Ottawa, April 25, 2023 – Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) today signed the World Congress Montreal Declaration, a global statement of sustainability, to reinforce and strengthen their commitment to building a more sustainable and equitable world.
The declaration engages the two organizations and their members worldwide to maximize their collective impact on inclusive and equitable education, training that responds to future economic, environmental and social challenges and Canada’s progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, among other priority areas.
In addition to this declaration CICan has updated and republished its “Are We Ready” report which looks at the role of Canadian colleges and institutes in advancing education for sustainability in Canada and overseas.
“The world is facing a multitude of challenges that require immediate action and a concerted global effort to overcome,” says Denise Amyot, CICan president and CEO. “Canada’s college system embraces its responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable world and is dedicated to working with partners far and wide to futureproof industry, communities and learners.”
The declaration was signed on April 25 by CICan president and CEO, Denise Amyot, and members of WFCP’s board of directors at World Congress – a global event brings together postsecondary leaders from around the world to discuss, share and learn about various education and training opportunities and challenges. WFCP and CICan co-hosted this year’s congress in Montreal from April 23-25, where they engaged approximately 25 youth from around the world to review and provide input into the declaration before it was signed.
“Our members play a critical role in shaping the next generation of leaders and global citizens and ensuring they inherit a world that is conducive to their growth and prosperity,” says Dawn Ward, WFCP Board Chair. “This declaration speaks to WFCP members’ commitment to equitable sustainability and gives voice to our values and the direction of the professional education sector.”
As part of World Congress, WFCP also announced its Awards of Excellence recipients, which recognized several Canadian colleges and institutes, as well as individuals, for their remarkable contributions to skills development and broader economic and social development, including:
For institutions and organizations:
- Humber College was awarded silver in the Construction category.
- Justice Institute of British Columbia and Saskatchewan Polytechnic were awarded Gold and Bronze in the Cyber and Data Security and Social Engineering category.
- Georgian College, Red Deer Polytechnic and Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology were awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze in the Indigenous Education category.
- Cégep de Shawinigan was awarded Bronze in the Strategic Leadership category.
- Thompson Rivers University was awarded Bronze in the Sustainable Development Goals category.
For individuals:
- Peter “Dutch” VandenBerg, Niagara College, Outstanding Educator Award
- Karen Klee, Fanshaw College, Outstanding Educator Award
Read the declaration
About Colleges and Institutes Canada
CICan is the national and international voice of Canada’s largest post-secondary education network. It advocates, builds capacity, and drives knowledge to strengthen Canada’s publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics. With more than 95% of Canadians living within 50 km of a member institution, and thanks to its extensive reach around the globe, CICan works to future-proof communities in Canada and abroad.
We respectfully acknowledge that CICan’s offices in Ottawa are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.
About World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics
The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) is an international network of colleges and associations of colleges. WFCP provides leadership in delivering workforce education for our global economy and members share leading-edge education strategies and best practices to increase workforce employability in countries around the world.
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For more information:
Katrina King
Senior Digital Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
Email: kking@collegesinstitutes.ca
Twitter: @CollegeCan