Transformative Team Building and Leadership Experiences
Corporate Team Building with ACE!
Elevate your team's potential with a unique, immersive experience combining expert-led leadership development with the cutting-edge facilities of Ontario Tech University’s ACE team. Whether you’re looking to foster collaboration, strengthen leadership skills, or inspire innovation, we design customizable single or multi-day programs tailored to your organization’s needs.
Team Building - "Spin Through the Seasons"
A unique indoor cycling experience. Participants ride stationary bikes while experiencing simulated weather conditions, ranging from arctic snowstorms to desert heat, all within a controlled environment. This event not only offers a distinctive physical challenge but also serves as a compelling team-building experience for organizations.
Participating in "Spin Through the Seasons" offers several advantages for corporate team-building:
- Shared Unique Experience: Facing simulated extreme weather conditions together fosters camaraderie and creates lasting memories among team members.
- Enhanced Resilience: Adapting to varying and challenging environments during the ride encourages adaptability and resilience, traits valuable in the workplace.
- Improved Communication: Teams must communicate effectively to support and motivate each other through the different climatic challenges, strengthening interpersonal relationships.
- Physical Well-being: Engaging in physical activity promotes health and wellness, contributing to overall employee satisfaction and productivity.
- Support for a Cause: These events often serve as fundraisers, providing teams with an opportunity to contribute to charitable causes or community initiatives, enhancing corporate social responsibility.
Team Building - "Wingsuit Competition"
Ever wonder what it is like to fly in a wingsuit? Well, look no further than this fun interactive event where participants can learn how to design their own wingsuits and test them in our wind tunnel, learning all about aerodynamic properties like lift and drag.
What is ACE at Ontario Tech University?
The Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) is more than just a product-testing facility, we are a solutions provider. Our environment can re-create any weather condition one would experience anywhere in the world, from the blistering desert heat of California’s Death Valley to bone-chilling Arctic blizzards. We use our multiple chambers to:
- Improve the performance of elite athletes.
- Provide services to many other markets including the tech industry, film production and motorsports.
- Create impressive team building and leadership experiences.
- Engage with the local community and businesses.
- Conduct research.
- and most of all... harness technology to bridge distances, foster collaboration, and build stronger, more connected teams — empowering people to achieve more together, no matter where they are.
- Customizable Workshops: Tailor-made leadership and professional development sessions led by Ontario Tech Continuous Learning experts.
- ACE Experience: Access world-class research and testing facilities, with hands-on activities that challenge teams to think critically, solve problems, and push boundaries.
- Flexible Program Lengths: Options for single-day intensives or multi-day retreats, depending on your goals and schedule.
- Variety of Topics: Leadership fundamentals, team dynamics, innovation strategies, effective communication, resilience, and more.
- Experiential Learning: Blend classroom-style workshops with interactive experiences that engage and energize participants.
- Networking & Collaboration: Build stronger relationships through shared challenges and collaborative activities.
Sample Experience Flow:
- Morning: Leadership workshop (e.g., strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, or change management)
- Afternoon: ACE team activity (e.g., team problem-solving challenge in the climate wind tunnel or structural durability lab)
- Wrap-Up: Reflection session to consolidate learning and set actionable goals
Who Is This For?
- Corporate teams seeking dynamic, impactful professional development
- Departments looking to improve cohesion and communication
- Leaders wanting to inspire innovation and build high-performing teams
What kinds of tests are carried out at this facility?
You can test for severe climate or conduct life cycle and durability testing. For example, industry and researchers can test situations such as:
- Starting up a vehicle and driving away in severe Arctic climates.
- The impact of blowing snow, severe ice, rain and humidity.
- Towing a trailer up a steep hill in intense desert heat.
- Driving on an extremely bumpy road for days or weeks.
How is ACE different from other research facilities in Canada?
ACE is one of the most advanced testing centres in the world. It is owned by Ontario Tech University and is located on the university’s north campus location in Oshawa, Ontario.
This truly independent test facility is commercially available to customers who want to bring their ideas into a proof of concept and make them ready for market. Clients include manufacturers of all descriptions, startup companies and researchers in Canada and from around the world. The entire facility or specific chambers can be rented at a globally competitive hourly rate. ACE is available and accessible to all industries and all companies.
ACE has a full range of test facilities including a unique five-storey-high climatic wind tunnel (CWT). The CWT features an integrated design and functionality. It has a variable nozzle and a yawing chassis dynamometer that can, for the first time anywhere, test properties in crosswinds.
What security measures are in place to protect proprietary information?
Ensuring privacy and protecting proprietary information is critical. Access to the facility will be tightly controlled with many of the areas accessible only by a security RFID card. Tight schedules will be established and private preparation areas will be assigned so clients can work without disruption. The test results will be seen by ACE staff only, and will be handed off to the client immediately after testing.
Who is able to use the facility and how long can you book it for?
ACE will be available for rent to manufacturers of all sizes, as well as startup businesses and researchers from Canada and around the globe. The facility will try to accommodate everyone who needs it.
How do I book time at the facility?
Please contact Chris Doyle, Business Development Manager, at 905.435.7672.
or email ContinuousLearning@Ontariotechu.ca
How much will it cost to book all or part of the facility?
The rates for the climatic wind tunnel and the various test cells will be competitive with existing test and research facilities across the globe. Please contact Chris Doyle, Business Development Manager, at 905.435.7672. to discuss rates.
Can I tour the ACE facility?
Yes, people are encouraged to come and see the ACE facility. Please contact Maria Barrese, ACE Business and Finance Co-ordinator, to arrange a tour.
Registration Status
This is a custom training program, and is open for registration for your group. Please start here.
Location
2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5
Date
Please contact us at continuouslearning@ontariotechu.ca to schedule a date for your group.
Credential
Certificate of Completion
Contact Information: Christopher.Doyle@ontariotechu.ca
