Category: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

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November 16, 2023

Building for Tomorrow: A Diverse and Dynamic Future in Trades

First published in November 2023, and authored by Dina McNeil, Director of Projects and Programs, Colleges and Institutes Canada 

Canada’s rich diversity is unmistakable. Yet, as the country faces an urgent need for more tradespeople, there’s a noticeable lack of representation in the skilled trades. Career opportunities in construction and manufacturing—rewarding occupations with good pay—exist across the country. Colleges and institutes are playing a pivotal role in addressing this shortage and reshaping the landscape by creating programs and partnering with industries to pave the way for a more inclusive future in the trades.  

Central to this endeavor is our commitment to outreach events aimed at making the trades an inviting space for everyone. Our Explore Trades and Technology program is a testament to this, where colleges and industry leaders provide high school students with a comprehensive view of the trades, challenging traditional stereotypes. These hands-on events inspire the next generation to see the skilled trades as more than just jobs, but ambitious and fulfilling career choices, accessible to all. 

We’ve made remarkable progress in creating opportunities for women in the trades over recent years. Initiatives like Conestoga College’s Engineering, Technology, and Trades for Women convey to women that the trades are not only open but welcoming. Dynamic recruitment campaigns further this narrative, depicting a career in the trades as compelling and rewarding—a message that is finding resonance with an increasing number of female learners.  

Knowing that recruiting a diverse pool of workers is just the beginning, we emphasize the importance of supporting these learners, ensuring their sustained success in the trades. Saskatchewan Polytech’s Women in Trades and Technology initiative embodies this approach, positioning mentorship at its core. By connecting students with experienced professionals, we’re fostering an environment where guidance, support, and a sense of belonging are paramount. 

Pre-apprenticeship programs tailored for underrepresented groups is another way we’re supporting a more diverse skilled trades sector. For instance, Lethbridge College’s Pathways to the Trades program prepares newcomers for the Alberta Apprenticeship entry exam while enhancing their integration into Canadian workplace culture. Participants discover a range of trades and visit job sites, build job search strategies and professional networks, and improve their trade-specific English language skills. 

Programs like these serve as catalysts for change in the trades. By providing these opportunities, there’s a cyclical impact: the more women, newcomers, Indigenous people, visible minorities, and 2SLGBTQI+ people we usher into the trades, the more it’s seen as a suitable sector for them.  

We’re also helping the construction and manufacturing sectors create positive and inclusive work environments through our new ApprenticeConnect platform. Developed in partnership with seven colleges and institutes across Canada, this platform provides tailored tools and resources such as inclusive hiring strategies, tips on fostering a supportive workplace culture, and access to diversity and inclusion training. Our aim is to ensure these businesses have the necessary tools to not only recruit but also retain and elevate a diverse workforce.  

Having equipped businesses with the tools to foster inclusivity, it’s equally essential to provide tangible incentives that drive diverse hiring decisions. Our Career Launcher Apprenticeships program, funded by the Government of Canada, rewards employers who champion diversity in their hiring practices. Employers double their incentive, from $5,000 to $10,000, when they hire a new apprentice from an underrepresented group. Impressively, more than half of new apprentices hired through the program belong to one of these groups, highlighting its tangible impact.  

At colleges and institutes, we’re not just educators; we’re change-makers. Every new program we create, recruitment drive we conduct, student we enrol, and mentorship initiative we introduce edges us closer to our vision: a trades sector mirroring Canada’s diverse population. But there’s still a lot of work to be done and achieving this vision requires collective action. We urge businesses, educators, policymakers, and the general public to join us in this transformative journey. Support these initiatives, invest in the future of trades, and together, let’s build a more inclusive and prosperous future. 

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November 13, 2023

The Urgent Need for Investment in On-Campus Mental Health Services for a Resilient Canada (SDG 3)

Life on campus can be a thrilling and transformative experience for learners. But it can also be a time of intense stress and pressure. The demands of coursework, social expectations and the challenges of newfound independence for youth can take a significant toll on a learner’s mental health. These challenges are even more pronounced for older learners as they juggle existing careers and family responsibilities. 

In recent years, stress related to factors such as climate change, the pandemic, and digital culture have intensified mental health conditions and placed them at the forefront of the wellness conversation. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reports that young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group (CAMH, 2023). We also know that every 1 in 2 students accesses mental health services through their post-secondary institution, but students cite wait times as the biggest barrier to accessing these supports (CASA, 2022) 

In an ever-evolving world, the well-being of Canada’s future leaders – its learners – is vital. This is underscored in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, ‘Good Health and Well-Being,’ which accentuates the role of well-being in shaping our collective future. 

Our Commitment: 

Recognizing its vital importance, colleges and institutes are eager to enhance their efforts in fostering a safe and supportive environment for students facing mental health challenges. For instance: 

  • North West College announced it will provide comprehensive tutoring and mental health services for students, thanks to a funding boost from Cenovus Energy. 
  • Holland College recently celebrated the launch of the Thrive campaign to support the establishment of a visible and accessible centre for student wellness, resilience, and success today. 
  • Red River College ‘Healthy Minds, Healthy College’ program is at the centre of their college-wide mental health strategy, delivering essential resources for stress management, counselling services, and mental health workshops to support their students’ well-being. 
  • Kenjgewin Teg has introduced a new program that equips learners with a diverse range of foundational skills, while supporting their emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental health. 
  • Georgian College has a robust mental health and wellness strategic plan that includes counselling services, workshops, and events to promote mental well-being.  
  • Cégep de Saint-Laurent has implemented a mental health strategy encompassing counselling services, workshops, and awareness campaigns, along with a ‘Psychosocial Support’ program to aid students in managing their mental well-being.
     

Colleges and institutes have also been advocating for on-campus mental health services and a stepped-care model that ensures students receive the right support at the right time. We want to see a holistic approach, combining counselling with various mental health supports, connecting students with their communities, integrating cultural practices, and supporting research. Furthermore, our involvement in initiatives like the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being underscores our commitment to creating safe and supportive learning environments.

The Need for Urgent Action: 

While colleges and institutes are dedicated to supporting their students, addressing the severity of mental health challenges requires government commitment and coordinated efforts with adequate resources. 

The Liberal Party of Canada’s 2021 platform commitment to invest $500 million over four years for on-campus mental health counsellors is a significant step in the right direction. However, we are eagerly awaiting action. 

Our Call to Action: 

CICan and its members are urging the Government of Canada to fulfil its commitments as soon as possible, recognizing that Canada’s success hinges on our learners’ ability to receive the personalized mental-health support they need. It’s important we act now to ensure the strength and resilience of our learners can propel Canada forward. You can learn more about our recommendations in Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance – Pre-budget Consultations in Advance of Budget 2024.

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October 30, 2023

Education empowers more women to make history (SDG 4 & 5)

Canadians officially mark Women’s History Month in October, celebrating the achievements and contributions of women and girls across the country and throughout our history as business leaders, politicians, researchers, artists, activists and more. 

Did you know that (as of 2021) women globally held only 28.2% of management positions despite accounting for almost 40% of total employment? At the current rate, it will take 140 years to achieve equal representation in leadership in the workplace.  

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 Quality Education and 5 Gender Equality are intrinsically linked. That’s why it’s so important to empower more women – Indigenous women, women from 2SLGBTQI+ communities, women with disabilities, and newcomer, racialized, and migrant women to achieve their full potential. 

A core principle of our work is to empower women and girls around the world. Our approach is based on human rights and promotes access to training, addressing systemic and socio-cultural barriers faced by female students while developing gender-responsive programs and promoting gender-responsive pedagogy. For example: 

The Mille femmes: Je suis Femme, j’Existe, je Participe program (One Thousand Women: I am woman, I exist, I participate) empowers some of the most vulnerable women in Senegal by making training, and thus formal employment or self-employment, more accessible and adapted to their needs.  

  • 1,000 women in seven regions of Senegal will receive direct support from the project. 
  • The project also works at the community level to advocate, raise awareness, and mobilize political, social, and economic leaders to support the engagement of women as full citizens within their communities. 

The Education for Employment Tunisia Al-Najah program increases the economic autonomy of young graduates in Tunisia – particularly female graduates – living in underprivileged regions of the country, while reducing the country’s unemployment rate and combating poverty among women. 

  • More than 25,000 students, at least 50% of which are women, will benefit from this project. 
  • The project also ensures that teachers are trained to support their students in gender-sensitive pedagogy, competency-based approaches, female entrepreneurship for educational purposes, and on gender-specific employability strategies. 

The Empowerment Through Skills Program (ESP) strengthens alternative pathways to education, employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship for women and adolescent girls in 12 communities across Tanzania.  

  • More than 700 women and adolescent girls will graduate from gender-sensitive programs.  
  • PLUS! Thanks to new safeguarding guidelines developed through ESP, nearly 600 postsecondary institutions in Tanzania will have an extra tool to enhance the safety and protection of young women and men against sexual and gender-based violence.  

The Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 program (BCDI 2030) empowers women in 26 eligible countries and Small Island Developing States through high-quality, inclusive education and training opportunities (including technical and professional training) to address inequality, bettering their lives and their communities. 

  • More than 7,000 people will directly benefit from the program, at least 51% of whom are women. 

Our work directly supports gender equality in Canada and around the world – and has for more than 50 years. In that time, we have delivered more than 800 projects in more than 100 countries. 

Women’s History Month is an opportunity to reflect on how we can empower more women to make history. 

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September 18, 2023

From Local Action to Global Impact: CICan’s ImpAct Climate Challenge & Beyond

The world is facing many challenges, with the fight against climate change at the forefront. To inspire hope and maintain the drive toward solutions, it’s essential that we connect the dots between local actions and global goals. This notion takes centre stage as we celebrate Global Goals Week and mark the launch of the second annual CICan’s ImpAct Climate Challenge – an initiative that is more than just a campaign to reduce greenhouse gases; it’s a pathway to addressing the broader spectrum of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).       

What is the ImpAct Climate Challenge?

The ImpAct Climate Challenge empowers students, staff, and faculty members at colleges and institutes across the country to actively reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus and in their personal lives.  

From October 11 until November 22, participants will test their climate knowledge and learn actionable strategies to drive impactful changes throughout their daily lives. They can also enter weekly draws, qualify for a grand prize, and boost their college or institute’s chance to win one of four $3,000 bursaries for a climate leader. 

While the challenge’s primary focus naturally aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action), it also delves into critical themes such as energy, food, transportation and waste, addressing other vital SDGs, including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). It’s a powerful example of how collective, local action can drive progress toward our global goals. 

Sign up for the Challenge. Ask students to participate. Ask your colleagues to get involved. 

Colleges, institutes, and the Sustainable Development Goals 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 actionable items that form the basis of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. They are a global call to action for countries to work together to solve issues that affect us all – like poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate change – while planning for a long-term equitable, peaceful, and prosperous future. Visit our blog to learn more about how colleges and institutes act on the SDGs every day: 

  • Read:  Climate change is a global emergency that requires collective action, at all levels and across all sectors (SDG 13 & SDG 17). A sustainable future requires us to do our part – SDG 13 challenges us to take urgent action to combat climate change. Our new milestone report, “Are We Ready?” is a scan and compilation of college and institute leadership in climate action
  • Read: We all have a role to play in energy efficiency (SDG 7). SDG 7 challenges us to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Colleges and institutes are leaders in our renewable energy future. They train people to work in the clean and renewable energy sector and support industry to find innovative solutions to energy challenges in their communities.
  • Read: Sustainable food ensures a sustainable future. SDG 12 challenges us to work together to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Food is a big part of that, including accounting for food that is lost, wasted, or produced unsustainably. That’s why the work colleges and institutes do in sustainable food and agricultural innovation is so important
  • Read: We need biodiversity to improve air quality (SDG 15). SDG 15 challenges us to do more to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of our land ecosystems. Training more people to work in forest conservation, natural resources, and land management is one of the ways colleges and institutes help improve the air we breathe.
  • Read: Carefully managing our oceans is key to a sustainable future (SDG 14). Covering more than 70% of the planet, oceans support the environment and make the Earth habitable for humans. Colleges and institutes are helping to protect life below water by leading ground-breaking research in the marine and coastal sectors. 
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August 17, 2023

Virtual simulations are changing the future of healthcare education (SDG 4)

The long-standing challenges of securing clinical placements for healthcare programs, exacerbated by COVID-19, have significantly limited opportunities for students to gain valuable workplace experience. These challenges are even more pronounced for students living outside large urban areas or those belonging to underrepresented groups who face additional barriers to access.    

To ensure the next generation of healthcare professionals are well-equipped, healthcare educators are seeking out creative learning opportunities. More than ever, virtual simulations are emerging as a modality to help students develop a broader range of clinical competencies in a scalable and cost-effective way. 

SDG 4 challenges us to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. That means we need to find innovative ways to develop learning tools that can enhance educational resources and lead to successful employment for all students in Canada, wherever they live. 

Virtu-WIL is an innovative work-integrated learning (IWIL) project that has given the opportunity to educators to collaborate with simulation experts to create virtual simulations. From this collaboration, educators across Canada can freely access over 185 virtual simulations as open educational resources designed to give students in nursing, medical laboratory sciences, paramedicine, and sonography programs hands-on learning experiences to improve their clinical skills and knowledge. In fact, in one year of the Virtu-WIL program, our open educational resources were viewed by 12,000 educators, students, and community members. Additionally, over 4,700 students gained job-ready skills through Virtu-WIL while being connected with labor market partners. 

While new educational models and teaching methods can open new opportunities for students, they can often be a challenge for educators. That’s why Virtu-WIL and Simulation Canada also hosted a series of one-of-a-kind workshops to support educators embedding virtual simulation into educational programming.  

  • Over 100 college and institute educators had the opportunity to learn from world-leading experts in the field of virtual simulation pedagogy and to share best practices and strategies with each other. 

As we continue to strive towards SDG 4, Virtu-WIL is a testament to our collective commitment to providing quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. 

Virtu-WIL is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through the Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative. 

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June 5, 2023

Igniting collective action towards net zero. (SDG 13 & SDG 17)

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Colleges and institutes play a pivotal role in our race to net zero. We are a vital catalyst, including environmental awareness in training programs and fostering sustainable practices that contribute to a resilient future. Today, to mark United Nations World Environment Day and the beginning of Canadian Environmental Week, we reaffirm our commitment to this role and share two exciting updates on a project that’s inspiring action against climate change: ImpAct-Climate.  

Living Lab Demonstrations 

Our ImpAct-Climate project raises awareness about greenhouse gases and encourages behaviour change to reduce emissions in the college and institute sector. As part of the project, we’ve been working with colleges and institutes on 20 Living Labs projects to demonstrate how we can maximize the impact of Canada’s largest post-secondary network. For example:  

  • At Norquest College, the Green Café team uses rescued or leftover food ingredients to deliver delicious, chef-prepared meals to students free of charge while raising awareness about sustainable consumption and production patterns and helping boost food security. (SDGs 2, 3 & 12)  
  • At Cégep John Abbott College, the team is creating a First People’s Garden and Micro-forest on campus to improve knowledge and practices about their environment and increase awareness of how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and care for our planet (SDGs 11 & 15). 
  • At Cambrian College, the Climate Action Lab team uses their year-round, four-season Indigenous learning space to teach individuals about sustainability and many other topics through an Indigenous lens of ways of knowing, being, and doing. (SDGs 4, 10, 11 & 16)  
  • At Collège La Cité, the team will use an AI platform (e.g., OSCAR) to identify waste and inform users on how to properly dispose of the items to reduce waste on campus (SDGs 9 & 12).  

Funding for a new Campus Living Labs Demonstration project will be launched in February 2024. 

Impact-Climate Challenge 

Another key initiative within this project is the Impact-Climate Challenge. The challenge inspires change and ignites collective action across campuses by inviting students, faculty and staff to share actions and ideas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a greener future.   

We just wrapped up the submission phase of the challenge and are thrilled to share that we received a total of 71 submissions. Curious to know what we received? Here’s a glimpse into two of the many ideas: 

  • One submission shared a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using public transit, shopping mostly at thrift stores for clothing, and eating a vegetarian diet.  
  • Another submission suggested various actions for reducing waste on campus, such as replacing old bulbs with LED lights in buildings, utilizing native plants for landscapes to reduce maintenance and fuel consumption, and promoting reusable cups and bottles to minimize waste and emissions.  

By amplifying success stories and generating new ideas, our goal is to foster an even greater culture of sustainability within the sector. Stay tuned as we prepare to share even more challenge submissions and reveal the winners on June 20th.  There will also be a new ImpAct-Climate Challenge launching in 2023-2024. 

Join us in taking action.   

Whether or not you had the opportunity to participate in the living labs project or the ImpAct-Climate Challenge, it’s crucial to recognize that SDG 13 calls upon all of us to take urgent action in combating climate change and its far-reaching impacts. Join us in this global challenge and get inspired by the incredible work taking place across Canada’s colleges and institutes.    

Together, we can make a significant difference!