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The University of New Brunswick welcomed the Lark Group and Opportunities New Brunswick for community engagement forums about the Health and Technology District Saint John. Co-hosted with Envision Saint John, key stakeholders and members of the community were introduced to the health district and associated ecosystem through a series of workshops.

At the Health and Technology District Saint John, innovators, entrepreneurs, students and faculty will work alongside scientists, clinicians and healthcare practitioners to develop new technologies and improve health outcomes, patient experiences and the economics of health care delivery in the region and beyond.

“These community forums allowed us to have in-depth conversations with stakeholders and partners across the region about the priorities and benefits of the Health and Technology District Saint John,” says Dr. Petra Hauf, UNB’s vice-president Saint John. “We had many engaging and productive discussions about how the Health and Technology District Saint John can have a significant impact on our city and the province. I look forward to continuing this positive momentum."

Part of UNB’s Integrated Health Initiative, the Health and Technology District Saint John will be built at Tucker Park on UNB’s Saint John campus in three phases. Phase 1, a $30-million, 75,000-sq. ft. building, is expected to begin construction in 2023, but the creation of the innovation ecosystem has already begun. The Health and Technology District Saint John will exist within an environment built upon strong partnerships within the region. Bringing together researchers and practitioners, and utilizing outstanding academic programming, this ecosystem will enable transformational change in the health sector. 

Through the Integrated Health Initiative and Health and Technology District Saint John, the city is poised to become a national centre of excellence that is leading the way in health and social innovation. They will contribute to economic growth through innovation and research activities and population increase by attracting students, entrepreneurs and world-class professionals.

The complex, to be built in collaboration with the Lark Group, will house research and development laboratories, collaborative meeting spaces, offices and facilities for health and wellness service providers.

“The Health and Technology District Saint John is an ideal location for a similar model to British Columbia’s highly successful district model in Surrey,” says Rowena Rizzotti, vice-president of healthcare and innovation at Lark Group. “It is poised to become the leading hub for digital health and technological advancements all while transforming the health care ecosystem in New Brunswick.” 

Its target tenants are health-oriented, education and technology-based organizations, and companies focused on innovation for better health outcomes and wellness.

“The Health and Technology District Saint John will completely reinvent the post-graduate landscape on campus and the start-up landscape in the region,” says Paulette Hicks, CEO of Envision Saint John. “It will also be a powerful recruitment tool for entrepreneurial-minded students from all STEM disciplines. It will take Tucker Park to the next level.”

An ambitious vision, the Health and Technology District Saint John is an innovative academic-public-private partnership between UNB, Opportunities New Brunswick and Lark Group. The B.C.-based Lark Group will return to Saint John this summer for additional workshops and community engagement sessions. 

“These opportunities for engagement are an important element of the Health and Technology District Saint John. We are proud to be able to build upon these strong existing partnerships and excited to continue building new collaborations within our community and beyond,” says Dr. Hauf.

Media contact: Kelsey Pye
Photo: Dr. Petra Hauf, left, and Rowena Rizzotti at a community engagement session focused on the Health and Technology District Saint John.