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

Bridging Education and Skills Gaps through Indigenous-Controlled Post-Secondary Education

This research project will investigate the role Indigenous-controlled post-secondary institutes play in helping First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students achieve academic success and find meaningful employment.
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Project

Facilitating Access to Skilled Talent

FAST helps participants build job readiness, navigate Canadian workplace culture and connect with credentialing resources. The program features six sectoral streams ranging from information technology (IT) to seniors care.
Project

Resilience of Newcomer Women in Northwestern Ontario: Overcoming Economic Shock Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

This project explored the employment challenges and recovery prospects of newcomer women in northwestern Ontario post-COVID-19.
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