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Season 1, Episode #12: Barriers to entry - How Canadian colleges are closing the trade-skills gap

In this episode, Russell is joined by Anne Sado, a member of the order of Canada and the past president of George Brown College.

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Anne: “I think one of the ways of changing people's minds and moving forward is telling stories. And if we have examples of what we do and we can tell the stories of how that's made a difference, I think you start changing the mindset and the future. People see a different future if they can identify with it. And stories are just a great way of helping people. You know, you're not giving them facts, you're telling them stories of real people and showing what a difference it can make.” - Anne Sado in 'Barriers to entry - How Canadian colleges are closing the trade-skills gap.'



In this episode, Russell is joined by Anne Sado, a member of the order of Canada and the past president of George Brown College. During the episode, she shares how Canadian colleges, like George Brown, have created learning pathways that will mitigate the growing skills gap – and empower employers to continue supporting Canada’s future.

For decades, Canada’s universities and colleges have provided fundamental career pathways for professionals, artists, and trades people, and over the last 20 years, these institutions of higher learning have needed to constantly adapt to keep pace with the shifts in the modern Canadian workforce. During the episode, she shares how Canadian colleges, like George Brown, have created learning pathways that will mitigate the growing skills gap – and empower employers to continue supporting Canada’s future.

After this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The key trends that are transforming Canada's education space
  • Why a growing skills gap has impact on all industries across Canada
  • The benefits (for employers) of building or supporting an educational pathway for students entering the workforce
  • How experiential learning can help us train future generations more effectively
  • New opportunities ahead for creating innovation literacy

Listen to Anne’s episode:

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Biography

Anne Sado is President Emeritus, George Brown College. She held the position of President of the College from January 2004 to August 2021. Her impact on the vision, direction and culture of the college led to a doubling of enrolment and a significant increase in its physical footprint. She also led a critical public discussion on the value of college education in Ontario’s economic development. Anne’s professional career also included over 25 years at Bell Canada, where she held numerous progressively senior positions in operations, business planning, business development, finance and customer care.

Anne’s community activities have included: Chair of Trillium Health Centre, Chair of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, President of the Board YWCA of Greater Toronto, and Chair Junior Achievement Peel Region amongst many others. In 2018, she was appointed Honorary Colonel of The Governor General’s Horse Guards. Anne currently serves on the boards of Legacy Private Trust and Mount Pleasant Cemetery Group.

Anne has earned significant recognition for her community and industry involvement. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in June 2013. She was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence in 2014, a YWCA Woman of Distinction in 2012 and one of Canada’s Most Powerful women by WXN over four years, leading to her induction in the WXN Hall of Fame in 2014. She is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, was inducted into the University of Toronto’s prestigious Engineering Hall of Distinction in 2010 and awarded the Ontario Professional Engineers Gold Medal in 2007. She has also received the Queen’s Diamond and Golden Jubilee Medals, the Professional engineers Ontario Citizenship Award, and an Arbour Award from the University of Toronto.

Anne holds an MBA from the University of Toronto as well as a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering. Anne was awarded a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the University of Toronto in June 2011.

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