A new Justice and Fitness Training Centre at Niagara College is expanding access to career-specific fitness testing and advanced fitness assessments.
Located at the Welland Campus, the Centre is part of the College's School of Justice and Fitness, which prepares students for careers in law enforcement including in policing, border services, corrections and security, and in the fitness industry to support individuals in achieving a healthy active lifestyle.
NC students within these program areas have benefited from the use of NC's state-of-the-art facilities that are comprised of the latest testing and fitness equipment. Now, future law enforcement personnel and fitness-minded individuals can also access the services, which can be booked online at an affordable cost.
"We are excited to be offering our alumni and community members the testing that is required when applying for a position in law enforcement," said Sandro D’Annunzio, NC's Associate Dean, School of Justice and Fitness Studies. "The Justice and Fitness Training Centre is supported by our qualified employees who are helping many individuals pursuing a career in this in-demand field."
In the Advanced Fitness Lab, NC offers fitness assessments and training including VO2 Max Testing, Muscular Strength and Endurance Assessments, Body Composition Analysis, Resting Metabolic Rate and Submaximal Aerobic Fitness Tests.
On the occupational testing side, offerings include the PARE (Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation) and the FITCO (Fitness Test for Correctional Services of Canada). Practice sessions are also available for the PARE and FITCO, as well as the PIN (Police Fitness Test) and the PREP (Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police).
The occupational testing aligns with the pre-employment fitness requirements for Royal Canadian Mounted police (RCMP), Canada Border Services (CBSA), Ministry of Solicitor General - the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Correctional Services and Municipal Policing Services.
By providing practice testing, Sonya Siebert, NC's Justice Studies Lab Manager, said individuals planning on applying for a career in law enforcement can familiarize themselves ahead of time with the physical fitness assessments that they will be required to successfully complete for employment, so they know how they measure up.
"There is anxiety in completing the fitness testing," said Siebert, who noted that people have travelled to the College from as far as Ottawa to use the services. "They can come here, run through the fitness testing and find out exactly where they are at - like a practice run. Our sessions are conducted in a controlled environment, where our qualified staff explain the test protocols and demonstrate the requirements."
For more information, visit NC's Justice and Fitness Training Centre website.
All bookings are completed online through the JaneApp booking portal, which includes full descriptions, availability and pricing.
NC's Justice and Fitness Training Centre launched in November 2023 as one of the College's Dream Big Fund projects. The fund enables NC to more quickly approve pilot initiatives and activities that further one or more of the College's Strategic Plan objectives to continue NC on its path of being welcoming, trailblazing and innovative.
Later this year, NC hopes to expand the Justice and Fitness Training Centre offerings with the addition of an interactive simulator that can be used to learn about judgement and police use of force options.
Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 11,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada's top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.
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