In a display of innovation and collaboration, the realms of the life sciences sector were brought to the forefront as the City of Barrie and the County of Simcoe welcomed Life Sciences Ontario to the region on Thursday September 28th, 2023 as part of the organization’s annual Road Trip Across the Province to celebrate Global BioTech week. This year's journey shone a spotlight on four distinctive communities: Guelph, Hamilton, Northern Ontario, and, of course, Barrie and Simcoe County. The whirlwind tour showcased the incredible strides being made in the life sciences sector throughout the Province.
The event was hosted at Sandbox Centre in beautiful downtown Barrie and kicked off with a breakfast networking session and presentation. The event was buzzing with people connecting and learning about what businesses and organizations from across the City of Barrie and County of Simcoe have going on in the life science space.
Dr. Rebecca Heffernan, Research & Strategic Initiatives Facilitator at Lakehead University, provided an informative presentation on how the institution is preparing students for promising careers in life sciences while tackling the sector's pressing challenges through ongoing research endeavors. For example, Dr. Farhan Ghaffar and a team of scientist are using advanced wireless technologies to transform blood bag sterilization systems by tracking the exact dosage of radiation used to ensure safe use in blood transfusions, minimizing the unnecessary disposal of blood bags.
Jesse MacLean, Research Director at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), also shared some highlights of the research program, capabilities and robust investments being made at the largest health care centre in the region. His presentation showcased the hospital's priority areas of applied health, digital health and advanced technology as well as RVH’s commitment to meaningful collaboration within the life sciences ecosphere of organizations to help address the region's burgeoning growth projections.
Local leader in the industry, Bryan Howcroft, CFO & President of Global Sales at Southmedic, shared a strong narrative of the company's exponential growth since its inception in 1983. The company manufactures innovative proprietary branded products like the Oxymask TM as well as custom manufacturing of products for the health care sector. The company occupies over 200,000 square feet in Barrie and markets it’s products in 82 countries worldwide. Bryan’s talk shed light on how the city’s lifestyle factors played a role in why Barrie was chosen as the home for the multinational business 40 years ago, echoing the city's magnetism for burgeoning enterprises in the life sciences sector.
The group then embarked on a field trip aboard a city bus that took participants to Georgian College’s Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences to explore the state-of-the-art building and labs first hand as well as learn how the college is preparing students with hands on experience to meet the needs of industry. Participants also had the chance to tour and learn about how the Georgian College’s research and innovation department helps businesses stay competitive in the life sciences sector.
The day culminated with a site tour and grand opening celebration at Environmental Systems Corporation (ESC) in honor of their recent expansion. Established in 1986, ESC unveiled its new, larger location within the city, proudly displaying its expertise in designing critical environments and building cleanrooms catering to various applications in the life sciences sector.
“Life Sciences Ontario is a not-for-profit industry association that represents the collective voice of the life sciences sector throughout the province. Regions like Barrie and Simcoe County play an integral role in supporting our mission of fostering a commercially successful life sciences sector in Ontario and beyond. Their impact can be seen through their leadership and support to LSO initiatives designed to amplify and connect regional companies like Environmental Systems Corporation to other members of life sciences community throughout the province.” - Andy Donovan, Director, Member Engagement and Business Development.
The event not only showcased the thriving life sciences sector in Barrie but also emphasized the pivotal role of institutional, academic, and industry partnerships in steering this industry towards a promising future. Collaborative efforts aimed at nurturing and inspiring the next generation of the workforce were evident, echoing a shared vision of growth for the life sciences in the City of Barrie and the broader region.