News & Events Archives - Polytechnics Canada

AI-Driven Advanced Manufacturing

By Dr. Ethan Shen, Dr. El Sayed Mahmoud, Madushen Paramanathan | June 8, 2026 | 1014.6KB | Download pdf >

Polytechnics are key to bridging industrial needs with cutting-edge research and talent development in Canada’s manufacturing sector. Sheridan’s session at the 2026 Polytechnic Showcase, Bridging the Productivity Gap: Scalable AI-Robotics Integration through Collaboration, highlighted how AI-driven automation can resolve production bottlenecks while training the next generation of engineers.

Polytechnics Canada connected with Dr. Ethan Shen, Research Manager, Centre for Intelligent Manufacturing, Dr. El Sayed Mahmoud, Professor of Computer Science, and Madushen Paramanathan, Student Research Assistant, to learn more about the polytechnic-industry partnership between Sheridan and Rex Power Magnetics.

AI for All Strategy is Practical & Relevant

June 4, 2026

June 4, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Polytechnics Canada congratulates the federal government on the release of Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All.

Tools and talent

By Sarah Watts-Rynard | May 29, 2026 | Originally featured in the The Globe and Mail

Innovation is, at its core, about the people who solve problems, find new approaches and drive value creation. This makes it essential to focus on developing and deploying talent, especially at a time when Canada is rewriting its trade, defence and infrastructure story for the next century.

Reliable short-term capability will deliver long-term defence strength

By Diana Danilevskaia | May 22, 2026 | Originally featured in the Canadian Science Policy Centre Defence Industrial Strategy Special Editorial Series

Imagine two countries facing the same threat. Both know the technology will evolve quickly and the first solution will be incomplete. One spends years refining requirements and waiting for certainty. The other gets a workable first version into testing, learns with users, fixes what matters and moves again. A few years later, the second country usually has the stronger position. It has a better tool, stronger suppliers, sharper operators, better data and a clearer sense of what should come next. In defence, capability often grows through movement. That lesson matters for Canada.

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Advancing Defence Innovation in Canada

By Dr. Terry Peckham | May 18, 2026 | 456.69KB | Download pdf >

Polytechnics help advance defence innovation in Canada by translating strategy into action: developing skilled talent, validating technologies and strengthening industry readiness for real-world deployment. As a NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) test centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic is one of many polytechnics advancing Canada’s contribution to allied defence innovation.

Looking back on the 2026 Polytechnic Showcase, Polytechnics Canada spoke with Dr. Terry Peckham, Director and Research Chair of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE). Read to learn more about how the institution is strengthening Canada’s role in defence innovation.

Skilled trades: a first-choice career

By Fred Meier | May 15, 2026 | Originally featured in the Winnipeg Free Press

Skilled tradespeople have always played a leading role in shaping Canada.

They’ve built, modified and maintained infrastructure that houses us, keeps us safe and makes it possible for us to have an advanced and diverse economy for generations.

Yet, somehow, we’ve failed to communicate this to young people at the family dinner table, in primary, middle and secondary school classrooms, at virtually any point of influence when discussing post-secondary education options.

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Program Preview: Drones as Dual-use Technologies

By Justin Perry, Dr. Eric Saczuk | April 28, 2026 | 948.67KB | Download pdf >

Polytechnics are playing a growing role in developing drones as dual-use technologies for interdisciplinary applications, such as wildfire response and environmental stewardship. Ahead of the 2026 Polytechnic Showcase, Polytechnics Canada connected with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to discuss their session, From Detection to Containment: Drones in Modern Wildfire Response, highlighting the expanding role of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).

Dr. Eric Saczuk, Director, BCIT RPAS Hub, and Justin Perry, Instructor, Forest & Natural Areas Management, recently shared how BCIT is responding to Canada’s environmental challenges.

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Program Preview: Navigating Artificial Intelligence Responsibly

By Dr. Panos Panagiotakopoulos, Kent Peel | April 28, 2026 | 667.25KB | Download pdf >

As the 2026 Polytechnic Showcase approaches, we connected with Seneca Polytechnic to discuss their session, Supporting Students and Faculty in the Age of AI: Seneca’s Playbook for Practical, Responsible Adoption. Polytechnics Canada spoke with AI Thought Leaders, Dr. Panos Panagiotakopoulos and Kent Peel, about how Seneca is helping students and faculty navigate artificial intelligence (AI) in practical and responsible ways.

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Program Preview: Parity of Esteem for the Skilled Trades

By Dr. David Burns, Laura McDonald | April 10, 2026 | 638.21KB | Download pdf >

Polytechnic institutions play an important role when it comes to developing Canada’s skilled trades workforce, training some 70 per cent of apprentices actively progressing toward certification. Even more importantly, polytechnics are considering how best to support career progression and continuous learning. At Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), they are working to create new pathways for tradespeople into undergraduate education.

Polytechnics Canada caught up with Dr. David Burns, Associate Vice-President, Academic, and Laura McDonald, Dean of the Faculty of Trades and Technology, to learn more about KPU’s efforts to foster parity of esteem for skilled trades learners.