On November 20, 2025, Generation1.ca had the privilege of participating as an exhibitor at Humber Polytechnic’s Beyond Graduation Symposium, a full-day event held at Humber’s Downtown campus. Hosted by Humber’s Research Team and the Industry & Community Connector Hub, the symposium brought together businesses, policymakers, educators, and international graduates to explore how global talent can help fill Canada’s labour-market gaps.
With a focus on one of the country’s most pressing workforce challenges—how to effectively integrate international graduates into the labour market—Generation1.ca was invited to exhibit as an industry partner.
Highlights from the Symposium
Panel: Building Canada’s Talent Pipelines
The symposium opened with an insightful discussion featuring:
- Julia Colyar, Vice-President, Research & Policy, Education Quality Council of Ontario
- Noah Morris, President & Principal, NJM Strategies Inc.
- Dr. Marshia Akbar, Director, CERC-BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Martin Basiri, Founder & CEO, Passage
Panelists explored the opportunities and challenges ahead, emphasizing structural barriers, shifting policy environments, and what is needed to ensure international graduates can contribute fully to Canada’s economic and social fabric. There were other panel discussions as well, and breakout rooms a vibrant marketplace with exhibitors.
Networking and Exhibitor Marketplace
Exhibitors—including Generation1.ca—highlighted programs and initiatives supporting immigrant and newcomer talent, while community partners and graduates recorded live podcasts sharing personal stories and calls for change.
Points of Discussion:
- Recognition of international credentials remains inconsistent. Many graduates arrive with strong academic and professional experience, yet their qualifications are not consistently understood or valued in the Canadian labour market.
- High-quality data must create bold and courageous actions. Longitudinal, wholistic and actionable data on student pathways and labour market outcomes can guide stronger supports from institutions, employers, community organizations and policymakers.
- International graduates play vital economic roles. Their economic and social contributions—whether during the pandemic or across essential industries—remain undervalued despite being central to Canada’s workforce.
- Public narratives shape newcomer experiences. Negative discourse on social media affects how welcomed, supported, and valued international students and newcomers feel.
- Policy volatility creates uncertainty. Constant shifts in immigration and post-graduation rules leave students, institutions, and employers uncertain, limiting long-term planning.
Generation1.ca’s Role:
Participating in this symposium aligned directly with Generation1.ca’s mission: championing North America’s newcomer stories and empowering immigrants through data, insights, career pathways, job fairs, and collaborative networks.
Our presence enabled us to:
- Share insights from our Global Industry Skills Study (GISS) discussing both the employer and the immigrant perspective
- Connect directly with international graduates, alumni, newcomer settlement fellow partners
- Showcase how our career fairs, case competitions, upskilling initiatives, and community engagement programs support their growth
- Grow awareness of our forthcoming 2026 Future Ready Innovators Credential
- Showcase how we strengthen newcomer pathways in a collaborative ecosystem in the IDEALAB and beyond.
Events like these help showcase current and future challenges and opportunities, alongside our work in placing newcomers at the forefront of opportunity and impact. Generation1.ca continues to build pathways that empower international graduates and newcomers to thrive and to work with institutions, employers, and community partners to ensure that global talent feels supported, valued, and equipped for success in North America.
Interested in learning more about opportunities with Generation1.ca? E-mail Arundati@generation1.ca
