Youth

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.

Jacqueline Loganathan, betakit

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.

The federal government has committed to having the country achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Post-secondary institutions (PSIs) play a key role in helping Canada reach this goal because they equip students with the skills and know-how needed to transition to a more sustainable economy. These multi-faceted competencies are broadly considered to be green skills.

The Re-skilling Displaced Retail Workers project sought to support the design of a re-skilling program for displaced Ontario retail workers, with a focus on racialized or Indigenous youth.

This project targeted the integration of human-centric skills—like emotional intelligence—with technical competencies, thereby addressing the inadequacies of traditional educational pathways in preparing students for future job markets.

This program targets skill gaps in key sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and IT, providing flexible and accessible education options supported by financial assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

Weston Frontlines Centre created the Frontlines of Crisis Training Program, a 15-week hybrid training program to prepare young people with skills relevant for food production and distribution in the non-profit sector. 

This project implemented land-based camps that sought to marry Indigenous knowledge and STEM education.