“Distance education and online learning not only open up new opportunities for students of all ages, in all walks of life, and in all areas of the province to access post-secondary education and training, they are also invaluable tools for helping small, rural, remote, Aboriginal and Francophone communities build capacity for local economic growth.”

Honourable Brad Duguid
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

“At Contact North | Contact Nord we serve more than 600 small, rural, remote, Aboriginal and Francophone communities through 112 online learning centres across the province where students can go to get the support and technology they need to reach their education and training goals – no matter where they live. The year over year growth that we’re seeing shows that we are meeting an important need in these communities.”

Paul Taillefer, Chair of the Board of Directors
Contact North | Contact Nord

(THUNDER BAY)– Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s distance education and training network, is generating and supporting 14.3% more registrations from Ontarians in over 600 small, rural, remote, Aboriginal and Francophone communities in online and distance programs and courses from Ontario’s public colleges, universities, literacy and basic skills and training providers.

The 16,401 registrations in Fall 2012, for online and distance programs and courses through Contact North I Contact Nord’s 112 online learning centres, eclipses the 14,355 registrations of the previous Fall.

This is part of a 150% growth curve over the past five years with funding from the government of Ontario.

Ontarians use Contact North | Contact Nord’s services and its online learning centres to pursue their first degree or diploma, re-train through online and distance learning for a second career, upgrade their literacy and basic skills, or engage in professional development activities without having to leave their community. These resources assist these communities in meeting the challenges of the new economy and help build their capacity for economic growth.

This growth in registrations generated and supported by Contact North I Contact Nord is helping the Ontario government reach its target of 70% of adults in the province with obtaining a post-secondary education credential.

Distance education and online learning are viable solutions for Ontarians who live in communities where a college or university campus is far away and where high-speed connections are not always available.  As well, the flexibility of these styles of learning attracts students looking for a way to balance work, family and professional development responsibilities.