A full day with Canada’s tech, government, and education leaders on building the workforce behind Canada’s tech ambitions.
As Canada invests in innovation and productivity, FutureWave 2026 asks a practical question: What will it take to build the workforce that delivers on those ambitions?
Under the theme Building Canada’s Tech Advantage – Turning Ambition into Delivery, this event moves beyond strategy to implementation, focusing on how Work-Integrated Learning, employer partnerships, and talent development can strengthen Canada’s competitiveness in AI, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
Throughout the day, participants will share real-world examples, identify barriers to talent development, and co-create practical solutions that help employers hire, educators innovate, and students launch meaningful careers in Canada’s growing digital economy.
Featured Discussions
- Building Canada’s Workforce Advantage: What talent will Canada’s fastest-growing technology sectors need over the next decade?
- Hiring for Growth: How can employers, especially SMEs, build successful early-career hiring strategies?
- From Campus to Competitive Advantage: How can colleges and universities accelerate innovation through stronger employer partnerships?
- Growth That Reaches Every Community: What does a truly national technology workforce strategy look like?
- Trust, Talent & Opportunity: Lessons in Building Community-Centred Workforce Development Programs
- Closing Session – The Tech Advantage Playbook: Participants collaborate to identify the highest-impact actions employers, educators, and policymakers can take to strengthen Canada’s technology workforce.
What You’ll Take Away
- Employer action: Practical strategies for hiring, mentoring, and retaining emerging talent
- Innovation partnerships: Stronger collaboration between industry, colleges, universities, and governments
- Regional impact: New ideas for expanding technology opportunities beyond major urban centres, including Indigenous communities, rural regions, startups, and small businesses
- The Tech Advantage Playbook: A shared set of recommendations to take back to your organization
Want to learn more?
Find more details about FutureWave 2026 HERE.
Who Should Attend
Technology leaders, employers, HR and talent leaders, post-secondary educators and administrators, and policymakers working to build Canada’s technology workforce.
Connect with the Next Generation of Talent
Alongside FutureWave, TECHNATION is hosting Mentor Meetup, a separate event on the same day where post-secondary students are matched with professionals for small-group mentoring. Interested in mentoring, or know students who would benefit?
Find the time, location, and registration details HERE.
Good to know
Highlights
- 7 hours
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
Northeastern University, Toronto Campus
375 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 2A5
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
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Registration and continental breakfast
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Welcome and Keynote
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Building Canada's Workforce Advantage
This discussion will bring together leaders from government, industry, and academia to explore the skills, experiences, and talent development strategies Canadian businesses need to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. Panelists will examine how employers are identifying emerging skills needs, preparing students for the transition from education to employment, and investing in onboarding, mentorship, and upskilling to build a strong pipeline of technology talent. The conversation will also explore how government priorities and investments, stronger employer–post-secondary partnerships, and expanded Work-Integrated Learning opportunities can help retain skilled talent in Canada, strengthen early-career employment pathways, and ensure Canadian businesses have the workforce needed to drive innovation, productivity, and long-term economic growth.