Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)

The Northern Tourism Recovery Incubator developed by ITAC was created to support SMEs in Northern communities to strengthen their business, rebuild Indigenous tourism operators and re-train staff members to support visitors and public health expectations as the tourism industry recovers.

The needs of these businesses were assessed through a national accreditation program (Project Rise) which provided individual business assessments and aggregated data for ongoing support. By working with the Indigenous provincial and territorial partners, ITAC supported the effective delivery of regionally specific support to revitalize operators ahead of the 2023 operating season. Regional needs were considered as businesses reported through the accreditation program, recognizing that the gaps in one part of the country may not be the same as another. This coordinated effort aimed to increase tourism revenues and jobs by increasing Indigenous tourism products to meet visitor demands.

Aerial view of the airport. Airplane taxiing to runway.

Featured Projects

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Research

Skills Next Series

The Public Policy Forum, the Diversity Institute, and the Future Skills Centre have joined together to publish Skills Next, a series that explores what is working in workplaces, universities, and the labour market – and where workers are falling through the gaps in our skills training system. Each report focuses on one issue — such as the impact of technology in the workplace, gig work, digital skills, and barriers to employment that some marginalized groups experience — and reviews the existing state of knowledge on this topic and identifies areas in need of additional research.
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How AI is shaping the future of work

Artificial intelligence (AI) is destined to fundamentally alter work—redefining tasks, reducing demand for specific roles, and giving rise to entirely new roles. Unlike past technology automation waves that targeted routine physical tasks, AI extends into cognitive work—analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and drawing conclusions. This puts even high-skill jobs at risk of disruption, challenging long-held assumptions about their immunity to automation.
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Research

Indigenous Professionals Needed: Increasing Indigenous Representation in Healthcare in Canadaexternal link icon

This project will develop insights that can be used to increase both the Indigenous talent pool and professional development for Indigenous people in healthcare professions in Canada.
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