WIL has an important role to play in helping our communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. But not every community has the same access to WIL. In particular, rural, remote and Northern (RRN) communities face a broad range of challenges that can impact their ability to access or provide meaningful training and employment opportunities.
First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations often face additional cultural and socio-economic barriers. And for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in RRN areas, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges while presenting new ones. At BHER, we believe that WIL is an important part of COVID recovery. To support inclusive and responsive WIL opportunities in rural, remote and Northern communities, we spoke with students, employers, and practitioners. We asked them about barriers and enablers to WIL in their regions.
Download Key Things to Know about WIL in RRN areas
Work Integrated Learning and COVID recovery in rural, remote, and Northern communities
How did COVID-19 impact work-integrated learning in smaller communities? Employers and practitioners explain what they learned from the challenges the pandemic presented.
The importance of Internet connectivity in rural, remote and Northern areas.
This video considers why insufficient internet connectivity is a challenge for employers to consider when developing WIL programs in rural, remote and Northern communities.
The Importance of Local and Culturally Relevant Training and Education
Why is it important to provide local and culturally relevant training and education opportunities in the North? Ashley Cummings, an Inuk mental health advocate and community activist, shares her perspective.
How non-profits in rural, remote and Northern communities benefit from Work-Integrated Learning
Explore why non-profits are incredibly important in smaller communities, and how they can access and benefit from work-integrated learning (WIL).
Meeting Youth Where They’re At
WIL can provide new talent streams as rural, remote, and Northern employers recover from COVID. But in establishing new programs and initiatives, employers need to be responsive to the needs and circumstances of young people. Leslie Robinson, Youth Engagement Coordinator with the Nisga'a Lisims Government, shares her insights.
The Importance of Local and Culturally Relevant Training and Education
Why is it important to provide local and culturally relevant training and education opportunities in the North? Ashley Cummings, an Inuk mental health advocate and community activist, shares her perspective.
Work Integrated Learning and COVID recovery in rural, remote, and Northern communities
How did COVID-19 impact work-integrated learning in smaller communities? Employers and practitioners explain what they learned from the challenges the pandemic presented.
Partnering with Indigenous communities on WIL, and place-based education
Partnering with Indigenous communities through WIL can be win-win, but it takes time to establish relationships built on trust and reciprocity.
Promoting relationships between employers and post-secondary institutions through WIL in rural, remote and Northern communities
Partnering with post-secondary institutions on work-integrated learning (WIL) can be daunting for businesses in rural, remote and Northern communities. We spoke to WIL practitioners and employers about how to develop partnerships and what to consider when starting a program.
Building Partnerships
How can non-indigenous organizations approach the Nisga’a, or other treaty nations? Leslie Robinson, Youth Engagement Coordinator with the Nisga'a Lisims Government, emphasizes the importance of being direct.
Work-Integrated Learning and COVID recovery in rural, remote, and Northern communities
How did COVID-19 impact work-integrated learning in smaller communities? Employers and practitioners explain what they learned from the challenges the pandemic presented.
Promoting relationships between employers and post-secondary institutions through WIL in rural, remote and Northern communities
Partnering with post-secondary institutions on work-integrated learning (WIL) can be daunting for businesses in rural, remote and Northern communities. We spoke to WIL practitioners and employers about how to develop partnerships and what to consider when starting a program.
The Importance of Relationships for Northern WIL Programs
Rex Holwell is the Regional Operations Lead for social enterprise SmartICE. In this video, he explains why relationships are so important for work-integrated learning programs in the North.
Preparing for a Remote WIL Experience
How can students prepare for remote WIL experiences, and how can post-secondary institutions help them? Undergraduate student Corinne Valiquette shares her perspective ahead of an internship in a remote community in Quebec.
Promoting equity, diversity & inclusion through WIL in rural, remote and Northern communities
Learn about how WIL can be a tool for a more diverse workforce, and why that can be beneficial for rural and Northern employers.
How non-profits in rural, remote and Northern communities benefit from Work-Integrated Learning
Explore why non-profits are incredibly important in smaller communities, and how they can access and benefit from work-integrated learning (WIL).
WIL and Community Engagement
In rural, remote and Northern areas, WIL shouldn’t simply be transactional. Shawna Dicker works as a Business Development Intern at SmartICE, and emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community, and the value of Inuit mentorship.