Future skills development for an inclusive northern economy

An investment of $14.3 million by the Future Skills Centre to expand 13 innovative skills development projects includes Royal Roads University’s Professional and Continuing Studies’ Building Foundations for an Inclusive Northern Economy: Advancing Innovations within the Northern and Indigenous Skills Ecosystem program. 

The program’s focus is two-fold: increase employment opportunities among Indigenous Northern residents  and address the significant job vacancies in Northern Canada.

The program is designed to be culturally responsive and flexible to help build an inclusive Northern economy. Some of the unique features of the program’s approach to education and training include:

• Customized regional programs for different communities across the delivery areas (Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Manitoba)
• Formalizing pathways for Indigenous learners to achieve career and educational goals

It is anticipated the outcome of the programs will be an increase in Indigenous workforce participation and a reduction in job vacancies. On a broader scale, the program will help foster a more inclusive and sustainable Northern economy.

Director, Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning, Professional and Continuing Studies, Calvin Roberts, highlights the impact the funding will have:

“We are immensely proud of our relationship with the Future Skills Centre. Empowering Indigenous and Northern communities with the skills they need isn’t just an investment in jobs—it’s an investment in a thriving, inclusive future. This initiative unlocks new opportunities and ensures that workforce development is shaped by the people it serves."

The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to driving innovation in skills development so that everyone in Canada can be prepared for the future of work.