Member Growth Story: Langara’s Dr. Paula Burns on Empowering Inclusive Growth through Education

As part of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Agenda for Economic Growth – The 3% Challenge, we’re highlighting members who are playing a pivotal role in advancing economic growth across British Columbia. For Dr. Paula Burns, Langara College’s fourth President and CEO, economic growth isn’t just about GDP, it’s about unlocking opportunity for individuals and communities through the power of education.

In this conversation, Dr. Burns shares how Langara is preparing the next generation of talent, closing skills gaps, and ensuring growth is inclusive and sustainable.

How do you think about economic growth in the context of your business?

At Langara, we believe economic growth is about more than just numbers—it’s about people. As a public post-secondary institution, our mission is to equip students with the education and skills they need to build successful careers and strengthen their communities. When students thrive, communities prosper.

We’ve seen this impact firsthand. A 2020 economic impact study found that Langara’s students, alumni, and operations added nearly $1 billion in income to the local economy. And for every dollar invested in a Langara education, society gains about $8.70 in provincial revenue and social savings. Those numbers reflect the power of education as a long-term engine for growth—driving opportunity, equity, and resilience across our region.

What are initiatives or work that contribute to reaching 3% growth that you would like to highlight?

We focus our efforts where they matter most: skills development and inclusive access. Langara’s growth-oriented initiatives empower individuals from underrepresented and underserved communities, while addressing broader economic needs.

One standout example is a federally funded, $350,000 tech upskilling program tailored for immigrant and racialized women. Over a 7-month period, participants earn a Computer Skills for the Office certificate and gain hands-on training, digital literacy, and job readiness. This program opens doors to meaningful employment and greater representation in growing sectors—paving the way for long-term upward mobility.

We’re also proud of our deepening partnerships with Indigenous communities. Our agreement with Musqueam provides tuition support for all Musqueam members and access to targeted programming that builds education-to-employment pathways. We’ve also collaborated with AFOA Canada and AFOA BC to deliver Indigenous Financial Management courses—helping strengthen self-governance and economic development through financial literacy and leadership.

From your perspective, what would help unlock more growth in your sector?

Three key levers can help accelerate growth across the post-secondary sector:

• Deeper collaboration between institutions, industry, and government to identify skills gaps and align training with real-world economic needs. Our work-integrated learning partnerships are an example of how this alignment can produce workforce-ready graduates quickly.

• Increased investment in accessible education, particularly for first-generation learners, newcomers, and underserved groups. Wrap-around supports, like bursaries, mentorship, and employment services, can make a profound difference in who is able to participate in upskilling programs and who ultimately enters the workforce.

• A culture of lifelong learning. Our Stackable by Langara initiative offers short, flexible courses that build toward larger credentials, allowing workers to upgrade skills continuously and stay ahead of industry change. This kind of adaptable learning model is key to driving productivity and innovation in a rapidly evolving economy.

What kinds of opportunities could greater economic growth create for your industry?

Economic growth creates a ripple effect in education. As B.C.’s economy expands, so does demand for talent. A 3% growth target isn’t just about more jobs—it’s about better jobs. This motivates more people to seek education as a gateway to opportunity.

For Langara, stronger growth means we can reinvest—expanding programs, modernizing facilities, and innovating curriculum in partnership with industry. It also fuels collaboration: as businesses grow, they look to colleges like ours for talent development, research support, and workforce solutions.

Ultimately, economic growth and education are mutually reinforcing. When we invest in people, we build stronger businesses. And when businesses thrive, they create more opportunity for individuals to succeed. That’s the virtuous cycle we’re committed to supporting—because when everyone has a chance to grow, we all move forward together.

As we work toward bold and achievable targets like the 3% growth challenge, leaders like Dr. Paula Burns and institutions like Langara College remind us that investing in people is one of the most powerful ways to build a stronger, more inclusive economy. Explore the full Agenda for Economic Growth – The 3% Challenge and see how education is helping shape the future of British Columbia.