Rotary Club of Barrie investment ensures real-life learning
Feb. 8, 2024
The Rotary Club of Barrie continues to support health and wellness at Georgian through a generous gift of $125,000 to the Frontline Support: Health-care Heroes Closer to Home campaign.
Rotary’s investment transformed what was previously known as the teaching apartment inside the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences, into the Rotary Club of Barrie Community Learning Suite, inside the Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes Nursing and Wellness Wing of the Sadlon Centre. The living community suite replicates an apartment with fully functioning resources such as a kitchen and bathroom to better simulate home-care settings.
The Rotary Club of Barrie has always been a strong supporter of Georgian College and the Frontline Support campaign was a natural fit for our commitment to health care and students. We are proud to know our donation to the new Community Learning Suite with upgraded technology and learning tools will help prepare students to be successful in providing care in community home environments across the city.
Betty Ann Lewis, president, Rotary Club of Barrie
The updates include electrical, mechanical and plumbing connections; new fixtures and appliances; updating the furniture and design; audio/visual recording equipment; and adding new simulation manikins.
“It allows students to develop or enhance their understanding of their knowledge, attitudes, and skills by applying it to a realistic scenario,” notes Treva Job, Manager, Simulation Centre. “This new suite is inclusive to all types of learners and is truly an inter-professional and collaborative learning space.”
Nursing students aren’t the only beneficiaries of the gift. The space is used by various Health, Wellness and Sciences programs including Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing, Practical Nursing, Personal Support Worker, Paramedic, Advanced Care Paramedic, as well as the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant program.
The Rotary Club of Barrie has a long history of supporting health and wellness at Georgian and in the community. In 2010, the club pledged to help construct the Rotary Community Clinic in the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences which houses six teaching health clinics that provide health-care services to more than 10,000 people at reduced costs and allow our students to receive valuable hands-on experience.
“On behalf of the entire Health, Wellness and Sciences team, we are deeply grateful for the ongoing support and contributions from the Rotary Club of Barrie. This generosity and unwavering support toward these multiple projects enable us to provide our learners with essential resources and innovative learning spaces that promote excellence,” says Treva. “Their contributions have made profound impacts, both to our learners and surrounding community members. In addition, we are grateful for their belief in our organization and our learners as we continue to strive for excellence and create lasting change in the lives of others.”