Where Advanced Teaching Technologies and Techniques Begin Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario is known globally for its varied educational and training institutes and centres. Many private, public and non-profit organizations in Thunder Bay have harnessed the benefits of incorporating basic to advanced levels of training into their business models. International companies that develop innovative training solutions are taking note of the varied approaches currently available in Thunder Bay’s diverse economy that supports training and skills enhancement for the manufacturing, mining, health sciences, health and safety, and sport industries in addition to indigenous populations. Why Training will Become a Business Priority in the Future • The overall training expenditures in the US went up 32.5% to $90.6 billion dollars in 2017. Learners are receiving on average four hours more of training than in 2016. With these increases, individual companies are spending more per learner— $1,075 compared with $814 in 2016. • Companies are becoming increasingly serious about their training and many companies are looking to online training tools and technology—particularly for smaller and mid- sized businesses (SMBs). SMBs spend a higher portion of their budgets on learning technology than do larger organizations. The Impact of Future Trends on Teaching Technologies and Techniques Today • Cloud-based Learning Management Systems (LMS’s) with built-in authoring tools make developing training programs budget-friendly and effective. As a result, content can be easily uploaded, delivered across a range of devices and platforms and enabling access without the need for costly training seminars. • Detailed reporting on learner progress allows the Learning and Development team to fine- tune courses and pinpoint places in the course where learners are struggling, while engagement data provides understanding about how effective certain elements are, such as video content vs interactive text. • Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are top- notch performance support tools. Employees can step inside virtual environments or interact with virtual objects in real-world settings. • Content is king used to be a commonly heard phrase in the industry, but today User Experience has muscled its way to the top of the list. • Personalizing the learning experience reduces the time it takes to complete training and in turn that reduces the opportunity cost of spending time on unneeded learning. It also increases the impact— spending the most time on the most important things that the learner has the largest knowledge gap produces a better result. Finally, it makes the learner happy by respecting their time.
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Where Advanced Teaching Technologies and Techniques Begin
Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario is known globally for its varied educational and training institutes and centres. Many private, public and non-profi t organizations in Thunder Bay have harnessed the benefi ts of incorporating basic to advanced levels of training into their business models. International companies that develop innovative training solutions are taking note of the varied approaches currently available in Thunder Bay’s diverse economy that supports training and skills enhancement for the manufacturing, mining, health sciences, health and safety, and sport industries in addition to indigenous populations.
Why Training will Become a Business Priority in the Future
• The overall training expenditures in the US went up 32.5% to $90.6 billion dollars in 2017. Learners are receiving on average four hours more of training than in 2016. With these increases, individual companies are spending more per learner — $1,075 compared with $814 in 2016.
• Companies are becoming increasingly serious about their training and many companies are looking to online training tools and technology — particularly for smaller and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). SMBs spend a higher portion of their budgets on learning technology than do larger organizations.
The Impact of Future Trends on Teaching Technologies and Techniques Today
• Cloud-based Learning Management Systems (LMS’s) with built-in authoring tools make developing training programs budget-friendly and effective. As a result, content can be easily uploaded, delivered across a range of devices and platforms and enabling access without the need for costly training seminars.
• Detailed reporting on learner progress allows the Learning and Development team to fi ne-tune courses and pinpoint places in the course where learners are struggling, while engagement data provides understanding about how effective certain elements are, such as video content vs interactive text.
• Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are top-notch performance support tools. Employees can step inside virtual environments or interact with virtual objects in real-world settings.
• Content is king used to be a commonly heard phrase in the industry, but today User Experience has muscled its way to the top of the list.
• Personalizing the learning experience reduces the time it takes to complete training and in turn that reduces the opportunity cost of spending time on unneeded learning. It also increases the impact—spending the most time on the most important things that the learner has the largest knowledge gap produces a better result. Finally, it makes the learner happy by respecting their time.
Accelerating Excellence in Medical Research and Innovation in Ontario’s Northwest
Thunder Bay Success Stories of Implementing New Training Programs and Technologies
• The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 402 in Thunder Bay uses a VR welding program in its new hall. Apprentices get realistic-looking explosions and arcing when they make errors, without suffering a single injury. Local 402 also uses internet training for some parts of its program. Considering that their jurisdiction covers a large part of Northern Ontario, it helps candidates get access to opportunities no matter how far they live from populated areas.
• Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Training Centre ensures all Fire Rescue Offi cers meet the requirements for the NFPA Standard for a Company Offi cer and/or a Senior Offi cer and a Fire Prevention Offi cer. The training centre also provides new fi refi ghting recruits with NFPA 1001 & 1002 and the basic skills necessary to extinguish fi res, perform rescues, provide medical assistance, protect the environment, offer public education and ensure public safety.
• The Carpenters Local 1669 Training Centrereceived an investment of approximately $166,000 from the Government of Canada in 2018 for its Welding – Gateway to General Carpentry project. Continuous technological change means that apprentices need higher-quality training to develop the right skills required on jobsites. By purchasing new, up-to-date equipment, Carpenters Union Local 1669 will help apprentices in the carpenter and welder Red Seal trades progress through their technical training, leading to a pool of certifi ed journeypersons from
key groups ready to participate in the job market. The equipment includes two welding simulators, four dual weld stations, four laptops and other materials.
• The Nokiiwin Tribal Council in Thunder Bay received a $3 million investment from the Government of Canada in 2018 for its Mino-niigaanendmowin project through the Skills Link program. This project will help up to 150 Indigenous youth gain work experience and develop the skills they need to fi nd and keep good jobs or return to school. Participants will also receive valuable work experience with local employers in fi elds such as transportation, mining, forestry, administration, health care, education and commercial fi sheries.
• The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre emphasizes research and training because it leads to better patient care. They’ve been successful in attracting some of the best physicians and other healthcare providers who want to work in their academic environment. Additionally, students are attracted to Northwestern Ontario every year who want to train here, making them more likely to stay and practice here too. Many researchers also take positions at Lakehead University and/or the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Thunder Bay’s Globally Recognized Training Organizations
Accelerating Excellence in Medical Research and Innovation in Ontario’s Northwest
Academic Strengths & Training Institutes
L a k e h e a d U n i v e r s i t y received $9.5
million in 2016 to modernize and expand an existing building to create a new state-of-the-art research complex to be known as the Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering and Sciences. The new centre enabled Lakehead University to offer advanced training courses and help local businesses and start-ups commercialize their products and services and help grow the region’s economy.
Lakehead University’s immersive telepresence classrooms provide a high quality, alternative option for running classes, meetings and events over video. The classrooms’ HD video, audio and content sharing capabilities enable instructors, staff and students to interact between two or more locations more naturally and effectively than traditional video conferencing.
There is an immersive telepresence classroom located at the Thunder Bay campus capable of accommodating 28 people.
The university’s virtual Reality Environment (LUVRE) contains imaging technology for instruction and research by making available: three overhead BARCO DLP Stereoscopic projectors; HP z800 Visualization workstation with NVidia QuadroPlex 2200 D2 VCS; an 8ft x 31ft, 150 degree curved laser calibrated screen; 48 pair of wireless, stereoscopic LCD shutter glasses used for Stereo 3D viewing; surround sound audio system; 3D navigation mouse and a collection of wireless peripherals; two 3D equipped development and testing workstations where models and presentations can be created and tested prior to moving to the big screen; and a collection of scientifi c visualization and animation software (eg. VMD, Arc/GIS, Poser, Blender, Stereoscopic player, StereoPhotoMaker, etc.)
Confederation College received $1 million from the Government of Canada in 2018 for the purchase of equipment to be used inside the College’s new 45,000 square foot Technology Education and
Collaboration (TEC) Hub that will include virtual reality technology, multi-axis computer numerical controlled milling machines, and production-grade 3D printers. Recognized as one of the most advanced facilities across the country for doing this type of training for highly skilled workers, this will not only will it attract students to the college but provide training to people already living in the region to fi ll jobs in areas that are lacking skilled trades
The Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute, the result of a $20.76
million Government of Canada 2016 investment into Confederation College will foster the training needed for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow. Confederation College will receive $18 million for the construction of its new TEC Hub that will include new workshop and lab space and support the college’s engineering technology and manufacturing programs, as well as provide pathways for skilled trades
training. The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are each contributing $9 million.
The Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute will receive $2.7 million in federal funding for its Pathways to Prosperous Future project. This project will enable the Institute, through its Trades Training Mobile Lab, to provide specialized training for First Nations people in 49 communities across the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. The funding will also be used to upgrade the trades labs at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, which will help provide more training opportunities for First Nations youth.
The college’s Media Arts program is broken down into fi ve diploma programs covering Digital Media Production, Film Production, Interactive Media Development, Mobile Application Development and Web Development.
Incentives and Funding Programs that Encourage Training and Skills Development in Ontario¥ The Canada-Ontario Job Grant provides funding
to individuals identifi ed by employers in need of skill improvement. The grant covers up to two-thirds of eligible training costs, up to a maximum of $10,000 per individual.
• The Northern Ontario Internship Program provides organizations located in Northern Ontario with funding that are interested in providing training and work experience to recent graduates.
Incentives and Funding Programs for Businesses• New Investment Projects: Assisting competitive businesses that currently do not
have a presence in Ontario, expand operations to Northern Ontario and create jobs.
• Opportunity Assessment Projects: Assisting Northern Ontario businesses with identifying opportunities for new technology development projects.
• Innovation: Activities that enable organizations and SMEs to increase the level of innovation, productivity, quality and competitiveness in key sectors, such as biotechnology, the mining and forest industries, agri-food, information and communications technology, renewable energy and manufacturing.
• The Scientifi c Research and Experimental Development Program is a federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada.
Thunder Bay DemographicsThe City of Thunder Bay’s population is 121,621, yet the district of Thunder Bay expands the population to approximately 146,048. Hovering around an 8.2% unemployment rate, the Thunder Bay district has a labour force of 121,260. 53% of the district’s labour force hold a postsecondary certifi cate, diploma or degree, compared to 26% with a secondary (high school) diploma or equivalency certifi cate.
About Thunder Bay CEDCWe can help with: community information and statistics; networking and referrals; assistance in site selection; and labour market data. We are responsible for: business development; business retention and expansion; entrepreneurial support; opportunity promotion; and collection and assessment of key business data.
CEDC receives formal proposals on projects that will contribute to economic development. It responds quickly to new opportunities and initiatives to attract direct fi nancial involvement from government and private sectors. CEDC’s staff will assist your business with attaining essential information for decision making.
THUNDER BAY COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CEDC)
PO Box 800, 201-34 Cumberland Street North, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada P7C 5K4
