The McKenna Institute, 3 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, NB (2026)

06/12/2026

The McKenna Institute, in partnership with the Wallace McCain Institute - WMI, has launched a new people-first AI adoption pilot for New Brunswick SMEs.

The first cohort brings together 16 New Brunswick companies for a six-month program designed to help business leaders identify real operational challenges, build confidence, strengthen executive AI literacy and implement practical AI pilots inside their organizations.

With support from MESH Insights and KJ Advisory, this pilot creates a trusted environment where leaders can learn alongside one another, ask hard questions and turn intention into real change. This pilot is about helping New Brunswick companies make AI work on their own terms.

We were thrilled to make this announcement at the fifth Annual McKenna Institute Digital Innovation Summit in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/ti5r50Zb452

05/22/2026

✨ "No matter where you are in this province, reach out and find your people - you’ll discover innovators, creative thinkers, and those who say “why not?” ✨

This sentiment came to life at the second annual Discover Conference in Miramichi, hosted by Anglophone School District North in partnership with the McKenna Institute. Over two inspiring days at the Rodd Miramichi and James M. Hill High School, district leaders, student presenters, early career teachers and 33 pre-service teachers from UNB’s Faculty of Education came together for hands-on, meaningful learning.

Day one pushed participants to trade “yeah, but” thinking for a “why not” approach, using innovation and technology as tools to spark student engagement and support success. Conversations around AI in education sparked reflection on both challenges and opportunities, while teacher and student presentations showcased powerful examples of makerspaces, outdoor learning, and real-world problem solving. Participants also connected with district leaders and saw firsthand the opportunities available in the north, even being offered conditional contracts in the region.

Day two brought learning to life with hands-on sessions and presentations led by students and teachers, highlighting the impact of challenge-based learning and the importance of trusting the process, even when it gets messy. Teachers and pre-service teachers were able to ask questions and explore the process of bringing innovative thinking into their classrooms. Students were so excited to showcase their learning and answer questions alongside their teachers.

This conference was a reminder that when we connect, stay curious, and lean into possibility, incredible things happen in education. 💡 Anglophone North School District Faculty of Education - UNB

05/19/2026

Last month, UNB had the pleasure of welcoming students and faculty from the University of South Wales as part of an international exchange focused on cybersecurity, innovation, and collaboration. 🌍💻

Throughout their visit, USW delegates connected with students, faculty, industry leaders, and community partners across New Brunswick’s growing Cyber and Defence ecosystem. Of course, the students' trip to Canada wasn't complete without a spring snowfall and a visit to the local sugarbush! 🍁

The exchange showcased the value of collaboration between education, industry, government, and community with immersive experiences at UNB and visits to organizations throughout Fredericton.

Thank you to all of the partners, organizations, and individuals who helped make the visit such a meaningful experience, including the Thales National Digital Excellence Centre (NDEC), Faculty of Computer Science at UNB, Knowledge Park, , WiCyS UNB, WNBiDS, Joint Economic Development Initiative and many others who contributed their time, expertise, and hospitality throughout the delegation’s stay. 🤝

This visit reflects the continued growth of the relationship between UNB and USW and the exciting opportunities ahead for collaboration, research, and talent development in cybersecurity and digital innovation.

05/14/2026

Fuel curiosity. Build skills. Explore more. 🚀

TeXplore is bringing hands-on learning to Anglophone North School District with experiences designed to inspire the next generation of creators, thinkers, and problem-solvers.

On May 29, students can explore creative storytelling through photography with Kim Harris Photography in Miramichi or interactive STEAM challenges at the Bathurst Makerspace. These sessions put students at the center of learning by encouraging exploration, confidence, and innovation every step of the way!

Be part of the experience and see what’s possible when curiosity leads. ✨

Register below! ⬇️

Through their Lens (Miramichi): https://ow.ly/jg6L50YZNj8

STEAM Camp (Bathurst): https://ow.ly/3x8x50YZNj9

05/05/2026

We had such a great time being part of NBTA’s Combined Subject Council Day: Bridging Worlds Through Education last Friday in Fredericton ✨

It was amazing to see educators from across the province come together to share ideas, learn from each other, and just having really meaningful conversations about where education is heading 🚀

We got to showcase what the McKenna Institute and our partners have been working on, from the Educator Up-Skilling Program with New Brunswick's school districts, to the Digital Learning Network and Tech for Teaching in partnership with EECD and COE-DI, and the CyberEd program developed for middle school and high school in partnership with Thales and EECD.

Also loved reconnecting with familiar faces from past sessions and meeting new educators who were curious to learn more about what we do 🤝

While we connected with educators at Fredericton High School, another group participated in hands-on CyberEd training with EECD and Thales at the NDEC Cyber Centre. A truly inspiring day of forward-thinking conversations and meaningful collaboration; bridging education and innovation for the future!

04/30/2026

We were thrilled to be part of two inspiring days of learning and collaboration in Fredericton last week.

The Advancing AI in Leadership Conference and the Digital Learning Summit brought together education leaders, industry partners, educators, and students to explore the future of learning in an AI‑enabled world. 🤝

From leadership discussions, keynote speakers, and panels led by MindShare Learning, C21 Canada, New Brunswick Centres Of Excellence, and EECD, to a public panel on digital literacy, AI adoption, and the new economy hosted by the Promise of Public Education, day one sparked meaningful dialogue and reflection.

Day two continued the momentum with the Digital Learning Summit, led by the Centre of Excellence for Digital Innovation and EECD, focused on the future of learning and workforce alignment using the province's Digital Literacy Framework as a foundation.

Across both days, conversations centred on keeping the human at the heart of education, while powerful student presentations highlighted student voice and innovation in action. 🚀

It was so great to see so many partners from across the ecosystem come together for these events and engage in meaningful discussions. We are grateful for the collaboration, insight, and shared commitment to an ethical, inclusive, and forward‑looking education system.

04/29/2026

Earlier in April, the Promise Partnership at UNB hosted a showcase featuring students from Birchmount School in Moncton to celebrate a successful winter term of student-led entrepreneurship. 🚀

Throughout the term, students engaged in a comprehensive project-based learning curriculum, utilizing technology to design, market, and produce their own products like cookbooks, t-shirts, and 3D printed creations. This showcase was a demonstration of the critical thinking, digital literacy, and professional skills these students are developing through the Promise Partnership's mentorship program, which we are happy to support.

Thank you to our partners and the local community for your continued support of these aspiring leaders. We look forward to seeing what they tackle next!

04/27/2026

Attention ASD-S High School Students - this one's a first!

You have the chance to be the first students in New Brunswick to pilot the IBM SkillsBuild Student Platform.

📅 May 4th, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM | Virtual

Unlock access to thousands of free courses and learning pathways, explore real career options, and learn your way through gamified challenges.

What you get:
-Go through a live demo & guided sign-up with the IBMSB team
-Complete your first activity with a self-directed lunch & learn
-Wrap up the day with gamified challenges

Whether you're into tech, business, design, or still figuring it out, there's a pathway for you.

📲 Register now! https://shorturl.at/lwjB7 (Parental consent required under 16)

Tag a classmate who needs to see this!

04/23/2026

What does learning AI really look like? Hint: It involves a lot of trial, error, and even a recipe for chili. 🌶️🤖

Melissa O’Rourke, Associate Executive Director at the McKenna Institute, pulls back the curtain on her own AI learning journey. It’s not always linear, and it’s definitely not always easy, but it is necessary.

If you’ve ever felt out of your depth with new tech, Melissa shares her tips for getting started and staying consistent, from Friday afternoon learning blocks to car-ride podcasts.

👉 Hear from Melissa here: https://blogs.unb.ca/mckenna/2026/04/learning-ai.php

04/17/2026

“It’s not about forcing it where it doesn’t belong; it’s about adding it where it can be seen.” 💡

Over two days, educators from Anglophone East School District came together for the second gathering of their AI Supergroup cohorts, in partnership with the McKenna Institute’s Educator Up-Skilling Program.

Since their first session, ideas have turned into action by expanding support across the district, from leading professional learning, to building practical AI resources for their schools. This gathering was a chance to share that progress, exchange ideas, and explore new tools for classroom engagement.

A big part of the conversations focused on what matters most moving forward: building AI literacy, rethinking assessment, and finding ways to make teaching more efficient in an AI-supported world.

Elementary and middle school groups also took part in a hands-on cybersecurity activity led by EECD through the CyberEd Program, in partnership with Thales and the McKenna Institute.

It’s always powerful to see what happens when educators are given the space to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. We’re excited to see this work continue and be showcased at the Atlantic Innovative Education Summit this May. 🤝

The McKenna Institute

06/12/2026

05/22/2026

05/19/2026

05/14/2026

05/05/2026

04/30/2026

04/29/2026

04/27/2026

04/23/2026

04/17/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category