The Future Skills Podcast

Signal49 Research

Canada is facing wide-reaching demographic and technological changes that pose increasingly significant challenges to the world of work. The Future Skills Centre Podcast, presented by Signal49 Research, will explore these crucial emerging challenges to the future of work. In each episode, we will unpack a unique issue facing Canadians and hear from varying perspectives—such as community members, decision-makers, and thought leaders—to discuss solutions and paths forward. Formerly operating as The Conference Board of Canada     Effective January 26, 2026, AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research discontinued use of ‘The Conference Board of Canada’ name, logo and branding, which had been used by AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research under license from The Conference Board, Inc. The Conference Board, Inc. and its licensees, which are not affiliated with Signal49 Research, own all right, title and interest in THE CONFERENCE BOARD name and trademarks in Canada and have the exclusive right to their use in Canada since January 26, 2026.  

  1. May 29

    Season 6, Episode 2: A Workforce to Build Big

    In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast, we focus on Canada’s big build moment—when major infrastructure, industrial expansion, and nation‑building projects are converging with profound workforce pressures. Host Jeremy Strachan is joined by former Ontario Minister of Labour and Infrastructure Monte McNaughton to explore why apprenticeships, early pathways into the skilled trades, and labour mobility are essential as retirements accelerate and demand surges. We then hear from Mike Gordon, Director of Canadian Training of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, who unpacks why training quality, credential recognition, and national standards are critical to mobilizing a skilled workforce—without taking risky shortcuts. We close with Pari Johnston, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, who makes the case for public colleges as the backbone of Canada’s skills ecosystem, and what it will take to deliver training at the speed, scale, and quality needed to prepare workers for an AI‑driven economy.  Guests   Monte McNaughton, Co-Chair, Future Skills Centre Resilient Workforce Working Table  Mike Gordon, Director of Canadian Training, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters  Pari Johnston, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada  Links  Future Skills Centre Homepage: https://fsc-ccf.ca/  Future Skills Centre LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fsc-ccf  Future Skills Centre Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fsc-ccf.bsky.social  Signal49 Research Homepage: https://www.signal49.ca/  Signal49 Research Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Signal49Research  Signal49 Research X: https://x.com/S49Research  Future Skills Centre Resilient Workforce Working Table: https://fsc-ccf.ca/engage/resilient-workforce-working-table/  United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters: https://www.uacanada.ca/  Colleges and Institutes Canada: https://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/  Signal49 Research, Building Under Pressure: Skilled Trades Shortages and Rising Construction Costs. Ottawa, Signal49 Research, November 24, 2025.  Statistics Canada. Changes in the population of tradespeople between 2016 and 2021. Education, Learning and Training Research Paper Series, September 26, 2024. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/81-595-m/81-595-m2024002-eng.htm

    32 min
  2. Season 6, Episode 1: A Future Built on Skills

    Apr 30

    Season 6, Episode 1: A Future Built on Skills

    In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast, we tee up the new season by diving into Canada’s hinge moment for talent, productivity, and resilience by revisiting some of the key themes from A Future Built on Skills. This one-day hybrid event from October 2025 brought together thought leaders in skills, training and workforce development. We’re joined by the Future Skills Centre’s Noel Baldwin in conversation with the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families, exploring an all‑hands‑on‑deck approach to workforce resilience—why soft skills, apprenticeships, and work‑integrated learning matter as major projects and trades demand surge. Then J.P. Giroux, President of the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, takes us onto the factory floor to unpack how automation and AI are reshaping roles, why SMEs must treat training as strategy, and how a culture of continuous learning drives real productivity gains. We close with Professor Wendy Cukier, Academic Director and Founder of the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, who makes the case for a national skills agenda centered on SMEs, inclusion (EDI), and scenario planning for AI, and what a blueprint for preparing Canada’s workforce for 2026 and beyond looks like. Guests The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families, Government of Canada Noel Baldwin, Executive Director, Future Skills Centre J.P. Giroux, President, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium Wendy Cukier, Academic Director and Founder, Diversity Institute

    32 min

  3. Jan 26

    Special - Name Change

    This is Jeremy Strachan, your host of the Future Skills Podcast, brought to you by the Future Skills Centre. You may have noticed that The Conference Board of Canada's changed it's name. We’re now Signal49 Research. This new name reflects a guiding signal in times of uncertainty; a dependable beacon that leaders can rely on to navigate complexity. Inspired by Signal Hill in Newfoundland and Labrador, and with a nod to Canada and the 49th parallel, it embraces the spirit of innovation and anchors us in a distinctly Canadian point of view. Learn more about what our new name means at signal49.ca.  Meanwhile, stay tuned for Season 6 of the Future Skills Podcast, with new episodes coming this spring and summer where we explore what matters most to Canadians when it comes to skills, training, and the ever-changing world of work.

    1 min

  4. 2025-09-17

    S5 Ep. 05 - Learning from One Another: Skills, Training, and Workforce Development in Northern Communities

    In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast, host Jeremy Strachan explores the complex and evolving landscape of skills development and workforce training in Northern and Indigenous communities. Amanda Thompson from Signal49 Research shares insights from the Learning from One Another project, a multi-year initiative examining labour market trends and training strategies across Yukon, Nunavut, and Northern Ontario. We also hear from Kris Mullaly of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, who discusses the Q-STEP program and Tuttarvik—community-driven initiatives that are empowering Inuit youth through culturally grounded training and employment supports. Finally, Xina Cowan of EntrepreNorth highlights how entrepreneurship is creating new pathways for economic resilience and self-determination across the North. Guests Amanda Thompson, Lead Research Associate, Signal49 Research Kris Mullaly, Program Manager, Qikiqtani Inuit Association Xina Cowan, Co-Director, EntrepreNorth See all our research: https://www.signal49.ca/future-skills-centre/research/

    26 min

  5. 2025-08-13

    S5 Ep. 04 - Pathways to Self-Employment for Neurodivergent Canadians

    In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast, host Jeremy Strachan explores how self-employment and entrepreneurship can serve as powerful pathways for neurodivergent Canadians to thrive in the workforce. Jennifer Fane from Signal49 Research discusses her Future Skills Centre-funded research on barriers facing neurodivergent entrepreneurs and the need for tailored support programs; Wanda Deschamps, founder of Liberty Co. and openly autistic entrepreneur, shares her perspective on shifting the narrative from accommodations to strengths and the importance of neuroinclusion in business; and Brad Loiselle, CEO of Skills Council of Canada, reveals how “dyslexic thinking” has fueled his serial entrepreneurship success, from building North America’s largest wrapping paper business to creating innovative educational platforms.  Guests Jennifer Fane, Lead Research Associate, Signal49 Research Wanda Deschamps, Founder and Principal, Liberty Co. Brad Loiselle, CEO and Founder, Skills Council of Canada Links: https://www.signal49.ca/product/neurodivergent-self-employment-resources_mar2026/

    30 min

  6. 2025-07-16

    S5 Ep. 03: AI in the Workplace and the Skills that Matter Most

    In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast, host Jeremy Strachan explores the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the Canadian workforce. With insights from experts Noel Baldwin, Stephanie Enders, and Mark Patterson, we hear how Future Skills Centre research is helping us better understand the way AI is reshaping job markets, skills development, and employment strategies. The conversation tackles critical challenges like AI literacy, ethical considerations, and the need for adaptability in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Discover how workers and businesses can leverage AI to enhance human skills, improve productivity, and navigate the future of work. Guests Noel Baldwin, Executive Director, Future Skills Centre Stephanie Enders, Chief Delivery Officer, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) Mark Patterson, Executive Director, Magnet

    28 min

  7. 2025-06-18

    S5 Ep. 02: Leveraging the Skills of Newcomers

    In this episode of the Future Skills Podcast, host Jeremy Strachan dives into the critical topic of leveraging the skills of newcomers to Canada and its impact on economic and social success. Joined by Tricia Williams from the Future Skills Centre, Sharon McLennon from the Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre, and Shamira Madhany from World Education Services, the discussion explores how Future Skills Centre-funded initiatives have shed light on newcomer retention and workforce integration.  The episode highlights barriers such as credential recognition, workplace bias, and lack of professional networks while emphasizing solutions like targeted upskilling, wraparound supports, and cultural competency training. With insights into workforce development across Canada, this episode underscores how effectively integrating skilled immigrants is key to addressing labor shortages and boosting economic resilience. Guests Tricia Williams, PhD, Director of Research, Evaluation, and Knowledge Mobilization, Future Skills Centre Sharon McLennon, Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre Shamira Madhany, Managing Director and Deputy Executive Director, World Education Services

    29 min
  8. S5 Ep. 01 - What Quality of Work Means in a Changing Labour Market

    2025-05-21

    S5 Ep. 01 - What Quality of Work Means in a Changing Labour Market

    What defines quality of work in today’s economy? In this episode, host Jeremy Strachan speaks with Laura McDonough from the Future Skills Centre and Dr. Olga Morawczynski from Heal-3 to explore how wages, job security, mental health, and workplace culture impact our experience at work. They discuss how research from the Future Skills Centre has shed insights on the evolving expectations of workers, the role of leadership in job satisfaction, and how benefits and training can shape long-term career well-being. As workplaces continue to change, and as Canada’s workforce challenges continue to evolve, understanding what job quality means is becoming more important than ever.

    25 min
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4.3
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Canada is facing wide-reaching demographic and technological changes that pose increasingly significant challenges to the world of work. The Future Skills Centre Podcast, presented by Signal49 Research, will explore these crucial emerging challenges to the future of work. In each episode, we will unpack a unique issue facing Canadians and hear from varying perspectives—such as community members, decision-makers, and thought leaders—to discuss solutions and paths forward. Formerly operating as The Conference Board of Canada     Effective January 26, 2026, AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research discontinued use of ‘The Conference Board of Canada’ name, logo and branding, which had been used by AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research under license from The Conference Board, Inc. The Conference Board, Inc. and its licensees, which are not affiliated with Signal49 Research, own all right, title and interest in THE CONFERENCE BOARD name and trademarks in Canada and have the exclusive right to their use in Canada since January 26, 2026.  

Information

  • Creator
    Signal49 Research
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Future Skills Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Future Skills Podcast

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