Smart Sessions
Smart Sessions are participatory workshops designed to address the skills-related challenges that Canadian employers face. Each session focuses on an issue of priority to local business communities.
Presentations stress the importance of workplace learning, share the experience of companies with effective learning approaches, and identify homegrown resources that employers can use to address local workplace learning issues. Participating employers are encouraged to engage one another in discussion about their own approaches and solutions.
Smart Sessions are held in collaboration with Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and local community partners, including Sector Councils and local Chambers of Commerce.
If you are interested in hosting a Smart Session in your community, please contact: info@workplaceskills.ca
Please see below for an overview of previous Smart Sessions:
December 1, 2011
Montreal, Quebec
Coming Soon
Effective Workplace Learning: Innovations and Solutions for Your Business
Hosted by AOC Resins and Coatings, Guelph, Ontario
November 29, 2011
On November 29, 2011, AOC Resins and Coatings Company, in Guelph, Ontario, hosted a half-day interactive learning event, showcasing innovative and practical real-life examples of workplace learning in a manufacturing setting. Delivered in partnership with Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) Ontario Division, the session profiled the Centre for Workplace Skills' recent project Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Operations managers, business owners, HR specialists and training and development specialists from the local area attended the session to learn about the keys to success for effective workplace learning, explore real-life examples of workplace learning practices in action on a facility tour, and to network and share best practices.
The session opened with Alison Cunningham, Business Liaison, Centre for Workplace Skills, welcoming the 20 participants and recognizing them and their host, AOC Plant Manager Helder Botelho and Human Resources Leader, Gerry Walsh, for their interest in and commitment to the importance of workplace learning. "Our session today is meant to encourage you to think about the particular needs of your own workplace, to learn about the successes and challenges faced by others, and have the opportunity to reflect on and apply what you will learn to your own business," she said.
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
Effective Workplace Learning: Innovations and Solutions for Your Business
Welland, Ontario
November 24, 2011
On November 24, 2011, the focus was on effective workplace learning as the Motive Power Program at Niagara College's Welland Campus hosted a half-day interactive learning event, showcasing innovative and practical real-life examples of workplace learning, geared to the automotive repair industry. Delivered in partnership with Canadian Automotive Repair and Service Sector Council (CARS), and the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) Ontario Division, the session profiled the Centre for Workplace Skills' recent project Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Service managers, supervisors, technicians, business owners, and training and development specialists from the local area attended the session to learn about the keys to success for effective workplace learning, explore real-life examples of workplace learning practices, network and share best practices, and see learning in action on a tour of the Technology Centre.
The session opened with Wayne Toth, Coordinator for the Motive Power Program, welcoming over 20 participants to the session. "Our session today is meant to encourage you to think about the particular needs of your own shop, to learn about the successes and challenges faced by others, and have the opportunity to reflect on and apply what you will learn today to your own business," he said.
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact
Mississauga, Ontario
November 23, 2011
On November 23, 2011 in Mississauga, Ontario, the Essential Skills for Safety and Health (ESSH) program and the Centre for Workplace Skills partnered to showcase innovative real-life examples of workplace learning at the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters' (CME) Regional Learning Conference "Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact."
In this interactive conference, over 65 participants explored real-life examples of workplace learning practices used by local businesses, acquired useful tools, and networked with like-minded professionals.
Participants represented the diverse mix of small and medium sized businesses in the region. "Investing in skills and training in the workplace is important and can provide a substantial return on investment to businesses," said Ian Howcroft, Vice-President of CME Ontario, in his opening remarks. "Today, we're going to showcase two impressive programs firmly committed to investing in skills in the workplace - Essential Skills through Safety and Health, and the Centre for Workplace Skills. Our program is designed to encourage you to think about the investments you make in training - and they are investments, not costs -- and to give you the tools to apply what you learn, to your own business."
Howcroft concluded by saying, "We have a great day planned. Our goal is to provide you with the tools, resources and connections to make your workplace learning interesting and effective. By keeping it simple, your business will see noticeable results at little to no cost."
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact
Vancouver, British Columbia
November 16, 2011
On November 16, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Essential Skills for Safety and Health (ESSH) program and the Centre for Workplace Skills partnered to showcase innovative real-life examples of workplace learning at the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters' (CME) Regional Learning Conference "Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact."
In this interactive conference, over 40 participants explored real-life examples of workplace learning practices used by local businesses, acquired useful tools, and networked with like-minded professionals.
Participants represented the diverse mix of small and medium-sized businesses in the province. "Investing in skills and training in the workplace is important and can provide a substantial return on investment to businesses," said Peter Jeffries, Vice-President of CME BC, in his opening remarks via Adobe Connect. "The problem is knowing what training format and approach works best. Our program today is meant to encourage you to think about the particular needs of your own workplace, to learn about the successes and challenges faced by others, and have the opportunity to reflect on and apply what you've learned to your own business."
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact
Winnipeg, Manitoba
October 27, 2011
On October 27, 2011 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Essential Skills for Safety and Health (ESSH) program and the Centre for Workplace Skills partnered to showcase innovative real-life examples of workplace learning at the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters' (CME) Regional Learning Conference "Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact."
In this interactive conference, over 60 participants explored real-life examples of workplace learning practices used by local businesses, acquired useful tools, and networked with like-minded professionals.
Participants represented the diverse mix of small and medium-sized businesses in the province. "Today is about investing in skills" said Ron Koslowsky, Vice-President of CME Manitoba, in his opening remarks. "Savvy businesses know that effective workplace training can provide a substantial return on investment. This session will help you think about the needs of your business, and how you can learn from the successes and challenges faced by other businesses."
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
Creating Essential Skills Solutions for the 21st Century Workplace - Workplace Education Manitoba
Effective Workplace Learning: Innovations & Solutions for Your Business
Moncton, New Brunswick in conjunction with the National Adult Literacy Database
October 26, 2011
On October 26, 2011, employers and other key workplace learning decision makers came together at Moncton's Crowne Plaza Hotel to take the pulse of pressing skills challenges affecting New Brunswick companies. The occasion was a "Smart Session," a half-day interactive learning event organized by the Centre for Workplace Skills to showcase innovative and practical examples of workplace learning developed in New Brunswick and to encourage local small and medium size employers to think about how insights from these examples might positively influence workplace learning in their own companies.
The event attracted 23 people from local companies and associations representing a number of professional functions including executives and managers-most in the human resources area-workplace educators, training and development specialists and consultants from the private and public sectors. The Smart Session-a short, intensive knowledge exchange event format adapted from Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters-benefited from support from local partners such as the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD). Representatives of the Government of the New Brunswick government were also in attendance.
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
CARS Employers Assessment Tool Presentation - CARS
Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact
Halifax, Nova Scotia
October 5, 2011
Workplace learning was top of the agenda on October 5, 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters' (CME) Regional Learning Conference "Keeping It Simple: Ensuring your limited training dollars have high impact."
In this interactive conference, the Essential Skills for Safety and Health (ESSH) program and the Centre for Workplace Skills partnered to showcase innovative real-life examples of workplace learning. With a mix of group discussions, presentations, and hands-on exercises, over 85 participants explored real-life examples of workplace learning practices used by local businesses, acquired useful tools, and networked with like-minded professionals.
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
Effective Workplace Learning: Innovations and Solutions for Your Business
St. John's, NL
September 27, 2011
Investing in workplace learning is a crucial step in remaining competitive in our increasingly knowledge-based economy. In this Smart Session that took place on September 27, 2011 in St. John's, NL, participants explored new insights into practical and effective workplace learning practices tailored to fit the needs of small to medium-sized businesses. Presentations included CME's Essential Skills for Safety and Health (ESSH) program, the Centre for Workplace Skills (CWS), and the Department of Government Services of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Essential Skills for Safety and Health (ESSH) - Canadian Manuafacturers & Exporters Nova Scotia
Investing in Skills: Effective Work-related Learning in SMEs - Centre for Workplace Skills
Department of Health, Occupational Health and Safety Division - Newfoundland and Labrador
Essential Skills and Health & Safety
Mississauga, ON
April 12, 2011
CME Ontario then hosted a SMART Session in Mississauga on April 12 focusing on Essential Skills and Health & Safety, in partnership with the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, part of Health and Safety Ontario. The first presentation by Sandro Perruzza, Vice President, Strategic Relationships, at WSPS, focused on the lessons learned in delivering health and safety education to small and medium sized employers in varied sectors across Ontario. The second presentation by Dr. Johanna Faulk, Program Director of the Essential Skills through Safety & Health project, provided an introduction and overview of the ESSH program.
Session Report
Essential Skills for Safety and Health - Health & Safety Ontario
Essential Skills through Safety and Health (ESSH) – Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
Skills Challenges and Solutions
Milton, ON
March 28, 2011
On March 28, CME Ontario hosted a Smart Session in Milton focusing on Skills Challenges and Solutions, in partnership with the Canadian Welding Bureau.The first presentations by Gail Smyth, Executive Director, Skills Canada–Ontario and Sarah Watts-Rynard, Executive Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum focused on the trades and current issues related to apprenticeships. The next segment of the session focused on leading practices for filling the skills shortage gap, and included presentations by Raymond Lavender, Marketing Communications Manager, Snap-on Tools of Canada; David Lewis, Pathways Coordinator, Halton District School Board; Doug Luciani, President of the Canadian Welding Bureau, and Dan Tadic, Director, Canadian Welding Association. Alex Stephens, Executive Coordinator, Centre for Workplace Skills presented on Women in Non-Traditional Occupations. The balance of the session was a short networking session.
Session Report
Skills Challenges & Solutions – Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
Skills and Skills Shortages: The Views of Business, Labour and Public Sector Leaders in Canada - Canadian Labour and Business Centre
CertWORK and Learning the Workplace Culture
Saskatoon, SK
November 23, 2010
CertWork was the main presenter at a Smart Session held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on November 23. The event brought over twenty five participants from various industries to discuss how this pilot project could be utilized in the workplace. Participants were also presented with the Learning the Workplace Culture project, a new and free series of on-line multimedia learning materials meant to prepare newcomers for the Canadian workplaces culture and its expectations.
Session Report
CertWORK and Employer Leadership Skills
Winnipeg, Manitoba
November 2, 2010
On November 2, 2010 CME Manitoba partnered with Centre for Education & Work (CEW) to host a Smart Session in Winnipeg, MB. The half-day interactive session highlighted the role that the CertWORK program can play in supporting the development of management and leadership skills for employers.
Enhancing Your Competitiveness with Internationally Trained Workers
Brooks, AB
October 21, 2010
The Centre took part in a workshop on enhancing competitiveness for small business with foreign trained workers (FTW) in Brooks, Alberta on October 21. The workshop was co-lead by the Centre for Workplace Skills, The Alliance of Sector Councils, The Conference Board of Canada as well as the Brooks and District Chamber of Commerce.
Workshop attendees heard from Michelle Downie of the Conference Board of Canada who spoke of the many short and long term benefits of hiring foreign trained workers on local economies. Ricardo Carlos from the Centre for Race and Culture spoke about the immigrant perspective of integrating into the Canadian workforce. Lakeside Packers, a major local employer of foreign trained workers, presented on the advantages and challenges of operating a business with a multi-cultural staff. The workshop concluded with a roundtable session lead by Christian Durand of the Centre for Workplace Skills, who asked participants to identify the successes and challenges that local businesses have had when hiring and working with FTWs as well as how to further integrate immigrant workers into their businesses.
Session Report
Enhancing Competitiveness Through Internationally Trained Workers - The Conference Board of Canada
Enhancing Competitiveness Through Internationally Trained Workers - Centre for Race and Culture
