June 1, 2026
Across Nova Scotia, co-op students and recent graduates are entering the workforce, eager to build careers in technology. While training early-career talent requires investment, companies like CGI Halifax are finding that developing future leaders can be just as valuable as hiring experienced ones.
“[At CGI] We’ve really found a way to accelerate early talent development,” says Jonathan Feindel, Partner and Director of Consulting and Business Engineering, on Episode 83 of All Hands on Tech. “A lot of that comes from confidence. What stands in your way of being at a certain level, at a certain young age, is just your belief that you can do it.”
Through an accelerated learning model, CGI pairs new graduates with co-op students and intentionally includes them in conversations traditionally reserved for more senior staff. Feindel says that this allows co-op students to fast-track their careers and begin to develop the hard skills needed in the workplace.
“We’ve really changed the dynamics of age and gender in the workforce… close to 40 to 50 per cent of our office is female. We also have a much younger demographic than we did probably five to 10 years ago because of our early talent programs… it’s kind of got a startup vibe to it inside a large, global company,” Feindel says.
The shift is rooted in one of Nova Scotia’s greatest advantages: its post-secondary ecosystem. With multiple established schools, including universities and community colleges, the province is producing a steady pipeline of early-career talent. More than 1,300 tech graduates enter the workforce each year, giving companies like CGI a unique opportunity to identify potential early and invest in the next generation of tech leaders. Recognizing that opportunity, Feindel set out to strengthen the connection between education and industry.
“We have the highest penetration of post-secondary institutions in North America, here in Atlantic Canada,” says Feindel. “I think it’s incumbent upon organizations like CGI to make sure that these individuals have a place to work when they graduate and they can stay here.”
The opportunity is significant. Nova Scotia’s Information, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Science occupations are projected to generate more than 6,000 job opportunities through 2026, highlighting the growing demand for skilled talent across the sector.
As younger professionals continue to join the organization, Feindel says they noticed a shift in culture. Alongside new skills and perspectives came renewed energy. Feindel adds the enthusiasm and curiosity of younger employees helped create an environment that’s productive, professional and fun.
For Feindel, one of the biggest benefits of investing in early talent is the diversity it creates, not just in age, but in experience, perspective and approach.
“All of those things really create a team; it’s cohesive, but it also has diverse perspectives,” says Feindel. “What used to be a fairly experienced and mature workforce at CGI has this balancing impact of all these young people, and it makes for better solutions, and it increases innovation.”
As Nova Scotia’s ICT sector grows to more than 38,000 workers, organizations across the province are increasingly focused on how they will attract, develop and retain the next generation of talent.
CGI Halifax has shown that you don’t always need to hold out for the person who checks all the boxes. Sometimes it’s about recognizing potential, creating opportunities and giving the next generation the confidence to grow into the roles the industry needs most.
To hear the full conversation, listen to All Hands on Tech Episode 82: From talent to transformation: Inside CGI’s work in Nova Scotia, available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.