The Future Skills Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

The Black population in Canada is expected to exceed 3 million by 2041. Despite growing awareness of the root causes of inequities faced by Black communities, we don’t yet have interventions at scale in the skills ecosystem. In this episode, our guests describe the importance of culturally relevant, targeted programing for supporting Black communities in Canada to thrive in education and employment.

Our guests envision a future where gaps in educational attainment and wages between black and non-black individuals are closed, and where anti-Black racism in our classrooms and workplaces is eradicated. They share successful components of workforce development programs, including social capital development, mentorship, socioemotional development, and community involvement.

Speakers:

• Kofi Hope, CEO and Co-Founder, Monumental
• André McDonald, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Associate Vice-President, Strategic Research Initiatives and Performance, University of Alberta
• Mohamed Elmi, Executive Director, Diversity Institute
• Heather McIntosh, Director, Education and Skills, The Conference Board of Canada (host)

• Jonathan Barr, Senior Director, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
• Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada
• Anne-Lore Fraikin, Senior Manager, Economic Research, The Conference Board of Canada
• Heather McIntosh, Director, Education and Skills, The Conference Board of Canada (host)

• Skills and Productivity: Which Skills Shortages Are Impacting Canadian Productivity?—August 2024
• Compétences et productivité : Quelles pénuries de compétences influent sur la productivité canadienne?—Août 2024

In the face of the climate crisis, shifting to more carbon-neutral economic activities is a necessity. The growth of this clean economy can also be an opportunity – for individuals to have in-demand and meaningful careers, and for Canada to become a global leader in this area. In this episode, we hear from three Canadian organizations. Our guests tell us about the growing clean technology and blue economy sectors, and about the skills needed in these sectors, and share their insights on what needs to happen to support the development of a strong workforce in the clean economy.

Guests

Darren Gresch, Senior Research Associate, Innovation and Technology, Conference Board of Canada

Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Foresight Canada

Yogendra Chaudhry, Vice-President of Professional Services, ECO Canada

Host

Linda Nazareth

Episode Links:

Future Skills Centre Homepage: https://fsc-ccf.ca/

Future Skills Centre Twitter: https://twitter.com/fsc_ccf_en

The Conference Board of Canada Homepage :https://www.conferenceboard.ca/

The Conference Board of Canada Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConfBoardofCda 

The Conference Board of Canada Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConferenceBoardofCanada/ 

ECO Canada https://eco.ca/

Foresight Canada https://foresightcac.com/ 

OpportuNext https://www.opportunext.ca/ 

Microcredentials are a recognition of learning, assessing specific competencies and addressing employer needs. In this episode, we discuss the rise of microcredentials, their potential, and ongoing challenges such as coordination across Canada and assessment quality. Our guests provide perspectives from industry and from post-secondary education and include Emma Gooch from eCampusOntario, Kerri Korabelnikov from Red River College Polytechnic, and Theresa Davis-Woodhouse from the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace. 

Speakers

Guests

Emma Gooch, Program Manager, Microcredentials, eCampusOntario
Kerri Korabelnikov, Dean, School of Education, Arts and Sciences, Red River College Polytechnic
Theresa Davis-Woodhouse, Director of Project Management, Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace

Host

Linda Nazareth

Links

Future Skills Centre Homepage: https://fsc-ccf.ca/
Future Skills Centre Twitter: https://twitter.com/fsc_ccf_en
The Conference Board of Canada Homepage :https://www.conferenceboard.ca/
The Conference Board of Canada Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConfBoardofCda
The Conference Board of Canada Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConferenceBoardofCanada/
Research report: The Future is Micro: Digital learning and microcredentials for education, retraining, and lifelong learning https://fsc-ccf.ca/research/micro-credentials-for-retraining-and-lifelong-learning/
FSC Project: Materials handling 4.0: Building pathways to employment for disadvantaged groups  https://fsc-ccf.ca/projects/material-handling-4-0-building-pathways-to-employment-for-disadvantaged-groups/
FSC Project: Aiming higher: Microcredential training in aviation and aerospace https://fsc-ccf.ca/projects/aviation-aerospace/
eCampusOntario: Microcredentials https://micro.ecampusontario.ca/
eCampusOntario  https://www.ecampusontario.ca/ 

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are an important part of the Canadian economy and the workplace of many Canadians. But these businesses face steep difficulties in the coming years as COVID-19 government supports end. How can SMEs tackle challenges, such as skill and labour shortages, to flourish as businesses and employers?

In this episode we speak to three guests about the economic trends and opportunities facing SMEs in their region, from remote-first small businesses to new jobs in the green economy. They discuss the skills, roles, and supports needed to take advantage of these opportunities.

Speakers

Guests

Jason Rasevych, Partner, National Indigenous Client Services Lead, Deloitte Canada; President, Anishnawbe Business Professional Association
Dorinda So, Executive Director, pointA
Patrick Sullivan, President and CEO, Halifax Chamber of Commerce

Host
Linda Nazareth

 Links

Future Skills Centre Homepage: https://fsc-ccf.ca/

Future Skills Centre Twitter: https://twitter.com/fsc_ccf_en

The Conference Board of Canada Homepage: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/

The Conference Board of Canada Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConfBoardofCda 

The Conference Board of Canada Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConferenceBoardofCanada/ 

pointA https://pointa.ca/

Halifax Chamber of Commerce https://halifaxchamber.com/ 

Anishnawbe Business Professional Association https://www.anishnawbebusiness.com/ 

Restaurants, hotels, and attractions across Canada are an important place of work, particularly for youth, students, and newcomers to Canada. But with cycles of closures and layoffs, health and safety concerns, and new enforcement requirements due to COVID-19, there has been an exodus of workers from the hospitality and tourism industry. How are businesses rethinking their hiring, training, and compensation practices to adapt and recover?

This episode explores issues of workforce development and business strategy in the hospitality and tourism industry, in conversation with Krista Bax from go2HR and Adam Morrison from OTEC. We also hear firsthand from a business about their experiences. 

Guests

Matt Pearson, Director, Human Resources, Living Waters Resorts 

Adam Morrison, President and CEO, Ontario Tourism & Education Council (OTEC)

Krista Bax, CEO, go2HR

Host

Linda Nazareth

Links
Future Skills Centre Homepage: https://fsc-ccf.ca/ 

Future Skills Centre Twitter: https://twitter.com/fsc_ccf_en

The Conference Board of Canada Homepage: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/

The Conference Board of Canada Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConfBoardofCda

The Conference Board of Canada Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConferenceBoardofCanada/ 

OTEC: https://otec.org/

Go2HR: https://www.go2hr.ca/ 

We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. 

We know that COVID-19 has had disproportionate economic impacts on certain groups, including women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and newcomers to Canada. We are experiencing an undesirable “K-shaped recovery” where certain individuals and sectors recover more quickly than others. 

This episode highlights key challenges facing certain groups—such as Indigenous students and youth more broadly—when it comes to education and employment during the pandemic. We make the case for a more inclusive skills training strategy, that give all workers the skills to navigate a changing economy (and provides businesses the workers with the skills to help them adapt to future technological changes and economic shocks). 

Kory Wilson from BCIT, and Chris Duff and Erick Pelayo Aubert from the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity join us to share their perspectives. 

 Links

Recovery for All: Finding Equities in Education and Employment:  https://www.conferenceboard.ca/futureskillscentre/sounding-tours 

Hire Next Tool: https://fsc-ccf.ca/projects/youth-jobs-ai/ 

Indigenous ICT Development Centre: https://fsc-ccf.ca/projects/indigenous-ict-development-centre/ 

Conference Board of Canada: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/ 

Future Skills Centre: https://fsc-ccf.ca/ 

 Guests

Kory Wilson – Executive Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships, BCIT

Chris Duff – Executive Lead, Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity (CCYP)

Erick Pelayo Aubert – Undergraduate student and Coordinator, CCYP

Host

Linda Nazareth

The nature of jobs is changing, with the growth of the gig economy and more work in all fields being tasked to contract workers, freelancers, and the self-employed. These independent workers lack the social support net that full-time employees benefit from. What are some ways to bridge the “support gap” and ensure that people don’t fall between the cracks in these precarious job markets?

In our final episode of Season 1 of the Future Skills Centre podcast, we discuss this question and more with Armine Yalnizyan (Atkinson Fellow).

Learn more

• Old Gigs, New Gigs (Paper Authored by Carole Piovesan)

Transcripts

• English
• Ce balado a été enregistré en anglais, mais vous pouvez en télécharger la transcription en français

Canada ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of its rates of postsecondary education attainment as well as annual spending per postsecondary student. While a majority of education providers believe that our graduates are well-equipped for the workforce, a much lower proportion of students and employers share that belief.

This points to a disconnect between the education and work worlds, one that could be bridged by incorporating real-world or experiential work into students’ education. The Business + Higher Education Roundtable aims to do just that, by ensuring that 100% of Canadian postsecondary students participate in a form of work-integrated learning before graduation. In our fifth episode of Season 1 of the Future Skills Centre podcast, we speak to Valerie Walker (Business Higher + Education Roundtable) to address some of these issues.

Learn more

• Business Higher Education Roundtable
• Are Canada’s Business Schools Teaching Social and Emotional Skills? (Paper Authored by Matthew McKean) 

Transcripts

• English
• Ce balado a été enregistré en anglais, mais vous pouvez en télécharger la transcription en français

Reskilling and upskilling are now imperative for both employees and organizations to keep pace with the digital and technological innovations that are changing the way we work. This is creating a new echelon of positions—those that require brand new skills and those that require an enhanced skillset.

Investing in reskilling and upskilling is critical at the organizational and individual level to ensure mutual preparedness and success in the new technology-driven world. But how can governments, organizations, and workers work together to ensure the right supports are being provided to those who need them most? In our fourth episode of Season 1 of the Future Skills Centre podcast, we speak to Glenda Quintini (OECD), Sashya D’Souza (Toronto Finance International), and Karn Singh (Cognizant) to answer some of these questions.

Learn more

• Automation, Skills Use and Training 
  (OECD Paper Co-Authored by Glenda Quintini)
• Why Returning to Toronto to Work in Financial Services Should Be Your Next Move (Toronto Finance International Blog Authored by Sashya D’Souza)

Transcripts

• English
• Ce balado a été enregistré en anglais, mais vous pouvez en télécharger la transcription en français