Confederation College Implements New Strategic Plan

Confederation College has implemented its new 2026–2031 strategic plan, Mino-wiijiiwidowinan – Good Relationships, establishing the framework that will guide the College’s priorities, decisions and measures of success over the next five years.

The new plan replaces Kaa-anokaatekin – Work That is Now Carried, the College’s 2020–2026 plan, and builds on the work completed during that period. Mino-wiijiiwidowinan was developed through engagement with employees, students, Indigenous communities and regional partners and reflects the College’s role in supporting learners, communities and workforce needs across Northwestern Ontario.

“Mino-wiijiiwidowinan is about the relationships that connect our College to our learners, employees, Indigenous communities, employers and partners across Northwestern Ontario,” said Michelle Salo, President of Confederation College. “As we move from planning to implementation, this framework gives us a clear direction for making decisions, measuring our progress and responding to the changing needs of the people and communities we serve. It builds on the work of our previous strategic plan while setting a focused path for the next five years.”

The plan is grounded in the College spirit of Confederation, bringing people together, and Negahneewin, meaning “to lead the way.” Its structure is represented as a living tree, with Indigenous Leadership and Reconciliation forming the roots that ground four strategic pillars.

The strategic framework includes:

Indigenous Leadership and Reconciliation: Advancing the Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan through Indigenous leadership in decision-making, culturally grounded learning and shared accountability for Indigenous learner success across Northwestern Ontario.

Learner Access, Success, and Wellbeing: Enabling learners to access and succeed in education through flexible pathways, regional delivery, strong supports and meaningful connections to careers.

Regional and System Partnerships: Building a responsive workforce through contract training, workforce development and partnerships among communities, employers and postsecondary institutions.

Organizational Sustainability and Agility: Supporting the College’s long-term viability through responsible financial stewardship, sustainability, clear decision-making and continuous improvement.

Future-Ready Learning and Innovation: Delivering high-quality, innovative and applied learning that equips learners with the technical, digital and human skills needed to succeed in a changing world.

Each area includes defined goals and measures of success, allowing the College to track both outcomes and the activities that contribute to achieving them. Measures include learner access, persistence and graduation; Indigenous learner success; workforce alignment and partnerships; financial and environmental sustainability; employee engagement; and the integration of digital skills, emerging technologies and innovative learning practices.

The plan also establishes a new mission, vision and set of institutional values centred on integrity, relationships, continuous improvement, stewardship and respect.

The full Mino-wiijiiwidowinan – Good Relationships 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, including its goals and measures of success, is available at strategicplan.confederationcollege.ca(opens in new window).