Fredericton (NB), July 18, 2019 – The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) is excited to announce the graduation of the inaugural cohort of Indigenous Cybersecurity professionals in New Brunswick.

JEDI, in partnership with the College communautaire du Nouveau Brunswick (CCNB), Bulletproof and the Department of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour (PETL), developed two Cybersecurity programs to increase Indigenous representation within this flourishing industry.

“The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) is thrilled to be partnering with CCNB and Bulletproof Solutions on two leading-edge Cybersecurity programs for Indigenous peoples in New Brunswick. The Cybersecurity industry is growing and Indigenous peoples are ready to be part of it. These two programs have been designed and delivered with industry input and will launch our students into a robust industry that is in need of employees and is waiting for them to graduate,” said Alex Dedam, President of JEDI.

The two Cybersecurity programs offered are an advanced 20-week program for Indigenous peoples with a background in Information Technology (IT) and a 68-week program for those without any formal IT training. Both program curriculums were inspired by the “National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education” (NICE) and “National Institute of Standards and Technology” (NICE).

“It was an absolute pleasure to work so closely with all the partners involved in this project. The commitment for excellence in making leading-edge training available for the Indigenous community was unwavering and successful. From initial planning to student graduation, I think it’s safe to say the program successfully brought fresh enthusiastic cybersecurity professionals to the Cybersecurity market, encouraging employers to look forward to the next wave of graduates,” said Darryl Esau, VP Bulletproof Learning Services.

On July 19, 2019, six learners will graduate from the advanced program with a Cybersecurity certification from CCNB. Furthermore, students participating in the 68-week program will graduate in December 2019 with an accredited diploma from CCNB and CySA+ certification. These innovative programs also offer a variety of training and mentorship opportunities to ensure graduates leave with the tools and skills they need to be job-ready upon program completion.

“CCNB is happy and grateful to have been once again able to secure funding through the federal government’s Post-Secondary Partnership Program (PSPP) to provide quality education to the First Nations youth. Cybersecurity is a sector in high demand and we are confident that these graduates will be successful in finding employment upon completion of the program. We greatly value our partnership with JEDI and our new ally, Bulletproof in bringing this unprecedented opportunity to this community with great potential. Most of all, we are honoured to contribute in fulfilling the dreams of these inspiring young people and we wish them good luck in following their passions,” as stated by Mr. Roger Doucet, Acting CEO of CCNB.

New Brunswick is positioned as the hub of Canada’s cybersecurity sector. A new Cybersecurity Innovation Centre is currently under construction to house the growing number of Cybersecurity companies and organizations being established in Fredericton. The demand for Cybersecurity talent is growing and these specialized programs will help to fulfill an increasing need within the province.

“New Brunswick has a strong foot-hold in the door to what is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. Partnerships like this one are an excellent example of what needs to happen to make sure we have a skilled workforce in place for our province to prosper and grow. Congratulations to JEDI and the partners for helping to launch these students on what promises to be an exciting career path,” said Mary Wilson, Minister of Economic Development and Small Business and Minister responsible for Opportunities NB.

For more information, please contact:

Gwen McIntyre
Communications Manager, Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI)
506-444-5650
gwen.mcintyre@jedinb.ca

Katherine Cyr
Communications officer
CCNB
506 377-2569
Katherine.Cyr@ccnb.ca

Athea Costello
Digital Marketer, Bulletproof
902 210-4621
athea.costello@bulletproofsi.com

Joint Economic Development Initiative

(JEDI) is an Indigenous organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous participation in New Brunswick’s economy. JEDI works closely with its partners from Indigenous communities, organizations, government and the private sector to foster Indigenous economic development in New Brunswick. JEDI supports Indigenous entrepreneurs and small businesses, community economic development, workforce development, and partnerships with the public and private sector. JEDI has helped train Indigenous peoples in a variety of sectors and fosters Indigenous businesses in New Brunswick through our Business Incubator and Accelerator programs. For more information, visit www.jedinb.ca.

Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick

Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) is recognized as an innovative post-secondary institution offering 85 programs spread across five campuses in Bathurst, Campbellton, Dieppe, Edmundston and the Acadian Peninsula. Integrity and respect are among the institution’s core values that place student success at the heart of its mission. CCNB’s Continuing Education works in partnership with some of New Brunswick’s First Nations’ communities to develop educational programs in respect to Aboriginal needs and culture. Each year, CCNB welcomes more than 275 young aboriginals into programs that provide graduates with solid skills to successfully contribute to the province’s economy and to a brighter future.

Bulletproof

Founded in Fredericton, NB in 2000, Bulletproof has more than 18 years in the security business, protecting its clients’ privacy and data. The company now has offices in Moncton, Saint John, Charlottetown, Halifax, Austin, Las Vegas, and, most recently, Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa. Today, users on six continents trust Bulletproof to secure their networks, data, and people. In addition to its security pedigree, Bulletproof is a Certified Microsoft® Gold Cloud Productivity Partner with eight additional gold competencies. For more information on Bulletproof join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.