Riipen’s work-integrated, project-based learning programs are successfully helping to connect Canadian employers to diverse talent.

Dana Stephenson was attending the University of Victoria when he had a light bulb moment. During one class, instead of giving the class a generic case study, a professor brought in a company CEO, who presented his company and problems to the class. All the students then got to work on practical, real-life solutions to help the business reach its goals. The class went from theoretical and conceptual to hands-on, experiential, and collaborative.

“Immediately, I noticed that the engagement and learning in the classroom skyrocketed,” recalls Stephenson. “No matter what your background was, what your resume said, or what connections your parents had, everyone in that classroom got the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and to put it on their resume. It was also an amazing way for the employer to boost its talent pipeline diversity, productivity, and innovation. The CEO ended up hiring someone right out of that class. And that was the inspiration for Riipen.”

Integrating work and education

In 2014, Stephenson co-founded Riipen, an experiential learning platform that helps schools connect their students to industry and enables companies to discover top emerging talent. It facilitates transformative opportunities for companies to collaborate with post-secondary students on real-world challenges that are embedded directly into coursework. At its core, it solves the “experience paradox” post-secondary students often face — you can’t get a job without work experience, but you can’t get experience without a job.

Riipen is now the world’s largest online work-integrated learning marketplace, closing the skills gap for learners with real-world experience. To date, Riipen has enabled over 145,000 learner experiences and over nine million hours of applied learning at more than 420 post-secondary institutions with 24,000 employers. Riipen aims to help students of all backgrounds and geographies to boost their soft skills, gain career clarity, network with potential employers, and prepare for jobs they’ll love. Employer partners, meanwhile, get access to a fresh pool of diverse talent, unlock more potential for growth, boost innovation, and find talent who are a good fit and who will be able to hit the ground running on day one of their potential new employment.

The future of learning

Riipen’s leading-edge approach uses flexible project-based experiential learning to train and prepare students for the future of work. Immersing students in employer-led projects equips them with work-ready skills, and research shows that experiential learning helps students to improve teamwork and communication skills, gain a better understanding of key skills and course materials, boost self-confidence and leadership capabilities, and acquire a broader view of the world and an appreciation of community.

Level UP is Riipen’s national remote internship program for students and employers in Canada that connects them through 80-hour fully-subsidized internships that can take place completely online. Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) initiative, the program has had great success during the pandemic leading to a tripling of funding and scope, and is currently seeking new partner associations and employers who wish to revitalize their workforce.

Over 70 per cent of [Level UP] learners so far have come from equity-seeking groups. These include women in STEM, Indigenous peoples, and racial minorities.

Increasing accessibility

Importantly, Riipen makes work-integrated learning more accessible for both employers and students. Level UP enables remote partnerships across geographical barriers beyond local connections, and allows for flexible 2-8 week work opportunities for students facing barriers committing to in-person 3-month internships.

“While small- and medium-sized businesses are struggling to find talent, many companies are also realizing that talent is everywhere,” says Stephenson. “Being open to working on projects in a remote capacity has really broken down geographical barriers and helped companies to find talent when and where they need it.”

Level UP also succeeds in making learning more available to everyone, including equity-seeking groups. “Over 70 per cent of learners so far have come from equity-seeking groups,” says Stephenson. These include women in STEM, Indigenous peoples, and racial minorities. Employers benefit from Riipen’s impressive innovation, too. Traditional wage subsidy programs require lengthy registration processes and adding interns to payroll. With Level UP, Riipen recruits students, verifies eligibility, and administers payment once an internship is completed. It’s a game changer for small businesses tight on time.

Riipen also provides short-term program-friendly projects for adult learners through partnerships like the EDGE UP program, originally created by Calgary Economic Development to help former oil and gas workers in Alberta reskill for the more in-demand tech sector. The most recent phase of the program has seen more than 100 graduates, while 70 per cent of previous graduates are employed in tech jobs or furthering their education.

The post Building a Stronger Work Force with Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Programs appeared first on HiveInnovates.

What advice would you offer to employers who want to future-proof their organizations? 

My advice to employers who want to future-proof their organizations is to have a strong and open leadership team. For any organization to succeed, you need a diverse leadership team that focuses on adaptability. Hiring global talent with various backgrounds and skill sets will ensure a collaborative culture. It’s hard to predict how the future can disrupt your business, and you have to be flexible and decisive in your approach. And that starts from the top down, having the right group of people leading the way. As we saw in the fallout of the pandemic, businesses had to adapt their work culture and to their customers’ evolving needs. We should adopt this flexible approach going forward, always being open to shifting with the landscape and keeping an ear to the ground for how you can best support your employees through it.

What do you believe are the top three trends to watch in the future of work?

The top three trends to watch in the future of work are adaptability, diversity and inclusion in an ever-growing global market, and collaborative learning environments, including new additions to work settings like hybrid models, AI technology, a focus on skills over roles, and breaking down hierarchies. I’m proud to say we’re prioritizing D&I in Clearco’s corporate culture, with over half of our leadership team being female and 29 per cent female representation on the board. On top of that, our AI-based funding model offers blind funding with age- gender- race- and region-agnostic algorithms, which literally change the face of investment. Because of this, our portfolio at Clearco looks totally different than the typical VC. Clearco funds founders in all 50 states. We fund nine times more BIPOC founders, and 50 per cent of Clearco’s portfolio is female-founded companies — that’s 25 times as many as the traditional VC. In addition, we fund 25 times more Black woman-owned businesses. Through this approach, there’s a path to growth for early-stage businesses regardless of where they live, who they know, or how early they’re in their business journey.

How have you pivoted your business to adapt to the future of work? What challenges did you have to overcome?

COVID-19 shifted our entire business model. In March 2020, consumers stopped spending money completely, and we realized early on that e-commerce spending would take off. From there, we recognized that Clearco would be an actual necessity for the booming e-commerce startup scene. As a result, we could help many businesses grow faster than ever before, and in turn, we saw exponential growth as well.

What advice would you give today’s career seekers to remain adaptable to the future of work?

The advice that I would give to today’s career seekers is to be diligent in your knowledge-building. There are myriad ways to achieve this, whether through higher education like college and graduate degrees or online certifications and communities. Education in itself creates opportunities for many, and learning is an ongoing process that even executives at top companies prioritize. I think today’s workforce prioritizes skill-building in a way that previous generations have prioritized what degree you have and from which university. And I’d advise avoiding focusing on only one set of skills but instead diversifying them across a field or industry. Whether creating a project on the side or learning a new language, diversifying your skillset will make it easier for you to adapt to the changing workforce, the evolution of existing industries, and the introduction of completely new fields that are bound to happen in your professional life.

Is remote work here to stay? What steps should organizations take to implement a hybrid working model efficiently?

With the swift transition of many companies adopting a fully remote or hybrid work culture, the overall reaction from employees to the flexibility has been positive. At Clearco, we’ve had a hybrid workforce since 2020 and found it highly advantageous for productivity. I advise companies to set up a hybrid working model to establish a centralized communication network. This will ensure that all employees have equal access to the tools and resources they need to communicate and collaborate with others. 

Implementing a hybrid model can encourage companies to provide more resources to employees, such as additional health and mental health benefits, childcare, and learning tools and courses they can utilize at home. Organizations can also leverage the benefits of hybrid work to increase productivity and efficiency, as employees can solidify work-life balance and create working environments tailored to their needs. This will not only lead to improved employee health and results, but it will also lead to lower employee burnout.

The post Q&A with Canadian Tech Entrepreneur Michele Romanow appeared first on HiveInnovates.

It’s well known that technological advancements have significantly impacted every business industry. It’s also opened doors for the emergence of new jobs that in the past would have seemed unfathomable — jobs like technology and developer professionals.

The digital landscape is fast-paced and constantly changing. That’s why Lighthouse Labs, a top Canadian tech education company, boasts a learning format that moves at the industry’s pace. It offers participants a fun, convenient, and collaborative environment with industry-focused learning and networking.

Lighthouse Labs recently released its 2022 Career Trajectory Report (CTR), proving its programs have been hugely beneficial to past students. Consisting of survey information collected from graduates between 2013 and mid-2021, the CTR confirms that 98 per cent of those who took courses with Lighthouse Labs believe it positively impacted their careers. In fact, 78 per cent are still employed in tech roles, and 96 per cent say they’re still using the skills they learned. 

Get help anytime

Data from the CTR irrefutably proves that students are getting what they need to succeed. Founded in 2013, Lighthouse Labs is the fastest way to enter the tech industry. In fact, 96 per cent of graduates find a job within 180 days of completing their course. 

Students get ample support via Career Services — including access to mentors and advisors who offer guidance every step of the way. This includes career coaching, interview prep, networking, recruitment events, and more. 

The key to Lighthouse Labs’ success is its educational philosophy — to meet the demands of this constantly evolving industry. They provide accelerated, hands-on classes that prepare students with the necessary hard and soft skills to thrive in the workforce and instill the importance of continuous learning throughout their careers.

Students can access online coding, data, and cybersecurity courses to reskill through the 12-week, full-time Bootcamp, the 30-week Flex Program, or upskill on a part-time basis.

Prepared for the future 

A big motivator for students to enter tech is remote work — meaning that workers no longer need to be located in tech-hub cities. Well aware of this industry trend, Lighthouse Labs continues to look ahead and prepare students for the job market. In 2021, 56 per cent of grads said it was a reason they enrolled, and now 88 per cent of them work remotely. Utilizing the CTR findings, Lighthouse Labs looks forward to teaching the next generation of Canada’s top tech workers.

Thinking of reskilling or starting a career in tech? Here are just some of the benefits.

Salary growth: On average, alumni see an increase in base salary by 77% after just four years of graduation.

Work remotely: This growing trend increases job access across the country and allows for a customizable work-life balance.

Growth opportunities: The number of tech roles is constantly increasing, meaning there’s ample room for career advances.

Job stability: These jobs are here to stay and will only get more critical as technology improves.

Find meaningful work: In such a vast industry, you’ll find a role you can be proud of.

The post Leading Education Institute Offers Innovative Ways to Enter Tech Field appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Sara Motlagh

PhD student, Computer Science, Ontario Tech

Jared Trask

Master’s Student, Experimental Psychology, Memorial University

As a catalyst for change, Experience Ventures is equipping bright, young students with homegrown skills to tackle real-world problems.

The majority of Canada’s professionals, most of whom trained at colleges and universities in Canada’s urban centres, are largely choosing to live and work in those centres. Even if limited purchasing options push them into more rural and remote communities, most are only making the move when their work no longer requires them to regularly attend meetings in downtown offices.

Given the shift, it could lead to the belief that Canada’s rural and remote communities are not benefitting from the influx of young talent, or that quaint towns are being turned into a virtual form of “bedroom communities.” Thankfully, this is not the case.

Strong, capable talent is coming out of Canada’s rural and remote communities and turning to Canada’s colleges and universities to seek education, training, and experience. With the pandemic moving classes online, many students have pursued their education without leaving those communities. And most importantly, some of the country’s brightest young minds are taking the innovative skills they’re learning in school well outside the city centres to better the rest of the country.

Experience Ventures, led by the University of Calgary’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking and in collaboration with post-secondary institutions across the country, is looking to lead that future change.

Strong, capable talent is coming out of Canada’s rural and remote communities and turning to Canada’s colleges and universities to seek education, training, and experience.

Brilliant Catalyst

Last year, in partnership with Experience Ventures, Ontario Tech University’s Brilliant Catalyst innovation hub launched the Catalyst Challenge. A more inclusive take on a hackathon, the challenge focused on how to improve issues in rural and remote communities. Student participants spent days learning about some of the issues facing rural Canada, from aging telecommunications structure to talent depletion in favour of big cities to issues facing isolated Indigenous communities.

After learning about challenges specific to the region, participants were taught some tools key to innovation—from design thinking to valuation—that they would need to devise real-world solutions to these challenges.

The results were not only innovative, but had practical applications as well. Sara Motlagh, a PhD student in computer science at Ontario Tech, worked with her team of students across multiple universities to come up with the blueprints for their project, “Study Room.” Motlagh and her colleagues learned through the program that access to high-speed internet is a challenge in remote communities given the absence of infrastructure. Study Room places retrofitted shipping containers, which have been designed to create an accommodating work/study space for students and professionals, in areas where such services are not readily available.

While the idea is effective, Motlagh and her colleagues had to wrestle with practicalities such as cost and feasibility. “The difficult part for us was the financial part because we were dealing with different supply chain costs for the equipment and looking at how to make the containers affordable,” said Motlagh. “We’re currently in the customer validation process, meeting with teachers and students in rural Canada, and working on how to manage the money we’ve been given to make the solution better. Through all of this validation, we’re slowly realizing that our final product will look very different to what we originally had imagined.” The team is aiming to have a prototype ready by winter 2022.

Motlagh and her peers credit the program with teaching them skills that extend not only into their future in entrepreneurship, but into other professional pursuits as well. The ability to understand what makes an idea viable, to communicate with investors, and to turn passion and creativity into reality are invaluable skills in any field.

Meanwhile, Down East…

On the eastern tip of Canada, Experience Ventures students are also learning about innovation and entrepreneurship. Unlike their peers in the Greater Toronto Area, students at Memorial University know firsthand that rural and remote communities are never more than a short drive away. St. John’s, home to Memorial, is the province’s only major city at roughly 110,000 people. Students wishing to pursue a university education while staying in Newfoundland and Labrador have no choice but to head to the big city. However, that does not mean rural students have abandoned their roots completely.

Jared Trask, a master’s student in experimental psychology, has been commuting to Memorial from his home in Holyrood, some 40 minutes away. Trask is completing his thesis in behavioural psychology by studying the effects of psychiatric disorders on laboratory animals such as mice and rats. Trask is also interested in entrepreneurship, and came to Experience Ventures through the school’s Entrepreneurship Training Program.

Through the program, Trask has been working with EcoBloc, a company focused on building ultrasonic technology to prevent rodent infestations in manufacturing facilities and commercial settings. While the product is perfectly suited to Trask’s science background, the work experience gives him an insight into business development that he would not have received in the laboratory. “When I first signed up for the program, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Trask. “In terms of a company to match my interests, it couldn’t have gone any better, and probably contributed to why I felt it was so useful.”

While Trask may have come to the program with a thorough understanding of the science behind his ideas, he credits the program with teaching him how to pitch ideas, prospect for investors, and properly structure his business.

Final thoughts

There’s no question a large percentage of talent from Canada’s rural and remote communities leaves to seek lucrative opportunities in the country’s urban centres.

Yet all hope is not lost for rural Canada — far from it. Innovative national programs such as Experience Ventures are equipping students around the country with the skills they need to stay in their home communities over the long term and creating opportunities for them and for generations to follow. An increasingly digital world, combined with new and exciting opportunities for innovation, means that Canada’s youngest entrepreneurs can create homegrown solutions from anywhere and target real-world issues right in their own backyards.

The post Homegrown Solutions to Real-World Issues: How Experience Ventures Is Making a Difference appeared first on HiveInnovates.

When was the last time you thought about working on a farm? Do images of walking through a field or livestock barn stand prominently in your mind? How we associate agriculture and farming when we visualize our expectations of career opportunities needs modernization and expansion.

Instead of being a general labourer picking tomatoes, you could be a robotics technician harvesting through automation. Instead of manually tracking nutrient, temperature, and light levels, you’re a programming engineer using the latest technology to sustainably grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuces, eggplants, strawberries, and more that are distributed throughout North America year-round.

Our virtual reality OGVG VR 360 experience gives you a first-hand view of where our food originates, packed, and distributed to retail stores. A worthy experience to review again. But today, we will show you more novel, innovative, and exciting career opportunities that await you in Ontario’s thriving greenhouse vegetable sector.

Jobs ripe for the picking with the OGVG career experience

The Ontario greenhouse vegetable sector has historically relied on temporary foreign workers to assist in daily farm operations to ensure market demand is met and consumers have a selection of fresh greenhouse produce to choose from. As the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world, domestic unemployment numbers in Ontario and Canada reached all-time highs. Universities, high schools, and many workplaces were operating remotely. Despite a myriad of challenges, some industries continued to work every day — in this case, the greenhouse vegetable sector.

Ensuring the ability to have a job every day is more important now than ever. But, unfortunately, job prospects for Generation Z have not been ideal until now. The concerns of owning a home, planning for a prosperous future, and using the education that individuals paid good money for, are all key drivers impacting this demographic’s apprehension.

In addition to the OGVG VR 360 experience, where you can explore and gain familiarity with the greenhouse vegetable sector, is the launch of the OGVG Careers Experience. So whether you’re educated in biological and environmental sciences, marketing, economics, or any form of engineering and have the passion, attitude, and ability to learn about the greenhouse industry, there’s a future for you!

With assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and funding through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership, a virtual experience introduces seven segments of a greenhouse vegetable farm, totalling 35 career opportunities. Today’s greenhouse vegetable farms are highly advanced, with jobs ranging from office and human resources, shipping and receiving, research and innovation, packing, and many computer science, technology, and engineering specialist positions.

Currently, there are 3,800 acres of fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables grown under glass. As the world is seeing global shifts in climate, Controlled Environment Agriculture will become increasingly relied upon to ensure Canada continues to build a strong and resilient domestic food supply system and beyond. While solidifying Canada’s economic future, you can solidify yours. Grow with us as we continue to be the future of farming, growing sustainably and ethically. Earning a future, growing forward, and learning together.

From our house to yours, this is greenhouse goodness at its best.

The post Advancing Agriculture: OGVG Promotes Employment, Economics, and Innovation through Next-Gen Tech appeared first on HiveInnovates.

As the labour market evolves to demand new skills and fill more job vacancies with the mass retirement of Baby Boomers, UWindsor adapts to meet these needs through its department of Continuing Education, whose mission is to provide lifelong learning opportunities for everyone.

Through industry insight and partnerships, UWindsor identified skill and labour gaps in healthcare informatics, business leadership, and business operations. With this information, the university then developed Health Informatics, Applied Leadership, and miniMBA programs.

Individuals seeking in-demand skills can easily access them through UWindsor Continuing Education programs. With minimal prerequisites, online, evening and weekend classes, they provide flexible learning formats that accommodate busy schedules.

Health Informatics an in-demand profession

Health Informatics improves patient care by using information technology to organize and analyze data. In 2021, over 84 per cent of health organizations hired at least one Information Technology (IT) Technician, an increase of 5 per cent in a year. 

Industry partner, TransForm Shared Services Organization, requested UWindsor to develop the Health Informatics program to create a pipeline of qualified applicants for anticipated employment opportunities in the Essex region. The program is led by a variety of experts in the field, which includes instructors from the regional hospital and a practicing lawyer in data privacy and security.

Digitizing health care is a large industry undertaking enabling an efficient and improved health-care system Canadians deserve. This profession is fulfilling as the purpose is making a positive impact on societal health, while keeping compensation for these roles competitive. 

Advancing leadership skills across industries

Leadership and soft skills are drastically lacking across all industries and sectors. The Applied Leadership Program (APL) qualifies individuals to tackle real-world scenarios that hinder the development of resilient teams and successful project outcomes.

The APL program offers a unique coaching experience from industry experts across a variety of disciplines. The individual will learn how to refine their communication strategies, create leadership plans to support organizations, and understand project lifecycles and best practices in change management. 

UWindsor’s industry partner, Rocket Innovation Studio, participates in this program by providing case studies that engage students and challenge their approach to problem-solving. The program concludes with a capstone project, which allows students to collaborate, synthesize their knowledge, and build industry connections. 

Enhance business skills with miniMBA

For employers hoping to upskill their teams, UWindsor offers a miniMBA program that covers the core business functions, including strategic management. The skills acquired can be applied to any organization. 

This program is also a great opportunity for individuals to refresh their business administration knowledge and network with like-minded individuals. 

At UWindsor, there’s an upskilling opportunity for everyone — workshops, seminars, certificates, and more

Upskilling programs for individuals and organizations

At UWindsor, there’s an upskilling opportunity for everyone — workshops, seminars, certificates, and more. Most programs are eligible for financial support to individuals and organizations through the OSAP micro-credential application, and the Canada-Ontario Job Grant. 

We encourage individuals and organizations interested in upskilling to check out the complete list of programs available at continue.uwindsor.ca.

The post Meeting Labour Market Demand with Upskilling Programs at UWindsor appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Palette Skills is dedicated to helping people from all walks of life build secure careers where they feel valued.

Palette Skills is thinking ahead. A national non-profit connecting workers with some of Canada’s most innovative companies, they’re focused on upskilling people for the new economy. From workers looking to transition out of low-wage employment to Canadians choosing to exit declining industries, Palette Skills knows that by helping people upskill for work in innovative sectors, they’re setting Canada’s future economy up for success.

Operating in an ecosystem of industry and community partners, Palette Skills offers fast and robust upskilling programs to participants who — more often than not — come from groups and communities overlooked by traditional hiring processes. The organization’s upskilling model is so successful that 90 per cent of participants get a job offer within six months of completing their flagship program, SalesCamp.

Created for people who are transitioning into business-to-business (B2B) tech sales, SalesCamp is an accelerated program for people wanting to start careers in the booming tech sales industry. It’s focused on helping people with great soft skills — such as listening and empathy — start their careers selling tech solutions to businesses in need. And because it’s industry-led, Palette Skills is able to identify best practices and provide up-to-date training.

Build better together

“We want to give upskilling opportunities to people who may not have had the chance yet, or whose skill set has gone unrecognized,” says Lauren Murray, Program Manager at Palette Skills. “We’ve worked hard to make this program as accessible as possible.”

Thanks to federal and provincial government support, the program is inexpensive, eliminating cost barriers for students. Plus, there are payment plans available, and all programs are offered online — great for participants with busy schedules.

SalesCamp’s objective is not only getting participants hired but boosting their self-confidence by recognizing the valuable transferable skills they bring.

SalesCamp starts out with a blend of part-time synchronous and self-directed learning, where students build their job search toolkits. The second part of the program consists of full-time core sales foundation training, which includes learning laboratories, industry panels, and challenges. Finally, participants embark on a structured and supported job search.

We empower people to continue to grow and see the value in their lived experiences and their future.

Lauren Murray, Program Manager, Palette Skills.

Help along the way 

Like all programs Palette Skills offers, SalesCamp prepares people for the next step, helping them build the careers they want in a growing industry. Participants become part of a community, building peer networks and getting access to a tiered support system. Aside from their instructors, they also meet one-on-one with participant success leads and career coaches throughout the process.

The program directly aligns with Palette Skills’ mission. “We empower people to continue to grow and see the value in their lived experiences and their future,” Murray explains. Wanting people and businesses to thrive together, they’re proud to have facilitated over 500 participants to date through SalesCamp and other programs, including cybersecurity and digital agriculture specialist training programs.

SalesCamp is the perfect course for someone eager to break into the world of tech sales because it’s for people with great human skills rather than coding know-how. Registration is now open for the in-demand fall sessions.

The post On the Job Hunt? Get Results Thanks to a Top Organization appeared first on HiveInnovates.

About 300 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, amidst some of the region’s largest and richest potash fields, is the City of Yorkton. Thanks to recent growth along the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border, which has spurred economic activity in the region, Yorkton has seen a growth rate of 4.3 per cent since 2011. In addition to being the third largest trading area in Saskatchewan, Yorkton is the economic centre of east-central Saskatchewan and recently earned the title of one of the Best Communities for Business in the category of Community on the Rise by Alberta Venture Magazine. 

Regional and international businesses are investing billions in new ventures and expansion projects in Yorkton, creating new employment opportunities and changing the landscape of the city’s labour market. 

An attractive place for businesses to set up shop

Yorkton’s highly educated and skilled workforce, moderate property taxes, and stable commercial, industrial, and residential sectors — along with proximity to major highways, rail lines, and regional and international airports — make Yorkton an attractive place for businesses to set up shop. 

On top of that, the City of Yorkton offers numerous incentives to businesses to locate, relocate, or expand in the area. For example, the newly introduced Residential Construction Initiative grants a 100 per cent tax rebate over five years to the owner of a newly constructed one- or two-unit dwelling.  

The Business Creation and Expansion Incentive Program provides incentives to applicants who are constructing a new commercial building or adding onto an existing one, with the goal of helping to expand local businesses, invite new businesses to the city, and stimulate the local economy. 

Recent revisions to the Sale of Residential Lots Policy now allow contractors licensed by the City of Yorkton to secure building and advertising rights on a city-owned lot with only a 10 per cent deposit and pay the remaining balance owing on the lot once the home is sold, or two years from the deposit date, whichever is sooner.  

Finally, the Business Improvement Incentive Program and Façade and Site Incentive Program are designed to encourage commercial property owners and business owners to enhance the appearance of their building facades or storefronts and make them more visually appealing to visitors and residents, increase property values, and build civic pride. 

One of the most affordable cities for living and working

The region’s affordability is a big advantage to living and working in Yorkton. Housing prices are among the lowest compared to other cities with a similar population in Saskatchewan. Many reasonably priced, vacant, and fully serviced commercial and industrial lots are for sale. In addition to lower municipal taxes, Yorkton’s development charges are lower compared to any major city in Saskatchewan. 

The shorter commute times — an average of 13 minutes compared to Canada’s average of 26 minutes — saves time and money. In addition, the direct access and connections to neighbouring communities and beyond via the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway 16 and other major highways give Yorkton’s businesses certain logistics and accessibility advantages.

Finally, while Yorkton offers a small-town feel, it offers all the amenities of a larger urban centre, such as access to good health care, education, big box stores, infrastructure, utilities, high-speed internet, and a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities.

The post Small Saskatchewan City Preparing for Big-Time Economic Growth appeared first on HiveInnovates.

What motivated you to start Canada’s fastest-growing online media company, Gonez Media Inc., following your career in legacy media?

It was time to shake the room! Canada’s media landscape has not been serving Canadians the way they deserve to be served. It was very clear that there were way too many stories that were not being told, especially stories relating to people of colour. On top of that, so much Canadian talent had no platform to share all the amazing work they were creating. I wanted to fill that gap. That’s why I started Gonez Media Inc. (GMI). I’ve always dreamed of starting my own media company and felt this was the perfect opportunity to take that risk and give it a try. With technology changing at light speed and Canadians abandoning traditional media, I wanted to create a platform where Canadians could receive their news, information, and entertainment right at their fingertips.

What challenges did you face building your business, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was finding the financial resources to make this dream a reality. It’s not cheap to build a media company from the ground up. It requires so many things, including production equipment, marketing, payroll, and more. These can add up very quickly. Fortunately, I put together a solid business plan that aimed to address these hurdles and had a great team to execute this plan. But also a team that truly believes in the vision. The other big challenge was making other people — advertisers and audiences — believe that this vision was a credible one worthy of their time and investment. We did that by staying committed to our mission of consistency and finding and sharing the stories that are not being told.

What do you believe are the fundamental forces shaping the future of work in Canada? What trends should businesses consider following?

Everything is being disrupted. The archaic ways of doing things in a traditional stringent 9 to 5 office model are quickly becoming archaic. Yes, structure is still essential, but flexibility is the present and future. That includes flexibility with work locations and hours. That also includes flexibility in the consumption of content. Companies and industries must adapt to this new model or risk quickly becoming irrelevant. Just look at legacy media and the severe challenges they’re going through. It’s very difficult to find anyone sitting down to watch a show or newscast at a set time. People choose when they want their content, which is why our digital distribution model and our productions, like News You Can Use and The Brandon Gonez Show, have been so successful, leading to significant audience growth. 

How have you pivoted your business to adapt to the future of work?

Gonez Media Inc. (GMI) was born at the height of the pandemic. So everything about the future of work is actually in our DNA. Flexibility in location, the flexibility of work hours etc., is part of our business model. This isn’t the future of work for us; it’s how we work right now and will continue to do so. Our talent is top-notch because GMI has met their expectation of how work should look, and that, in return, produces a team that is eager to see the business’s success.

How did upskilling and continuing education get you to where you are in your career today? What advice do you have for those considering upskilling to advance their careers?

Continuous learning is part of the equation to being and remaining successful. I’m a trained journalist; it’s what I studied in school. But, I’ve also taken time throughout my career to learn and understand business fundamentals. For me, I looked at it as an investment in myself. At the time, I may not have needed those extra skills, but since I started my own business and media company, those skills are definitely coming in handy and leading to GMI’s success! So, anyone reading this, I would definitely encourage you to always continue learning, especially if it’s offered for free at your employer. Take advantage of those benefits because, at some point in life, you’ll be able to tap into those skills and see the benefit of that investment. Remember, the biggest bet and investment you should always make is in yourself!

The post Q&A with Canadian TV Personality Brandon Gonez appeared first on HiveInnovates.

What trends have made reskilling and upskilling more important than ever in the new economic landscape?

Now, more than ever, workers are competing not just with similar candidates in their city but also with those on the other side of the country or even the world.

At the same time, in Ontario, almost 400,000 jobs are going unfilled daily. The vast majority of these are in lucrative fields like technology and the skilled trades. So, in some ways, there has never been a better time to be a skilled worker in our province. 

Why is it essential to upskill in the workforce and bridge the skills gap?

While the labour shortage is good for job seekers, it’s also one of the great economic challenges of our time. It contributes to supply chain disruptions, rising family costs, and billions in lost economic growth. We need all hands on deck to build the homes, hospitals, schools, and other key infrastructure Ontario needs. 

More importantly, at an individual level, every job going unfilled is a paycheque left uncollected and a missed opportunity for a meaningful career and a better life.  

How can Canadians future-proof themselves?

Ontario is lucky to have the best workers in the world, and my job is to ensure we’re not leaving anyone behind. 

That is why my Ministry is investing billions in innovative training programs that bring better jobs and bigger paycheques within reach for more people by giving them the in-demand skills employers need. To knock down barriers that several face to these life-changing careers, we’re covering costs for transit passes, work boots, child care, and other living expenses. 

We need all hands on deck. For the first time, we’ve opened training programs like Better Jobs Ontario to people on social assistance, newcomers, and young people. 

I’m especially proud of a program we funded in Hamilton, which has connected 66 people with involvement in the justice system to well-paying jobs with local manufacturers. This common-sense approach lifts people up, building strong families and stronger communities for all of us. 

What do the future of employee training and the landscape of the future of work look like to you? 

As technology evolves, governments too often fail to keep up. We have a responsibility to close the technological gap, and I’m proud to have been the first to move on several key issues. 

For example, our government has introduced the Right to Disconnect so workers can spend more time with their families, banned non-compete clauses to increase wages, and required employers to tell their employees if, how, and why they’re being monitored electronically. 

We’re also the first province in Canada to create foundational rights for gig workers. We will also be the first jurisdiction in North America to bring health care and dental benefits to millions of part-time and precarious workers.

All these actions are taken with the single goal: making sure our province is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. 

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