A post-secondary logistics education program has just been launched and with academic level standing becomes the first of its kind in N.W.T. According to GNWT’s website of accredited post-secondary programs, it is the first program to receive approval and accreditation from the territorial department of education since Sept. 2024.
The program just received full accreditation from GNWT’s Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
Dr. Chehrazade Aboukinane, president of the College of Northern Canada, where the programs will be offered, said the move has important implications for the future of the North.
The program will help to secure and advance post-secondary education that reflects the needs of the North.
“This accreditation is more than institutional recognition, it’s a bold affirmation of the North’s ability to lead its own future,” said Dr. Aboukinane.
“These programs were developed in partnership with Indigenous leaders, northern employers, and logistics professionals to meet the realities of life and work in our communities,” continued Dr. Aboukinane.
Because these post secondary training and education programs have received accreditation, students enrolled in these programs are now eligible for financial support through the GNWT’s Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program.
The Logistics Management program is designed to prepare students to take on roles in critical areas such as housing, food security, and infrastructure in the North.
The college says the programs encompass technical training with cultural fluency, land-based learning and Indigenous knowledge systems.
Louis Blais, vice president of the college explained that through Indigenous leadership and guidance from other experts, the program organizers have brought together knowledge from the north.
“We’ve been engaging Indigenous leaders but also business leaders. So the College of Northern Canada has a lot of relationships with employers and businesses all around Yellowknife the rest of the Northwest Territories. We really listened to what they need, that brings in the piece about resilience around disaster, preparedness forest fire preparedness, food security,” said Blais.
Blais pointed out that some of the elements that logistics knowledge and training addresses are critical such as food security, disaster, preparedness and forest fire response.
“Rebuilding in increasing the amount of lodging and accommodation that’s available across the North (is important) because as with the rest of Canada, housing availability is really at a crisis level. So, educating young people in logistics, really is important and crucial in addressing those kinds of challenges,” said Blais.
Agata Gutkouska, manager of Public Affairs and Communications of the Department of Education told True North FM that the college received accreditation earlier this month.
“The College of Northern Canada Logistics Management now offers two accredited programs. On July 18 2025, they received a certificate of registration to offer a Logistics Management diploma program as well as a certificate program for a period of 3 years each,” said Gutkouska.
The College of Northern Canada had previously applied to deliver a diploma in Global Logistics in N.W.T. and submitted an application to GNWT, hoping to begin offering the program in January 2024, but the application was denied.
In December 2022, the GNWT first introduced the Post-Secondary Education Act which requires post secondary institutions who would like to host a program to complete an application. The application is reviewed by the Quality Assurance Review Advisory Committee. The application is made publicly accessible by the GNWT for 15 business days. In this time, the public and post-secondary education institutions can provide feedback that the GNWT said is considered in the review process.
