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Rural, Remote, & Northern Communities

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Research

Learning from One Another: Economic and Labour Forecast for Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavutexternal link icon

This project, undertaken for Canada’s Future Skills Centre, drew in various Indigenous, government, and post-secondary partners from Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut. It features a labour market analysis and economic forecast for each region from 2024 to 2045, as well as descriptions of the in-demand skills and key challenges to workforce and skills development in these Northern regions.
Young classmates studying together inside classroom - Education concept
Project

Northern Entrepreneurs Accessing Training (NEAT)

Contact North implemented the Northern Entrepreneurs Accessing Training (NEAT) project to improve accessibility to skills training for Indigenous entrepreneurs and their employees.
Students in a computer lab with teacher pointing at screen.
Project

Examining the Outcomes of Zero-Fee Education in Building a Resilient, Inclusive Economy in Rural Alberta

This project aimed to provide free training to underserved populations and build resilience among workers in the community through skills acquisition in the midst of ongoing economic transformation and uncertainty.
A woman teaching a younger girl how to drill and build a wooden box.
Project

Doing It Right

The Doing It Right project, based in the Yukon, sought to address the barriers faced by women and gender-diverse individuals in the skilled trades.
Indigenous mother and daughter share a pair of headphones to listen to music together
Research

Learning From One Another: Building a Stronger Skills Development Landscape in Nunavut, Northern Ontario, and Yukon

Skilled trades are a priority and among the top occupations in demand in Nunavut, Northern Ontario, and Yukon between 2024 and 2045; meeting this demand remains a persistent concern. Which type of organizations play a key role in sustaining Northern trades? What are the factors that impede Indigenous and Northern students from working in the trades even after they’ve participated in training programs? What plans are in the works that will allow for sustaining training, collaboration, and reduction in duplication in skills development services? Read the impact paper for a look at three programs that are making a difference, and an analysis of more services and approaches that could meet the demand for skilled trades in Canada’s North.
In the Media

Future-Proofing Canada’s Biomanufacturing Workforce: National Skills and Training Study Delivers Critical Insightsexternal link icon

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) | September 24, 2024 Study finds 74% of employers plan to hire in the next three years, with 50% of new hires expected to fill manufacturing/production and laboratory technician roles.
Industrial laboror using a panel
In the Media

Automation will change many jobs in agrifoodexternal link icon

Alex Binkley, National Newswatch | September 24, 2024 Ottawa-Nearly one-third of the jobs in agriculture and one-fifth of those in food and beverage manufacturing could be taken over by automation within the next decade, which will require the development of new skill sets in the sector, says a report from the Conference Board of Canada.
Project

Building Local Capacity for Community-based Micrometeorological Monitoring

Northwestern Canada is experiencing double the rate of climate warming compared to the global average, impacting water resources and regional climate. To track these changes, a network of ten eddy covariance (EC) towers—which allow for the tracking of greenhouse gases—were installed across the Northwest Territories. However, the lack of local expertise jeopardizes their upkeep and subsequently the data they track.
Project

Fisheries for Economic and Environmental Development in the North (FEED the North)

The FEED the North project, spearheaded by the Ocean Wise Conservation Association, targeted economic and environmental challenges in Nunavut, which were intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and by climate change. This initiative aimed to merge traditional Inuit knowledge with Western science, enhancing sustainability in local fisheries and bridging Indigenous and Western environmental conservation methods.