Confederation College Signs Agreement with Royal Canadian Navy to Expand Experiential Learning Opportunities
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THUNDER BAY, ON – March 10, 2026 — Confederation College and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) have signed a five-year collaborative agreement to enhance experiential and work-integrated learning options for students, strengthening pathways between postsecondary education and military service.
The partnership formalizes cooperation between the College and the RCN, represented locally by HMCS Griffon, and provides students with opportunities to gain skills through military service, training, and practical experience. The partnership will focus on programs aligned with workforce needs, including trades, engineering, electrical and culinary fields.
Under the arrangement, the RCN will provide students with access to recruiters, collaborate on experiential learning opportunities, and support prior-learning assessments for skilled and semi-skilled applicants. The College will work with the RCN to align academic programming with military occupations, support student-reservists, and facilitate advanced standing opportunities where appropriate.
The five-year agreement will remain in effect until June 2031.
“This collaborative arrangement reflects our commitment to building strong partnerships that support student success and regional workforce development,” said Michelle Salo, President of Confederation College. “By working closely with the Royal Canadian Navy, we are expanding opportunities for students to gain meaningful, hands-on experience while exploring career pathways that align with their education and long-term goals.”
The Executive Officer of HMCS Griffon, Lieutenant(N) Joel Biesenthal, also provided a statement. “Military-connected learners enrich classrooms through their lived experiences and the unique perspectives gained in service to our country. Today, Confederation College recognizes the unique experiences of military-connected students and provides them with the resources and community needed to excel.”
From the classroom to the decks of a ship, education is our most valuable asset in developing the Royal Canadian Navy's personnel. With the arrival of new complex technologies and ships, we need innovative thinkers to operate and maintain our future-ready fleet. We rely on our partnership with Confederation College in Thunder Bay to educate our sailors. Their graduates have and will continue to shape our organization, acting as the foundation for the next generation of leadership in the Canadian Armed Forces.”
The Royal Canadian Navy is the maritime component of the Canadian Armed Forces and maintains a longstanding presence in Thunder Bay through HMCS Griffon. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening connections between postsecondary education and military service while supporting local and national workforce priorities.
The collaborative arrangement builds on Confederation College’s ongoing work with Canadian Armed Forces partners to create flexible, career-connected learning opportunities for students across Northwestern Ontario.
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Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967, providing transformative education across a vast 550,000 square kilometre region. Our main campus in Thunder Bay, together with seven regional sites in Dryden, Longlac, Kenora, Marathon, Fort Frances, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout, and an expanding Distance Education division, open pathways to personal advancement and professional achievement for over 7,000 full- and part-time students each year. With 600+ staff, we drive personal and community growth, contributing significantly to the local economy with a $707.3 million annual impact. At Confederation College, we champion the spirit of courage, advocating for actions and decisions that empower our community; we uphold the principle of equity, ensuring fair access and opportunity for all to realize their potential; and we value and cultivate relationships that foster collaboration and understanding among students, staff, and the communities we serve.
For more information, please contact:
Scott Hobbs, Communications Consultant
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 807-475-6295 | Cell: 807-621-5265