Having more STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduates is crucial to Canada’s future success, and two organizations are partnering to boost the numbers.

Consulting engineering firm, Laval, Que.-based CIMA+, will be working with Actua of Ottawa, an outreach organization for STEM students, to develop a series of programs aimed at youth.

“The idea really started a few years ago with our president and chief executive officer, Denis Thivierge. He became increasingly aware of the importance of giving young people opportunities to discover STEM and began thinking about how CIMA+ could make a meaningful contribution in this area,” Andréanne St-Pierre, associate partner, senior director, marketing and communications with CIMA+, said in an email exchange with PeopleNX.

“For an engineering firm like ours, it felt like a very natural fit.”

CIMA+ is the first Canadian engineering company to become a national partner with Actua, she said.

It has more than 3,700 employees across Canada in 45 offices, and was founded in 1990. It provides consulting and engineering services in a variety of areas including energy and resources, infrastructure, transportation, among other specialties.

Three-year cooperative effort

The partnership will be for three years, and both organizations will work together to develop initiatives that aim to encourage more young Canadians to consider a career in STEM.

“At its core, we want to help more young people see that there is a place for them in STEM and that these opportunities are open to them, regardless of their background or where they live,” St-Pierre said.

The firm will offer “mentorship, career awareness and knowledge-sharing,” she added.

“We see that human connection as one of the most exciting aspects of the partnership. Sometimes meeting someone working in a field, hearing their story and being able to ask them questions can make a career suddenly feel much more tangible and attainable.”

It will place a special emphasis on those young people who traditionally haven’t had access to such training.

“Many young people — particularly those from communities that have historically been underrepresented in these fields — may not have the same exposure to STEM education, role models or career opportunities,” she said.

“We want to help change that.”

Actua was formed in 1993, and today it has programs in 43 universities and colleges, for students who range from six to 26 years old, in various STEM learning experiences, according to the organization.

It is supported by a number of large firms, and the Canadian government, who in 2024 provided $38.4 million from its Strategic Science Fund for five years.

Reaching underrepresented groups

As a national organization, Actua will target certain communities through this program.

“We are particularly pleased to support Actua’s work with Indigenous youth through its (National Indigenous Youth in STEM) InSTEM program, which works with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities,” St-Pierre said.

The inSTEM program reaches 40,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth each year in more than 200 Indigenous communities, according to Actua’s website. It involves in-school workshops for kindergarten to 12-year-old youth, and also week-long summer camp programs for grades one to six.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the program will be adapted to follow local Indigenous practices, according to St-Pierre.

“For Indigenous youth, there is also an important need for educational experiences that respect and incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.”

“The program isn’t simply about bringing STEM programming into a community; it’s about creating culturally relevant experiences in partnership with communities,” she said.

It will focus on the traditional four pillars of STEM but will include “a strong emphasis on experiential, hands-on learning,” St-Pierre said.

“Rather than simply talking about science or engineering, young people have opportunities to experiment, design, build; solve problems and see how these concepts apply to the world around them.”

Training aimed at ‘everyone’

By implementing this new program, CIMA+ hopes to let Canadian youth know that “STEM is for everyone,” St-Pierre said.

“We want young people to be curious, ask questions and see the possibilities available to them. For some, that may mean eventually pursuing a career in engineering, science or technology. But that’s not the only measure of success. We also need communities that understand the role STEM plays in the world around us.”

The engineering firm will adapt its approach as time goes on, according to St-Pierre.

“We’ll also look for opportunities where CIMA+ can add value, whether by sharing our expertise, helping raise awareness of STEM careers or supporting Actua’s efforts in communities where there is a natural fit.”

And the time is right to unveil this new program, especially considering all of the trials Canada (and other countries) are facing today.

“Canada is facing increasingly complex challenges, from climate change and resilient infrastructure to the energy transition, transportation and new technologies. Addressing those challenges will require the next generation of engineers and STEM professionals, particularly at a time when Canada is already facing growing pressure on its engineering workforce,” St-Pierre said.