Leadership Perspectives

How did COVID-19 change the face of Alberta’s health innovation sector? We talk to Tim Murphy, VP of Health at Alberta Innovates, about health-system discoveries during a crisis. This is the second episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series presented by the Council for Innovation and Commercialization. Discover more at conferenceboard.ca/networks/cic/ .  Check out Alberta Innovates projects at albe...

Many Indigenous students in Canada experience science lessons as counterintuitive, if not outright alienating. It’s high time we incorporated First Nation, Inuit, and Métis perspectives on the natural world into mainstream K–12 science. Researcher Jane Cooper explains the educational landscape, current initiatives, the role of Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and what it will take to make it happen. ...

How can we go beyond traditional datasets when forecasting the future? Thomas Hindle explains.  The full story: Job postings plummet in March, slide continues in April (commentary): https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/blogs/job-postings-plummet-in-march-slide-continues-in-april   Discover more Economics team projects and access all our research at conferenceboard.ca . 

Are interim solutions to climate change right under our noses? Dr. Babatunde Olateju explains how small modular nuclear reactors and hydrogen—energy technologies that have been around for years—could fill in the gaps between were we are and where we want to be.  The full story:   Hydrogen is back—but will it break through? (commentary): Hydrogen is back—but will it break through? - Signal49 Resear...

Dr. Andrew Bieler explains why technological change is transforming Canada’s skilled trades—and why teaching skills like virtual collaboration, digital troubleshooting, and intergenerational communication needs to be on the agenda.  The full story: This fall, check out Dr. Bieler’s impact paper, Bridging Generational Divides , and find more Education & Skills team projects at Education & S...

Discover how Bauer Hockey started manufacturing protective face shields during COVID-19. We talk to Dan Bourgeois, VP of Product Innovation, about Bauer's journey from idea to reality.  This is the first episode of Breakthroughs, a Leadership Perspectives mini-series presented by the Conference Board’s Council for Innovation and Commercialization.   Check out Bauer’s products at bauer.com/en-...

Most Canadians aren’t saving enough. How can financial advice help? Researcher Sheila Rao explains the symbiotic relationship between individual savings and Canada’s economy, and why it pays to get advice.  The full story:   To find out how retaining financial advice pays off in the long run, check out our interactive page, Saving for the Future, at https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/canad...

What will this September look like for Canada’s students? Conference Board researchers Dr. Maria Giammarco and Nimi Pukulakatt look at campus social distancing and what’s at stake for Canada's universities, colleges, and polytechnics.  Find all our Education & Skills team’s projects at https://www.signal49.ca/focus-areas/education-skills .  And access all our research at https://www.signa...

COVID-19 is a costly global challenge. How can Canada safely boost its economy in the continued presence of a pandemic? Chief Economist Pedro Antunes explains issues around the CERB benefit, universal basic income, and consumer confidence.    The full story:   You can find Pedro Antunes’s June 15, 2020 article, Economic recovery in the time of COVID , at hilltimes.com. The Hill Times is offering f...

Should I stay or should I go? Many Canadians are putting travel plans on hold this summer due to social distancing orders, border closings, and air travel restrictions. Researcher Jennifer Hendry and economist Robyn Gibbard explain The Conference Board of Canada’s travel outlook.  The full story:   Check out the research at https://www.signal49.ca/focus-areas/canadian-economics/impact-of-covid-19-...

What makes workers vulnerable to automation, and which jobs are at risk? How has COVID-19 changed our views of “high-risk, low-mobility" roles? Innovation and Technology Research Associate Darren Gresch explains how technological innovations are changing Canada’s occupational landscape.  The full story:   Find all our Innovation & Technology team projects at: https://www.signal49.ca/focus...

How do you forecast the future when the future’s in flux? Our Economic Forecasting team’s associate directors reflect on the changing story of COVID-19—and how they pivoted to rewrite a nationwide outlook, one province at a time.  The full story:   For more insights and the latest reports, check out our Canadian Economics team's main page:  Canadian Economics - Signal49 Research

Canada has the chance to become a leader in sustainable finance—But we’re not there yet. Sustainability Director Roger Francis explains how two factors—effective disclosure and trustworthy data—are the key to making Canada’s sustainable finance ecosystem a reality.  The full story:   A Chance to Lead: Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Finance (Issue briefing, April 24, 2020) For more information...

Human Capital Director Allison Cowan takes us behind the scenes of our popular HR survey series, Working Through COVID-19, with a spotlight on returning to work. 

Indigenous communities are navigating COVID-19 with traditional skills and ingenuity. But is local-level resilience enough? Indigenous and Northern Communities Director Stefan Fournier takes us through the unique challenges and risks these groups are facing, and what they’re doing from coast to coast to help their most vulnerable citizens.

It’s hard to teach soft skills. Education and Skills Director Matt McKean explains how social and emotional skills are key to surviving and thriving this pandemic together. We also look at how Canadian employers and educators can foster social and emotional skills development—both now and post-COVID-19.

Thanks to the security of our supply chains, Canadians can still access vital goods and technologies during COVID-19. But what happens when part of that chain breaks down from a cyber attack? Our Innovation & Technology Director Harry Sharma explains how the global pandemic is highlighting cyber vulnerabilities along our global supply chains.