Rural, Remote, & Northern Communities
Research
Digital Technologies and the Big Data Revolution in the Canadian Agricultural Sector
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives reviewed the literature to examine the response in Canada and elsewhere by farmers, agribusiness firms, agricultural organizations and governments to the emergence of big data generated by the use of the IoT in agricultural production processes.
Project
Addressing Regional Labour Shortages
Despite the labour shortage in forestry management in Canada’s North, there is a lack of innovative and engaging training methods and capacity to deliver reforestation skills to remote Indigenous communities.
To help meet the need for this training, and to make it accessible and more engaging in digital form, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) created two courses that featured immersive, 360° photos and videos, and a tool kit for instructors who do not have in-depth technical knowledge on how to develop immersive curriculum content.
Project
Tech Futures Initiative
MindFuel came alongside Indigenous communities to address the barriers faced by Indigenous youth in rural and remote communities by implementing STEM and innovation programs for youth.
Research
Learning From One Another: Skill Gaps in Labour Markets in Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut
Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut share similar challenges to workforce development related to their shared Northern, rural, and remote contexts. Current challenges will only grow as sectors increasingly require more digital, leadership, business and administrative, and soft skills.
Project
Development of a National Agriculture and Agri-Food Workforce Strategy
This project set in motion a series of initiatives aimed to generate the necessary insights and evidence required to develop a national workforce strategy for the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
Research
Learning From One Another: Labour Markets in Nunavut
As key industries in Nunavut recover from the pandemic, the economy is expected to grow over the next 20 years. However, skills mismatches and other challenges continue to limit the capacity of the resident labour force to satisfy labour market demands.
Research
Learning from One Another: Economic and Labour Forecast for Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut
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.
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.
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.