On September 29, 2026, TECHNATION hosted the Advanced Digital and Professional Training (ADaPT) for Indigenous Youth & Young Adults Program Wrap-Up & Reflection Summit. The Summit brought together project partners, community advisors, researchers, funders, and program staff from TECHNATION, RRC Polytech, Diversity Institute, Future Skills Centre, and members of TECHNATION’s National Indigenous Joint Advisory Committee who contributed to the design, delivery, evaluation, and ongoing support of the program.
The Summit created space for meaningful reflection on what worked well, what could be improved, and what future workforce development initiatives can learn from the ADaPT experience. Through a series of discussions and presentations, participants reviewed program outcomes, validated key findings, shared community perspectives, and identified opportunities to strengthen future programming.
“The reality is that success is beyond placement numbers.” – Rashim Katyal, Senior Manager, Partnerships & Engagement, TECHNATION Career Ready Program
Building Pathways Through ADaPT
Since its launch in 2014, the ADaPT program has helped equip thousands of post-secondary graduates and job seekers across Canada with the digital, professional, and career-readiness skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving workforce. Developed by the Diversity Institute and delivered with partners across the country, ADaPT has continually evolved to meet the needs of diverse communities.
“Learning continues when you start working.” – Sandi Campbell, Executive Director, Future Workforce Development Operations, TECHNATION Career Ready Program
This Manitoba-focused ADaPT iteration brought together TECHNATION, RRC Polytech, and the Diversity Institute to create opportunities for Indigenous and young adult learners, with a particular focus on rural, remote, and northern communities. Through industry-informed training, individualized supports, and employer engagement, the program aimed to help participants build meaningful pathways into Manitoba’s evolving workforce.
Key Reflections and Lessons Learned
Reflections throughout the Summit highlighted the impact of this approach. Participants emphasized the importance of trust, authentic relationships, community partnerships, wraparound supports, confidence-building, and creating meaningful connections between learners and employers. Discussions also highlighted the value of Indigenous leadership and the need to recognize that education and employment journeys are often non-linear and extend beyond traditional measures of success.
“Confidence building and mental health support is something that we especially need for our communities.” – Kaley Ramage, Student, University of Calgary
The Summit reinforced the importance of collaboration across the workforce development ecosystem. The contributions of the program partners helped create a rich dialogue that will help inform future Indigenous workforce development initiatives.
TECHNATION would also like to extend its sincere gratitude to member organization Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for generously providing space within
TCS Pace Port™ Toronto, its national innovation hub, making it possible to host the Summit and bring partners together for a day of learning and reflection.
As ADaPT moves into its final stages, the conversations and insights generated through the Summit will help shape future program design, strengthen partnerships, and contribute to broader discussions on how best to work with and support Indigenous talent, communities, and employers. Most importantly, the Summit reinforced that lasting impact is built through trust, relationships, collaboration, and a shared commitment to creating opportunities that support long-term success.
The ADaPT program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.
