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.
Regular price: $799
| Tuesday, May 13 – 10:00am | Meeting of the Vice Presidents, Academic |
| Tuesday, May 13 – 1:00pm | Meeting of the Board of Directors |
| Tuesday, May 13 – 1:00pm | Government Relations Working Group Meeting |
Polytechnics Canada is pleased to invite delegates to join us for a reception on the evening of Tuesday, May 13 at 5:30pm to kick off our 2025 Polytechnic Showcase!
The reception will take place at Jane’s, only a 6-minute walk from the Fairmont Winnipeg.
Address: 504 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB
Attendance is restricted to delegates and invited guests.
Truth & Reconciliation: A Post-secondary Report Card
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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.
Author and Speaker
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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.
Take a tour of the Exchange District Campus! Home to RRC Polytech’s business, creative arts, IT, culinary arts and hospitality programs, explore the innovative spaces, research labs and Indigenous art embedded throughout the campus.
Sign-up is required on site at the event. Tours are limited to 10 delegates.
Embrace the spirit of downtown Winnipeg at the Fairmont, the city’s premier hotel, set at the famous intersection of Portage and Main, one of the most iconic addresses in Canada.
Polytechnics Canada’s preferred booking rate has expired, however, delegates are still encouraged to book their accommodation at the Fairmont. Registration, breakfast and shuttle service will be provided making this a convenient accommodation choice for delegates.
Dinner Reception Partner
Opening Keynote Partner
Closing Keynote Partner
Networking Partner
Shuttle Partner
Day 1 Lunch Partner
Day 2 Lunch Partner
Early Morning Coffee Partner
LinkTree Partner
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.
Known for its friendly and welcoming spirit, Winnipeg is a diverse multicultural city with a rich and varied history. An Indigenous trading centre prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Winnipeg was at the heart of the country’s fur trade and instrumental in developing Canada’s gateway to the west. Over the last decades, Winnipeg has developed into a cosmopolitan city complete with top-notch restaurants, swanky boutiques, exciting attractions and an arts and culture scene that bursts with talent and originality.
Top attractions:
- Tour an array of local shops and restaurants at The Forks. Located at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, The Forks has been a historic meeting place for over 6,000 years.
- Visit the only museum entirely devoted to human rights for all – the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is an experience like no other.
- See the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art at WAG-Qaumajuq, downtown’s awe-inspiring art gallery and cultural centre.
- Visit Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall as you pass underneath towering palms and plants within The Leaf, an impressive horticultural attraction featuring Mediterranean and Tropical biomes, a butterfly garden, colourful outdoor gardens, and Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar.
- Marvel at polar bears swimming over your head at Assiniboine Park Zoo, home to more than 150 species from around the globe.
To learn more about what Winnipeg has to offer, check out Winnipeg Tourism’s website – created specifically for Showcase delegates – which features other recommended activities.
If you have any questions about our Polytechnic Showcase please contact us at events@polytechnicscanada.ca