Manitoba is investing more than $12.5 million in a new interdisciplinary health and community services simulation centre at Red River College Polytechnic as part of its efforts to train new nurses and health-care professionals.

“Today is an important step forward in our commitment to add 400 new nursing training seats throughout the province to ensure Manitoba has a strong workforce to support health system needs, now and into the future,” said Premier Heather Stefanson.

The new training centre will support the addition of 115 nursing seats which will bring the total number of new nursing seats to more than 400. Last year the government made a commitment to add 400 nursing seats over the next few years.

“The centre will help students receive the training needed to thrive in nursing and other health-care fields, leading to fulfilling careers in vital areas of our province’s economy,” said Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes. “It will be a key component in realizing the next phase of our nursing-seat expansion on the path to reaching our 400-seat goal.”

The new centre will help train nurses, health-care aids, paramedics, diagnostic technologists, as well as community services and disability support worker training programs.

The centre will be located at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus in Winnipeg. The new facility will include equipment and technology that will reflect current health-care settings and simulate actual health-care situations. This will enhance learning and prepare students for clinical placements and employment. It will also help build system capacity through partnerships with other post-secondary institutions and other partners.

It is anticipated that the new centre will be completed in the next two years.