ICTC Launches Jump-Starting Digital Careers to Help Prepare Youth for Tomorrow’s Economy

Ottawa, August 15, 2022—Today, the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) announced its Jump-Starting Digital Careers Initiative program to improve job preparedness for youth in an increasingly digital-led economy and recovery. 

Jump-Starting Digital Careers is part of the federal government’s CanCode 3.0 program. It continues the success and momentum of ICTC’s previous CanCode initiatives for students and teachers. This new initiative will include personalized industry coaching and mentoring, CyberDays, and introduce an innovative virtual lifelong learning platform. 

Jump-Starting Digital Careers will: 

• Engage Students and teachers from kindergarten to Grade 12 
• Focus on IT participation in middle years with a strong focus on inclusion for females (60% target) and marginalized student populations 
• Provide valuable industry mentorship opportunities 
• Enable post program lifelong learning pathways 

ICTC is delighted to leverage its labour and skills insights, its program solutions, and its extensive network of industry and academic partners to implement a wrap-around digital skills development approach to enable meaningful and lasting change. 

“As Canada’s economy continues to be shaped by advances in digital technologies, equipping Canada’s youth with the skills to pursue careers in digital fields will be vital for Canada’s competitive advantage. Investing in young Canadians today creates the spark for innovation and growth for tomorrow’s economy.” – Namir Anani, ICTC President & CEO 

ICTC’s initiative “Jump-Starting Digital Careers” will build upon its previously funded Digital DASH initiatives for students and teachers to provide accessible online and in-person training workshops in the following provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Yukon Territory. 

With funding from: 

To arrange an interview on this initiative or other media inquiries, please contact Paul Stastny at [email protected] or 403.351.0138 Ext. 823.