Through Green Pathways for Small Communities (GPSC), our member colleges and institutes helped rural, remote, and northern communities strengthen their economies and prepare for a sustainable future.
What we did:
Seven member colleges and institutes connected with employers and community organizations in 14 rural, remote, and northern communities to identify local skills gaps, create tailored training solutions, and provide work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities, ensuring these communities had the skilled workforce needed for growth.
Because of this work, workforces in the 14 communities are better aligned with local needs, more employers can hire the talent they need to stay competitive, and more residents have the skills to thrive and contribute to their communities.
The program’s success in high-demand areas like mass timber design enabled our members to meet industry partners’ needs and develop content for specialized training programs, leading many institutions to continue these offerings with other funding.
Better Support for Indigenous Learners
GPSC provided wrap-around supports to ensure that learners from diverse backgrounds, including a significant proportion of Indigenous and First Nation students (44% of participants), could fully participate in the training and WIL placements.
By facilitating the development of community partnerships – particularly with Indigenous groups – the program has increased the capacity of our members to effectively deliver training to students at remote campuses.
