Tourism HR Canada met with its network of provincial and territorial human resource organizations (HROs) in Ottawa last week to discuss work plans associated with training and assessment resources that constitute the Emerit Tourism Training brand.
The first in-person meeting with this network in over two years, the group dove in to the opportunity to connect and discuss not only the key projects Tourism HR Canada will be launching over the next three years, but also the plans of all participating organizations to identify opportunities for collaboration and avoid duplication of effort where possible.
Attendees included:
- Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association
- Conseil québécois des ressources humaines en tourisme
- go2HR
- Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
- Ontario Tourism Education Corporation
- Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité
- Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Council
- Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick
- Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island
- Tourism Saskatchewan
- Travel Nunavut
- Yukon Tourism Education Council
(Manitoba Tourism Education Council, Hospitality Saskatchewan, and the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta are also members of this network, but were unable to attend the meeting.)
Each participating HRO presented their priorities over the next 18 months, including details on initiatives with some overlap with the national work plan, opening up a dialogue on how best to collaborate and leverage the various initiatives to serve the needs of the tourism sector writ large.
Tourism HR Canada staff presented on specific national-level projects, then hosted breakout sessions to gather additional intelligence and discuss next steps with respect to how best to document all initiatives, align efforts, and identify specific initiatives where collaboration or joint work plans can begin.
While discussions covered many HR-related priorities, the focus was on the development of new Emerit resources that included:
- Developing and testing a new micro-credentialling model
- Updating eLearning and micro-learning tools
- Leveraging the new national competency library (Workforce Management Engine)
- Updating Professional Certification credentials
- Discussing a new technology platform to host new and existing tools
“The meeting was not only of strategic importance, it was an energizing experience to be amongst colleagues all focused on how best to provide support (programming and resources) for the industry that we are all passionate about. We believe tourism to be a place for people to find job and career satisfaction and are committed to building back such an important component of Canada’s economy,” stated Tourism HR Canada V.P. of Workforce Development Jon Kiely.
The HRO partners are an integral part of the broader Working Groups network established to assist Tourism HR Canada with this new work, provide input into what is developed, and assist with the piloting and testing of the resources created. As work progresses, there will be numerous touchpoints to engage these key stakeholders to ensure Tourism HR Canada is developing what is of most critical importance to employers, employees, job seekers, and the education community. This feedback will also inform the work of the Tourism Workforce Recovery & Growth Task Force as it develops a framework for recovery that addresses short-term and long-term systemic and structural issues.
“I appreciate the opportunity to meet colleagues from across Canada and learn about their work,” said Tracy Breher, Tourism Saskatchewan’s Executive Director of Destination and Workforce Development. “Some excellent collaborative opportunities emerged, both with Tourism HR Canada programs and other HROs. These partnerships will benefit Saskatchewan’s tourism sector on many levels. Participation in national campaigns increases the effectiveness of messages and the value of our investment. I am excited about the work to come and the strategic collaboration that will advance our collective goals of a stronger, skilled workforce.”
We invite you to look for project updates and other exciting news from our collective work plans in future editions of Tourism HR Insider.