Unlocking Canada's next generation of innovators starts with opportunity, Waterloo expert says
Meaningful work experience and greater access to opportunities can help young Canadians turn their skills and ideas into real-world impact
Canada needs to create more opportunities for young people to apply their skills, develop innovative ideas and contribute to meaningful work, says Ilona Dougherty, co-creator and managing director of the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo.
While education, skills development and entrepreneurship provide important foundations for innovation, Dougherty emphasizes the value of giving young people opportunities to apply their abilities to real-world challenges.
Speaking on a panel at The Logic Summit in Toronto on Monday, Dougherty highlighted the importance of meaningful experience in helping young Canadians realize their potential and contribute to the country's economic future.
"What is really missing is the opportunity to do real things in the real world that are mission-critical for companies and communities," Dougherty said.
The panel discussion, titled Building intergenerational excellence, explored how Canada can better support young innovators through investment, mentorship and meaningful career opportunities. Moderated by The Logic reporter Anita Balakrishnan, the panel also featured investor and advisor Ilse Treurnicht, Maverix Private Equity managing partner John Ruffolo and Calmos founder Yasmine Ben Arous. Teresa Marques, president and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation, delivered opening remarks.
Experience creates opportunity
Dougherty's perspective is informed by the Young People & Economic Inclusion Longitudinal Study, which she co-leads with Waterloo economics professor Dr. Ana Ferrer.
The study includes more than 34,000 young Canadians who have participated in approximately 400 youth employment programs across the country. It examines their employment outcomes, financial well-being and experiences over time.
Dougherty pointed to research showing that young immigrants who participated in work-integrated learning opportunities earned higher wages four years after completing a youth employment program.
The finding highlights how opportunities to apply knowledge and develop practical experience can contribute to long-term career success.
"What we really see makes a difference is young people having an opportunity to have a real experience with real stakes," Dougherty said.
Opening doors to the next generation
Dougherty called for greater collaboration among governments, employers and organizations delivering youth employment programs to expand access to meaningful opportunities.
With emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, expected to affect entry-level jobs, she suggested governments consider wage subsidies to encourage small businesses to hire young people and early-career workers.
She also emphasized the importance of ensuring youth employment and entrepreneurship programs reach young people from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
Drawing on her upbringing in Saskatchewan and Yukon, Dougherty reflected on how traditional measures of academic achievement do not always capture a young person's potential.
"I think blowing the doors wide open is what we need to do," she said.
For employers, that means recognizing young people as capable problem-solvers and giving them opportunities to contribute to important projects from the start of their careers.
"Businesses need to start looking at young people as world problem solvers and being willing to really integrate them into meaningful mission-critical work from day one," Dougherty said.
Dougherty also highlighted Waterloo's role as an academic partner in the Alliance for Future Generations, an initiative involving 22 major global corporations working to address challenges facing younger generations.
She acknowledged that employers, particularly small businesses, face challenges in hiring and training early-career workers but emphasized the need for governments and industry to work together “to figure this out."
For Dougherty, supporting Canada's next generation of innovators means building on the value of education, entrepreneurship and experiential learning by ensuring more young people have opportunities to put their potential into practice.
The fourth staging of the Logic Summit brought together CEOs, policymakers and founders for candid discussions about the issues shaping Canada's economic future. The 2026 edition explored the challenges and opportunities facing the country's economy.
Banner image (L-R): Anita Balakrishnan, reporter at The Logic; Yasmine Ben Arous, founder of Calmos; Ilse Treurnicht, investor and advisor; Ilona Dougherty, co-creator and managing director of the Youth & Innovation Project Waterloo; and John Ruffolo, managing partner at Maverix Private Equity.
Photo credit: Ryon Jones, University of Waterloo