Westcliff University has opened its first Canadian campus in Markham, Ontario, setting up shop inside ventureLAB‘s 50,000-square-foot innovation hub in the original IBM building. The California-based institution is enrolling students in its Master’s in Information Systems Technology (MIST) program, covering AI and machine learning, cybersecurity and enterprise risk management, smart manufacturing, and information systems strategy.
With more than 414,000 tech workers, the greater Toronto area is North America’s third-largest tech hub. AI-related job postings surged 28% year-over-year entering Q4 2025, and 48% of Canadian IT hiring managers plan to expand their teams in 2026.
The demand is documented, but the talent to fill it isn’t keeping pace.
The MIST program was developed in collaboration with Ontario’s tech industry and a Program Advisory Committee of Toront-based tech leaders. Eight-week course cycles and a mix of in-person and online options are built for working professionals who can’t pause their careers to go back to school.
“Toronto’s employers need graduates who are ready to contribute on day one in AI, cybersecurity and smart manufacturing — and that is exactly who our MIST program produces,” says Dr. Anthony Lee, President and CEO of Westcliff University.
“Our programs are structured so students can pursue their passion, advance their careers and earn their degree without stepping away from the workforce.”
The ventureLAB co-location adds something beyond square footage. The hub has supported more than 4,000 companies, giving students direct exposure to the high-growth firms that need them most.
“This partnership creates a direct bridge between specialized talent and high-growth companies,” says Hugh Chow, CEO of ventureLAB.
Westcliff is one of the few international institutions approved to operate in the region, thanks to a partnership with the Trade Commissioner of Ontario working to address labour and skills gaps in the area.
Final Shots
- The GTA’s tech talent gap is acute enough that a US university opened a Canadian campus to address it, with a curriculum built alongside Toronto-area employers.
- Co-location inside ventureLAB gives students direct access to a hub that has supported more than 4,000 companies.
- The real test is whether MIST graduates end up in the cybersecurity, AI, and smart manufacturing roles Canadian employers say they can’t fill.
