Please join us in-person or virtually for a presentation and panel discussion

RRC Polytech is hosting a knowledge sharing event focused on strengthening collaboration between health and building sectors to improve long-term care facility performance and enhance resident well-being through evidence-based strategies.

This event, presented in-person and virtually via Zoom, will share findings from a recent applied research project examining Building Performance Evaluations (BPEs) in long-term care environments, followed by a panel discussion.

It is intended for professionals across health care, facilities management, design, policy, and research who are interested in improving outcomes in long-term care environments.

DATE:

Thursday, January 29, 2026

TIME: 

2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST

IN-PERSON VENUE:

RRC Polytech Notre Dame Campus, 2055 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg

Building A – Room A406 (click for campus/parking map)

VIRTUAL ACCESS:

Via Zoom: Link will be provided upon registration

ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE KINDLY ASKED TO REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW:

ABOUT THE EVENT

Buildings impact more than the environment: they also have a major influence on the health, wellness and comfort of the people who occupy or work in them. It is evident that many facilities perform very differently than intended. Unfortunately, these building performance problems often are neither identified nor addressed.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on residents in long-term care exposed serious vulnerabilities in the design and day-to-day operation of these types of facilities. There is a clear need to rethink how long-term care environments are planned, delivered and managed.

Join RRC Polytech’s Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) and Department of Nursing to explore Building Performance Evaluations (BPEs): what they are, how they work, and how they can support better outcomes for long-term care residents and healthier, more productive work environments for staff.

You’ll hear key findings and recommendations from a BETAC-led project that developed practical BPE tools tailored to the long-term care context, including results from a pilot of these tools in six Manitoba long-term care homes.

The event concludes with an expert panel and audience Q&A focused on how governments, owners/operators, health care professionals and the building industry can use BPEs to:

• make better, evidence-based decisions about how to improve building operation and maintenance practices
• guide investments in the design, construction and retrofit/renovation of long-term care facilities to maximize the health and wellness of residents and staff

EVENT AGENDA

Welcoming and Opening Remarks

Alireza Kaboorani, Ph.D.

Shauna Mallory-Hill, Ph.D. M. Arch B.E.S.

An Introduction to Building Performance Evaluations (BPEs)

Learn what a BPE is, how it works and why it should be (but seldom is) a standard part of new construction and major retrofit or renovation projects in long-term care facilities and other buildings.

Ken Klassen, C.E.T.

President | Infotechnika

Lesson Learned: BPE Pilot in Manitoba Long-Term Care Homes

Discover the key findings and resulting recommendations from BETAC’s development of tools for BPEs in long-term care homes and the results from piloting them in six Manitoba facilities.

Chang Liu

Jennifer L. Morin, R.N. M.N. C.A.E.

Panel Discussion + Audience Q and A

Hear panelist reflect on the findings of RRC Polytech’s BPE research in the long-term care sector and discuss topics such as:

• What next steps should be taken to avoid building performance problems that negatively impact residents and staff?
• Should BPEs become a mandatory requirement for new and renovated facilities?
• How do we increase collaboration between professions that design, build or renovate and operate these facilities and the health care professionals who manage and operate them and serve their residents?
• What are the greatest opportunities (and barriers) to creating healthier indoor environments Manitoba’s long-term care sector?

Moderator:

Shauna Mallory-Hill

University of Manitoba

Panelists:

Jerald Peters

ft3 Architecture Landscape Interior Design

Craig Doerkson

Shared Health – Soins Communs

Sue Vovchuk

Long-Term and Continuing Care Association of Manitoba

Closing Remarks

Optional In-person Tour

Following the event, join a tour of RRC Polytech’s Interdisciplinary Health and Community Services Simulation Centre

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Shauna Mallory-Hill

Dr. Shauna Mallory-Hill, Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture, has more than 25 years of experience teaching and researching building systems, universal and sustainable design, as well as building performance evaluation.

A major focus of her research is on how sustainably designed environments impact human health and productivity.

Mallory-Hill’s building evaluation work has been presented internationally and published in several journals and books including Enhancing Building Performance published by Wiley-Blackwell.

Alireza Kaboorani

Alireza Kaboorani has been serving as the Director of the Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre at RRC Polytech since November 2019.

With over 25 years of experience, he has excelled in planning and spearheading research initiatives in diverse academic and industrial settings.

His areas of expertise encompass building envelope, building science, and the development of advanced building materials and biomaterials.

Ken Klassen

Ken Klassen of Infotechnika is a Winnipeg-based engineering technologist with more than four decades of experience advancing the performance and sustainability of homes, buildings and communities in Manitoba, across Canada, and internationally.

He first became involved in Building Performance Evaluations (BPEs) in 2008.  As part of a Canadian team, Ken help assess green building projects across the country and benchmarked the results against leading projects worldwide.

Ken has played a key role in supporting RRC Polytech’s Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) applied research to pilot the use of of BPEs in Manitoba’s long-term care facilities.

Jerald Peters

Jerald is passionate about healthcare design, starting with his graduate thesis on seniors and long-term care housing two decades earlier.

As a principal and the Healthcare Lead at ft3, Jerald advances projects focused on wellness and evidence-based outcomes, strongly advocating that design should improve the lives of those it impacts, and shifting the philosophy away from sustaining lives to enhancing them.

He is a regular attendee and presenter at healthcare conferences and contributes to white papers on topics related to long-term care, acute care, and staff retention. 

Craig Doerkson

Craig is the Executive Director of Capital, Clinical Engineering & Facilities Management for Manitoba’s healthcare coordinating agency Shared Health. In this role he is responsible for leading the provincial multi-year planning of all capital, supporting project delivery and setting the standards for provincial FM operations.

Craig is the Immediate Past President of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society, and an active member of several Canadian Standards Association subcommittees including the HVAC, Medical Gas Standard, Z8003 Research and Post Occupancy Evaluation, Z8004 Long Term Care Operations and IP&C and the new Z8008 Assessment of Health Care Facilities Services and Building Systems.

He has continued to pursue learning and challenging himself following his B.S. in Energy Systems Engineering he obtained his Professional Engineer designation, a Masters in Facility Management, CFM (IFMA), CEM (AEE) and CHES’ CCHFM designation.

Sue Vovchuk

Sue Vovchuk has over 30 years of experience working with seniors in Manitoba in both frontline and leadership roles. She brings extensive knowledge of public housing, home care, long term care, supportive housing, personal care homes, and assisted living.

A committed and compassionate leader, Sue has built strong relationships with all levels of government and Manitoba’s five Provincial Health Authorities.

As Executive Director of the Long Term Care Association of Manitoba, she is passionate about building partnerships that strengthen current and future care environments for seniors and looks forward to collaborating with provincial, national, and international partners.

Jennifer L. Morin

Jennifer Morin (Otto) is a Manitoba-born registered nurse whose work and studies have taken her across urban, rural, and remote communities throughout the province. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Nursing from the University of Manitoba, as well as a Certificate in Adult Education from Red River College Polytechnic.

Jennifer’s academic and professional work focuses on advancing ecoliteracy within nursing education.

She collaborates with interdisciplinary partners to integrate planetary health into nursing curricula and within Canada’s public health care system — strengthening the profession’s capacity to address climate-related health challenges.

Chang Liu

Chang Liu is the Research Manager at the Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) within Red River College Polytechnic in Winnipeg.

Specializing in building performance and thermal efficiency, she has led significant applied research projects focused on building envelope durability, moisture management, and indoor air quality (IAQ). 

For this project, she works in collaboration with the Nursing Department. She manages IAQ data collection, sensor-based analysis, and the identification of performance gaps to recommend design and operational improvements.

These findings were presented at the 2025 Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association Biennial Conference and the 2025 Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba Conference.

The 2023 Heavy Vehicle and Equipment Technology Conference, co-hosted by RRC Polytech and the Vehicle Technology Centre, brought together key players from industry and academia to demonstrate, display and discuss the latest advancements across the more than billion-dollar sector of Manitoba’s economy. While the concept of the event designed to drive innovation is relatively simple, the collective work done by the assembled group of business leaders, engineers, technicians, researchers, and trainers to propel us into the future is anything but.

From tractors and agricultural equipment to buses, motorhomes and firetrucks, Manitoba proudly produces many of the largest and most powerful vehicles on the continent. But as competition around the world increases, the nearly 200 invested attendees agreed that the key to growing our success is embracing new technology and energy transition – prompting the theme of the third biennial conference, Innovation Drives Us.

“Decades ago, science fiction writers boldly predicted that flying cars and massive spacecraft would become the norm and while that day may still come, almost a quarter of the way into the 21^st century, the giant rubber wheels of our heaviest vehicles and equipment are still planted firmly on the ground,” said Ron Vanderwees, President and CEO of the Vehicle Technology Centre. “They are, however, evolving at an incredibly rapid rate thanks to the development of cleaner and more efficient propulsion systems, robotics, artificial intelligence and other related emerging technologies.”

How to make our heavy vehicles, machines and equipment more efficient and sustainable, without limiting performance or profitability while respecting current infrastructure is what much of the discussion revolved around during the two-day conference at the Victoria Inn.  

The agenda was designed to bring perspective and spark conversation. Presenters from both industry and academia shared information and experiences and then engaged the audience on a wide variety of related topics from the methods and challenges of fleet electrification and the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells; to the convergence of digitalization, automation, and intelligent systems; to funding; and even the importance of nurturing mental health. Scheduled mingling sessions then allowed attendees to interact directly, encouraging company to company and company to academia discussions to help create partnership opportunities.   

“Collaboration not competition is what will drive Manitoba’s heavy vehicle and equipment sector into a more efficient and sustainable future,” said Vanderwees. “The opportunity for everyone to connect and forge new relationships by asking a lot of questions is just as important as the forward-thinking sessions we hosted on such topics as the path to zero emissions; smart, connected and autonomous vehicle technology; and advanced manufacturing technology.”

A dozen exhibitors including teams from RRC Polytech’s Vehicle Technology and Energy Centre (VTEC), MotiveLab™ and Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) also offered interactive demonstrations featuring augmented reality, robotics, connected tools, automated mobile robots, sensors, and other technologies as examples of the innovative solutions available to businesses.  

“RRC Polytech is uniquely positioned to catalyze innovation, by developing new products, techniques, and systems through applied research, while preparing students and industry professionals to master these emerging technologies and drive progress forward,” said Jojo Delos Reyes, Research Program Manager and the event’s co-emcee. “The creation of the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics will allow the College to continue its work in this sector and expand our abilities to help drive Manitoba into the future.”

After participating virtually in 2021 and learning about VTEC’s successful EV Tundra Buggy project with Frontiers North, Brent Malley made it a priority to travel from Alberta to take part in person, this time. His company, Pursuit Collection operates tours of exotic locations including the Columbia Icefields, so he was thrilled with the opportunity to discuss battery electrification with experts from RRC Polytech and New Flyer Industries, face to face.

“It’s been a truly inspiring event. My team has been blown away by the willingness of everyone to share so many fresh ideas,” said Malley. “We’ve made some amazing connections that I’m confident will lead to partnerships in the future.”

Thanks to strong sponsorship and the support of government partners through Prairies Economic Development Canada and Manitoba Sector Council, RRC Polytech and the Vehicle Technology Centre are already making plans to host the next Heavy Vehicle and Equipment Technology Conference in 2025.

RRC Polytech is committed to leading meaningful change on a global scale, so exploring how the College can harness the power of applied research and collaboration to realize international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was a natural fit for a panel discussion at RED Forum – an annual professional development day for faculty and staff.

SDGs are the 17 calls to action in the United Nations shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The strategies to improve health and education, reduce inequality, spur economic growth, and tackle climate change align with RRC Polytech’s values and the diversity of the panel’s areas of expertise demonstrated how collaboration plays a critical role in working toward them.

The panel featured RRC Polytech experts:

• Stephanie Fulford, Sustainability Specialist, Environmental Stewardship and Campus Renewal
• Dr. Rob Santos, Chair, Research School of Health Sciences and Community Services
• Elena Gomez Haro, Research Manager, Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK)
• Ginger Arnold, Instructor, Social Innovation and Community Development Programs
• Dr. Arman Vahedi, Instructor, Civil Engineering Technology

Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Director of Research Partnerships and Innovation (RPI) moderated the discussion and invited each panelist to share some results of their projects and initiatives in relation to SDGs. Each specialist identified and connected elements of their work with the goals in their area of focus.

Stephanie Fulford described the benefits of waste auditing and engaging the entire College community in composting. At the Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK), Elena Gomez Haro explained how they are developing alternative food options that upcycle waste products to shrink our carbon footprint. Engineers are instinctive problem solvers, so Dr. Arman Vahedi spoke about his students’ water treatment studies testing the effect of pharmaceuticals on aquatic life in remote lakes. Ginger Arnold promoted a new climate change class for her students in the School of Indigenous Education, that will build on the established respect Indigenous people have for Mother Nature. Dr. Rob Santos spotlighted the impact of the College’s work developing Early Childhood Education training for the progressive Abecedarian Approach.

On the surface these positive endeavours appeared to be separate and distinctive but as the conversation flowed examples of common successes and challenges also emerged, revealing how interwoven and interdependent each department really is.

The intersecting issues prompted an exchange of ideas and advice from the PRK’s approach of educating clients through access, to instructors seeking related capstone projects for students, to geo-coding benefits and the overall need for everyone to convert the latest science into progress. The panelists highlighted the advantages of making a coordinated effort like accelerated knowledge transfer and ultimately demonstrated how applied research often acts as a common bond in positively impacting change.

“RRC Polytech’s combination of expertise, perspectives and resources provides us with a unique opportunity to bring together staff, faculty, and students with community and industry partners to achieve real progress in the wide variety of fields that the Sustainable Development Goals address,” said Dr. Galaugher.

“Regardless of their specialty, the panelists agreed that innovative solutions achieved through applied research expedite the process by empowering others with better tools, technologies and techniques so we can reach our shared objective – to realize social, economic and environmental sustainability on both a local and a global scale.”  

The panel was also in agreement that funding remains the most difficult barrier to overcome, followed by time, but that by offering different paths to the same endpoint RRC Polytech will continue to inspire students to get involved and do more.

There is still much work to be done but because cumulative growth increases the probabilities of achieving SDGs, all successes at the College are connected. Manitoba’s polytechnic must continue to play a leadership role in advancing SDGs by working with industry to bridge gaps and prioritizing collaboration and applied research.

You’re invited to the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing’s (TACAM) first annual Fall Open House and Showcase.

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2022
Time: Drop-in between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Smart Factory (Building T), Notre Dame Campus, 2055 Notre Dame Ave.
Click here for a map.
Cost: Free

Event highlights:
• Freestyle visit to all work areas within the Smart Factory and other facilities
• Showcase of leading advance manufacturing technologies
• Showcase of specific industry projects and success stories
• Connecting one-on-one with TACAM staff to discuss opportunities
• Networking with other attendees
• Refreshment and celebration

Please note that registration is required for this event. We are looking forward to seeing you at the event!

In 2019, RRC Polytech’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre (VTEC) hosted the inaugural Vehicle Technology Conference. This past December 7 and 8, 2021, VTEC collaborated with industry partner, Vehicle Technology Centre Inc. (VTC), to host the Heavy Vehicle and Equipment Technology Conference at the Victoria Inn & Convention Centre, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The conference showcased heavy vehicle and tech expertise in the province and aimed to connect key industry players and academic institutions. The overarching goal of the conference is to support Manitoba’s position as a hub for emerging vehicle technology and innovation, through creating new connections and cross collaborations.

“Manitoba is home to a unique concentration of heavy vehicle and equipment manufacturers. We are home to North America’s largest city and highway bus manufacturer, Canada’s only four-wheel drive tractor manufacturer, the country’s largest manufacturers of fire trucks, agricultural equipment, and motorhomes. The province also has a host of businesses manufacturing truck trailers, airport runway cleaning equipment, electric municipal vehicles as well as a supply and academic community that supports our growth,” said Ron Vanderwees, President of VTC, a non-for-profit organization that helps accelerate growth and technology adoption of the local heavy vehicle and equipment cluster.

“Many of us are on a similar technology path and the Conference is a platform to informally share knowledge or formally collaborate to help our cluster stay ahead of the curve and be leaders amongst world-wide competition.”

“RRC Polytech aims to drive growth in Manitoba’s heavy vehicle and equipment cluster by working alongside industry partners to solve real-world challenges. Through applied research projects, we continue to build our capabilities with zero-emission vehicle technology and provide invaluable work-integrated experience for our students, the next generation of innovators,” said Jojo Delos Reyes, Research Program Manager, VTEC.

Guests joined the hybrid event in person and virtually through Zoom for forward-thinking sessions from local subject matter experts and presenters joining from across North America. The conference gave a look into “what’s next” in the industry and focused on top-of-mind areas, including hydrogen fuel cell technology, smart, connected and autonomous vehicles, augmented reality to support production, and much more.

Paul Soubry, President and CEO of NFI Group gave the keynote presentation, “Maintaining Product Segment Leadership in Markets with Rapidly Evolving Technology,” followed by a fireside chat with RRC Polytech President and CEO, Fred Meier.

On the second day of the conference, John Gunter, President and CEO, and Tye Noble, Lead Engineer, of Frontiers North Adventures, shared their experiences from the Electric Vehicle (EV) Tundra Buggy prototype, a collaborative electrification project with VTC, VTEC and support from the Government of Manitoba’s Conservation and Climate Fund.

Select presentations from the conference are available to view on vtci.ca under the “Webinars & Technical Papers” section.

The Heavy Vehicle and Equipment Technology Conference was made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors:

• MacDon Industries
• Applifast
• CadMicro Solutions
• Manitoba Trucking Association
• National Research Council Canada
• NFI Group
• Triple E RV and Lode King
• World Trade Centre Winnipeg
• Vehicle Technology Centre Inc.
• RRC Polytech’s MotiveLab

Save the date: The Heavy Vehicle and Equipment Technology Conference will be returning live from Winnipeg, Manitoba in Fall/Winter 2023. Dates to be announced in early 2023.

For enquiries about the 2023 conference or how your organization can participate, please contact VTEC or VTCI for more information.

The Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM) recently hosted the first of a three-part series of virtual knowledge events. This event covered the topic of 3D design, modelling and simulation.

At this session, partners from SimuTech spoke about some of the leading-edge technology used to minimize development costs in different stages of product development.

There were also presentations from  three TACAM clients who have harnessed these capabilities. Learn about their innovation challenges, how they worked with TACAM, and the benefits realized thereafter by watching the event recording.

Click below to watch a recording of the event, and stay tuned for future events!

The University of Winnipeg and The University of Manitoba are pleased to invite all Early Career Researchers to attend Early Career Researcher Day.

Location: Convocation Hall – The University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue

Date & Time: February 27, 2020, 9:00am – 3:00pm (suggested arrival by 8:45)

RSVP: Please email j.orr@uwinnipeg.ca to confirm attendance (and dietary requirements) **by February 14^th, 2020**

Registration: FREE – lunch provided (please RSVP)

Early Career Researcher Day is the first event of its kind in Manitoba. The University of Winnipeg and The University of Manitoba are jointly holding the event to bring emerging researchers together with experienced grant writers and funding experts where, together, they will interactively explore the research lifecycle.

Experts from the University of Winnipeg, The University of Manitoba, Mitacs, and Research Manitoba, among others, will participate in info sessions, panels, and workshops, to provide information and support attendees throughout the day. Attendees will jointly develop original research project ideas in order to engage with the entire research lifecycle.

The event presents a unique opportunity for early career researchers to:

• Develop new partnerships
• Workshop a project idea with the support of experts
• Think beyond the proposal to convey competence and feasibility

Please note:

• Anyone who considers themselves an Early Career Researcher or who is interested in participating is welcome to attend
• Participants who cannot attend the full day are encouraged to RSVP for the morning or afternoon session alone

Please click here to learn more.

Save the date! The Research and Scholarship Committee from Red River College’s Nursing Department has organized a research workshop that is open to Chairs and Faculty: “From Bright Idea to Research Plan in Four Easy Steps.”

When: March 12, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Where: Library Classroom, Notre Dame Campus.

Please join RRC’s Kim Mitchell, Deb Gural, and library staff in an interactive session that will outline four basic steps to help you move from research idea to action plan.

Step 1: What do you want to know?

Step 2: Who are your participants?

Step 3: What do you want to change?

Step 4: What is realistic?

Please RSVP or send your questions to kmmitchell@rrc.ca.

Calling all scientists, entrepreneurs, environmental activists, developers, sustainability experts, engineers, and people who want to change the world!

AquaHacking is an 8-month startup competition where innovative youth from across the disciplines team up to tackle urgent freshwater issues with sustainable tech solutions.

Students, recent grads, and young professionals of all skill levels are welcome to participate!

Bring your lunch and join us for an info session on February 7th.

When: Friday, February 7, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Where: Skilled Trades & Technology Centre galleria (main floor), Notre Dame Campus, Red River College

Register now!

AquaHacking is proudly presented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

Red River College is pleased to host the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) for a Lunch and Learn on November 22.

IDEaS was launched in April 2018 as part of Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. The program was allocated $1.6 billion over 20 years to invest in the extraordinary talent and ingenuity resident in Canada to help resolve unclassified defence and security challenges. Regardless if you are working from your home, an academic in a university lab or a scientist in a small or a major corporation, the Innovation for Defence, Excellence and Security (IDEaS) is looking for your solutions to help resolve defence and security challenges. This is your opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas!

The various elements of IDEaS include Competitive Projects, Contests, Innovation Networks, Sandboxes, and Innovation Assessment & Implementation. To date, there have been 45 challenges issued, 219 funded entities, and over $63 M committed or spent.

This Lunch and Learn takes place on Friday, November 22 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. in the Black Lecture Theatre at Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus. Please register here.