The success of Canada's North Beyond 2011 in Edmonton, October 11-13, 2011, proved that a collaborative approach to northern issues produces results.  As a group of more than 300 Canadian and international thought leaders, decision-makers and influencers immersed in Northern, we discussed the complexity and noted the interrelations of five major challenges facing the North today: governance, resource development, community security, infrastructure and human capital. Emerging from these conversations were the important connections between human capital and educational options in supporting the sustainable growth of the North beyond 2011.

The discussions at this forum have ensured that the ongoing research at the Conference Board of Canada's Centre for the North is both asking the right questions and delivering results that reflect Northern perspectives, Northern engagement and Northern interests. The Centre for the North continues to develop insights that will strengthen the foundation for informed decision-making in the North and seeks inspiration and input from governments, academia, industry and Aboriginal organizations. Moving into our third year, the Centre for the North will be releasing the results of seven major research projects.  These include:

1. Balancing Act: Impacts of Major Projects in the North (anticipated release: Oct 2011) 

This briefing explores the various elements related to the development of major resource projects in the North, providing a context for the Centre's thematic research on human capital, transportation infrastructure, education and mining. Read the Centre's blog, Balancing Act: Major projects in the North, for a snapshot of what this briefing will discuss.

2. Building Labour Force Capacity in Canada's North (anticipated release: November 2011)

This report examines some of the best practices currently being employed by Corporate Canada to build labour force capacity in Canada's North. It examines the linkages between educational outcomes and economic success, and identifies gaps and opportunities in employability and job skills development in the North.

3. Northern Assets: Transportation Infrastructure in Remote Communities (anticipated release: December 2011)

Focusing on the port of Churchill, this project provides an analysis of the costs and benefits of transportation infrastructure in remote communities in Canada's North. It examines in detail, and provides a cost benefit analysis of the many options of transportation infrastructure in the North. Using the port of Churchill as a case study, this report offers recommendations on addressing key challenges and best practices in supporting transportation infrastructure in the North.

4. Community Resilience (anticipated release: January 2012)

This report examines the relationship between community security, community resilience, and risk assessment. The research addresses two pertinent questions: How resilient are Northern communities, and what are the merits of applying a risk assessment process to these communities?

5. Lessons Learned: Achieving Positive Educational Outcomes in Northern Communities (anticipated release: February 2012)

Through mixed methods, including econometric and statistical analysis, this report explores the outcomes and options of education in the North. It shares lessons learned, as well as practices and models that northerners believe are having a positive impact on educational outcomes.  It also provides some policy recommendations aimed at enhancing educational outcomes and options in northern communities.

6. The Future of Mining in Canada's North (anticipated release: March 2012)

This report examines a set of interrelated questions related to the mining and sustainable economic development in the North. It asks: how important is mining to Canada's North? What prospects exist for that sector and what could be the socio-economic impact of mining development on Canada's North? What are key challenges to northern mining development and how could they be addressed? How can northern regions, including Aboriginal communities and northerners tap on these opportunities and have their share of the benefits? What are the business and community factors that matter to mining projects? How can the future of mining contribute to sustainable prosperity of Canada's North especially given that it is a non-renewable and cyclical resource industry and it has environmental impacts that must be mitigated?

7. Affordability and Availability of Housing in the North: Exploring Public-Private Partnerships Options (anticipated release: April 2012)

This report will seek to answer the following questions:  How can the public and private sectors work together to address the affordability and availability of housing in northern Canada- both social housing and market housing? And how are these efforts meeting the unique demands of both the northern climate and diverse cultural lifestyles (Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal/wage economy/traditional economy)?

For more information on the Centre for the North, or if you would like to invest in our work, please contact Anja Jeffrey, Director, Centre for the North at jeffrey@conferenceboard.ca or at 613.526.3090 x 384.