The Ontario government is investing $575,000 to help Canadian Armed Forces members turn the skills they developed during their service into the postsecondary credits they need to land in-demand jobs. This investment will make it easier and faster for veterans and other military-connected learners to transition to civilian life, while building on the province's historic measures and investments to build a strong, resilient workforce that can support the most competitive economy in the G7.
"Our government will always stand up for those who have put their lives on the line to protect Ontario," said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. "By recognizing the valuable skills veterans have gained through their service, we're helping them enter rewarding and in-demand careers faster while strengthening Ontario's highly skilled workforce."
Through this investment, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) has launched Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) projects at six publicly funded colleges and universities across Ontario, including: Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Canadore College, Lakehead University, the University of Waterloo and the University of Windsor.
These projects include:
- Recognizing the skills and experiences gained from the Canadian Armed Forces as credits toward a university-level Bachelor of Engineering.
- Developing Al-powered tools to automate and speed up prior learning assessment and recognition processes for military-connected learners.
- Creating a new platform to help postsecondary administrators identify course equivalencies based on military records.
- Creating a course credit bank that allows veterans to quickly identify options for accessing postsecondary programs.
- Standardizing the prior learning assessment and recognition of military training and experience.
"As we commemorate Veterans' Week, our government is undertaking meaningful action to help support our veterans as they transition to civilian life," said Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. "This investment will ensure the skills obtained from those who have served are recognized by postsecondary institutions and used to fuel their future careers."
The Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium is also receiving funding to identify and develop best practices for the recognition of Canadian Armed Forces training within the Ontario postsecondary system.
"Military-connected learners enrich classrooms and campuses with their insightful perspectives, diverse experiences and tremendous work ethic," said Dr. Adrienne Galway, President and CEO, Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT). "ONCAT is honoured to steward new postsecondary initiatives that recognize the transferability of military training and empower learners to pursue their next education and employment goals."
"As a Military-Connected College, we support Canada's military members and veterans because it's a great opportunity to tap into their skills and knowledge while helping them progress in their military careers or make the transition to civilian life," says Fanshawe President Peter Devlin. "The PLAR is an important tool to assess veterans' military experiences, ensuring their transition to a civilian career is smooth and to provide credit or advanced standing for their previous learning."
This Veterans Week, Ontario is proud to honour veterans and their families by helping them find rewarding careers that reflect their skills and dedication. Recognizing military experience as part of Ontario's postsecondary system supports the province's broader strategy to address the need for skilled trades workers for in-demand jobs and deliver on its more than $201 billion plan to build more hospitals, schools, highways and other important infrastructure.
Quick Facts
- There are over 149,000 Canadian Armed forces veterans residing in Ontario.
- Each year, about 8,000 to 9,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are released from military service.
- The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) puts learners first by making it easier to navigate Ontario's postsecondary system. ONCAT advances learner mobility and recognition of prior learning through pathway development, funding and research. Funded by the Government of Ontario, ONCAT is helping build a more seamless, student-focused postsecondary system. Learn more at oncat.ca.
- The new Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence (OVACSE) launched earlier this year to recognize veterans who have made significant contributions to their communities through exceptional community service.
Quotes
"Ontario's universities are proud to support veterans and military-connected learners as they transition to new careers and opportunities through higher education. By recognizing the skills and experience gained through military service, this initiative will help open new academic and career pathways to postsecondary."
- Steve Orsini, President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities
"This investment in ONCAT's Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition projects for veterans and other military-connected learners marks an important milestone for military-connected campuses. It builds on the long-standing partnerships between colleges and the Canadian Armed Forces to support military members through career development and occupational training."
- Maureen Adamson, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario
"Georgian is honoured to be part of this important initiative supporting Canada's veterans and military-connected learners. We deeply value - and are known for - experiential learning, so it's especially meaningful to help turn military service into academic credit. This investment recognizes the incredible experience and leadership these individuals bring to our classrooms and communities, while helping them build rewarding careers that strengthen Ontario's workforce and economy."
- Kevin Weaver, President of Georgian College
"Canadore College is honoured to collaborate with members of the Canadian Armed Forces to ensure they are well prepared for meaningful civilian careers following their military service. The professionalism and dedication demonstrated by the personnel of 22 Wing, Canadian Forces Base North Bay, exemplify the highest standards of service that will transfer to civilian careers. Canadore College is proud to support CAF members by recognizing their valuable skills and fostering successful career outcomes to contribute to the continued strength and resilience of Ontario's economy."
- George Burton, Canadore College President and CEO
"Lakehead University is proud to be part of this important initiative to recognize the knowledge and expertise of those who have served our country. We are grateful to the Ontario government for its leadership in honouring veterans by supporting pathways that value military experience as academic achievement. Together, we're helping veterans transition successfully into civilian life while strengthening Ontario's skilled workforce."
- Dr. Gillian Siddall, President and Vice Chancellor, Lakehead University
"This project will allow Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering to develop pathways for Veterans, Reservists and other Military-Connected Learners to achieve their goals of becoming engineers through the recognition of their experience, technical and leadership training, the construction of academic bridging programs to prepare them for success in first year, and the development of supports structures for success throughout the program. Military-Connected Learners will enhance our engineering community. We look forward to helping them thrive at the University of Waterloo."
- Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Waterloo
"The University of Windsor is proud to be part of this important initiative that honours the experience and expertise of those who have served our country," said Dr. J.J. McMurtry, University of Windsor President and Vice-Chancellor. "Building on UWindsor's recent commitment to support military-connected students and their families, Ontario's investment will help ensure that the skills and leadership gained through military service are fully recognized on our campus and beyond."
- Dr. J.J McMurtry, President of the University of Windsor
"As a national consortium focused on the supportive role postsecondary institutions play in Canada's defence modernization, the CMVF3C is proud to support Ontario's focus on military education and training recognition. We are excited to see so many of our partnering institutions growing in this critical space, signaling the importance of our strategic collaboration in the post-secondary sector. Military PLAR pathways will offer opportunities to amplify the highly skilled nature of Canadian Armed Forces training, benefiting those who serve, have served, and Canada coast to coast to coast."
- Donald Moore, Military Education & Training Recognition WG Chair, Canadian Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium
"The Coding for Veterans program at the University of Ottawa welcomes the Ontario Government's funding announcement to support military veterans transitioning from deployment to employment. Recognizing and translating the skills gained through military service into post-secondary credits will streamline career pathways and open new opportunities for veterans entering the civilian workforce."
- Jeff Musson, Coding 4 Veterans
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