Concerns about Canada’s productivity are mounting. Polytechnics are essential to reversing this problem, with a mission and mandate built around fueling the country’s economic and innovation ecosystems. From fostering business growth through applied research to developing an unrivaled workforce, polytechnics are propelling Canada toward a more prosperous future.
Opening Keynote: Dr. Niigaan Sinclair
Writer, Editor & Educator
Truth & Reconciliation: A Post-secondary Report Card
Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, an award-winning writer, editor and educator, is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. In this keynote presentation, he will reflect on the truth and reconciliation journey of post-secondary institutions in Canada to-date and suggest ways they can continue to deepen their relationships with Indigenous students and communities. Dr. Sinclair will also challenge us to reexamine our collective and individual roles in reconciliation, something that requires building a greater appreciation of Indigenous history across our institutions. Don’t forget to pick up your complimentary copy of Dr. Sinclair’s latest book, Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre.
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Dr. Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba who was named by Maclean’s magazine in 2022 as one of the most influential people in Canada. Niigaan is a multiple nominee of Canadian Columnist of the Year (winning in 2018) and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada – from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC, APTN and on his co-hosted podcast Niigaan and the Lone Ranger. His first book, Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre (McClelland & Stewart, 2024), was a national bestseller that won the 2024 Governor General Award for Non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Closing Keynote: Ben Wildavsky
Author and Speaker
Author and Speaker
Degrees, Skills & Careers: Getting the Framework Right in a Global Context
In today’s rapidly changing labour market, post-secondary education and career preparation cannot be independent of one another. Learners need to acquire the enduring skills they will need to navigate many job changes, along with tailored, in-demand skills employers need on day one. Drawing on evidence-based research, case studies and in-depth interviews, author and higher education expert Ben Wildavsky will deliver a keynote presentation on the most critical lessons of what he calls the career arts, building career success through broad education, targeted skills and social capital. He will also share insights from his latest research assessing how institutions from four different countries are adopting innovative experiential learning practices.
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Ben Wildavsky is a veteran higher education strategist, writer, speaker, convener and host of the Higher Ed Spotlight podcast. His decades of experience in journalism and education policy include leadership roles at Strada Education Network, the College Board and U.S. News & World Report. He is a visiting fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2024-2025.
He is the author of The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials, and Connections. He is also the award-winning author of The Great Brain Race and coeditor of Reinventing Higher Education and Measuring Success with bylines in many national magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Foreign Policy and the Washington Post. His New York Times guest essay, Let’s Stop Pretending College Degrees Don’t Matter, was reprinted in the bestselling textbook The Norton Field Guide to Writing.
He was recently selected as a Fulbright Specialist and a Salzburg Global Fellow. A former scholar at the Brookings Institution, the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Kauffman Foundation, he has been a speaker on globalization and higher education innovation in 16 U.S. states and 10 foreign countries, including events at Google, the World Bank, the OECD in Paris and the London School of Economics. He has long experience as a consultant on high-profile writing projects, including policy reports and thought leadership articles by education and workforce executives. He has convened leading thinkers to produce memorable events and publications.
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Interested in becoming a partner? Download our sponsorship prospectus and contact Vince Custode at vincent@polytechnicscanada.ca
Red River College Polytechnic is Manitoba’s largest institute of applied learning and research, with more than 150 full- and part-time degree, diploma and certificate options. Through hands-on and digital learning opportunities and state-of-the-art instruction, RRC Polytech prepares students to become leaders in their fields — while also ensuring they can meet changing industry demands and contribute to the province’s economic growth.
If you have any questions about our Polytechnic Showcase please contact us at events@polytechnicscanada.ca