Some background on CRDCN – CRDCN was established 25 years ago and works in collaboration with 45 universities in Canada to provide more than 2500 of their researchers annually with access to highly valuable Statistics Canada microdata about Canadian individuals, households and businesses. These researchers have authored more than 3000 publications, including over 700 policy reports. CRDCN has an established track record of providing researchers with access to free training on how to use restricted access datasets and has made key contributions to research data management training and support for researchers. CRDCN also provides leadership in the Canadian research ecosystem more broadly, particularly in the area of sustainable research infrastructures and the need for a national data strategy.

Research-policy nexus session – Johanne Provençal (Director of Research, Training and Knowledge Mobilization, CRDCN) will lead a 60-minute session that brings together local CRDCN researchers and provincial government department invitees. The session will provide an overview of CRDCN mechanisms that enable researchers and government to collaboratively address shared priorities. The session will close with an open mic that invites attendees to identify key issues for which they would welcome CRDCN-facilitated discussion among researchers and government departments.

Training session – Grant Gibson (Assistant Director, Research and Evaluation, CRDCN) will lead a 90-minute training session on restricted data discoverability for restricted data research projects. Participants will learn how to use a set of tools to make their restricted data FAIR (e.g., Sensitive Data Toolkit, university repositories and discovery services, etc.). Learners will work first-hand with these tools and become comfortable both applying them themselves and in advocating for their use by restricted data providers for greater research transparency.

In-person and online participation – While we strongly encourage in-person participation in this event, we can provide online access for those unable to attend in person.

Attendance for this event can be reserved here