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Partners
Calgary Economic Development
Locations
Alberta

Additional Partners

Mount Royal University, University of Calgary, Ambrose University, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, St. Mary’s University, Bow Valley College, Magnet, Orbis Communications

Topics
Future Skills
Pathways to Jobs
SME Adaptability
Work-integrated Learning
Home| Innovation Projects|Project

Calgary Regional WIL Secretariate and Portal 

Work-integrated learning (WIL) gives people the chance to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom while gaining on-the-job experience and pathways to meaningful careers in  emerging, high-demand sectors. 

Evaluation Report:
Work Integrated Learning Evaluation Report

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Through FSC’s $2.9 million investment, Calgary Economic Development (CED) is developing a one-stop, online portal for WIL opportunities in the region. These paid work placements focus on gaining hands-on experience from industry experts over the course of a student’s academic studies. Placements can be co-ops, internships, applied research projects or field placements.

person using a laptop and writing in a notebook

This innovative model and central platform will support economic growth and inclusion through WIL for post-secondary students, and will benefit jobseekers, employers and the Alberta economy.This initiative will also make WIL more accessible to non-traditional participants such as mature learners, youth, and organizations not typically connected to post-secondary institutions. 

CED and multiple local stakeholders have come together to form a consortium with technology partners Magnet and Orbis Communications, in order to demonstrate the viability of deploying a regional WIL model and to identify and address issues around broader applicability for communities and regions across Canada. 

This work is immediately contributing to Calgary’s economic transformation, while also providing insights for a more systematic way for employers to collaborate with post-secondary institutions. 

Featured Projects

Young classmates studying together inside classroom - Education concept
Project

Northern Entrepreneurs Accessing Training (NEAT)

  • October 2024
  • Contact North
Contact North implemented the Northern Entrepreneurs Accessing Training (NEAT) project to improve accessibility to skills training for Indigenous entrepreneurs and their employees.
2 Related Reports
Worker talking to a truck driver.
Project

Building the Skills of the Trucking Industry

  • August 2019
  • Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic, PEI Trucking Sector Council, Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, Immigrant Settlement Agency of NS, Native Council of Nova Scotia, St. Francis Xavier University’s Centre for Employment Innovation
The project will leverage virtual reality technology to deliver training in a way that complements varied learning styles. The virtual reality simulator is the first of its kind specifically designed for the trucking industry with AI technology and the ability to track the user’s eyes and enhance their driving skills in the unlimited replays.
1 Related Reports
two people walking in an innovative organic garden
Research

Mapping Food Sustainability in Canada

  • June 2026
  • Diversity Institute
We mapped the current ecosystem of food sustainability initiatives and sought to collect and compile the current coverage of food sustainability programs in Canada. We analyzed what training programs offer, if any, as well as the targeted interventions for Indigenous Peoples and equity-deserving groups.
2 Related Reports
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