Across Ontario, a quiet transformation is underway. From small towns and remote rural communities to larger suburban commuter-centres, local governments are racing to strengthen their digital defence – and they need skilled people to do it.
Cyber Catalyst’s newest initiative is built to help meet that challenge head-on. It connects Canadian military veterans, reservists, spouses and partners—people who already understand duty, discipline, and mission focus—with municipalities and employers who need those same qualities in safeguarding the digital systems controlling residents’ private information, and critical community infrastructure like power and water supply.
Learning to Earning—Anywhere
This initiative introduces a practical “Learning-to-Earning-Anywhere” pathway. Participants train through online micro-credentials in IT foundations, networking and cybersecurity, using real equipment through CyberNet HomeLab Pods—portable kits containing routers, switches, and servers that reflect the same environments found in municipal or enterprise systems.
It’s not abstract theory. Learners build, configure, and defend systems at home in “safe” labs that simulate real-world cyber threats. Then, through work-integrated learning placements with municipal and industry partners, they apply those same skills on the job—helping communities strengthen local resilience while launching new civilian careers.
Why Veterans?
Veterans and military spouses already know what it means to protect and serve. They’ve operated in complex systems, worked under pressure, and thrived in environments that demand precision and teamwork. Cybersecurity, at its core, requires those same instincts.
That’s why this program sees veterans not as students starting from scratch, but as professionals translating experience into opportunity. With structured mentorship, industry-recognized certifications, and strong employer connections, each participant builds the confidence and credibility to succeed in Canada’s growing cyber workforce.
Why Municipalities?
For municipalities—especially those in rural and remote regions—cyber talent is hard to find and even harder to keep. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Municipal Information Systems Association (MISA Canada) and the Rural Ontario Institute, this project brings new capacity to the local level.
Trainees can complete placements close to home, supporting small IT departments, helping modernize systems, or assisting with incident response and digital service protection. Every learner placed represents not just a training success, but a community made stronger.
A Shared Mission
Cyber Catalyst was founded on a simple idea: when people are given the right tools and trusted to learn by doing, they thrive. We’ve seen that with veterans rebuilding careers, spouses discovering new confidence, and municipalities finding much-needed support.
As this next chapter begins, we invite communities, employers, and potential learners to join us in shaping a safer digital future for Ontario—one veteran, one learner, one municipality at a time.