Tech education leader, Lighthouse Labs is partnering with Riipen, the leading work-based learning platform to provide an accelerated path to Canada’s thriving tech sector. Through hands-on, employer-led projects, this partnership will help aspiring cybersecurity professionals pave their way for success with in-demand tech skills and work experiences tailored for today's dynamic job market. Together they are creating an ecosystem of opportunities for all and creating a more inclusive and thriving tech sector. ICT Ignite Cyber is funded by Upskill Canada [powered by Palette Skills] and the Government of Canada.

ICT Ignite Cyber allows Lighthouse Labs graduates to benefit from paid work-based learning experiences through 60 hour internships. Learners are able to enhance and showcase their cybersecurity skills, form employer networks, and connect with long-term employment opportunities. Completed remotely over 2-4 weeks, employer projects provide authentic experience and support career clarity to pave the way for success in the dynamic job market.

ICT Ignite Cyber is an exclusive opportunity for job-seekers who completed a Lighthouse Labs program in Cybersecurity through UpSkill Canada and meet ICT Ignite Cyber eligibility criteria. For additional information on the process, feel free to check out the Getting Started with ICT Ignite Cyber help article.

Learners can complete a maximum of one ICT Ignite Cyber project. Each project is 60 hours of work in length and can be completed over the course of 2-4 weeks.

ICT Ignite Cyber learners will collaborate on employer projects in teams of up to 5. Each learner will have an individual workspace on the Riipen platform and will complete the milestones and track their hours using the work log individually. The employer partner will bring team members together for an onboarding and kick off meeting to present the scope of the project, set expectations and delegate areas of responsibility across the team. Team members will then keep in contact with each other and the employer to collaborate as the project is completed.

All ICT Ignite Cyber projects must be completed over 2-4 weeks and each learner is expected to contribute 60 hours to the project. A project timeline can be adjusted, as long it still meets those requirements and if both the employer and the learner team are in agreement to do so. To adjust the project timeline that is recorded on the Riipen platform, the employer can make a request from the settings page on the match. Instructions for how to do this can be found here. The ICT Ignite team will review and approve new date change requests within 2 business days.
​
​ICT Ignite Cyber projects cannot be extended beyond the 4 weeks of their cohort timeline.

Final submissions may include multiple files. Your deliverables must include files of your work or a comprehensive written summary of the work completed, and a completed work log on the Riipen platform. Your final submission upload should demonstrate that 60 hours of work have been completed for the project. If our team is unable to ascertain that a good faith effort has been made to complete the project as defined by the employer, we will have to follow up with you and the employer. This will cause your payment to be delayed.

Once you submit your final project submission, employers will have the chance to leave feedback on their experience working with you - both public (on your Riipen profile) and private feedback. They will also be asked to approve the deliverables, confirm that the project adhered to the ICT Ignite Cyber Terms and Conditions, and that the project deliverables were completed within 60 hours per learner.

We encourage you to keep open lines of communication with the employer during the project to ensure you are both in agreement about the desired project outcomes.

The ICT Ignite team will also review your final deliverables. If our team is unable to ascertain that a good faith effort has been made to complete the project as defined by the employer we will have to follow up with you and the employer. If 14 days have elapsed and the employer has not provided feedback, please reach out to the Riipen ICT Ignite team. We will contact your employer again and if we do not hear back we will review your final deliverable on behalf of the employer.

Each learner will be paid for the project in the form of a stipend, with payments processed via Tipalti. You will submit your banking information when you join the program. Each learner is required to complete 60-hours of work and the exit survey to receive their $1400 stipend.

ICT Ignite Cyber operates on a 21 day payout period for learners completing ICT Ignite Cyber projects. Your stipend will begin to be processed when the ICT Ignite Cyber employer you worked with provides feedback on your project submission. If 14 days have elapsed and the ICT Ignite Cyber employer has not provided feedback, please reach out to the Riipen ICT Ignite team. We will contact your employer again and if we do not hear back we will review your final deliverable on behalf of the employer, which may cause your payment to be delayed. You can find further details about our payments process here.

In an effort to create a good ICT Ignite Cyber experience for all parties, we have Terms and Conditions, which can be found here. Please take a moment to read through them. You will be asked to sign the T&Cs agreement before you can apply to an employer project. We've also created a three strike system. This means that if any ICT Ignite Cyber user goes against the Terms and Conditions, they will receive a strike. You will be notified via e-mail when/if you've received a strike. If you receive three strikes, you will be removed from the program and will no longer be able to participate and receive a stipend.

Unfortunately not. Learners will be paid once the project is submitted and exit survey is completed, in the form of a stipend. For that reason, learners who do not fully complete the project, will not be paid. Additionally, if you do not clearly communicate to the employer and the ICT Ignite team that you are unable to complete a project, you will receive a strike (see three strike system).

If you’re struggling to get in contact with a member of your team, be sure to let the employer know straight away. You should also let the ICT Ignite team know via email (ictignite@riipen.com), or via live chat on the platform. The ICT Ignite team will then reach out to the team member and the employer, with the aim to re-engage the team member and to understand if there’s additional support we can provide.

Continued unresponsiveness or a lack of commitment is a breach of the program’s T&Cs and is considered a strike (see three strike system). This may lead to a team member being removed from the project. If that happens, you should work with the employer to readjust the project deliverables and continue your 60 hour internship project.

If you’re struggling to get in contact with an employer you should also let the ICT Ignite team know as soon as possible via email (ictignite@riipen.com), or via live chat on the platform. The ICT Ignite team will then reach out with the aim to re-engage them and understand if there’s additional support we can provide. Continued unresponsiveness or a lack of commitment is a breach of the program’s T&Cs and is considered a strike (see three strike system). This may lead to the employer being unable to post additional projects on the platform.

No. Learners are neither employees of the organization they complete a project for, nor of Riipen (who will pay their stipend). As such, learners do not qualify for any benefits and will not obtain any record of employment (ROE) from either organizations. Upon joining the ICT Ignite Cyber program, Riipen will require learners to submit their legal name, social insurance number (SIN) and mailing address so that we can issue the appropriate tax form(s).

All learners engaged in the ICT Ignite Cyber program for the 2024 tax year will be issued a T4A. You can expect to receive this in February 2025. If you complete an employer project in the 2025 tax year, you will receive a T4A in February 2026. This will be available on your Riipen account in your user settings under "issued documents". You will receive an email notification when it has been uploaded.

If you need a verification letter to confirm your participation in the ICT Ignite program you can request one by sending an email to people@riipen.com and we can verify the dates of your participation.

Yes. It is the responsibility of the company to provide software license/access to learners if required to perform the work.

Yes, ICT Ignite Cyber is available in French on the platform. If you'd like to use the Riipen platform in French, you can navigate to your dashboard, click the drop down arrow in the top right corner and again on "Settings". Under "Accessibility", you will be able to change your language preference to French.