Bell invests $1 million in McKenna Institute to strengthen Canada’s cybersecurity talent pipeline

New partnership expands the McKenna Institute’s role in developing job‑ready cybersecurity talent in New Brunswick, with Bell Cyber scaling impact across Canada

FREDERICTON, NB, Feb. 27, 2026 /CNW/ – Bell Canada today announced a $1 million investment in the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) to help advance Canada’s cybersecurity talent and capability, with artificial intelligence supporting next-generation cyber defence and resilience.

The investment establishes a new partnership between Bell Cyber, Bell’s national cybersecurity platform, and the McKenna Institute — strengthening UNB and the Institute’s roles as key drivers of cybersecurity talent development in New Brunswick, and Bell as a scaling partner investing upstream in education, skills development and workforce pathways that are critical to Canada’s digital economy and national security.

“Canada’s connected economy and the infrastructure that supports it depend on strong cybersecurity — and that starts with talent. By building on the momentum of Bell Cyber and investing in education, job‑ready skills, and the purposeful application of AI to enhance defence, detection and response, our new partnership with the McKenna Institute will help strengthen Canada’s cyber‑resilience and further support enterprises and public institutions facing an increasingly complex digital threat landscape.”

– John Watson, Group President, Bell Business Markets

Through this investment, the McKenna Institute will establish the McKenna Institute Cyber Talent Program powered by Bell Canada. This 12-to-16 week, full-time, industry-led intensive program is designed to complement existing academic pathways by providing applied, real-world experience that reflects the rapidly evolving needs of the cybersecurity sector. The program will contribute to UNB’s cybersecurity ecosystem by deepening collaboration…

Source