Bell has announced a $1 million investment in the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick to address the growing shortage of cybersecurity professionals in Canada.
The funding will launch the McKenna Institute Cyber Talent Program powered by Bell Canada, a 12 to 16 week intensive training course. The program is designed to move students into the workforce quickly by aligning lessons with the specific technical needs of the industry. This initiative arrives as both private companies and public institutions face more frequent and complex digital threats.
The partnership will also focus on using artificial intelligence to improve how cyber threats are detected and handled. By combining Bell’s national security platform with the institute’s digital training resources, the program aims to turn New Brunswick into a primary hub for national cyber-readiness.
“Canada’s connected economy and the infrastructure that supports it depend on strong cybersecurity — and that starts with talent,” said John Watson, Group President, Bell Business Markets, in an issued statement to iPhone in Canada on Friday. “By building on the momentum of Bell Cyber and investing in education, job‐ready skills, and the purposeful application of AI to enhance defence, detection and response, our new partnership with the McKenna Institute will help strengthen Canada’s cyber‐resilience and further support enterprises and public institutions facing an increasingly complex digital threat landscape.”
The program will provide students with applied learning opportunities, ensuring they have the practical skills needed to defend Canadian infrastructure immediately upon graduation.
“Cybersecurity is central to Canada’s economic and national security, and we need the right talent in the right roles at the right time,” said Frank McKenna, Founder of The McKenna Institute. “Bell’s investment accelerates our ability to train job-ready talent for the challenges Canada is facing today, and prepares us for those coming next.”
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