Brampton, Ont. — Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University has launched a new national initiative aimed at drawing more girls and gender-diverse youth into cybersecurity, a field where women remain significantly underrepresented.
The program, called CyberStart Canada, is a gamified learning experience designed for high school girls, young women, and non-binary students. Organizers say it combines interactive challenges with mentorship and career exposure to make cybersecurity approachable, collaborative, and safe for beginners.
The initiative is led by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and is funded through Public Safety Canada’s Cyber Security Cooperation Program, with additional support from the SANS Institute.
In its first year, CyberStart Canada will engage about 700 students from Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, with plans to expand nationwide in 2023. Alongside the online CyberStart game, participants will have access to career talks, workshops, and ongoing community activities focused on digital skills and cyber awareness.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the program goes beyond career exploration. “CyberStart Canada will focus on cyber respect, safe communication, and digital citizenship,” he said, adding that it also offers educators a way to introduce cybersecurity concepts without requiring technical expertise.
The launch comes amid growing concern about workforce shortages and online risks. Women currently hold roughly 21 percent of cybersecurity roles in North America, and representation drops further at senior levels. At the same time, young people, particularly girls and LGBTQ2S+ youth, face increasing exposure to cyber threats as more of their lives move online.
Canada’s talent gap remains a pressing issue, according to industry leaders. “There are more than 25,000 unfilled cybersecurity roles across the country,” said Charles Finlay, founding executive director of the Catalyst. “If we want to close that gap, we need to start early and show girls that cybersecurity is a space where they belong.”
Organizers say CyberStart Canada is intended as both a pipeline-building effort and a public education tool, positioning cybersecurity as a critical life skill as well as a viable career path.
Registration and additional program details are available through the CyberStart Canada website.
