Fleming College

Peterborough ON – (April 21, 2020) – Fleming College has been working out of its downtown 3D Makerspace, located in the Innovation Cluster’s main office and downtown Peterborough incubator, to create headbands and reinforcement pieces for face shields. These will be given to frontline healthcare workers in the Peterborough region.

The initiative began on April 3, when Fleming College delivered headbands to the Peterborough PPE Initiative, a group of Peterborough makers who are creating personal protective equipment. This group, which is led by Fleming College graduate Dylan Radcliffe, have been creating face shields using PETG sheets, plastic brackets, and elastic material, made possible by the Makerspace’s 3D printers.

“We are very proud to work with our community partners at Innovation Cluster to support this initiative and produce pieces that create much-needed resources to keep our frontline workers safe,” said Fleming College President Maureen Adamson.

Fleming College’s School of Trades & Technology faculty Fereydoon Diba, with support from Operations Manager Mary MacLeod and Computer Science Technologist Phillip Chee, supported the group by creating more than 500 bottom reinforcement pieces for face shields in the Makerspace.

The donation was made on April 16 and the Peterborough PPE Initiative will assemble and sanitize the face shields, which will be used at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

The Innovation Cluster continues to support Fleming College’s residence in the incubator – the 3D Makerspace is in addition to the Applied Projects Hub which is currently closed due to COVID-19 precautionary measures.

“When Fleming College decided to open the 3D Makerspace in the incubator months ago, we knew the hands-on learning environment would be important, but now we know it is essential,” says John Gillis, President of the Innovation Cluster. “The incubator has always been home to important technological advancements and we are excited that even though startups are unable to physically complete their work in the space due to COVID-19, it is still being used to create and make a difference.”

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 100 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 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 75,000 alumni.

About the Innovation Cluster
The Innovation Cluster is a not-for-profit organization that drives innovative, determined entrepreneurs in the formation and growth of their technology-based companies. Supporting four key sectors, agtech, digital, healthcare and with a strong focus on cleantech, the Innovation Cluster’s dynamic programming and mentoring ensures startups find their best path to market.
Our core partnerships include Fleming College, FedDev Ontario, The City of Kawartha Lakes, OMAFRA, The City of Peterborough, Peterborough Region Angel Network, Peterborough Utilities Group and Trent University. Visit www.innovationcluster.ca 

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Media, for more information please contact:

Sara O’Halloran
Communications Officer, Fleming College 
sara.ohalloran@flemingcollege.ca

Rosalea Terry
Marketing Manager & Senior Innovation Specialist, Innovation Cluster
rterry@innovationcluster.ca
705-875-2161