A Call to Action to Build a Coalition of the Willing
Canada is making new defence investments to defend our people and our values, to secure our sovereignty, to drive economic prosperity, and to protect our Allies in a rapidly shifting global landscape. Doubling down on defence capabilities, innovative industrial strategy, and personnel is necessary to meet the moment with decisive action.
Of particular interest for our sector, the Prime Minister has made commitments to recruit 13,000 new military personnel and establish BOREALIS – the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Science – which will enhance made-in-Canada capacity in areas such as AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity.
Lasting impact will come from leveraging and scaling the proven strength of partners who have long supported Canada’s national resilience. Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics are among those key partners.
By joining, you will be added to our mailing lists to receive the latest news and opportunities about our work in defence education, training and innovation.
As discussed at our April Leaders Summit that showcased the work of existing military-connected colleges and stimulated a discussion on scaling a national network, colleges and institutes are the ones building talent, training workers, and powering the jobs and solutions that can support Canada’s defence readiness and capabilities – and we are ready to do more:
- In Workforce Readiness, supporting both career transitions, upskilling, and reskilling of active CAF personnel, veterans and their families for all military occupations that have a civilian equivalent – and for those in civilian occupations looking to transition to military careers;
- In Military and Dual-Use Technologies, by partnering with branches of the Canadian Armed Forces to develop innovative and practical applied research solutions to defence challenges;
- In Industrial Support, by working with industry partners to strengthen Canada’s defence manufacturing sector with high-quality training and innovation to meet military demand; and,
- In Community Building, enhancing capacity to support military-connected learners, veterans, and their families.
The College Defence Training and Innovation Network
To maximize the impact of our network where Canada needs it most, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is convening a coalition of member institutions interested in leading sector action on these historic investments in our military capacity and defence infrastructure.
Through the coalition, CICan will:
- Position military-connected institutions as a vital partner in Canada’s defence ecosystem, showcasing the essential role of colleges and institutes in addressing defence challenges and supporting military-connected learners;
- Develop scalable, targeted solutions that demonstrate the value and impact of colleges in workforce development for the defence sector;
- Serve as the single point of access for federal partners including DND, VAC, the Canadian Army, RCAF, RCN, DRDC– and the new BOREALIS – to access a network of institutions supporting defence preparedness and innovation.
By joining, your institution will:
- Gain early access to opportunities and national initiatives that both support institutional growth and sectoral impact;
- Leverage existing relationships with the Canadian Armed Forces and position your institution for greater impact;
- Participate in national consultations and dialogue shaping the future of defence and education and training;
- Collaborate and share best practices with a network of like-minded institutions;
- Receive key advocacy messages and support from CICan to amplify your institution’s voice.
Help us leverage and scale the proven strength of college and institute partners who have long supported Canada’s national resilience.
To Express Your Interest, please complete the form below before September 5. For more information, please contact our Member Relations team at members.membres@cican.org.
Submission Form
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