SCS Dean, Dr. Chandler-Crichlow, explores how Toronto can rebuild and improve economic resiliency.
Last week, CivicLabTO presented their Academic Summit: Collaborating on Renewal and Resilience. The two-day virtual summit was designed to bring together thought leaders from local academic institutions, City staff, and government representatives to address the challenges Toronto faces in the wake of COVID-19.
SCS Dean Dr. Chandler-Crichlow joined moderator Lisa Fink, Manager of Sector Development, Economic Development and Culture Division at the City of Toronto; Dr. Vik Singh, Assistant Professor, Global Management Studies at Ryerson University; and Jeff D’Hondt, Indigenous Affairs Consultant for the City of Toronto to discuss how our city can rebuild and improve economic resiliency.
Dr. Singh kicked things off with a presentation of his research into how different industries and sectors of the community have been impacted, noting that women and newcomers to Canada have borne the brunt of the job losses and financial challenges brought about by COVID-19.
This is why, as Dr. Chandler-Crichlow pointed out, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to building economic resiliency, and the city will need a menu of options to tackle the impacts on individuals, the workforce ecosystem, and society at large. “To re-build on these three fronts, I propose that we consider the use of reflection, re-skilling, and resilience respectively to address the needs of the groups that have been impacted by the pandemic,” she said.
Reflection will be key in helping individuals looking to re-build their careers post-pandemic. “This is a time for individuals to take pause and look inwards to re-affirm their core strengths, skills, and capabilities, and begin to identify how they can leverage these in the emerging labour markets,” Dr. Chandler-Crichlow explained. “For example: are you a problem solver? Do you easily learn new technologies and can train others? How flexible are you in considering new roles in a different sector? Armed with responses to questions such as these, an individual could consider jobs that are emerging.”
A focus on re-skilling will be beneficial to both employers and workers, said Dr. Chandler-Crichlow. “This is also a time to look outwards at emerging trends in the labour market. Those interested in pivoting to different jobs, careers, or sectors could do so by broadening their repertoire of skills in a short time,” she explained. “This is where access to micro-credentials and micro-courses can fast-track access to new opportunities that arise. At SCS we have built a range of micro-courses and micro-credentials that are designed to be applicable to work across a wide range of sectors.”
Finally, Dr. Chandler-Crichlow stressed the importance of helping build resilience in individuals in our communities, particularly those who have been faced with the challenges of social isolation. She suggested that the city could lean into its arts and culture scene to help people get reconnected, and re-committed to pursuits that give them purpose and direction. “Think of it: the vibrancy and joy that comes from musicals, the sheer creativity from our art galleries, the convening power of our cultural centers. It is these artistic and creative channels that provide the glue that holds together the social fabric of our communities. And these are desperately needed as we re-build,” she said. “Individual excellence, economic revitalization, and social re-integration are inextricably linked as we take an inclusive approach to building that new normal.”