Ottawa, September 18, 2019 – Today, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) launched their outreach campaign calling on federal candidates to visit and get to know their local college, institute or polytechnic campus.
Over 95% of Canadians live within 50km of their local college or institute, making them vital community hubs that lead social and economic development by working with public, private, and non-profit partners to meet local talent and innovation needs.
These institutions help Canadians acquire the skills they need to succeed in a quickly evolving job market. They also fuel Canadian innovation by helping small and medium-sized enterprises find solutions to practical problems through applied research partnerships.
With the federal election campaign now in full swing, CICan is launching a letter writing tool Canadians can use to reach local candidates to showcase the impact colleges and institutes are having on their lives and in their local communities.
“With Canadians and communities top of mind during this election period, we are calling on members of the public to invite federal election candidates to visit their local campuses and see firsthand how they help communities and Canadians thrive”, said Denise Amyot, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada. “We want candidates to see our incredible members in action! ”
Denise Amyot, President and CEO of CICan was joined at the launch by Lise Bourgeois, President of Collège La Cité, and Gordon McIvor General-Director of Cégep Heritage College, as well as her fellow board member of the Future Skills Council, Sandy MacDonald, President of Holland College.
To learn more about Canada’s colleges and institutes and to send a letter, please visit: collegesinstitutes.ca/election.
About Colleges and Institutes Canada:
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the voice of Canada’s publicly-supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment with ongoing programs in over 25 countries. CICan’s members add over $190B to Canada’s economy each year and contribute to inclusive economic growth by working with industry and community partners to offer more than 10,000 programs to learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities.
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For more information:
Julien Abord-Babin
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
jabord-babin@collegesinstitutes.ca
Tel. : 613-746-2222 ext. 3131
Twitter : @CollegeCan