Gateways to Pathways: Talent and Industry Forum

Employers and job seekers are navigating a rapidly changing labour market. This forum was designed to move beyond a traditional job fair model and foster informed, transparent conversations about hiring practices, workforce needs and opportunities for inclusive growth.

The forum provides an opportunity to:

• Share insights on current and emerging labour market trends
• Explore inclusive recruitment and retention strategies
• Increase awareness of equitable hiring practices and labour trafficking
• Strengthen pathways between education, training and employment
• Build partnerships across employers, community agencies and institutions

The Gateways to Pathways: Talent and Industry Forum is intended for:

• Employers and hiring leaders in actively hiring sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, agri‑food, STEM, public services, healthcare and life sciences
• Job seekers, including newcomers, youth, women, racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ and individuals who are unemployed or underemployed
• Community agencies and service providers supporting workforce development
• Educators, policymakers and institutional partners

We welcome attendees to visit exhibitor tables at the event to gather more information, network with organizational representatives and ask questions. 

Welcome to all our exhibitors: 

• Apotex
• Centre for Immigrant and Community Services (CICS)
• Haven Greens
• JVS Toronto
• Loblaws East Gwillimbury Distribution Centre
• Seneca Polytechnic
• STEM Minds Corporation
• Workforce Planning Board of York Region
• YMCA GTA
• York Region
• York Regional Police
• York University - Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP) Bridging Program 

This panel brings together employers, workforce leaders and community partners to examine today’s employment landscape from multiple perspectives.

Discussion topics will include:

• Recruitment and retention challenges across key sectors
• Inclusive hiring practices and best practices
• Skills and capabilities employers are seeking
• Job seeker perspectives on barriers to employment
• Opportunities to strengthen employment pathways and partnerships

A key feature of the forum is a structured, interactive employer to job seeker networking session designed to support meaningful two‑way engagement.

During this session, employers and community organizations will share insights about their sector, their programs, hiring practices and employment trends and take questions from the audience. 

Presenters will include:

• Apotex
• Loblaws - East Gwillimbury Distribution Centre
• Haven Greens
• York Regional Police
• York Region
• YMCA GTA Employment Services
• York University - Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP) Bridging Program

This interactive workshop will provide an overview of employment law basics, jobseeker strategies and employer best practices. Participants will learn about foundations for workplace rights and responsibilities and review practical tools for jobseekers, such as networking strategies, developing, transferable skills and labour-market awareness.

It also addresses challenges faced by newcomers, youth and internationally trained professionals, emphasizing how community agencies and workforce programs can support career advancement. 

The workshop will touch on inclusive hiring practices, diversity-focused recruitment and onboarding, potential funding supports, and how community partnerships can help organizations attract and retain talent. 

Following the presentation, attendees will participate in a hands-on activity to practice the application of inclusive recruitment strategies. York Regional Police will also feature a critical discussion on the identification and prevention of labour trafficking to encourage safe, ethical and equitable workplaces for all York Region residents.