September 23, 2024 marked a historic moment: Collège Nordique officially became the only accredited postsecondary institution north of the 60th parallel in the world. This recognition from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) crowned more than ten years of hard work, perseverance, and collaboration.

We waited a few weeks before celebrating this first anniversary, as two major milestones deserved to be highlighted at the same time: the launch of the new Business Administration Practices certificate program and the completion of Collège Nordique’s three-year business plan. Both achievements stem directly from the path opened by accreditation and mark a new step in consolidating our mission—despite the major budget cuts of recent weeks.

The day of September 23, 2024 carried immense symbolic weight: the realization of a long-shared dream. For Patrick Arsenault, Executive Director, this moment remains etched in the team’s memory:

“The moment that struck me the most was certainly the very beginning, when we received the accreditation. We organized a ceremony to mark this important milestone, and I felt immense pride seeing the presence of several distinguished guests who came to show their support. It was a deeply moving moment, where I truly felt the community behind us—sharing our success and believing in our vision.”

One year later, this milestone continues to inspire. Behind the official recognition lies a year of learning, building, and transformation. A year in which each department and team member contributed in their own way to laying the foundations for a strong, rigorous, and Northern-rooted college.

Laying the Foundations of a Strong Future

Accreditation has been a major driver of change for the College’s internal operations. Érika Cairo-Luce, Director of Operations, has witnessed these changes daily:

“Accreditation completely transformed the way we function internally, particularly in terms of finances and management. We implemented far more structured, transparent, and rigorous processes, especially for financial monitoring and reporting to the Board of Directors.”

This shift ushered in a new institutional culture: long-term planning and shared responsibility.

“This new reality also pushes us to ensure better planning and greater financial stability, both for programs and for learners. It led us to multiply funding efforts and strengthen our partnerships, such as those with the Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) and the Association des francophones du Nunavut (AFN). These collaborations—made possible thanks to our accredited status—opened a world of opportunities to create meaningful projects and reinforce our Northern presence.”

But every advancement came with its own set of challenges.

“One of the greatest difficulties was finding stable financial balance in a context where resources are limited and needs are growing. As a minority francophone college, every decision matters. We therefore strengthened our management practices to ensure they remain increasingly transparent, coherent, and responsible.”

This intense period also revealed the human strength of the team:

“We learned to pay attention to the small things, to support each other more, and to recognize the value of collective work. Often, it’s the simple gestures and daily kindness that allow a team to navigate periods of uncertainty.”

Once the foundations were laid, a new objective emerged: stabilize, structure, and prepare for what’s next.

“The challenge now is to stabilize everything that has been put in place. Accreditation gave us momentum, but it also requires us to rise to our ambitions: providing high-quality, durable postsecondary programs rooted in the Northern reality.”

Developing Programs Adapted to the North

This vision is reflected in the work led by Rosie Benning, Director of Training and Teaching. For her, this first year has been a time of creativity and innovation grounded in the real needs of the territory.

“Over the past year, several programs have been submitted. I am proud to announce that the Certificate in Business Administration Practices has been accredited and will open in January 2026. In addition, other programs are currently under review: a Certificate in Management and Leadership and a microcertificate in Early Childhood Services Management.”

The Certificate in Management and Leadership illustrates this pragmatic approach:

“In the North, there is a lot of mobility and turnover, which often brings people into positions without necessarily having the experience, expertise, or training needed to fully assume their responsibilities. This certificate aims to fill that gap by providing essential management and leadership skills.”

This 36-credit (504-hour) program can be completed full-time over one year or part-time, depending on learner pace, and includes three specialization streams: Early Childhood Services Management, Environmental Management, and Community Services Management—a model designed to reflect the diversity of Northern contexts.

“Thanks to the expertise of our consultants and the commitment of our pedagogical team, we were able not only to structure solid programs but also to establish standards that meet Canadian expectations while remaining adapted to Northern realities.”

Beyond numbers, it’s a matter of purpose:

“Accreditation has truly laid a foundation. It now allows us to create high-quality programs that will have concrete, lasting, and meaningful impact. For the team, it is extremely motivating to finally develop something substantial that will bring value to the professional and personal lives of our community members.”

Better Support for Students

Accreditation has also transformed the daily reality of learners.
Mounir Barry, Director of Student Experience and Quality Assurance, has observed this shift up close:

“Since accreditation, we’ve seen a real transformation in the student experience at multiple levels. First, we saw an increase in enrolment, particularly in the Early Childhood Education program offered in partnership with La Cité. We received a large number of applications, and among those eligible, four learners are currently enrolled—three of whom qualify for prior learning recognition, which is an excellent result for a first year in a minority francophone Northern context.”

This momentum extends beyond credentialed programs:

“Specialized workshops and free online early childhood courses attract an average of more than 30 registrations per event. These activities bring together people already active in the field who want to strengthen their skills. This shows a real interest in postsecondary education in French in the North.”

Accreditation also opened new doors:

“Thanks to the accreditation of our programs, learners are now eligible for GNWT grants. This allows them to pursue postsecondary studies in French without leaving their community, while completing nationally recognized programs—an essential asset in a rapidly evolving North.”

At the same time, teams modernized tools and teaching approaches:

“We completely redesigned the Moodle online learning platform to make it more inclusive, intuitive, and user-friendly. We also simplified the registration system to make it faster and more accessible. All of this helps offer a more human experience—centered on learners’ needs and aligned with the standards of postsecondary institutions across the country.”

On the institutional side, Collège Nordique has equipped itself with strong quality-assurance mechanisms:

“We have already developed a program evaluation protocol that ensures our programs align with Northern population aspirations and labour-market needs.
This protocol, which meets the GNWT’s requirement for program evaluation every five years, also allows us to ensure rigorous monitoring and continuous improvement.”

Finally, the team has focused on prevention and awareness:

“We launched a series of video capsules on racism, bullying, and microaggressions, along with an introductory course on equity, diversity, and inclusion. These initiatives reflect our commitment to providing a safe, respectful, and caring learning environment.”

A Renewed Image and Increased Visibility

While pedagogical and operational teams were building the College’s foundations, the communications and marketing team worked to amplify this transformation. For Natacha St-Vignes, accreditation was a true catalyst:

“The accreditation process was a genuine engine of transformation for our image and communications. Even before receiving official status, the journey pushed us to consolidate our identity and assert our position as a full-fledged postsecondary institution.”

This renewal resulted in a major standardization effort:

“This in-depth work led to a complete rebrand of the College: a new visual identity, a revised brand platform, and a harmonized visual and verbal tone. We wanted to reflect what we were becoming—a strong, coherent, dynamic, and inclusive College aligned with the standards of an accredited institution.”

The website was fully modernized to be accessible and compliant with Canada’s WCAG standards, and the College’s physical presence in Yellowknife was redesigned through new illuminated signs, banners, posters, and a presentation video showcasing Northern identity.

“Accreditation acts as a seal of quality. It strengthened the trust of the community and our partners while reinforcing our credibility among the country’s francophone postsecondary institutions.”

What’s Next?

“Accreditation is a key milestone, but it’s only the beginning. The next step is to expand Collège Nordique’s reach beyond the Northwest Territories—across the territories and at the national level.”

Where We Stand Today

One year after receiving accreditation, Collège Nordique has built strong foundations: clear processes, structured programs, a united team, a strengthened student experience, and a modernized image.

But the road ahead is still unfolding. As Patrick Arsenault notes:

“The coming year will be one of consolidation and visibility—where the foundations laid will translate into new offerings, new collaborations, and concrete impacts for learners and the community.”

The future of Collège Nordique will also depend on the financial and institutional support it receives, in a national context of postsecondary education cuts. The foundations are solid, but continued growth will require balancing ambition, rigor, and resilience.

Acknowledgements

Collège Nordique sincerely thanks its financial partners and institutional collaborators who make this mission possible.

Building the North, Together

In just one year, Collège Nordique has reached a historic milestone. But more importantly, it has proven that a small institution in the North can embody a powerful idea: postsecondary education that is proudly francophone, deeply Northern, and profoundly human.

“Together, we are building more than a learning space: we are building a living environment that reflects our North.”