Building the marketing mindset and environment of tomorrow; Canadian Marketing Association launches Digital Marketing Training Ecosystem

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

As a dedicated journalist and lifelong learner, my primary motivation is to contribute positively to my community.

Every story I pursue, every piece I write, and every lesson I absorb is fueled by a sincere desire to see my community thrive. My commitment extends beyond mere reporting; it is a holistic endeavor aimed at: fostering improvement, instilling a sense of well-being, and setting an inspiring example, particularly for African-Caribbean women.

I believe in the transformative power of information, the impact of representation, and the strength of a united community. Through my work, I aspire to empower, uplift, and provide a voice for those who may feel underrepresented. My journey is driven by a passion to see positive change unfold within my community, with the ultimate goal of leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of empowered, resilient young African- Caribbean women.

In saying all of this, I am excited to announce that the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Canada’s largest marketing association and leading voice for the marketing profession, is proud to bring together the DMSC consortium – a group of leading organizations in the digital marketing training ecosystem, committed to upskilling Canadians for high-demand careers in the rapidly evolving marketplace. The CMA is the voice of marketing in Canada and their purpose is to champion marketing’s powerful impact. In their own words, “We are the catalyst to help Canada’s marketers thrive today, while building the marketing mindset and environment of tomorrow.”

They provide opportunities for their members nationally to develop professionally, contribute to marketing thought leadership, build strong networks, and strengthen the regulatory climate for business success. Their Chartered Marketer (CM) designation is Canada’s only marketing certification and signifies that recipients are highly qualified and skilled in best practices, as reflected in the Canadian Marketing Code of Ethics and Standards. They represent virtually all of Canada’s major business sectors, and all marketing disciplines, channels and technologies. Their Consumer Centre helps Canadians better understand their rights and obligations.

The Canadian Marketing Association recently announced the launch of the Digital Marketing Skills Canada (DMSC) program. The DMSC initiative is powered by Upskill Canada and is part of partnership agreements that is taking an industry-oriented approach to supporting Canadian workers.

Upskill Canada is a national talent platform that helps fast-growing companies access the talent they need to compete and succeed globally, and they help create new career pathways for workers to rapidly transition into high- demand roles. Upskill Canada targets all regions of the country and supports Canadian-based employers, with a particular focus on small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They focus on strengthening key growth sectors, including digital technology, cybersecurity, agricultural technology, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and biomanufacturing.

I appreciate the fact that this collaboration will help thousands of workers find new careers through skills training and job placement in some of the fastest-growing industries in Canada. All of their programs are available nationally and will run for seven weeks.

This initiative is supported by funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Upskilling for Industry Initiative; more than 15,000 Canadian workers will benefit from an innovative approach to skills training. Central to the Upskill Canada initiative is the role of community training providers, who work closely with local and national employers to identify precise suites of skills being sought by industry. The hope is that equipping workers with these skills will create new career pathways for Canadians, and better position Canadian companies to compete both domestically and internationally.

“We’re so proud to expand Upskill Canada with our second group of workers and training service providers. This is another big step – but it’s only the beginning. We’re looking forward to working with our supporters in government and industry to upskill many more Canadians, so they can transition into high-demand roles in the modern workforce – and help fast-growing companies achieve their full potential,” shares Rhonda Barnet, CEO of Palette Skills.

“The marketing profession plays a key role in building businesses and contributing to Canada’s GDP,” explains Alison Simpson, President & CEO, Canadian Marketing Association. “Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s innovative program accelerates this by enabling the Digital Marketing Skills Canada consortium to ensure marketers have the skills they need to thrive in the months and years ahead.

The Canadian Marketing Association and our partners Jelly Academy and Growclass are primarily focused on supporting marketers in transition and people from under-represented groups with leading training programs that will help future proof marketers as well as Canada’s economy and competitiveness.”

DMSC is a skills network of the following three best-in-class Canadian training organizations:

• The CMA, a leader in designing and delivering accelerated upskilling programs, will deliver its Chartered Marketer program, Canada’s only professional marketing designation. The training is available for marketers with five or more years of progressive experience.
• Jelly Academy, a Canadian and Indigenous led organization in training digital marketing talent, will upskill junior marketers and people new to the profession. Their renowned Digital Marketing Bootcamp will result in learners obtaining certificates from Google, Meta, Hootsuite and more.
• Growclass is an award-winning course and community specializing in the fastest growing job title in Canada, Growth Marketing. They will upskill mid-level marketers to expand their technical marketing skills to find high- growth career opportunities.

It is time that we as a community begin to shift towards this digital world. It can’t be avoided; instead, it must be overstood. To learn more, visit https://paletteskills.org/upskillcanadaprograms.