We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

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Occupational physiology

The occupational physiology area seeks to assess the human body’s physiological responses to varying climatic conditions, including hot, humid and cold, dry environments. By manipulating and controlling the ambient conditions, we are able to better understand how the body’s various physiological systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and thermoregulatory) respond to extreme weather conditions while wearing protective equipment required of the profession. These occupations include firefighters, police officers, paramedics and military. We are able to simulate working environments through serious game technology to assess the physical and cognitive abilities with real-life scenarios. The ultimate goal of this research area is to optimize the working performance of these employees, and reduce the number of injuries that occur on the job.

Faculty members

Selected Publications and Grants

Williams-Bell, F.M., Kapralos, B., Hogue, A., Murphy, B.M., & Weckman, E.J. Use of serious games and virtual simulations in the fire service: a review. Fire Technology, May, 1-32, 2014, DOI: 10.1007/s10694-014-0398-1.

Williams-Bell, F.M., Boisseau, G., McGill, J., Kostiuk, A., & Hughson, R. Physiological responses and air consumption during simulated fire fighting tasks in a subway system. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, Metabolism, 35(5), 671-678, 2010.

Williams-Bell, F.M., Boisseau, G., McGill, J., Kostiuk, A., & Hughson, R. Air management and physiological responses during simulated fire fighting tasks in a high-rise structure. Applied Ergonomics, 41(2), 251-259, 2010.

Williams-Bell, F.M. , Villar, R., Sharratt, M., Hughson, R. Physiological demands of the Candidate Physical Abilities Test. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 41(3), 653-662, 2009.