🏆 Recipient of a 2026 BCEDA Award for Innovation in Workforce & Economic Development
PROGRAM COMPLETE – Delivered in partnership with Excel Career College
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and the BC Salmon Farmers Association were proud partners in the AI in Aquaculture program delivered by Excel Career College — an innovative workforce development initiative combining artificial intelligence, traditional knowledge, aquaculture industry knowledge, sustainability, and community-based learning.
This 17-week fully funded program equipped participants with practical, future-focused skills through a blend of online and in-person training in Courtenay, BC. Participants explored how AI technologies can support fish health monitoring, environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, and responsible resource management within the aquaculture sector.
The project has since received provincial recognition through an award from the BC Economic Development Association for innovation in economic and workforce development.
Program Highlights
- AI and Digital Technologies in Aquaculture
- Ethical and Responsible AI Practices
- Integration of Traditional and Digital Knowledge
- Commercialization and Entrepreneurship
- Work-Integrated Learning
- Real-world practicum and applied capstone projects with industry partners
- Industry-recognized certifications including WHMIS, SVOP, CPR, Forklift, TDG, and more
Across three cohorts, the program supported learners from diverse backgrounds and helped build a future-ready workforce for BC’s evolving coastal economy.
The project also contributed to broader academic and industry dialogue around responsible innovation, sustainability, and workforce transformation. Outcomes from the initiative were featured in the Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology as part of ongoing research into education innovation and AI-integrated workforce development.
This project demonstrated how Canada’s West Coast can serve as a global example of combining emerging technologies with environmental stewardship, Indigenous Knowledge, and community-driven economic development.
Read the scientific journal article from Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology.