On September 27, Chris Bittle, MP for St. Catharines and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities, visited NC to tour the Welland Campus dental clinic and labs. This visit was a follow-up to the 2023 budget announcement of the new Canadian Dental Care Plan, aimed at learning more about the College’s dental education and how the new dental plan has impacted the work of NC dental students and staff.
MP Bittle toured the Welland Campus dental clinic, x-ray processing lab, and dental materials lab, gaining a firsthand look at NC’s dental students’ practical education.
MP Bittle was accompanied by Yasmine Hejazi, Stakeholder & Communications Advisor, and joined by NC President Sean Kennedy, Vice President, Academic, Fiona Allan, Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Sinéad McElhone, Director, Government Relations, Mabel Watt, and Dental Programs Manager Emily Burns.
The tour began with a warm welcome from President Kennedy, who recalled MP Bittle’s previous visit in 2023 with Kamal Khera, Minister of Seniors, to highlight federal investments in dental care and the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
“That was a proud moment for us and our dental students,” said Kennedy. “It’s great to have you back on campus.”
Four students in NC’s Dental Hygiene program and Dental Assisting program participated in the tour. Each student introduced themselves, sharing their educational journeys at NC and future career aspirations.
The first stop on the tour was the dental lab, where students demonstrated their weekly clinical practices using real-world tools and operations. The lab is set up with dental pods resembling a real dentist office, where students perform procedures such as dental cleanings on community members.
Given the importance of dental care for seniors in the community, the group discussed how NC’s dental programs and clinic helps to serve this population.
“One of our hallmarks at NC is our community connection, and that is apparent through our dental programs,” Kennedy shared.
The tour continued in the x-ray processing lab, where students practice assessing x-rays on dental manikins that feature human jaws and teeth. Next, they visited the dental materials lab, where students make tools such as night guards and teeth whitening kits. Students showcased the machinery and processes used in the lab to create these tools and discussed their experiences performing whitening treatments on one another during class.
MP Chris Bittle and NC President Sean Kennedy.
MP Bittle actively engaged with the students throughout the tour, inquiring about their learning experiences at NC and their future aspirations. He also reflected on witnessing the transformative impact of dental care on people’s lives in our community and commended the students for their contributions to this important field.
The tour concluded with a group photo in front of the new NC Life-branded banner, part of the College’s recent brand refresh. President Kennedy took the opportunity to share with MP Bittle the story behind the new text and colours that make up the banner and new NC brand. Before leaving, MP Bittle was presented with a gift basket as a token of appreciation for his visit and his dedication to learning about the college’s dental programs.
