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November 11, 2019

Increasing quality of life for Canadians as they age

According to the United Nations, in 2017, there were 962 million people aged 60 or over, more than twice as many as in 1980. By 2050, the UN expects this number reach nearly 2.1 billion! We will see the same growth in Canada where Statistics Canada reports that seniors will account for 25% of the population by 2036. This demographic shift will have wide-ranging implications, from healthcare and public finance to labour market and workforce development.

In 2017, the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance released its “Getting Ready: For a New Generation of Active Seniors” report which identified recommendations to take on Canada’s looming demographic challenges, including the development of a national seniors strategy.

As centres of excellence and community hubs, colleges and institutes are playing an important role in tackling the challenges identified by the Senate report. They offer research and training opportunities to improve quality of life for seniors, incorporate new technologies in seniors care, and respond to labour-market needs in the sector. For example:

At the Centre for Elder Research at Sheridan College, applied research projects aim to identify, develop, and eventually implement innovative strategies to improve the quality of life for older adults and their families. Research areas include the impacts of emerging technologies such as virtual reality, support for older immigrant adults, and a unique project attempting to better understand bullying between older adults.
Bow Valley College’s Institute for Aging Well delivers programming designed to create a positive perspective on healthy aging, allows for intergenerational knowledge transfer, and provides applied research and entrepreneurship opportunities, with particular emphasis on incorporating different views on aging from new Canadians and immigrants.
Since 2006, the Centre for Education and Research on Aging at the University of the Fraser Valley has been a leader in gerontological education and research with particular emphasis on community engagement. Curriculum offered through the centre includes courses in human services and nursing, studying the effects of aging on sensation, perception, learning, and cognition.
The Aging happily at home (« Vieillir heureux chez soi ») research project being undertaken at CIRADD, the CCTT affiliated with the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles aims to meet with seniors to better understand their needs and worries and jointly devise solutions adapted to the realities of seniors and their communities.
Kwantlen Poytechnic University’s Third Age Learning at Kwantlen (TALK) program offers anyone over 50 years of age a participatory learning experience through discussion, campus tours, and instruction with no grading or prerequisites. Courses cover a variety of topics, including health, wellness, arts, and culture.
Niagara College recently joined the Age-Friendly University Global Network, which aims to encourage the participation of older adults in postsecondary activities, including lifelong learning and the pursuit of second careers, personal and professional development, and educational and research projects.
The Garbarino Girard Centre for Innovation in Seniors Care at Algonquin College completed its first clinical research study in 2017 experimenting with integrated assessment systems to monitor movement and brain health to support early identification of cognitive decline, including dementia. The centre also provides hands-on training for students in geriatric care with its learning lab, smart apartments, applied research facility, and community partnerships.
At Yukon College, the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) is a reskilling and skills upgrading program geared specifically towards older Canadians. The program helps unemployed workers, aged 50-70, displaced by the changing economy to develop employability skills, computer skills, and upgrade their work-related literacy.
The Mobile Ideaspace at New Brunswick Community College’s (NBCC) is a centre of research specializing in, among other areas, designing mobile information and communication technologies (mobile ICT) that make aging a positive experience and foster age-friendly communities: including home monitoring, homecare, support for daily activities, fall prevention, biometrics, and image processing.
The Schlegel Centre for Advancing Seniors Care at Conestoga College provides opportunities for education and training, workforce development, and applied research to improve the quality of life and care for Canada’s seniors. The unique approach includes Living Classrooms at Schlegel Villages where students learn while working in long-term care and retirement environments, participating in knowledge exchange workshops, and evidence-informed approaches to process and product development.
The Attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) in Gerontology offered by Cégep de Saint-Jérôme gives students the skills required to work with and care for seniors, including an understanding of the biology and physiology of the aging body, relevant relational and communication skills, and practical experience in homecare.

Research centres and training options like these are already breaking ground in a critical, and growing, sector. As global populations continue to age, we can expect to see college and institute applied research centres, projects, and hands-on training opportunities expand to meet demand within Canada and around the world.

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August 12, 2019

Transportation innovation: from autonomous vehicle retrofits to drone piloting

According to Transport Canada, transportation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada, or a quarter of Canada’s total GHG emissions. Confronted with these figures, transportation innovation is absolutely critical to minimizing Canada’s GHG emissions in line with the goals set out in the Paris Accord. As such, one of five themes of Transportation 2030, the Government of Canada’s strategic plan for the future of transportation is “green and innovative transportation.”

Transportation is more than just planes, trains, and cars; and, Transport Canada says its mandate is to “ensure Canada’s transportation systems support our ambitious economic growth and job creation agenda.”

Colleges and institutes contribute to transportation innovation by leading research projects that modernize and transform road, rail, air, and water transportation; by providing solutions to problems experienced by pilots and drivers; and ensuring that training in all fields of transportation is up-to-date, ever-evolving, and accessible to all. For example:

The First Peoples’ Aviation Technology program at First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) is the only Indigenous aviation post-secondary program of its kind in Canada and is delivered in partnership with Canadore College. FNTI also recently hosted its inaugural Indigenous Youth Aviation Camp to encourage younger generations to pursue careers in piloting, which is considered key to the sustainability of many Indigenous communities.
The Centre québecois de formation aéronautique (CQFA) at the Cégep de Chicoutimi offers more than 50 training opportunities in the aviation sector and is the only institution in Canada that offers all three fields of specialization: commercial multi-engine, bush pilot (hydro-aviation), and helicopter. For more on aviation and aerospace technologies and training, including the Cégep Édouard-Montpetit, Confederation College, BCIT, and Red River College, check out this previous issue of Perspectives.
Fanshawe College’s Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology offers a Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems Commercial Operations graduate certificate that provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to design, support, operate, and maintain unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, operations. Given the potential use of drones in collecting data in rural, remote, and northern communities, Aurora College also recently began offering a 3-day intensive course in UAV operations.
The Institut du véhicule innovant (IVI) [Innovative Vehicle Institute] is a College Centre for the Transfer of Technology (CCTT) affiliated with the Cégep de Saint-Jérôme specializing in applied research and the development, evaluation, and implementation of innovative technologies in the transport sector. One such project involves the development of a modular-design-compatible retrofit kit capable of converting regular vehicles into autonomous vehicles.
Durham College is participating in the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN), a community partnership designed to help SMEs develop, prototype, test, and validate transformative automotive technologies. By providing technology companies access to faculty expertise, student talent and state-of-the-art research facilities, Durham College is helping them develop autonomous vehicle capabilities in a safe and controlled environment.
The Railway Conductor program offered through the Rail Training Centre at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) provides highly-skilled graduates for an industry experiencing significant growth. Students are given hands-on training using real equipment covering areas such as handling of dangerous goods, railway safety, and mechanical components of rail cars.
The Institut technologique de maintenance industrielle (ITMI) [Industrial Maintenance Technical Institute] is a CCTT affiliated with the Cégep de Sept-Îles and, since 2013 has been home to an NSERC Industrial Research Chair specializing in rail maintenance and operations. ITMI’s research includes automated data treatment, communications protocols in northern and isolated regions, and warning systems for railway conductors to avoid risks of derailment.

As the pace of transportation innovation accelerates, colleges and institutes provide bold and innovative solutions to enhance the safety, security, efficiency, and environmental performance of transportation in Canada.

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May 27, 2019

Marine innovation from coast to coast! 

Measuring more than 200,000 km, Canada’s coastline is the longest of any country in the world and plays an important role in our economy and identity. Just last month, the Government of Canada announced funding for the  Marine Training Program  designed to assist women and Indigenous people access training for careers in the marine industry over the next three years: in the  Atlantic Region through Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), and on the West Coast through BCIT and Camosun College. The program is part of the $1.5 billion national Oceans Protection Plan launched in 2016: the largest investment the Government of Canada has ever made to protect our coasts and waterways, aiming to ensure that our oceans are cleaner, healthier, and safer for years to come.  

Elsewhere, Canadian colleges and institutes are leading ground-breaking research in the marine and coastal sector. Last month, we tackled colleges and institutes’ leadership in freshwater; this week, let’s turn our attention to Canada’s other water resources: aquaculture, ocean geomatics, marine engineering, and more! 

On the Pacific coast, Vancouver Island University’s Centre for Shellfish Research (CSR) undertakes technical and scientific research to respond to the needs of a growing and diversifying shellfish aquaculture industry, including new species and technologies, oceanography, and environmental stewardship. 
Camosun Coastal Centre at Camosun College, located on the Songhees Nation land in Esquimalt, BC, offers training to sustain and grow a strong marine-sector workforce, while providing innovative solutions to increase the competitiveness of companies in the industrial marine sector.  
In central Canada, Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus is home to the Centre for Marine Training and Research (CMTR) specializing in simulation at the leading edge of marine training. The facilities include a world-class Navigational Simulator, Engine Room Simulator, and Survival Craft Operation Simulator.  
In the Gulf of St Lawrence, the Maritime Institute of Quebec, a College Centre of Technology Transfer (CCTT) affiliated with the Cégep de Rimouski, conducts applied research in areas such as maritime engineering and environmental technologies to provide solutions for marine-industry professionals. For example, one project focuses on developing a hybrid propulsion system for fishing vessels to minimizing both operational costs and ecological impact.  
Similarly, Merinov, a CCTT affiliated with the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles specializes in applied research related to fishing, aquaculture, and the processing and development of aquatic products. 
On the Atlantic coast, the Applied Oceans Research Group (AORG) at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) is using innovation in ocean survey instruments, including subsea camera systems and multi-beam echo sounders (MBES) in a series of projects to map the ocean floor. NSCC is also leading at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), a collaborative space for applied innovation in the ocean sector. COVE tenants benefit from collaborative spaces, shared equipment, workshops, direct ocean access, incubation space, and more. 
The Centre for Marine Research at the Université Sainte-Anne works closely with partners to ensure the sustainability of the marine industry in rural communities through innovation, education, and research. Project areas include commercial fishing, aquaculture, and adapting to the effects of climate change.  
The Wave Energy Research Centre at College of the North Atlantic benefits from significant waves, tidal currents, and a year-round ice-free harbor to conduct research on the use of ocean wave energy to supply sea water to land-based aquaculture. 
The Marine Institute of Memorial University is home to world-class facilities providing training, applied research opportunities, and industrial support for ocean industries. For example, the institute’s Centre for Marine Simulation (CMS) uses advanced simulation technology to conduct research into conditions affecting mariners cognitive and physical performance, and improving the safety and efficiency of offshore operations in harsh maritime environments. The Centre for Applied Ocean Technology (CTec) conducts research and data collection projects to more effectively manage and sustainably develop coastal ocean areas, such as the Newfoundland and Labrador Seabed Atlas.

College of the North Atlantic, Marine Institute, Merinov, and NSCC are also among the partners involved in Canada’s Ocean Supercluster aiming to drive sustainable economic growth from our oceans. With such wide-ranging expertise in the marine industry, colleges and institutes surely have a valuable role to play!  

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April 23, 2019

Leaders in managing the world’s freshwater supply

For many Canadians, freshwater is an omnipresent resource. According to the Government of Canada, Canada contains about 20% of the world’s total freshwater resources, 7% of which are considered renewable. Playing such a large role in Canada’s geography and ecosystems through ground and sub-surface water; glaciers and ice cover; wetlands, rivers, and lakes, water is the focus of many careers and management of the resource often involves multiple fields and government and industry partners.

Given the uniquely Canadian abundance of freshwater in, the water-related training and research opportunities at Canadian colleges and institutes are a critical component of the global march towards sustainability. For example:

The Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT) at Fleming College’s Lindsay, Ontario campus, works with industry, government, NGOs, and other academic institutions on research projects driving water innovation and helping find new ways to protect, reuse, treat, and manage the world’s water supply. For example, a 2014 report released collaboratively between CAWT and the Institute of Watershed Science at Trent University presented findings on the use of natural tundra wetlands in the treatment of municipal wastewaters at 13 sites across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The centre also offers more than 25 accredited courses in Water Operator and Wastewater Operator Training.
The Cégep de Saint-Laurent is home to the Centre des Technologies de l’Eau (CTE) [Centre for Water Technologies], a College Centre of Technology Transfer specializing in water-related applied research, information diffusion, and technical expertise. The CTE also recently received funding approval to construct a brand-new facility to house its projects and offer training.
At University College of the North, a two-year Natural Resources Management Technology (NRMT) diploma equips students to work in natural resources management, including forests, water, fish, and wildlife through hands-on training in semi-remote wilderness settings where students are immersed in the life of field work.
The Land and Water Resources Diploma at Olds College gets students involved in environmental stewardship and rural planning, and prepares them for careers ensuring sustainability of the soil, water and wildlife resources amidst agriculture or land development activities.
NAIT’s Water and Wastewater Technician distance learning courses provide training for work in fields like water treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection, and wastewater treatment, both at entry-level and as an option for ongoing specialized training. NAIT also offers the Water and Wastewater Operation Preparation course in partnership with Northern Lakes College.
At Yukon College many research projects involve water treatment, including a project looking at the possibilities for treatment of recycled water used in mining operations to limit the build-up of contaminants.
Nova Scotia Community College’s (NSCC) Natural Resources Environmental Technology program includes training in watershed management, focusing on how development activities affect water quality, the provision of drinking water, and the restoration of aquatic habitats.
Through its Riverview High School Hydroponics project, an Engineering Technology instructor from New Brunswick Community Collee (NBCC) has teamed up with high school staff and students to produce vegetables sustainably in an aquaponics garden using water and fish waste to act as a natural fertilizer.

Providing solutions and taking action to better manage the world’s freshwater supply is essential to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change. With a presence in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities across the country, Canada’s colleges and institutes take advantage of the geographic variety of their surroundings to train a strong workforce and conduct research projects that are critically important for sustainability efforts in Canada and around the world.

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April 8, 2019

Innovation north of 60°

Canadian media turned its spotlight on the country’s arctic as Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released Canada’s Changing Climate Report (CCCR) indicating that we are experience warming at twice the global average, with Northern Canada in particular heating up at almost three times the rate of the rest of the world.

With a growing and pressing need to address climate change in the North, colleges and institutes in Canada’s three territories have risen to the challenge, using their unique expertise to undertake research projects that improve the well-being of their communities.

The many research specializations of Aurora College, Nunavut Arctic College, and Yukon College include climate change mitigation and natural resources management; alternative energy; food security; and also socio-demographic challenges, such as mental health, suicide prevention, and substance abuse; and preserving Indigenous knowledge, culture, and histories. For example:

The Aurora Research Institute division of Aurora College is currently undertaking a project to provide solutions to food security issues in the North incorporating Indigenous traditional knowledge to meet dietary guidelines set out by the Canada Food Guide;
The Arts, Craft and Technology Micro-Manufacturing Centre (ACTMC) at Aurora College helps artists and entrepreneurs merge traditional arts and crafts with new technologies, such as 3D printing, laser cutting and computer-aided design; and,
At the college’s Yellowknife North Slave Research Centre, researchers are collaborating on the Welcoming the ‘Sacred Spirit’ project connecting Indigenous and western ways of knowing to optimize maternal health delivery. Other areas of focus include femicide, domestic abuse, and women’s health in rural and remote communities.
Nunavut Arctic College is home to a grid-connected photovoltaic array, fully operational since 1995, investigating the potential for solar alternatives to diesel fuel in power generation for northern communities that experience long periods of limited sunlight; and,
The college also houses Nunavut’s only water quality laboratory, conducting applied research with government and post-secondary partners in wastewater treatment and decontamination prior to discharge into marine environments.
At the Yukon Research Centre, part of Yukon College, researchers participating in the Hazards Mapping Project have published an online atlas highlighting the vulnerability of areas of land to climate change. The maps can be used as a tool by engineers and infrastructure planners, contributing to future transportation security.
The college is also partnering with Ryerson University to study how social work is practiced in the small and remote communities of Canada’s North. The pilot study is a first for research into northern social work led by social workers who actually work in the North.
Additionally, the college’s Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) Centre specializes in the development, commercialization, and export of sustainable cold-climate technologies and related solutions for subarctic regions around the world. CCI project areas include alternative energy, building construction, climate-related research, environmental remediation, food security and mechanical innovation.

Budget 2019 reinforced the importance of the Arctic region in Canada, stating that we have “an opportunity – and a responsibility – to be world leaders in sustainably developing the north.”

Given their innovation capacity and research expertise, Northern colleges and institutes have, and will continue to have, a vital role to play in sustainable economic and community development in the North, contributing to the mitigation of the effects of climate change, and working towards Reconciliation for northern Indigenous communities. Budget 2019’s investments in climate resiliency of northern communities, post-secondary education in the North, and universal high-speed internet for rural, remote, and northern communities are important steps to ensuring that these institutions are given the resources they need to grow their leadership role not just in Canada, but globally.