Past Events

Though Canada has nearly 30 years to meet its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, the impacts of climate change are already evident and progress can no longer be delayed.  One of the most urgent requirements is ensuring Canada has its green talent pipeline in place.  With the sector estimating a need for nearly 250,000 workers by 2029, the next generation of graduates must be ready to lead the green transition.

In partnership with ECO Canada, Polytechnics Canada hosted a green talent panel to discuss how our members are preparing students to be active participants in Canada’s emerging green economy.

Read More > “Developing Canada’s Green Talent Pipeline”

Over the past year, Canada’s polytechnics have transformed the delivery of trades and technology training programs to embrace remote and online approaches in combination with hands-on lab work.  The hybrid approach has been important to ensuring the talent pipeline for critical frontline roles is unimpeded by training delays that could have derailed learners.

Read More > “Canada’s Polytechnics: Embracing Remote and Online Learning”

“To navigate long-life learning, we need a better-functioning learning ecosystem with more on- and off-ramps in and out of learning and work.”

Read More > “A New Look at Lifelong Learning”

Growth in the environmental sector paired with the retirement of senior workers are contributing to a talent shortage projected to leave nearly 250,000 jobs unfilled by 2029.

As Canada transitions to a green economy and adopts new climate-focused technologies, success will depend on a globally competitive workforce to develop, build, operate and repair new systems and infrastructure.

Read More > “Talent for a Resilient Recovery”

As Canadian businesses look beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and toward recovery, many will want to revamp or re-tool their operations. This is where applied research can be a game-changer, a ready-made solution for post-pandemic economic recovery utilizing post-secondary innovation capacity to help businesses respond to challenges. Canada’s polytechnics bring space, equipment and expertise to the table, supplementing the capacity of Canada’s business community to engage in pragmatic research and development. 

Read More > “Applied Research: Supporting a Business-Led Recovery”

In March of 2020, students and faculty across Canada were displaced from their classrooms by COVID-19 shut-downs. The impact of this shift was felt by institutions in every branch of the education system; from grades K-12, to colleges and polytechnics, to universities. We were so pleased to partner with the The Canadian Club of Ottawa this month for an event on Virtual Education discussing how schools responded to these challenges.

Read More > “Lessons in Virtual Education”

Established in May 2020, the Industry Strategy Council undertook an extensive consultation to consider sectoral pressures resulting from the pandemic, releasing its initial report at the end of the year.  At this session, we engaged three Council members to discuss their recommendations and next steps.

Read More > “Webinar with the Industry Strategy Council”

The critical role of Canada’s frontline workforce has never been more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic. In industries like healthcare and emergency response, technology, agriculture and construction, Canadians rely on the essential workers who keep the country fed, functioning, safe and healthy.  

Read More > “Training in a Pandemic: Insights into Preparing Canada’s Workforce”

Across sectors and across Canada, workplaces are undergoing transformative change. The competitive environment requires employers to innovate continuously, embracing new technology and processes, while hiring and developing the right people to grow alongside the business. Polytechnic institutions are ideal partners for this transformation. They offer industry-relevant programs, equipment and facilities that ready learners for the workplace, support mid-career workers updating their skills and help solve real-world innovation and productivity challenges.

Read More > “2019 Annual Showcase: Disruption in Action”