Loyalist College partners with Mitacs on transformative social innovation research project to improve health equity in Ontario

Belleville, ON, Jan. 15, 2024 – Loyalist College is proud to announce that its newly established Centre for Healthy Communities has entered into an important new partnership with Canadian innovation catalyst, Mitacs.

This exciting collaboration will establish a research fund focused on improving health equity in nearby communities. Under the agreement, Mitacs, will contribute $75,000 to partially fund ten paid internships for Loyalist College students this year to support research in key areas that lack funds for research and innovation. Unlike individually funded internships, this partnership creates a unique block of funding that can be applied to a wider range of projects, offering students broader and more applied learning experiences.

In their internships, student researchers will work alongside faculty on real-world projects, gaining hands-on experience in applied research that enhances their learning with practical problem-solving skills. This research will directly benefit local organizations in meeting the challenges of health inequities, helping to drive solutions and support equitable access, policies, and treatment across multiple social services. By involving students in these projects, the partnership helps to cultivate the next generation of skilled professionals who are not only career-ready graduates but are also socially conscious and committed to driving positive change in their communities.

While Mitacs is best known for its collaborations with universities and industry, this partnership with Loyalist College marks a significant shift. The collaboration underscores Mitac’s commitment to fostering social innovation by creating new research opportunities through college partnerships. The impact of this partnership will be particularly beneficial for not-for-profits, municipal government agencies, and charities, and demonstrates how academic research benefits local communities while promoting both social and economic advancement. Aligning with Loyalist’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this partnership prioritizes sustainable, inclusive solutions for socio-economic challenges in Eastern Ontario.

“Loyalist College is immensely proud to embark on this partnership with Mitacs, a collaboration that demonstrates our commitment to driving social innovation and economic growth in our surrounding communities,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “This initiative creates invaluable opportunities for our students to engage in meaningful, applied research and strengthens our ties with our vital community partners. Together, Mitacs and Loyalist are setting a precedent for how small colleges can play a big role in accelerating community-centric research and development.”

“At Mitacs we’re not just interested in driving innovation in the broad sense. We’re committed to championing the right projects, research that will bolster economic success and create solutions to the most pressing problems our world experiences today,” says Tash Ismail, Chief Business Development Officer at Mitacs. “We are pleased to partner with Loyalist College to prioritize sustainability and inclusive solutions for social and economic challenges. This new partnership is a great example of the potential that is unleashed when talent and opportunity work together.”

About Mitacs 

Mitacs works to bring innovation to more people in more places across Canada and around the world. Mitacs makes investing in new knowledge easier through access to top researchers, flexible project plans, and co-investments in talent.

A not-for-profit organization, Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.

For a limited time, Mitacs launched a special offer of increased funding in key sectors like Cleantech, Agri and Life, Health and Bio Sciences to learn more visit mitacs.ca.

About Loyalist College

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com