Unique new facility brings together wellness and community safety disciplines in one location to promote physical, mental and psychosocial community health

For Immediate Release: February 14, 2008

Brampton, Ontario

The Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning chose Valentine's Day to open its newest learning facility – one which will play an important role in the future health and wellness of people in the Greater Toronto Area. The Sheridan Centre for Healthy Communities is a unique facility that brings together in one location programs that focus on physical, mental and psychosocial health. It is located at Sheridan's Davis Campus in Brampton, Ontario.

"Sheridan has a long history of turning out some of the finest graduates in the field of health and wellness. So it only made sense for us to make a significant investment to create the kind of leading-edge educational centre that we're opening in Brampton," said Dr. Robert Turner, President, Sheridan Institute. "The students who come here and the hospitals, clinics, municipalities and social service organizations that will employ these professionals will soon see how the Centre for Healthy Communities will turn out the country's best prepared and well-trained graduates in their fields."

By concentrating health and wellness education and training in one location and exposing this set of diverse, but related, professions to each other, the result will be better trained professionals. The Centre for Healthy Communities is home to programs that educate Practical Nurses, Personal Support Workers, Pharmacy Technicians, Social Service Workers, Public Safety and Emergency Management professionals, and experts in Athletic Therapy and Exercise Science & Health Promotion.

"Public safety and social service workers are on the front lines in the community tackling some of the most challenging problems we're facing as a society", said Helen Allen, Dean of Community and Liberal Studies, Sheridan Institute. "By bringing their education and training together in one place and exposing these professions to each other, they'll get a better understanding of how each does their job and what each can offer to provide solutions to issues like those facing youth. The bottom line is we're going to end up with smarter, more well-rounded professionals who can successfully meet the challenges their jobs will throw at them."

In addition to the educational programs at the Centre, it maintains an open door policy with the community. Sheridan's world-class athletic therapy program is open to help people with fitness and sports injuries. Other rooms in the Centre are available for residents from Brampton and the surrounding area to hold local meetings and functions.

About Sheridan Centre for Healthy Communities

Designed by George Friedman Architect, the Centre for Healthy Communities spans 84,000 square feet and will serve approximately 1,800 students each year. The building also features state-of-the-art teaching labs that will immerse students in realistic settings. These include:

• 10,000 square foot integrated Athletic Therapy Centre with a therapy pool, Human Performance Lab, an Exercise Institute and Research Centre and
  Human Anatomy Lab.
• 8,000 square foot Nursing Lab with three nursing pods housing 24 hospital beds, a Simulation pod with eight robotics, and the Activities of Daily Living Lab simulating the home environment.
• Two Pharmacy Labs, one for hospital and one for retail practice.
  

Media Contact:

Susan Atkinson
(905) 845-9430, ext. 2096
susan.atkinson@sheridanc.on.ca