At a time when healthcare systems are under unprecedented pressure, the RBC Foundation has announced a $750,000 donation to support frontline nurses and healthcare workers across Southwestern and Northern Ontario.
Announced during National Nursing Week (May 12–18), the funding will benefit London Health Sciences Foundation and Children’s Health Foundation as part of a larger, nationwide initiative by the RBC Foundation aimed at enhancing the skills and resilience of Canadian healthcare providers.
The donation will bring free skills training directly to nurses and frontline healthcare workers in Chatham, Chesley, Clinton, Durham, Exeter, Goderich, Hanover, Ingersoll, Kincardine, Leamington, Lions Head, Listowel, Markdale, Meaford, Newbury, Owen Sound, Petrolia, Sarnia, Seaforth, Simcoe, Southampton, Stratford, St. Marys, Strathroy, St. Thomas, Thunder Bay, Tillsonburg, Walkerton, Wallaceburg, Windsor, Wingham, Wiarton, and Woodstock.
The investment comes at a critical time. Healthcare leaders report that experienced nurses are retiring in increasing numbers, while early-career nurses are stepping into vital roles faster than ever before. Smaller urban and rural hospitals are also experiencing intensified workforce demands, making hands-on, accessible training more essential than ever.
To meet this challenge, the RBC Foundation’s donation will fund two programs designed to deliver high-impact training where it’s needed most.
The first is called BETTY (Bringing Education and Technology to You) – A mobile, on-site simulation training program offering quick, 15–30 minute hands-on sessions for nurses and allied health professionals at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). These sessions allow staff to sharpen critical skills without leaving their units.
"This kind of hands-on, in-the-moment training is a game-changer—and thanks to RBC Foundation, we’re able to bring it straight to the front lines," said Deborah Wiseman, Vice President, CNE and Emergency Services, Critical Care, Clinical Neurological Sciences, Medicine and Nursing Practice at LHSC. "Traditional ‘watch and do’ training isn’t fast enough for today’s high-stakes care, whereas simulation training gives staff the confidence and experience to respond, not just react. This training also happens right where care is delivered, removing access barriers and downtime."
The second is PROP (Paediatric Regional Outreach Program) a specialized program that delivers experiential simulation training in perinatal and paediatric critical incident care to frontline teams in smaller urban and rural hospitals throughout the region.
"RBC’s generosity will impact paediatric care across Southwestern and parts of Northern Ontario," said Dr. Gurinder Sangha, Medical Director of the Paediatric Simulation Program at Children’s Hospital, LHSC. "Through expanded access to experiential simulation training, frontline teams in smaller urban and rural hospitals will hone their skills and be better equipped to respond swiftly and confidently when a child’s future is at risk."
Held each May in honour of Florence Nightingale, National Nursing Week recognizes the contributions of Canada’s 400,000 nurses — the largest group of healthcare professionals in the country — and highlights the essential role they play in keeping communities healthy.