Vancouver Community College (VCC) is proud to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the Government of Canada's Health Canada Oral Health Access Fund (OHAF). This investment will support the creation of a new Oral Health Simulation Lab at VCC's Downtown Campus, enhancing hands-on dental education for VCC's School of Health Sciences Dental students.
The distribution of the Oral Health Access Fund was announced on November 24, 2025, by The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health. The announcement is part of a broader Health Canada initiative distributing more than $35 million over three years to institutions across Canada for projects that will improve training for dental students and strengthen efforts to improve access to care.
Featuring high-fidelity dental simulators, extended reality learning environments, and simulated patient interactions, the new Oral Health Simulation Lab will give students the opportunity to practice clinical techniques and patient communication in a safe, controlled setting that mirrors real-world scenarios.
The project will be designed specifically to address the dental care needs of children, guided by the principles of Sex-Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+). Applying this framework ensures that learning activities are inclusive, evidence-informed, and responsive to the unique needs of this patient population.
"Students will gain hands-on experience in administering care and communicating effectively - skills that will help them deliver better care for patients when they enter the workforce," said Ajay Patel, VCC President & CEO.
"VCC is honoured to receive government funding that will enable us to create a comprehensive Oral Health Simulation Lab for our School of Health Sciences Dental students," said Jo-Ellen Zakoor, Dean of Health Sciences and lead of B.C.'s Health Student Practice Education Simulation Strategy. "Health simulation helps students enter the workforce feeling more confident and capable. With the new tools and techniques provided by our Oral Health Simulation Lab, students will gain the skills they need to build successful careers in the field of oral healthcare."
The new lab will be a part of VCC's broader Health Simulation Centre, which includes responsive, computer-controlled mannequins, virtual reality experiences, and immersive scenario-based learning environments. VCC's Health Simulation Centre supports students in Nursing, Allied Health, and Dental programs to develop clinical expertise and critical decision-making skills.
VCC currently offers a full range of Dental programs - including Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Dental Reception, and Dental Technology Sciences - forming an integrated ecosystem of oral-health education.
The Oral Health Simulation Lab is currently targeted to launch in early 2028.
VCC continues to collaborate with healthcare partners, government, and industry experts to ensure its students are trained using the latest technologies and techniques, supporting the province's future workforce needs.
