Georgian College has received $720,000 in federal research funding to support two projects focused on improving health-care services and food accessibility across the region.
The funding, provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), will be divided equally between two three-year initiatives. Both projects will also provide students with hands-on learning and research opportunities while addressing local community needs.
“We’re grateful to receive this new funding, which is critical for helping us advance our work on these important issues, as well as for continuing our innovative and collaborative research to strengthen the well-being of our communities,” says Dr. Mira Ray, Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Georgian.
The first project will be led by Georgian’s Research and Innovation department in partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) and its Barrie Family Medicine Teaching Unit.
Receiving $360,000, the initiative will pilot a nurse-led social prescribing model for adults living with obesity or related metabolic health risks. The program will connect participants with community-based resources and services through personalized assessments, coordinated referrals and ongoing support.
The project aims to reduce barriers to accessing services while addressing social factors that can affect an individual’s health. It will also evaluate patient engagement, access to community resources and the integration of social prescribing into primary care.
The research will be led by Georgian faculty members Jennifer Ethier and Dr. Stephanie Atthill, alongside RVH family physician Dr. Matt Orava.
Students in Georgian’s nursing, Fitness and Health Promotion, and Food and Nutrition Management programs will have access to paid research positions and experiential learning opportunities.
The second initiative, called ‘Food 4 Thought?’, will receive the remaining $360,000 and bring Georgian’s Social Innovation department together with The Sharing Place food centre in Orillia.
Students completing field placements through the Social Service Worker and Child and Youth Care programs will participate in volunteer activities, design educational games and develop ideas to improve how food is grown, shared and accessed.
The project aims to help inform local food planning while providing community food centres with practical resources to encourage youth involvement in food-related issues and careers.
Both projects are already underway, with the social prescribing hub expected to become operational in the fall of 2027.
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