A City Defined by Learning

Calgary, like many other cities, is facing revolutionary changes to how its people live, work, and learn. Calgary in the New Economy set out an ambitious vision and a strategic framework to develop a future-proof, sustainable economy for our city. To achieve this vision, Calgarians’ must possess the capacity to learn, unlearn, and relearn new skills. This demands that we radically redefine what, when and how we learn.

Confronting this talent challenge extends beyond the capacity of any single level of government, educational institution, or employer. Rather, it demands the full learning system collaborate and align to meet the dynamic skill demands facing Calgary. To activate the learning system, the LearningCITY Collective was established as an independent collaboration of organizations and individuals engaged in Calgary’s learning system, including learners, educators, employers, funders, and policymakers. LearningCITY’s roots go back to 2019. In 2023, LearningCITY Collective incorporated itself as an independent non-profit and continue its transition as Calgary’s learning, talent, and skill development backbone. LearningCITY is volunteer-driven, with initiatives being funded through project-based donations.

To meet this challenge, the LearningCITY Collective facilitated the development of Calgary’s Skills Development Framework. This framework is anchored to the following vision:

Calgary’s learning system is inclusive, and develops exceptional, creative, and adaptable talent, ready to thrive in a fast-changing world.

In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. We acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, learn, work and play on this land and who honour and celebrate this territory.

Video banner credit: Calgary Economic Development