Advancing Growth in Canada’s Indigenous Digital Workforce

How We Are Solving It

PLATO, Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned software testing and technology services company, offers foundational software tester training program to over 75 First Nations, Inuit and Métis trainees across Canada. Their delivery is focused on providing programming closer to Indigenous communities to break down systemic barriers for entry into the field and promote diversity and inclusion in technology. 

PLATO’s train-and-employ model focuses on recruiting First Nations, Inuit and Métis people to provide them with an opportunity to begin and advance their careers in the technology sector. Their Software Tester Training Program provides five months of in-class training focused on the fundamentals of software testing, followed by a three-month paid internship of experiential learning with one of PLATO’s corporate partners. Following successful completion of the program, graduates are offered full-time positions with PLATO.

The Result

DIGITAL’s co-investment with PLATO strengthened Canada’s technology workforce by expanding access to digital skills training and employment pathways for Indigenous professionals across the country. 

Beginning in 2023, the initiative supported the training of nearly 75 Indigenous participants through PLATO’s enhanced post-secondary accredited foundational software testing program and the development of an accelerated software tester training stream. Programs were delivered in Calgary, Prince Albert, Ottawa–Gatineau, Sault Ste. Marie, and Vancouver, providing industry-driven training led by professional instructors and software testing subject matter experts. 

DIGITAL’s investment also enabled the expansion of technology training into Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a community with a limited technology ecosystem where Indigenous residents represent more than 40% of the city’s population. The initiative helped create 20 new technology-based jobs for Indigenous professionals, establishing new career pathways and strengthening local participation in the digital economy while providing visible role models for Indigenous youth in the region. 

The project later expanded nationally, supporting 75 aspiring Indigenous technology professionals through PLATO’s proven train-and-employ model while delivering enhanced digital skills training to 95 early-career Indigenous IT professionals. Training focused on high-demand areas including advanced software platforms, cybersecurity, and generative AI, equipping participants with the skills needed to succeed in Canada’s rapidly evolving technology sector. 

Through PLATO’s integrated training and employment model, participants gained both technical expertise and immediate paid work experience, allowing them to contribute to the economy as training began. Within 12 months, participants transitioned into sustained careers in the technology sector, strengthening Canada’s digital talent pipeline and addressing critical workforce gaps. 

Operating with a 100% Canadian workforce, PLATO generated more than $25 million annually in salaries and benefits in Canada, including over $6 million paid to Indigenous technology professionals. The initiative delivered measurable economic impact while expanding Indigenous representation in the technology sector and demonstrating a scalable model for inclusive digital workforce development.