Program
A framework built on three pillars.
ICN’s role is to guide rather than impose. The activity concepts are designed with the selected community.
PILLAR 1
Community
Planning with — not for — community members. Designing topics, sessions, and scenarios together.
PILLAR 2
Connections
Building a network of residents, businesses, institutions, funders, and Indigenous partners.
PILLAR 3
Coaching
Providing mentorship, foresight tools, and structured guidance to turn ideas into action.
FIVE TESTS
The right experiences for community participants.
Every program activity is designed to meet five tests — so it earns the time community members give it and justifies renewal.
01 Useful
02 Easy
03 Socially engaging
04 Locally grounded
05 Measurable
Proposed program activities
Shaping Our Community Together
A monthly professionally hosted event — in-person plus live stream / on-demand. Local entrepreneur stories, real community challenges, sponsor industry insights. One practical takeaway and one social moment per session.
Community Survey
Quarterly surveys on issues that matter to community members.
Community Recognition Stories
Highlighting residents who make a positive difference where they live.
Insights
Guests invited for interviews or panel discussions — with audience Q&A.
Foresight — Shaping Canada’s Future Together
A South Eastern Ontario foresight initiative exploring economic, workforce, demographic, environmental and infrastructure futures.
Students’ Futures Labs
Innovation sessions where senior high school and college students map community challenges, learn foresight and AI tools, and co-design solutions with mentors.
Mentor Circle & Reverse Mentoring
Employers and sponsors share expertise in finance, sales, HR, operations, digital, logistics, engineering or communications. Entrepreneurs, students and residents teach back local reality and cultural context.
Shaping Canada’s Future Together — Annual Regional Summit
A flagship gathering where youth leaders, community members, entrepreneurs, municipal leaders, corporate sponsors and impact investors co-create practical futures.
Youth voice by design
Tomorrow’s leaders, shaping today’s decisions.
Students need to understand their community’s labour market, innovation development, and pathways to careers they’ll love — alongside the soft skills, values, and expectations that matter. ICN gives them opportunities to participate in panels on the future of their community.