Office of Applied Research and Innovation

Peterborough, ON – (November 3, 2025) – Fleming College has been awarded $357,033 by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR),  in collaboration with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The funding is provided through the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), one of the main grant types under the tri-agency College and Community Innovation (CCI) program.

The grant will fund a three-year applied research project aimed at improving nurse well-being at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) through structured resilience training. The funding announcement was made on October 31 by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

The project is led by Fleming College faculty members Jill Henderson, MN, RN; Wendy Morgan, MA-Ed, MA-CP; and Melissa Sherrer, MN, RN, from Fleming’s School of Health and Community Services. They are joined by Dr. Michael Ungar, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience at Dalhousie University.

"The nursing workforce in Canada faces severe challenges with devastating rates of burnout and projected shortages,” said Dr. Theresa Knott, Acting Co-President, Fleming College. “A recent poll from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions reports 40 per cent of nurses intend to leave the profession within the next year. This funding will help address these workforce pressures and strengthen the future of health care in Ontario and across the country.”

The CCSIF-funded project builds on a successful pilot study led by Henderson and Morgan, previously funded by NSERC. In that study, the duo delivered resilience training to fourth-semester students in Fleming’s Practical Nursing program. Their research demonstrated clear benefits: participants reported improvements in overall mental health, increased self-awareness, better emotional regulation, and greater confidence in managing stress. Many also valued the group-based support.

With this new funding, the research team will adapt and expand their resilience training model to support nurses at PRHC and study the impact of the training over time. The goal is to support nurses' psychological well-being, reduce burnout, and strengthen job satisfaction, which are all factors that play a critical role in improving retention and patient care outcomes. The study offers a scalable training model to shape best practices in nurse support provincially and nationally.

“Fleming College is proud to support the well-being of nurses already in the field through this important new resilience training,” continued Dr. Knott. “While we remain committed to preparing career-ready nurses through our academic programs, this applied research project allows us to make a direct, meaningful impact on those currently serving in our healthcare system. It’s a response to real needs in our community.”

The project will also provide paid research opportunities for students from Fleming’s School of Health and Community Services.

Media Inquiries:
Elise Moore
Communications Officer
communications@flemingcollege.ca.

About Fleming College? 
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 85 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 8,500 full-time and 445 part-time students, and 95,000 alumni. 

Find us online:
Web: flemingcollege.ca 
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege 
X: @FlemingCollege 
Instagram: @flemingcollege 
TikTok: @flemingcollege 

Peterborough, ON – (August 25, 2025) – Fleming College is proud to announce a major win for local innovation and clean technology: a new $450,000 grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to support the ongoing development of Canada’s first fan-in-wing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The three-year Applied Research and Development (ARD) project will be led by a team of researchers from Fleming’s Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT) and researchers from Ontario Tech University’s Machining Research Laboratory (MRL) and Advanced Digital Design, Manufacturing, and Metrology Lab (AD2MLabs). Together, the teams will advance Horizon’s flagship aircraft, the Cavorite X7, a hybrid eVTOL built for clean, efficient regional air travel.

Through advanced simulations, engineering design, and manufacturing development, Fleming and Ontario Tech researchers will help finalize the design of the Cavorite X7’s wing-integrated fan system. This innovative propulsion technology enables the aircraft’s vertical lift off like a helicopter before the unique wing design transitions mid-air to allow for efficient high-speed flight like a conventional airplane.

The Cavorite X7 represents exactly the type of challenge CAMIIT was built to take on. By combining advanced simulation, design, and manufacturing expertise, the team is helping accelerate one of Canada’s most promising aerospace innovations.

The partnership gives students the opportunity to work as paid research assistants, gaining hands-on experience solving aerospace challenges and preparing for careers in advanced manufacturing, clean technology, and engineering.

“We are proud to continue this meaningful collaboration between leading Canadian academic institutions and Horizon Aircraft. Fleming College and Ontario Tech University have been incredible partners over the years, and have meaningfully contributed to our collective success,” said Brandon Robinson, CEO of Horizon Aircraft. “Together we will continue to push the boundaries of leading-edge sustainable aerospace technology here in Canada, employ the most talented Canadian engineers and technicians, and cement Canada as an innovative force that is committed to building a better future.”

About Horizon Aircraft
Horizon Aircraft, based in Lindsay, ON, is an advanced aerospace engineering company that is developing one of the world’s first hybrid eVTOL aircraft that offers industry-leading speed, range, and operational utility.

About CAMIIT at Fleming College
The Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT) connects industry with Fleming’s leading expertise in smart technologies, advanced manufacturing, and prototyping to fuel the next wave of industrial innovation.

About Ontario Tech University’s MRL
The Machining Research Laboratory at Ontario Tech University is a multidisciplinary lab conducting research to develop and improve techniques in subtractive and additive manufacturing.

About Ontario Tech University’s AD2MLabs
The Advanced Digital Design, Manufacturing, and Metrology Labs at Ontario Tech University advances research and training in design optimization, simulation, additive manufacturing, and intelligent metrology to support next-generation industrial systems.

About Fleming College 
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 85 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 8,500 full-time and 445 part-time students, and 95,000 alumni.

For more information, please contact: 
IES@flemingcollege.ca 

For media inquiries, please contact: 
Elise Moore 
Communications Officer  
Elise.moore@flemingcollege.ca  

Find us online: 
Web: flemingcollege.ca 
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege 
X: @FlemingCollege 
Instagram: @flemingcollege 
TikTok: @flemingcollege 

Lindsay, ON – (July 22, 2025) – Fleming College’s Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT) has been awarded $450,000 through an Applied Research and Development (ARD) grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The funding will support a three-year research project aimed at identifying water system failures before they happen.

The ARD project is a new phase in a long-standing collaboration between the CAWT and Mueller Canada, a leading manufacturer of infrastructure products and solutions for water management. Echologics, a division of Mueller Canada, has developed advanced technologies to assess the condition of underground water pipes without the need for digging. Now, they’re teaming up with researchers at the CAWT to advance the next generation of their technology.

Led by Dr. Reza Moslemi, P.Eng., Principal Researcher at the CAWT, the new project builds on the momentum of an earlier five-year project that he also led as Fleming’s NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Predictive Water Network Analytics. Drawing on this deep foundation, the joint Fleming-Mueller research team will apply its combined expertise in pipe network modeling, hydraulic analysis, and machine learning to improve a tool that predicts when and where pipe failures are most likely to occur. This project will help municipalities better plan pipe renewal activities and effectively manage their aging water infrastructure.

“This new project builds on years of strong collaboration between Fleming College’s CAWT and Mueller Canada,” said Dr. Theresa Knott, Acting Co-President of Fleming College. “With the leadership of our NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Predictive Water Network Analytics, this partnership has already advanced the field of water main condition assessment. Now, we’re taking that work further to support smarter, more resilient water infrastructure. It’s a powerful example of applied research that delivers long-term impact.”

The resulting predictive model will become part of Mueller Canada’s suite of smart infrastructure solutions, helping the company and its municipal and utility clients make better decisions, reduce costs, and help support more sustainable and reliable water systems across Canada.

About Fleming College 
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 85 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 8,500 full-time and 445 part-time students, and 95,000 alumni.

For media inquiries, please contact: 
Elise Moore 
Communications Officer  
Elise.moore@flemingcollege.ca  

Find us online: 
Web: flemingcollege.ca 
Facebook: facebook.com/flemingcollege 
X: @FlemingCollege 
Instagram: @flemingcollege 
TikTok: @flemingcollege 

What if something as simple as writing down three things you're grateful for each day could improve your mood, increase your motivation, and make daily life feel more meaningful?

Dr. Taryn Grieder set out to answer that very question.

A faculty member in Fleming College’s School of General Arts and Sciences, Dr. Grieder partnered with Kim Sargent, Director of Canadian Family Health Counselling, to explore the benefits of daily gratitude journaling—both in college students and health counselling clients.

Over four weeks, 67 participants completed a daily gratitude journaling exercise, writing down at least three specific things they were grateful for. It could be as small as a hot cup of coffee, a walk in the sunshine, or an unexpected kind word. Participants completed a Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) questionnaire before and after the journaling period, measuring factors such as mood, optimism, relationships, and engagement in daily activities.

The results? Participants reported increased optimism, improved self-image, better emotional stability, and greater satisfaction with their daily activities. Many noticed a shift in how they experienced everyday moments—seeing more good, even during challenging times.

One participant shared, “This was life-changing! I now find myself looking for and noticing the good things to add to my journal… Instead of having a negative outlook, it’s changed to positive and optimistic.”

As the project demonstrated, this low-cost and easy-to-implement strategy could have real potential in mental health counselling and wellness support. The team is already looking at next steps—testing different journaling formats, evaluating long-term effects, and exploring the impact on different populations.

Dr. Grieder brings her background in neuroscience and education to this project, blending rigorous research with practical mental health solutions. And thanks to a strong partnership with Canadian Family Health Counselling, this project has already made a meaningful difference for its participants.

This project was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through Fleming College’s iGRO (Internal Grants for Research Opportunities) program. 

Fleming's Office of Applied Research & Innovation

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Bird-window collisions pose a serious conservation challenge, but applied research at Fleming College’s Frost Campus is proving that small, science-backed interventions can have a big impact.

In 2022, Professor Thom Luloff received funding through Fleming College’s internal research grant program, iGRO, to assess the effectiveness of window markers in reducing bird strikes on campus. Partnering with Feather Friendly®, North America’s leading manufacturer of bird-safe window markers, the project installed their product at Auk’s Lodge, making it the first certified bird-friendly building in the Kawartha Lakes region.

Students played a key role in the research, monitoring window strikes during peak migration seasons. In 449 person-hours of research involving 93 students, not a single bird strike was recorded on treated windows. However, collisions continued on untreated surfaces, reinforcing the need for broader implementation.

This work didn’t go unnoticed—it contributed to the City of Kawartha Lakes earning Bird Friendly City certification in 2024, and student researchers were named Environmental Heroes for their efforts.

What’s next? A new funding proposal has been submitted to a federal granting agency to expand monitoring efforts beyond the campus, with a decision expected in spring 2025.

Have a challenge that needs solving? Let’s tackle it together. Applied research at Fleming helps businesses and organizations access faculty expertise, research funding, and industry partnerships to drive innovation and impact.

Contact us at appliedresearch@flemingcollege.ca to explore what’s possible.