Opinions Archives - Polytechnics Canada

There is a lot happening at Canada’s polytechnics. Our blog offers perspectives on the exciting work underway on campuses and in Ottawa. Do you have a polytechnic story to tell? Share it with us!

Program Preview: Drones as Dual-use Technologies

By Justin Perry, Dr. Eric Saczuk | April 28, 2026

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.

Program Preview: Navigating Artificial Intelligence Responsibly

By Dr. Panos Panagiotakopoulos, Kent Peel | April 28, 2026

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.

Program Preview: Parity of Esteem for the Skilled Trades

By Dr. David Burns, Laura McDonald | April 10, 2026

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.

Program Preview: Building Skills for the Canadian Military

By Darlene O'Neill, Lieutenant-Colonel Carlo Tittarelli | April 9, 2026

Ahead of the 2026 Polytechnic Showcase, we connected with Fanshawe to discuss their session, Innovation in Education in Action: Canada’s First Post‑Secondary Military Co‑op. We sat down with Lieutenant-Colonel Carlo Tittarelli, Assistant Chief of Staff at the 31 Canadian Brigade Group, and Darlene O’Neill, Fanshawe’s Military Connected College Lead Administrator, to learn more about their partnership.

Book Summary: Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre by Niigaan Sinclair

April 28, 2025

Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre is a compilation of 79 essays by Niigaan Sinclair, an Anishinaabe scholar and writer, as well as opening keynote at the 2025 Polytechnic Showcase. Divided into four parts – The Land, This Place, Streets and Rivers, and Gifts – the essays are concise and powerful, each offering a minute reflection of Indigenous life and experience in Canada.

The book speaks to the complexities of Indigenous life in Winnipeg, a city that is home to Canada’s largest urban Indigenous population with nearly 91,000 Indigenous residents (~12 per cent of its population) in 2021. It tackles themes of colonialism, resilience and reconciliation while exploring the stories and people behind the headlines.

Restoring Canada’s healthcare system: The role of polytechnics

By Alexandra Hornby | April 7, 2025

Canada’s healthcare system is under duress. Wait times for surgical and other therapeutic treatments were 198 per cent longer in 2023 than in 1993. More than one in five Canadians don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner and 60 per cent of those who do can’t get a same-day or next-day appointment.

While government investments in healthcare are critical, one of the biggest challenges that Canada’s healthcare system faces is timely and affordable access. This is where polytechnic institutions make important contributions, readying the future workforce, supporting sector innovation and by working directly within their communities to deliver healthcare training and services.

Book Summary: The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials & Connections by Ben Wildavsky

March 25, 2025

In The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials & Connections, Ben Wildavsky explores the skills and experiences that best position learners for today’s world of work. Drawing on research, interviews and personal insights, he notes that today’s graduates increasingly require a combination of higher education credentials, hands-on experiences and a diverse network to navigate their careers.

Given alignment with the polytechnic model of education, we are delighted to have Ben Wildavsky attend the 2025 Polytechnic Showcase as our closing keynote. In addition to a complimentary copy of Wildavsky’s book, delegates will learn about his newest work which explores global approaches to flexible skills development and lifelong learning. Wondering what to expect? Here’s a brief summary of The Career Arts, which is divided into three sections.

The Role of Polytechnics in Tech Adoption

By Ricardo Arena | March 4, 2025

No new idea, concept or technical advancement, whether intended to improve our health, protect the environment or revitalize an industry, can make meaningful impact until there is widespread adoption. Without it, potential is diminished and opportunities are squandered. This is why supporting adoption, particularly among Canada’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who play a critical role in the country’s economic wellbeing, is a crucial step on the innovation journey.

It will come as no surprise that many SMEs struggle with technology adoption. Despite ongoing efforts and good intentions, SMEs have competing priorities for limited resources. Government grants, tax incentives and programs that offer support are important avenues for democratizing technology adoption.

Reflections of 2024: Resilience in the Face of Adversity

By Kamila Graczyk | December 20, 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, it is hard not to focus on the tremendous challenges brought on by abrupt federal policy changes on the international student file. Our members – like much of the postsecondary community – are grappling with the fallout of sweeping cuts, harsh rhetoric about the quality of Canadian education, then further caps and restrictions to post-graduate work permits.

While the difficulties cannot be overlooked, moments like this can also be transformative. They force us to review, retrench and find new paths forward. As we turn the page on 2024 and look ahead, there are reasons for optimism.