Innovation of the Year
The Innovation of the Year award celebrates University of Guelph innovations that have created, or have the potential to create, meaningful value for Canada, with a focus on demonstrated impact beyond academia.
For this award, we define impact as the demonstrable contribution an innovation has made to society, health, the environment, or economic development - through the change it has enabled, informed, or inspired.
Since 2016, innovations representing work conducted by researchers across a variety of university departments have been recognized. These innovations continue to have a positive influence in diverse areas including animal health, food packaging, the environment, and human wellness.
NOTE: Nominations that are received remain in the nomination pool for consideration by the award review committee in subsequent years.
2025 Virtual Reality Shakespeare
Virtual reality theatre projects developed for high school and post-secondary students that allow them to feel like they are characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth have been named the 2025 Innovation of the Year.

Developed by Dr. Peter Kuling, Associate Professor in the School of Theatre, English, and Creative Writing in the College of Arts, this technology was codesigned with SimWave VR, an Ottawa-based company specializing in virtual reality development, which has since become part of Calian.
The project began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the Government of Ontario launched a funding call for digital and innovative teaching projects that could be used in high schools, colleges, and universities. Dr. Kuling saw this as an opportunity to bring theatrical stage experiences to students digitally through VR. The result has been a powerful new way for Ontario students to engage with Shakespeare that is freely available in all Ontario schools and used by university educators from California to the United Kingdom. By transforming these classic plays into immersive, interactive performances, the project helps make Shakespeare accessible to all learners, no matter where they are.
This research was funded by the Ontario Exchange Network with several project collaborators, including Theatre Studies PhD students Alice Hinchliffe and Erin O'Brien, alumni including Gabriella Sundar-Singh, Kyle Blair, and Kyle Golemba, and acting company members from the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, who helped bring the virtual performances to life.
Photo: Dr. Peter Kuling. Courtesy of Michelle Stringer.
Past Winners
Discover previous Innovation of the Year recipients

