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February 12, 2025

A Stronger Canada Starts Within: How Colleges and Institutes Build National Resilience

Canada is facing tough times. The threat of widespread U.S. tariffs puts our jobs, goods, and wallets at risk. This week our steel and aluminum sectors were hit. If these tariffs expand across industries like advanced manufacturing, automotive production, food, agriculture and forestry, the impacts will be severe – disrupting supply chains and critical services. Prices will rise, jobs will be cut, and families will face fewer options and greater uncertainty.

Now is the time for Canada to take charge of its future. That means investing in Canadian businesses, Canadian workers, and Canadian-made solutions. Publicly funded colleges and institutes are central to that effort. They help Canadians land good-paying jobs, support Canadian businesses as they grow and diversify, and drive the kind of innovation that strengthens Canadian industries and the economy. And, in tough times, they’ve always stepped up – helping local companies adapt and training the workers needed to keep our economy moving.

Today is no different. Colleges and institutes stand united, ready to serve Team Canada.

Driving Local Impact, Scaling National Transformation

With nearly 700 campuses nationwide, 95% of Canadians live within 50 km of a college or institute. That means these institutions are always within reach, providing workers, businesses, and families with the training and support they need, right where they are.

Deeply connected to their communities, colleges move fast. They collaborate with local industries, municipalities, and community organizations to meet the real-time needs of the people they serve – from housing and caregiving support to export and energy diversification and helping local businesses embrace new technologies, processes and products. And, with CICan’s convening power and leadership initiatives like our Futures Forum, colleges and institutes can coordinate efforts across the country, amplifying their impact in tackling both local and national challenges.

Preparing Workers for the Future Economy

For Canada to strengthen its economy from within, we need an adaptable, skilled workforce that can build, make, and innovate right here at home. From training electricians, technicians and engineers to supporting entrepreneurs, colleges and institutes provide essential skills through a wide range of demand-driven programs. In fact, with over 10,000 programs offered across various sectors within CICan’s network, 6.45 million Canadians in the workforce today are college and institute graduates.

When industries shift, colleges and institutes quickly adapt, working with partners to identify needs and offering retraining and upskilling to ensure no one is left behind. They also provide flexible learning options like online courses, short-term programs, or part-time study so workers can develop new skills without putting their lives – or paycheques – on hold. This kind of accessible, adaptable education is essential as Canada works to build a more self-sufficient and resilient economy.

Accelerating Homegrown Innovation

Canadian businesses – especially small and medium-sized ones – rely on colleges and institutes for innovation and expertise. With nearly 700 research labs across the country, colleges collaborate with Canadian companies to develop made-in-Canada products, enhance efficiency, and quickly pivot to meet evolving market demands, keeping them competitive.

The results speak for themselves. In just one year, college research led to 6,436 new processes, products, prototypes and services, with 80% of them developed in less than a year. This translates to fast, effective solutions that strengthen Canadian businesses, create more good jobs, and improve life for Canadians.

And with 98% of industry research partners based in Canada, intellectual property (IP) stays where it belongs – at home. Better yet, businesses – not colleges – retain full ownership of their IP, keeping the benefits in their hands while driving national wealth creation and economic growth.

Leveraging Global Partnerships

Colleges and institutes maintain global partnerships in over 50 countries, leveraging Canada’s reputation for excellence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and its leadership in delivering critical skills training internationally.

These partnerships help Canadian businesses innovate, pivot, and expand into new markets, while also equipping workers with in-demand global skills that enhance Canada’s competitive edge on the world stage.

By tapping into our 135 public colleges and institutes, Canada can emerge from these challenges stronger and more resilient, with a workforce and economy ready to thrive in the face of uncertainty and transformation.

Colleges and institutes are here for you, Canada.

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January 21, 2025

Future-Focused Leadership for a Changing Canada

Canada’s public post-secondary sector stands at a pivotal crossroads where significant challenges meet promising opportunities. Rapid policy changes, shifting workforce demands, technological advancements, and the uncertainty of an approaching federal election have created a complex landscape that demands bold, innovative, and forward-thinking leadership.

This is a defining moment—not just for the future of our post-secondary system, but for Canada itself.

Public colleges and institutes play a crucial role in addressing Canada’s biggest challenges, from housing and healthcare to sustainability and workforce productivity. They train the builders, caregivers, innovators, and first responders who form the backbone of our communities and economy. Their success is Canada’s success.

Introducing the Futures Forum

To support colleges and institutes tackle sector-wide challenges and meet Canada’s evolving needs, CICan is proud to launch the Futures Forum. This new, dynamic concept places transformational leadership at the forefront, connecting decision-makers with powerful insights, cutting-edge analysis, and collaborative opportunities to turn bold ideas into actionable solutions.

Through events like the biennial Leaders Summit and monthly Presidents Circle, the Futures Forum ensures colleges and institutes stay agile, responsive, and primed to lead Canada into a thriving future.

Together, our network of forward-thinking leaders and institutions is shaping what’s to come and driving lasting, positive change for all Canadians.

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December 4, 2024

Colleges and Institutes Matter

What’s on My Mind? With Pari Johnston.

I joined CICan a year ago this week. Since then, our sector has been turned on its head in more ways than one. Still, what I’ve learned in my first 12 months on the job is that – more than ever – the work we do matters. A lot.

In my first year, I’ve had the opportunity to visit over 40 CICan members in 9 provinces: Vancouver Community College, Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Suncrest College in Yorkton, Assiniboine College in Brandon, Fanshawe College in London, Collège Ahuntsic in Montréal, Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick in Moncton and Holland College in Charlottetown, to name just a few.

During my visits, I toured cutting-edge aviation, biomanufacturing and agriculture training and research facilities; tried my hand (badly) at virtual simulations to fix a tire on an EV and administer a needle for dental work; drove a firetruck and filmed a scene in an animation studio; dined at student-run bistros; met dedicated staff, faculty, and students from all over the world; marvelled at the top-line jewellery, fashion and high end ceramics made by talented graduates; and witnessed the prototypes created for local companies to solve their business problems and help them scale their operations. In short, I discovered firsthand how CICan’s 134 members are community – and nation-builders.

Read back through my LinkedIn posts from my visits and you’ll notice a theme – bold, pioneering, passionate, unrivalled dynamism and responsiveness.

Even through the challenging context of the past year, I’m struck by the vitality of your campuses, by how deeply rooted your institutions are in your communities, and by just how much Canadians – from all walks of life—rely on publicly funded colleges and institutes to realize new opportunities.

Colleges and institutes train the builders, growers, makers, caregivers, first responders, innovators and job creators that Canadians depend on. As a sector, what we do ensures we have a skilled workforce to meet housing and healthcare demands, ensures workers are equipped to thrive in green and digital industries, and makes Canada’s small businesses more innovative, efficient, and productive.

But more so, your institutions build communities. And by building communities, we build a country.

Being out on the road this past year brought to life for me that nearly every Canadian lives within 50 km of a CICan member campus. The way we reach Canadians as a sector – in rural, remote, Northern, and urban areas – is unmatched and a true Canadian asset.

We’re facing challenges both as a sector and as a country.

Canadians can expect a lot of change in the coming months. Globally, geopolitical winds are changing, industries and supply chains are being redefined, populations are aging, and technologies like AI are accelerating the pace of change and shifting where business is done. 

At home, in view of a federal election, it’s clear that colleges and institutes can and must focus on the things Canada needs most: housing, healthcare, innovative resource development, food security, strong domestic manufacturing capacity and thriving local businesses to drive long-term competitiveness and productivity.

Looking forward, CICan is ready to evolve.

What I’ve heard during my visits – about your aspirations, your needs, and your challenges – are the key drivers of CICan’s evolving strategic directions.

We’ll be starting work in 2025 to continue to define with members, our Board, CICan staff, and our partners the “CICan of the Future.” A vision characterized by intensified focus on leadership development, convening and supporting college leaders in institutional and system transformation to continue to meet the needs of Canadians and address Canada’s biggest challenges.

Leadership matters more than ever.

Our network prepares nearly 800,000 learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities with more than 10,000 programs across all sectors, conducts more than 8,000 applied research projects annually, and adds over $190 billion to Canada’s economy each year.

We are agile, responsive, resilient, and we deliver results for Canadians.

But there is still collective work to do to refresh and renew the public value narrative of what we deliver. We need to continue the on-the-ground mobilization with partners that has been generated in the past few months to build robust coalitions and a strong public postsecondary system working with industry, communities, universities, mayors and labour unions.

We’ll need your continued support to ensure decision makers recognize the opportunities offered by colleges and institutes to be leaders in meeting Canada’s – and their communities’ – biggest challenges

It is our time – we are the partners Canada needs.

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October 1, 2024

Canada’s Research Ecosystem Must Drive Impact

By Pari Johnston, President & CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada.

This op-ed was published by The Hill Times on September 25, 2024.

Canada’s research and innovation landscape is ready for an overhaul. For years, our public research and development spending has trailed behind other Group of Seven (G7) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and our track record in business innovation is sub-par. That means we’re missing out on realizing the full benefits of our research right here at home.

But here’s the good news: change is on the horizon. Last year’s Report on the Federal Research Support System (“the Bouchard Report”) made it clear that many of us in Canada’s research ecosystem need to reflect with purpose on what we’re trying to achieve. More recently, federal investments and the ongoing work to set up a new capstone research funding organization indicate a promising shift to a more strategic, multi- and interdisciplinary approach that mobilizes our research and innovation ecosystem to address the country’s – and the world’s – most pressing challenges.

It’s more important than ever that we reimagine our approach to meeting policy challenges and driving impact via our research ecosystem – and Canada’s colleges and institutes are uniquely placed to do so.

In 2021-2022, our sector worked on more than 8,000 applied research projects resulting in 6,500 new processes, products, and prototypes in areas like housing construction and advanced manufacturing, climate-smart agriculture and food production, and social innovation. That means things like developing a new prototype that can help a local business reduce waste – or testing the efficiency of a new insulated panel that can be used in modular housing construction. These are the real results that make Canadian businesses more efficient, competitive, and productive.

College and institute applied research is partner- and problem-driven innovation. Our cues come from the communities we serve, leading to on-the ground impact and improved technology adoption, adaptation, and integration. 

With 80% of projects completed in less than a year, it’s also innovation at the “speed of business”. And – importantly – with college-led research, 98% of industry partners are in Canada and keep their intellectual property.

The numbers tell us half the story. The other half is about how the impact, relevance, and reach of college and institute research translate into real benefits for Canadians and for the long-term sustainability of Canadian industry.

That impact is more important now than ever, with urgent demands to address our big public policy questions – things like providing sustainable and affordable housing, preparing for and preventing large natural disasters, designing cities and spaces that respect our environment, transitioning to clean energies. 

I am glad the Bouchard Report, the development of a new the capstone research organization, and new partnership opportunities with Horizon Europe have brought mission-driven research back into focus and, looking forward, I’m optimistic about the impact we can achieve.

Still, the college and institute sector currently only receives 2.9% of federal research funding from Tri-Council agencies. And many federal research programs, either in terms of institutional eligibility, funding restrictions, or the process by which successful applicants are determined, are not adequately attuned to the college and institute reality. That needs to be changed if we want to leverage the full potential of college applied research and maximize the impact of federal research dollars.

Innovation policy thinkers have advocated for a challenge-driven industrial strategy for Canada – and I think we need to also embrace a challenge-driven research approach to support this agenda. That means a fresh look at the role, value-add, capacities and connections of all research ecosystem partners to focus our efforts and resources on solving practical challenges facing communities, regions, and our country. This is precisely what colleges and institutes do best.

The future of Canada’s research ecosystem must also support historically excluded groups in conducting impact-oriented research. Challenge-driven research that capitalizes on college and institute applied research expertise, their networks of partners across sectors, and state-of-the-art facilities can – and should – be positioned one of Canada’s strongest motors for innovation by thinking purposefully about funding.

With a demand-driven approach, an ethos of collaboration, and expertise in knowledge translation and technology uptake by local industry partners, we can drive greater downstream impact of a challenge-driven research agenda in areas like housing, economic diversification in traditional sectors and innovative manufacturing.

Canada’s research ecosystem must be reimagined and redesigned in a way that drives impact for Canadians and Canadian businesses. The way to get there is through colleges and institutes.

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September 13, 2024

CICan’s Roadmap to 2026

We are living in dynamic, disruptive and uncertain times. CICan is evolving to meet the moment. We have a new leadership team and organizational structure. A new vision to drive impact with an eye to the future. And a new plan to get us there.

Our new Roadmap to 2026 will focus CICan’s agenda in a way that drives impact and ensures we’re positioned to navigate the changing and complex landscape we live in.

Our mission and values will continue to strengthen the Canadian college and institute system to meet Canada’s – and the world’s – biggest challenges such as housing, healthcare, the future workforce and economic diversification and growth.

For the first time – our five new Impact Goals will direct our resources towards priority areas where we want to drive tangible change. Where colleges and institutes can deliver results for their communities, and for the country. And our three Strategic Priorities will transform CICan into a more agile and fit-for-purpose organization, better suited to serve the interests of our members. Because – after all – our 135 members are at the heart of everything we do.

The time for Canada’s colleges and institutes is now.

Together, we’ll deliver for Canadians by charting a course that is intentional, integrated, and impactful.

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Building Skills, Building Homes

As we navigate the shifting landscape of post-secondary education, CICan’s focus is sharper than ever.

For the first time, our vision is defined around five new Impact Goals that will direct our efforts around priority areas where we want to drive tangible change – where colleges and institutes can deliver results for their communities and the country. 

Boosting Canada’s Job-ready Workforce

A key part of this vision is serving as the national voice for the innovative and inclusive training programs offered by colleges and institutes. These cutting-edge programs, including upskilling and reskilling initiatives, create fast and effective pathways to employment to address Canada’s critical labour shortages. They train the builders, makers, caregivers, first responders, and innovators shaping Canada’s economic future.

Why does this matter? Because a job-ready workforce is the only way to meet Canada’s – and the world’s – biggest challenges.

The Challenge: Build More Homes

Building a typical home involves more than 30 different skilled trades and technical occupations, from carpenters to painters, plumbers to electricians, masons to roofers and on-site managers, many of which are expected to retire by 2028. Preparation for these jobs comes directly from colleges and institutes.

In fact, as experts in hands-on learning, colleges and institutes offer over 300 pre-apprenticeship programs in over 20 skilled trades. And, over 80 of those programs are designed to support groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the trades.

Harnessing the full potential of colleges and institutes to develop the homebuilding workforce will be key to realizing the success and greater downstream impact of federal housing investments.

The Challenge: Build Better Homes

Boosting innovation and labour productivity is pivotal for the future of Canada’s construction sector. According to a new report by economists at Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canada may face declining living standards if productivity does not improve, highlighting the construction sector as a particular concern due to this moribund productivity.

Colleges and institutes with strong community ties and expertise in skills training, applied research, and technology transfer, are essential partners in driving progress. They are building and reskilling the technical workforce required to meet future demands and build better homes through cutting-edge, inclusive training, upskilling and reskilling programs.

Programs like the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence, known for its focus on Red Seal trades and sustainable construction and SAIT’s School of Construction with its comprehensive offerings in everything from design to operations, provide students with the advanced skills required to drive housing innovation.

To further support educators in delivering the skills shaping the construction sector—particularly in sustainability—CICan recently launched four Green Training Modules. These free modules equip educators with the tools to integrate climate awareness, eco-friendly practices, and Indigenous perspectives into their lessons, preparing students to build smart, sustainable housing that addresses environmental and community needs.

Colleges and institutes also play a role in driving innovative, sustainable research. For example, BCIT’s High Performance Building Lab explores designs and technologies to reduce energy consumption while enhancing comfort, while Cégep de Trois-Rivières is developing bio-based materials like hemp concrete to support greener, more energy-efficient construction.

Investing in the homebuilding workforce Canada needs

Looking ahead, CICan is focused on securing increased federal funding for college and-institute-based skills and training initiatives. We are calling for investments that accelerate housing construction while enhancing productivity and innovation in the construction workforce. Our fall 2024 recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance include expanding training opportunities and pathways in trades, supporting business innovation, and modernizing critical skills infrastructure.

Read: Canada’s Colleges and Institutes: Partners in Building Productivity

By fully leveraging colleges and institutes as high-value partners, Canada can equip its construction sector with the modern skills and innovative practices needed to drive productivity and build more and better homes faster.

Colourful leaf-shaped shapes are pointed in different directions. A scientist holding a plant appears in the middle of the image.

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August 6, 2024

Modernizing Canada’s Federal Funding Ecosystem to Drive Impact

Canada’s research and innovation landscape is ready for an overhaul. For years, Canada’s public research and development (R&D) spending has trailed behind other Group of Seven (G7) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and we’re missing out on realizing the full benefits of our research right here at home.

But here’s the good news: change is on the horizon.

The Government of Canada wants to create a new capstone research funding organization to enhance the impact of federal funding. The goal is to improve coordination among diverse research actors and foster collaboration to address emerging challenges – a move that hits all the right notes with our sector!

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)’s Perspective: Anchoring Impact

In response to the Government’s request for feedback on the design of the new organization, CICan consulted its National Applied Research Committee, comprising vice presidents and deans of applied research from colleges and institutes across Canada.

Our recommendations focus on how the new organization can ensure the benefits of Canadian research are captured and retained within the country, driving both community and economic returns. We also highlighted how colleges and institutes are ideally positioned for mission-driven research, creating real-world solutions through partner-focused, efficient, and specialized research – a unique approach that yields practical benefits for Canadians.

On the Blog: Canada’s Research and Innovation Group Chat Needs Colleges and Institutes. Challenge-driven research mobilizes college and institute applied research expertise, their networks of partners across sectors, and state-of-the-art facilities to develop solutions for Canada’s biggest challenges.

Our key recommendations include:

Identify and Address Research Gaps: Clearly define the problems and gaps the new organization is designed to solve, prioritizing the anchoring of research benefits in Canada.
Inform Structure with Stakeholder Needs: Tailor the new organization’s strategy and mandate to meet the needs of small-and medium-sized enterprises and underserved communities, including Indigenous groups.
Expand Research Capacity: Support historically excluded groups in conducting impact-oriented research.
Ensure Strong Organizational Capacity: Dedicate appropriate expertise and operational resources to the capstone organization.
Provide Proper Investment: Provide the organization with a reasonable stand-alone budget that enables it to support its objectives.

For our full list of recommendations and detailed insights on the essential role of colleges and institutes, explore our submission here.

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July 2, 2024

A New Strategic Direction

What’s On My Mind? With Pari Johnston.

Canadians can expect a lot of change in the next 18 months. In view of a coming federal election, it’s clear that colleges and institutes can and must focus on the things Canada needs most.

My priority is on greater integration in our work to maximize impact.

Our message – in plain language – is that colleges and institutes are the partners on the ground that will come up with solutions to build more homes, integrate more newcomers, help local companies transition to the green economy, and train the health and childcare workers our country desperately needs.

On national issues like this and many others, it’s imperative that we demonstrate our public and political value proposition, scale our impact, and connect institutional efforts to deliver.

Impact Goals as the focal point of our strategic direction.

CICan is at an important inflection point. We have a new leadership team and organizational structure. And, with your input, we have refreshed and extended our Strategic Plan to 2026.

In everything we do, we remain laser-focused on the interests of our members in these disruptive times.

CICan’s Roadmap to 2026 – approved by our Board of Directors this spring – will guide our next 18 months. It will focus CICan’s agenda in a way that helps us set priorities and activities for impact and ensures we are positioned to navigate the changing, uncertain and complex landscape.

The roadmap also introduces Impact Goals that will serve as targeted responses to the pressing issues faced by Canada and by our members, directing our resources towards priority areas where we want to drive tangible change.

We’ll share more on the Roadmap and our Impact Goals in the coming weeks and months.

I am confident it will position our sector strategically, leading to a more focused, fit-for-purpose CICan better able to serve our members, and to greater impact the communities we serve.

Together, working in shared purpose around shared challenges, we are going to achieve big things for Canada, and the world.

CICan is strongest when it’s informed by strong leaders. Your input ensures we move forward with confidence. Your priorities are guiding our advocacy, your needs are guiding our services, and your impact is guiding our message.

We will deliver for Canadians by charting a course that is intentional, integrated, and impactful.

View our Roadmap to 2026.

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June 27, 2024

Our Year in Impact

What’s On My Mind? With Pari Johnston.

In a year marked by change, we have a lot to be proud of.

I’m happy to share some reflections on our achievements, on our challenges, and on way forward as a united sector.

Since my arrival in December, I’ve made it a top priority to get out on your campuses to listen deeply and to learn with curiosity. In my first six months, I’ve had the opportunity to visit 30 member institutions in seven provinces and join several provincial college association meetings.

To say I’ve been blown away by the dynamism, diversity, and community-driven spirit of your campuses is an understatement. Getting on more campuses will continue to be a top priority for me this year and next.

What I’ve heard about your aspirations, your needs, and your challenges are the key drivers of CICan’s evolving strategic directions.

I’ve been listening hard – and I hear you. Your priorities are guiding our advocacy, your needs are guiding our services, and your impact is guiding our message.

We are focusing our advocacy agenda on Canada’s big challenges and elevating our voice in national public policy conversations that matter to Canadians.
We are modernizing our approach to member services to create more touchpoints more frequently, with a stronger focus on convening college presidents on shared issues affecting institutional strategy and sustainability.
We are bringing our national and international programs together with a greater focus on benefits for members, collaboration, and capacity-building guiding our choices and our work.

I’m fully convinced that the time is now – and the future is bright – for Canada’s colleges and institutes.

I’m excited about the opportunity to continue growing our impact and to position CICan’s work in a way that best serves you and ensures that our members are positioned to support Canadians.

That’s not to say there haven’t been significant pressures. CICan is keeping our eye on the ball and laser focused on promoting members’ interests in these very disruptive times – especially unprecedented reforms to Canada’s international student program as part of the federal government’s plan to better manage overall immigration levels by reducing temporary resident numbers. And as always, we are pro-actively working to keep our members engaged and well-informed.

As we look ahead, I fundamentally believe that the value of the college and institute sector is in asking ourselves what problems we’re solving for Canadians.

When we think purposefully about the connections between what we teach and research and what we need in our country and our communities, colleges and institutes become natural partners in meeting Canada’s biggest public policy challenges – challenges like providing sustainable and affordable housing, transitioning to clean energies, responding to the care economy and driving productivity and industrial transformation.

As a sector, what you do ensures we have a skilled workforce to meet housing demand, ensures workers are equipped to thrive in green and digital industries, and makes businesses more innovative, efficient, and productive.

CICan understands – and promotes – that impact wholeheartedly.

We’re proud to be the national leader bringing the sector together in this way, and we continue to advocate with a strong, coordinated voice for our shared interests.

Our work is making it clear to leaders, to decision makers, and to Canadians that colleges and institutes are high value ecosystem partners with a unique and differentiated value proposition.

You are the educators, the innovators, the job creators, the makers, the builders and the growers.

You are the ones driving real-world impact on matters Canadians care about every day.

In the context of these big policy challenges, we can reflect on what we’ve accomplished in the past year through our programs.

To name a few, on Canada’s housing crisis and in the healthcare sector, our work brought together colleges and institutes from across the country to build a skilled workforce and address acute labour shortages. And, in climate action, our work has supported green skills and literacy, helped businesses and community organizations lower their carbon footprints, and improved planning for sustainability in Canada.

We should be all very proud of the incredible achievements highlighted in our 2023-24 Impact Report – both as members participating in CICan’s projects and as a sector.

As our work continues to evolve to focus on the things Canada needs most, my priority is on greater integration to maximize impact.

Read Our 2023-24 Impact Report.

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May 24, 2024

The Future of Education is Challenge-Driven

Published on TheFutureEconomy.ca May 17, 2024.

“Canada’s big public policy questions—things like providing sustainable and affordable housing, ensuring food security, preparing for and preventing large natural disasters, designing cities and spaces that respect our environment, transitioning to clean energies, and taking care of an aging population—aren’t going away. 

These are our shared challenges, nationally and globally. The good news is that Canada has one of the strongest postsecondary sectors in the world. If we think strategically about the who, what, why, when, and how of learning, each challenge becomes a strategic opportunity for colleges and institutes as educators, partners, and innovators to be a bigger part of the solution. ”

Read the full text on TheFutureEconomy.ca.

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