Sarah Watts-Rynard

Congratulations to Fanshawe on their new partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces . Through this $34.4-million agreement, Fanshawe will provide aircraft maintenance training with the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering at CFB Borden. The initiative will provide Royal Canadian Air Force technicians with recognized postsecondary credentials while strengthening military workforce development and reinforcing Southwestern Ontario’s growing role in Canada’s defence and aerospace sectors. This partnership highlights the important role polytechnics can play in strengthening Canada’s skilled workforce while supporting national priorities in defence and aerospace. Read more: canada.ca/en/department-nati…

Canada needs more skilled tradespeople. But attracting people to the trades is only the first step 🛠️ In this @CDNAffairs article, Polytechnics Canada CEO @SarahWRynard highlights a critical issue facing the country’s skills system: while interest in the skilled trades is growing, our training capacity and apprenticeship pathways aren’t always keeping pace. That’s where polytechnics can play an important role - delivering hands-on, industry-aligned training and helping more learners move efficiently into the skilled workforce 🛠️ Read the full article here: polytechnicscanada.ca/news-e…

As electric vehicles become more common, how can charging infrastructure work for everyone? @bcit ’s Smart Microgrid Applied Research Team is testing EV charging solutions for apartment buildings, curbsides and streetlights. Using full-scale demonstrations and feedback from users, the team is also helping inform Canada’s first national accessibility guidelines for EV charging infrastructure. Explore our Applied Research Inventory to find the labs, equipment and expertise that can support projects like this: polytechnicscanada.ca/applie…

And it’s a wrap! The 2026 Polytechnic Showcase has come to an end. This year’s Showcase was truly inspiring. We heard future-focused conversations on topics critical to Canada’s growth and prosperity. Across sessions on defence, skilled trades, AI, commercialization, clean energy and workforce development, our member institutions demonstrated how they are innovating to meet today’s workforce needs and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. From industry partnerships to applied research and talent development, polytechnics reinforced what sets them apart: agility, responsiveness and an ability to adapt to labour market demands with speed and impact. We are grateful to our sponsors for making this event possible, and to our member institutions for bringing such a high level of insight, collaboration and innovation to the Showcase. See you next year in October 2027 for the 2027 Polytechnic Showcase, hosted by BCIT! Until then. #PCInnovationPartners

What does it take to build a skilled trades workforce that's truly future-ready? According to our report, 𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 & 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺: 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢'𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥, it requires: 🛠️ Industry-aligned programs 🛠️ Hands-on work-integrated learning 🛠️ Strong partnerships with employers Canada's leading polytechnics deliver all three, at state-of-the-art training facilities. From the @AlgonquinColleg Centre for Construction Excellence to the @RRCPolytechNews Skilled Trades and Technology Centre, polytechnics are training the best and brightest for the most in-demand skilled trades in the country. By aligning training with labour market needs, polytechnics are strengthening industries, fostering innovation and boosting Canada's productivity. Learn more in our report: polytechnicscanada.ca/resour…

The 2026 Polytechnic Showcase is coming to @HumberPoly ! From May 12–14, leaders in education, industry and applied research will gather at Humber Polytechnic’s Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation (Barrett CTI) — a 93,000 sq. ft. hub purpose‑built to power the future of technology and innovation. Located at Humber’s North Campus in Toronto, the Barrett CTI showcases Humber’s leadership in automation and robotics, systems integration, design, augmented and virtual realities, and user experience testing. Through collaborative labs, technology zones and maker spaces, industry partners, SMEs, faculty and students work side by side to tackle today’s most pressing business challenges. Join us this May as we explore how polytechnic partnerships power innovation across Canada. Learn more and register here: polytechnicscanada.ca/events… #PCInnovationPartners