In October 2022, the students of Confederation College’s Business MK420 Research Analytics Class, along with Professor Kristina Baraskewich, worked alongside James Collie (project lead) and Harold Heerema (project assistant) , to gather basic research on a Life Leasing concept, specifically within the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge, as part of their fall program studies.
James asked the class to gather others’ opinions and thoughts on the concept to himself and Harold, while also tapping into any competition. Though the concept was foreign for some students, it was interesting for them to work towards the planning of a real potential development.
They gathered into 6 groups and commenced with research, developed questionnaires for focus groups, and presented their findings to James and Harold, while also providing written reports.
Carole Long of the NWO Innovation Centre then developed a full summary based on these findings.
Of these findings, valuable insight was acquired. Organizations such as the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario (MTO), the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA), and the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge, were all included in the research and development of the project’s oversight.
The students’ findings have proven useful in creating tangible strategies to move ahead with a rural retirement development based on a Life Leasing model. Findings have also been utilized towards the development’s first public Open House, which was held on November 2, 2023.
We’d like to acknowledge our thanks to Confederation College, Professor Baraskewich, Carole Long along with the NWO Innovation Centre, and the students of MK420 Class of Fall 2022, for assisting in this key research study.