The Government of Canada Invests in Future Northern Workforce

Young Northerners learn about exciting careers in science and engineering

IQALUIT, NU, March 25, 2015 /CNW/ - Office of the Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), and Minister for the Arctic Council

Minister Aglukkaq today announced funding to support a northern outreach program that will expose youth to interesting occupations and encourage them to continue their education.

CanNor is investing $400,000 over 2 years (2014-15 and 2015-16) in Actua's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs which will build skills in these areas for over 5,000 northern youth aged 6-16 in over 30 northern communities. These programs seek to demonstrate to northern youth the exciting career possibilities in these fields and to strengthen the foundation for economic and social prosperity for northern communities.

Quick Facts

• CanNor's funding complements investments from the Government of Nunavut and private corporations. Google invested over $1.5 million for the development of Codemakers, an Actua program focused on delivering computer science programming to 100,000 Canadians including 11,500 youth in the North. CanNor's funding supports Actua's delivery of this program and other STEM curriculum across the three territories.
• In a recent Actua evaluation, it was reported that 80 percent of participants completed the program were more interested in science and 71 percent were more interested in staying in school.
• CanNor previously invested $600,000 in Actua's STEM program from 2010-2013, in which over 18,000 northern youth from 45 northern communities participated.

Quotes

"Our Government is proud to support initiatives that encourage higher learning and help to build a skilled and engaged northern workforce for the future. This investment will help to build stronger northern communities."

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Minister for the Arctic Council

"CanNor's investment in Actua is helping us meet the growing need to build the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for northern youth to be the future drivers of innovation. Actua is providing youth with direct connections to STEM studies and careers, and preparing them for their critical role in northern economic development."

Jennifer Flanagan, President and CEO, Actua

Associated Links  

CanNor's previous support for Actua

http://www.actua.ca

For more information about CanNor, visit cannor.gc.ca

For more information on Canada's Northern Strategy, visit: northernstrategy.ca

CanNor works to help develop a diversified, sustainable and dynamic economy across Canada's three territories, and delivers on its northern mandate through funding programs, the Northern Projects Management Office and by undertaking policy and research.

SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Ted Laking, 819-997-1441; Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Shane Kilpatrick, Communications Advisor, NWT, 613-240-7682; Proponent/partner contact person, Jennifer Flanagan, President and CEO, Actua, 613-234-4137