From the President's Desk: A Spotlight on UCN's Achievements
2024
I want to share with you some of the initiatives and activities the University College of the North (UCN) is undertaking to enhance service, increase training opportunities, and develop the social and economic development of the North.
Firstly, let me say that UCN is deeply committed to supporting northern Manitoba towards a goal of economic reconciliation, social and cultural growth, inclusion, and prosperity. As we all work towards these ideals, the role of UCN is to provide good quality, relevant, and responsive skills training, post-secondary education, and research.
UCN is an integral part of the northern identity. We will continue to work with all our partners to understand your needs, and to move forward together to discuss, plan, and resolve how we can collectively provide education and training opportunities that, quite simply, make life in the North better.
With the support of the Governing Council, I have set some broad goals for the staff at UCN: We want:
- More graduates employed in northern jobs
- More programs relevant to northern social, cultural, and economic realities
- More Reconciliation so that the north can grow together
- More Engagement to ensure our programs and services are relevant to northern needs
- More Efficiency to ensure our services and systems work effectively for students and sponsors
We are showing considerable progress towards these goals, and in practical terms, the following highlights a few of the initiatives and activities UCN has and will be undertaking:
New and Expanded Programming
Pre-Law: UCN, in collaboration with the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, will offer Pre-Law, a series of courses designed to provide the prerequisites for northern and Indigenous students for acceptance into the Faculty of Law.
Early Childhood Education: UCN will expand its capacity to deliver Early Childhood Education programming throughout the north. This initiative includes expanding capacity in UCN’s onsite daycare by 74 seats in Thompson and 74 in The Pas.
Diploma in Practical Nursing: UCN has added 57 new seats in Flin Flon, Thompson, and Swan River in the DPN programming. New nursing labs in Swan River and Flin Flon are under construction and are expected to be completed by Spring 2024.
Kenanow Bachelor of Education: The Joint Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program will begin this year in Bunibonibee, Mathias Colomb, Peguis, and York Factory. These new program offerings are in addition to current Joint Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education programs offered in Sandy Bay, Chemawawin, Tataskwayak, Sapotaweyak, and Pinaymootang, which enrol more than 100 students. UCN also offers its Bachelor of Education programming at its main campuses in Thompson and The Pas.
Heavy Duty Mechanics: A comprehensive Heavy-Duty Mechanic Apprenticeship program will be delivered in Thompson, MB, beginning this year. The program will be designed to help Northern and Indigenous students achieve their Red Seal and become Journeypersons by completing Levels 1 to 4. UCN will provide significant support to the apprentices during the program, especially in the first two levels, to help ensure their success.
Class 5 Drivers Licence: UCN has entered a partnership to deliver Class 5 driver’s license training. The new program is unique as it will offer in-class and in-car training to adults in cities and towns across northern Manitoba. Recognizing that participants may enter the program at various stages of the licensing process, adaptable cohorts will be established based on demand to offer support and training to obtain a Learner stage license through to the completion of a passed Class 5 road test.
Health Care Aide: Health Care Aide programs in three communities begin in February 2024. Up to twenty-seven students will be accepted into a Health Care Aide certificate program in Swan River, The Pas, and Thompson. A program will also be delivered in Churchill beginning in January. The 20-week Health Care Aide certificate program will be taught in person at all sites and includes a combination of theory and clinical instruction. When students complete the program at the end of June 2024, they will be well prepared to enter various clinical settings within the health care system.
Information Technology: A new IT Support Technician certificate and another Information Technology Readiness North Program (InTeRN) offering began delivery on The Pas Campus in the Fall of 2023. Graduates of these one-year programs will be employed in industries and businesses to support the IT infrastructure in the north and help communities, employers, and industries operate in the growing digital economy.
Paramedic: Beginning in September, we will be offering a new two-year paramedic program at both The Pas and Thompson campuses. Students can exit after year one as qualified Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) and after year two as a primary care paramedic (PCP).
Power Engineering: UCN will respond to the critical shortage of Power Engineers in the north by offering a Power Engineer 5th Class training program beginning in September 2024.
Support for Manitoba’s Critical Minerals Strategy: UCN is working with the federal and provincial governments and our industry partners to deliver a comprehensive suite of programs designed to support the workforce development of northern employers. This strategy includes developing and delivering programming for high-demand occupations found in the resource sector and helping communities engage with and support economic activity in the midst. Watch for further announcements in this regard.
Partnering for Programming: throughout our efforts with new and expanded programming, UCN is partnering with colleges, universities, and other stakeholders to bring more programming to the north.
The Pre-Law coursework noted above is being offered in partnership with Manitoba’s legal community and the University of Manitoba. Pre-Law joins other partnerships with the University of Manitoba, such as our collaboration in the Bachelor of Nursing program, our partnership with the Northern Manitoba Social Work Program in Thompson, and a developing effort to offer Pre-Rehabilitation Therapy courses in partnership with the U of M’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Services.
We are also partnering with Assiniboine Community College and Apprenticeship Manitoba to deliver all levels of Heavy Duty Mechanic apprenticeship training in Thompson. This apprenticeship partnership arrangement joins UCN’s long-standing partnership with the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology with Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) training. Also, late in 2023, UCN began discussing possible program partnership opportunities with Red River College Polytechnic.
To help ensure that Indigenous and northern Manitobans can benefit from the unprecedented expansion of mining in the north, UCN is partnering with Ontario’s NORCAT, which provides industry-standard training for the mining industry. UCN hopes to be able to announce soon related NORCAT programming that will be available in the north.
The Kenanow Faculty of Education is working with the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD) to develop a teacher education program to help CAHRD prepare hundreds of Indigenous teachers for the Winnipeg School Division to be offered in 2025 at the latest.
UCN is working with other post-secondary institutions, governments, communities, industries, and associations to establish partnerships that help to create more educational opportunities for Indigenous and northern Manitobans closer to where they live.
Reconciliation
The Centre for Aboriginal Languages and Culture: A new Centre for Aboriginal Languages and Culture (CALC) will be established next year. This will be a facility that will house and support a variety of programming and learning activities. Through funding from Canadian Heritage, Indigenous language research is ongoing in CALC; research will result in language learning tools and resources in northern Manitoba.
Leadership for Reconciliation: UCN has appointed a new vice president focusing on Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation to help ensure that UCN can take a leading role in reconciliation.
Commitment to Indigenous Language and Culture and Indigenous Education: UCN is signatory to the Manitoba Aboriginal Languages Strategy (MALS) and the Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint (MCIEB). Each represents commitments to support province-wide initiatives supporting Indigenous language revitalization and access to education for Indigenous learners, respectively.
UCN hosted the Annual MALS Symposium at our Thompson campus in 2023. This event was attended by language teachers and advocates throughout the province and included interactive and land-based sessions. The event featured “Speak Indigenous,” a UCN language initiative aimed at creating awareness and support for the work of language revitalization. This event was featured at a side event during the annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York City (April 2023); the initiative was also included in a session at the Media Lounge at the UN.
Events, Conferences, and Gatherings
UCN’s Linkages Conference (5th Annual) was held in The Pas in November 2023. It was a remarkable success in The Pas, with representatives from local and provincial government, industry, economic development agencies, and large employers in the same room discussing economic development opportunities in Northern Manitoba.
UCN expanded its Linkages Conference to Thompson, with the first conference held from February 13-14, 2024. This Conference opens discussion and reflection on northern economic development, specifically the key role the mining industry will play in the advancement of the province.
UCN is hosting the 2nd Annual Northern Arts Workshop in The Pas in March 2024, which works towards developing a creative economy in Northern Manitoba. The Northern Arts Workshop works closely with creative leaders throughout the North to showcase local artists and provide education, resources, and connections to further the artist’s reach.
The Truth and Reconciliation Gatherings have been held by the Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation department of UCN to bring forward actions towards reconciliation and honouring past wrongdoings. After six years of the Conference, it is transforming into the Oskayak-Keetiyatisuk (OK) Gathering, which will bring Elders, knowledge keepers, and youth together to guide the youth for the future towards reconciliation.
UCN has repeatedly been the home to many athletic tournaments, including high school provincials, which showcase the facility to many students from across the province. UCN hosts and sponsors these tournaments to offer Northern hospitality to the athletes, parents, and coaches to provide a glimpse into the opportunities found at UCN.
UCN partners with the Manitoba Arts Network to showcase local art at The Pas and Thompson campuses. UCN is sponsoring the Buzz Brazz quartet to perform in both The Pas and Thompson in April 2024, giving northern residents a unique experience they might not otherwise get to experience.
Research
UCN faculty have access to support from the Tri-Council Research Granting Agencies. In addition, UCN provides opportunities for research through a UCN Seed Fund. This year, the seed funding has provided principal investigators with funds for the following projects:
- “Indigenous land-based education among high school students in Opaskwayak Cree Nation” in partnership/collaboration with Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Oscar Lathlin Collegiate
- “Culturally aligned learner profiles for learning design” in partnership/collaboration with University of Manitoba staff and faculty
- “Evaluating an immersive virtual reality training program for nursing students” in partnership/collaboration with University of Manitoba
- Reviewing literature and mapping out the available youth programs and support services delivery to northern Manitoba’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth population in the town/city of The Pas, Flin Flon and Thompson” in partnership/collaboration with City of Flin Flon, Town of The Pas, City of Thompson, and provincial and federal government departments
- “Municipal solid waste management in Northern Manitoba: current state, opportunities and challenges” in partnership/collaboration with 10 Northern Manitoba municipalities and 20 solid waste managers/recycling managers/public works staff
Most UCN applicants (54%) are seeking to advance their career or for employment and another 25% to prepare for further education.
Administration
UCN has embarked on a multi-year, multi-million-dollar initiative to replace its Enterprise Resource Management System. This will vastly improve our registration and management information systems.
Innovative marketing and promotional activities are underway throughout the province, and our communications team is growing as we expand our reach into new media channels and opportunities.
We have established a specific function to support strategic growth and have appointed Dr. Dan Smith to oversee this activity as we respond to the ever-increasing need for skills training and education throughout all sectors of the north.
Innovative recruitment and retention strategies are underway to address challenges, including hybrid and remote working arrangements, improved health benefit plans, and improved employee assistance plans, including a groundbreaking mental health service for Indigenous employees. Internal capacity-building in leadership development has been a major focus in preparing for our business demands for growth.
At the University College of the North, we are driving northern Manitoba's economic reconciliation, social growth, and inclusive prosperity forward. Our efforts have led to exciting developments, including expanded programs, strategic partnerships, impactful events, and robust research projects that have made a positive impact on the region. We are proud to be playing an active role in shaping the future of education and contributing to the holistic development of the north. Our journey is one fueled by innovation and collaboration, and we welcome all stakeholders to join us in building a brighter and more prosperous future for those we serve in the region. The future is bright for northern Manitoba, and we can't wait to see what we can accomplish together.