Building Future Ready Communities: Breaking Silos to Support Job Seekers and Employers

Stronger Together: Breaking silos to support job seekers and employers is the first webinar in the Building Future Ready Communities: Virtual Tour series.

Launched in partnership between Magnet and EnPoint, the series invites diverse voices from across Canada to discuss topics related to the future of work. Panelists will include job seekers, educators, community leaders, policy makers, and employers.

The full recording is now available on YouTube in English and French. The summary below provides highlights from the English session.

Panelists for the webinar on June 28, 2021 were introduced by Mark Patterson, Executive Director of Magnet and the discussion was moderated by Chantal Brine, CEO of EnPoint.

Panelists included:

• Rachel Brown, Director of Post-Secondary Relations, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Government of New Brunswick, Future NB | Avenir NB | Future Wabanaki, 
• Stephane Sirois, Program Coordinator, Chamber of Commerce, Greater Moncton, FUTURE LINK,
• Kirsten MacLellan, Business Support Intern, Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, and Student, St. Thomas University

Below are some of the insights shared by the panel:

• Working in silos discourages the ability and motivation to share ideas, knowledge, and resources. 
• Future communities need to be co-created through multilayered partnerships with representation from across the current and future workforce. 
• Future ready communities don’t just consider economics, but obligations as global citizens. 
• Education and the workplace need to be integrated, allowing workers to build skills and practice them at the same time. 
• Students need early opportunities to build new skills and be involved in their community. Employers and community development agencies are encouraged to ensure access to volunteer and work integrated learning opportunities for all students. 
• Not participating in work-integrated learning will be risky for employers because the future of work requires individuals to be adaptable and well rounded. Work-integrated learning should encompass student placements as well as ongoing learning for mid-career workers.

Building Future Ready Communities will feature events in English and French. Find out more and register to join us today.