Rethinking Youth Service: Ilona Dougherty on CBC’s The Current
Ilona Dougherty, our Managing Director, recently joined Matt Galloway on CBC/Radio-Canada’s The Current to discuss whether a year of national service could help address rising youth unemployment.
Ilona shared that while youth service is not a new concept in Canada, the details matter. She highlighted the importance of thoughtful design and the right infrastructure to create a national service program that provides meaningful opportunities for young people while benefiting the communities they serve.
Listen to the full interview here: CBC The Current with Matt Galloway.
New Op-Ed: Ottawa spends $6-billion subsidizing trades – for young men. What about young women?
A new op-ed by our Managing Director, Ilona Dougherty and Brett House examines Canada’s $6-billion investment in skilled trades and raises questions about who benefits from major workforce initiatives. While the investment aims to address labour shortages and create new opportunities, the op-ed highlights that young women continue to face barriers to entering and participating in skilled trades pathways. It also explores how addressing these structural barriers and considering the needs of different groups of young people can help shape a more inclusive approach to workforce development.
🔗 Read the full op-ed