The faculty has earned national recognition for its leadership in simulation-based education, receiving top honours from Simulation Canada. Its innovative work is shaping the future of nursing education and patient care across Canada.
The University of New Brunswick's faculty of nursing and teaching professor Renée Gordon have been recognized with top honours at the 2025 SIM Expo, presented by Simulation Canada in Montreal on Nov. 3 and 4.
UNB's faculty of nursing received the SIM Innovator Award for its pioneering approach to simulation-based education. The award recognizes organizations that are disrupting the status quo through simulation-based strategies.
The faculty engages more than 500 students annually through immersive learning experiences that include virtual reality, extended reality and high-fidelity simulation, transforming how nursing students prepare for clinical practice.
Renée Gordon, a teaching professor in the bachelor of nursing accelerated program at UNB's Moncton site, was awarded the SIM Citizenship Award for her visionary leadership and national impact on healthcare simulation.
Gordon has played a central role in developing the faculty's simulation strategy. She co-created the new multi-modal simulation approach the faculty of nursing has implemented, which integrates over 100 simulations into the curriculum, and helped launch the Learn Where You Live program, which uses immersive virtual reality to deliver nursing education remotely.
Her work has been widely recognized for its innovation and impact. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, reflection and the practical application of theoretical knowledge in real-world settings helping students become autonomous, responsive professionals. She is also a Canadian Certified Simulation Nurse Educator and is currently pursuing a PhD in nursing at Queen's University, focusing on metabolic health interventions.
"I'm deeply honoured to receive the SIM Citizenship Award," Gordon said. "It's a privilege to contribute to this field and to work alongside such passionate educators and learners. We're shifting our mindset to see simulation not as an add-on, but as the backbone of clinical education an intentional, scaffolded strategy that delivers equitable and consistent learning for every student."
The SIM Awards are peer-nominated and peer-reviewed, celebrating excellence in simulation in diverse fields across Canada.
"These awards reflect the incredible dedication and creativity of our faculty," said Dr. Lorna Butler, dean of the faculty of nursing. "Simulation is a transformative approach to learning. We are proud to be leading the way in preparing nurses who are ready to meet the complex challenges of today's healthcare systems."
UNB's faculty of nursing continues to expand its simulation offerings, with recent investments supporting new simulation suites and virtual reality spaces on the Fredericton campus and at the Moncton site. These initiatives are part of the faculty's commitment to accessible, high-quality nursing education across the province and beyond.
"These awards are a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation," said Butler. "They affirm our belief that simulation is essential to preparing the next generation of nurses and that UNB is at the forefront of this movement."
