TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2026 – As the demand for vision care continues to grow, preparing the next generation of eye care professionals has never been more important. To help meet that need, Seneca Polytechnic and CooperVision Canada today announced the opening of the CooperVision Contact Lens Centre of Excellence, a state-of-the-art learning facility that will provide Opticianry students with enhanced hands-on training and real-world industry experience.

Located at Seneca's Newnham Campus, the new Centre of Excellence reflects a shared commitment to advancing vision care through education, technological innovations and professional development. Equipped with industry-leading technology and modern instrumentation, the facility supports instruction in contact lens fitting, assessment, dispensing and patient education, helping students develop the practical skills and clinical confidence needed for successful careers in vision care.

The Centre of Excellence strengthens the connection between classroom learning and professional practice, creating opportunities for students to engage with technologies, processes and patient-care experiences that reflect today's evolving eye care environment.

“We’re excited by the opportunities our partnership with CooperVision Canada provides for our students and the eye care profession,” said David Agnew, President, Seneca Polytechnic. “Thanks to CooperVision, Seneca opticianry students are learning with the same technologies and techniques used by professionals in the field. Together, we’re ensuring our graduates are prepared to go seamlessly from the classroom to practice, able to make an immediate impact in patient care and the future of vision health.”

Beyond supporting Seneca's Opticianry program, the Centre of Excellence will serve as a hub for learning, professional development and industry engagement. The facility will host educational events, demonstrations and collaborative programming, creating opportunities for students, eye care professionals and CooperVision teams to learn from one another and share knowledge that can benefit practitioners and patients alike.

"At CooperVision, we believe advancing vision care starts with investing in the people who will shape its future," said Enrique Contreras, Country Manager, CooperVision Canada. "Through our partnership with Seneca Polytechnic, we are helping create an environment where students can develop the practical skills, clinical confidence and patient-focused perspective needed to succeed in today's evolving eye care landscape. We are proud to support the next generation of opticians, strengthen the future of vision care across Canada, and advance our commitment to Advancing Vision. Designed for Every Eye."

The CooperVision Contact Lens Centre of Excellence is the latest enhancement to Seneca's Opticianry facilities and further strengthens the institution's longstanding relationships with leaders across the optical and vision care sectors. By bringing together education, industry expertise and hands-on learning, the partnership will help prepare future eye care professionals to meet the changing needs of patients and practices across Canada.

For additional information about Seneca's Opticianry program, visit Opticianry program page.

Seneca Polytechnic provides a great education to prepare our students for great careers. Combining academic rigour with practical, professional and career-focused learning, we offer our students a seamless transition from education to employment. Expert faculty, excellent staff, outstanding campuses, awesome technology, deep connections with industry: This is Seneca Polytechnic.

Learn more: senecapolytechnic.ca

CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (Nasdaq: COO), is a global leader in contact lens innovation, dedicated to advancing vision at every stage of life. The company offers one of the industry's most comprehensive portfolios of soft and specialty contact lenses, including daily disposable, two-week and monthly options, with high-performance materials and optics across spherical, toric and multifocal designs. With a strong heritage of addressing complex vision challenges such as childhood myopia, astigmatism, presbyopia and irregular corneas, CooperVision combines purposeful research and development, state-of-the-art manufacturing and deep practitioner partnerships to deliver clinically advanced solutions. Decades of experience and insight continue to shape the eye care profession and create meaningful advantages for both practitioners and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.ca