Winnipeg has been named the most intelligent community for 2021 by the Intelligent Community Forum, beating out contenders from all over the world.
As part of their submission to the competition, Economic Development Winnipeg profiled Sisler High School’s CREATE program, with a focus on their relationships with post-secondary institutions and employers in the creative industries. CREATE Department Head Jamie Leduc participated on several panels as part of the semi-final and final forum events. He spoke about the program’s focus on industry and post-secondary pathways. Thanks to support from The Schroeder Foundation and Vancouver Film School, 15 graduates of the CREATE program in 2021 received full scholarships to Vancouver Film School.
“The employment and post-secondary enrollment rates for our high school and post-high graduates are very impressive, and continue to grow each year,” said Leduc. “We focus on connecting students with work opportunities, internships, and mentorship while they’re in the program. They learn real world workflow, and the soft skills that are so essential when you are building your career.”
The ICF is headquartered in New York, with community members in 180 cities, metro regions, and countries around the world. It has a think tank that developed a method to identify prosperous, inclusive economies with rich cultures that are thriving amidst disruptions in the digital age. Economic Development Winnipeg has been involved with ICF for over a decade, studying its method and learning how to make the city better.