Fanshawe College opens the WSIB Centre of Excellence in Immersive Technologies Simulation for Workplace Safety

Today, Fanshawe College, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and community partners celebrated the grand opening of the WSIB Centre of Excellence in Immersive Technologies Simulation for Workplace Safety. This research and production facility will use extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop immersive training and therapeutic simulations to help public safety personnel prepare for high-pressure scenarios, strengthen decision-making skills, and support recovery and return-to-work outcomes after a mental stress injury.

 

"The WSIB Centre of Excellence in Immersive Technologies Simulation for Workplace Safety demonstrates what is possible when organizations come together around a shared commitment to innovation, well-being and solving real-world challenges," said Peter Devlin, President of Fanshawe College. "By bringing together expertise in immersive technology, applied research and education, we are creating opportunities to improve safety outcomes, support public safety personnel and prepare the next generation of leaders and innovators. We thank the WSIB for its generous support, and our public safety partners for their leadership in developing this state-of-the-art centre of excellence."

 

Driven by a transformational $20 million investment in 2024 from the WSIB, in partnership with the WorkSafe Ontario Fund, the centre brings together researchers, educators, students, industry partners and public safety leaders to develop innovative training and therapeutic simulations designed to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the public safety sector today.

 

“Today marks the beginning of a new way to understand, prevent and treat mental stress injuries and we’re excited about the important work Fanshawe College will be doing at this centre,” said Jeff Lang, WSIB President and CEO. “Two years ago, this was a dream. Now it’s a real space that will change lives - and save lives too - especially for our first responders.”

 

Students from a variety of disciplines, including health sciences, public safety, information technology, artificial intelligence, digital media, gaming, business and design, will have opportunities to contribute to projects undertaken through the centre. The facility will serve as a living lab where students, faculty and industry partners collaborate on complex real-world challenges while developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills increasingly sought by employers.

 

“This centre is about the people it will protect,” said Joshua Workman, President and CEO, WorkSafe Ontario Fund. “By bringing students, researchers and first responders together in one space, we will help public safety personnel prepare for the toughest moments of the job, recover from mental stress injuries and safely return home to their families. The WorkSafe Ontario Fund is honoured to partner with the WSIB and Fanshawe College to bring the WSIB Centre of Excellence in Immersive Technologies Simulation for Workplace Safety to life.”

 

The centre builds on Fanshawe's growing leadership in immersive technology and applied AI. The College has established a comprehensive XR ecosystem across sectors including health care, public safety, construction, advanced manufacturing and digital media, helping organizations explore new approaches to training, workforce development and innovation.