Across Canada

Victoria Wells: If employers insist on bringing people back, one day a week might be the 'sweet spot,' research suggests

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, the Future Skills Centre (FSC) facilitated a dedicated stream of programming called Future Skills @Cannexus that brought together career development professionals (CDPs) and policymakers from across Canada. The purpose of the event was to explore innovations designed to enhance the accessibility, benefits and delivery of Canadian career development and employment services.

A new incubator program aims to make the real estate development industry more reflective of the city’s diversity. Led by consulting firm Monumental and the University of Toronto Infrastructure Institute, the FutureBUILDS BIPOC Real Estate Development Incubator invites mid-career entrepreneurs for a five-month course that will provide training, connections and on-site learning.

As a mentor and teacher with the Peel District School Board (PDSB) in Ontario, Kim Thomas has worked with children and youth from marginalized and equity-deserving communities for almost 30 years. These students, says Thomas “have faced some of the greatest barriers” in accessing educational opportunities. And while the PDSB “has been very intentional around dismantling anti-Black racism,” she is excited about new program partnerships with corporations and organizations that “open up doors for Black and Indigenous students.” These learning initiatives have the potential to “bring the kids from the back of the line to the front,” says Thomas.