown area. Georgian will offer a hub of creative programming in areas such as design, visual arts and emerging innovative technologies, as well as services designed to animate the neighbourhood in a new way.
A simulator patient lies in a hospital bed in a simulation room with images projected onto the walls.
HAL S5301, the world’s most advanced interdisciplinary patient simulator, is in a new simulation environment at Georgian that’s the only one of its kind in Ontario higher education.
  • As a leader in immersive learning and thanks to donor and government funding, Georgian transformed 15,000 square feet in the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences. This renovation included 10+ labs and learning spaces, significant upgrades in equipment, introducing HAL S5301 – the world’s most advanced interdisciplinary patient simulator, and welcoming the Brand Family 360° – Interdisciplinary Simulation Space. Surfaces in the simulation space respond to touch, and the sounds, smells and props provide a powerful learning experience for students facing similar scenarios in their placements and careers.
Five people pose inside or in front of a Volkswagen camper van that's parked outside in front of a bank of trees.
A professor and some of the students who worked on a major collaborative project to retrofit a 1972 Volkswagen Westfalia as an electric vehicle.
  • More than 30 students from cross-disciplinary programs collaborated to retrofit a 1972 VW Westfalia into an electric vehicle using off-the-shelf technology. This project not only provided students with hands-on experience in sustainable technology but also showcased the potential of converting older vehicles into cleaner and more efficient ones that can help reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector. It is a testament to Georgian’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. 
  • Georgian graduates maintain an impressive employment rate of 90.3 per cent across our seven campuses – surpassing the provincial average of 85.8 per cent for the last 25 years. 
Ten people each wearing the same toque sit in a row on green couches, with five people standing behind them.
The Georgian students, front row, who recently received Schulich Builders scholarships. Back row, from left: Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College; David Goodman, Vice President and Executive Director, Schulich Foundation; Marjorie Cook, Partnership Officer, Strategic Initiatives at Georgian; Dr. Rebecca Sabourin, Dean, Engineering and Environmental Technologies and Skilled Trades at Georgian; and David Bell, Associate Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Relations at Georgian.
Read the full Impact Report

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