Celebrating the Graduates of Foundations YVR

On Thursday, July 16, we gathered at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to celebrate nine Indigenous students from communities across British Columbia as they graduated from our Foundations YVR program.

Over six weeks, the students worked closely with First Nations Technology Council instructors and YVR staff to build foundational skills in web development, coding, artificial intelligence, and GIS/GPS mapping. In the final days of the program, students joined the YVR Innovation Team at the airport for a multi-day, in-person experience that included collaborative projects and behind-the-scenes site tours.

YVR employees shared insights into airport operations and the many tech roles required to keep the airport running smoothly every day. Students explored potential career paths while bringing their own knowledge, experiences, and perspectives into the conversation. The experience offered an inspiring look at the many ways technology supports airport operations.

Digital skills are increasingly valued across nearly every industry, creating career opportunities far beyond the technology sector. Courses like our Foundations in Technology program help learners build practical skills while exploring pathways from education to employment. Indigenous perspectives are essential in these spaces as new technologies continue to shape our workplaces and communities.

We are proud to partner with YVR and Teck Resources to deliver this program. Thank you to the YVR Innovation Team for allowing our learners to explore the skills required to operate an international airport, and to Teck Resources for providing the funding that made the program possible.

But most importantly, congratulations to each of our Foundations YVR graduates! We celebrate your success and look forward to seeing where these new skills take you next.