Bridging Gaps, Launching Futures

From the boardrooms of major Canadian organizations to the classrooms of Nunavut, DIGITAL’s partnerships are building a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready Canadian workforce. Since 2018, DIGITAL has put more than 18,300 Canadians on the path to in-demand careers in fields such as AI, cybersecurity, data analytics and more. “We’ve helped Canadians access meaningful, well-paid jobs that are in high demand among employers, while also overcoming systemic, geographic and accessibility barriers to digital careers,” says Sue Paish, CEO of DIGITAL. “This benefits the individuals who receive training and supports employers by ensuring they have the talent needed to become more competitive and grow.”

Of DIGITAL’s talent-building partnerships that have spanned every province and territory, programs such as the Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator (CTTA) initiative exemplify this impact.

Equipping more Canadians with digital skills

Led by NPower Canada in collaboration with Microsoft Canada, the CIBC Foundation, DIGITAL and other partners, CTTA’s 15-week online training program delivers industry-informed curriculum in areas like data analytics, IT service management, AI and cybersecurity. Participants earn industry-recognized certifications from platforms like Microsoft and Google while receiving personalized career coaching and job placement support through NPower Canada’s employer network of more than 500 partners.

Examples of recent curriculum shifts include the upgrading of new Microsoft certifications to reflect the growing importance of AI, and the launch of cybersecurity-specific cohorts in response to market demand.
Curriculum development is grounded in real-time insights from NPower Canada’s Industry Council, which meets bi-monthly to assess emerging skills gaps. Topics like prompt engineering — once niche, now essential in AI-driven workplaces — are increasingly integrated into training modules.

Since its inception, CTTA began with pilot sites in Toronto, Calgary, and Halifax, enabling the initiative to expand into Quebec City and Manitoba. Today, its impact reaches beyond major urban centres, extending into remote and Indigenous communities as well. This expansion has been made possible by DIGITAL’s co-investment and its unique consortium model, which brings together public, private and nonprofit partners. “Without DIGITAL’s support, we wouldn’t have reached this scale,” says Molly Hill, NPower Canada’s Vice President of Development. “They’ve helped us build bridges with governments and corporate funders that are vital to continuing this program and providing it to more Canadians.”

CTTA’s outcomes aren’t just measured in metrics, though the numbers are compelling: over 6,400 Canadians trained since 2021, and another 2,850 jobseekers slated to be trained in 2025. On a similarly impressive note, over 80 percent of program graduates find employment or enroll in further education within six months. One such graduate, Hill recalls, is now working as a web developer after their dancing career was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Impact tracking is rigorous and transparent. Data is collected through Salesforce and verified by Blueprint, a nonprofit evaluation partner that conducts interviews and audits to ensure accountability. “Reporting success for our partners is important,” Hill says, “but proving that we’re making a real difference is the ultimate goal.”
NPower Canada and its partners are focused on expanding training in high-growth fields like AI and cybersecurity, while continuing to adapt to employer needs and community realities. “We’re not just preparing Canadians for jobs,” Hill says. “We’re building a more inclusive and resilient digital workforce for the future.”

Testimonials

CTTA graduate Leul A., who had been trying to break into a tech career for more than a decade before entering the CTTA program: “I’ve never had any formal training, so I’ve learned everything by myself. I learned how to code in Python and C#, but I never really got the opportunity to start as a junior in any roles. I applied dozens of times, getting few answers and facing many rejections after my initial interviews.” After taking part in CTTA, Abebe had an opportunity to interview with Long View Systems in Calgary. “I was surprised by how well I did in my first interview. I also interviewed well in the second round and got the job.”

CTTA graduate Steven Y., who had struggled to build a career in the tech industry after arriving in Canada due to a lack of Canadian experience and tech-specific qualifications: “Employers wanted local experience and certifications I didn’t yet have,” Steven shared. That’s when he discovered the Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator program. “The program was life changing. I gained essential IT skills, industry certifications, and the confidence to tackle technical challenges,” Steven reflected. “It set me on a clear path and expanded my career potential.”

Get in Touch

Interested in learning more about how DIGITAL can help support your Canadian (up)skilling technology initiative or connect you to Canadian solutions providers? Get in touch with Chris Doody, Director of Investment Oversight today!