LearnStream is a Canadian

e-learning Educational technology (commonly abbreviated as edutech, or edtech) is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning and teaching. When referred to with its abbreviation, "EdTech" ...

company based in

Fredericton Fredericton (; ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province along the Saint John River (Bay of Fundy), Saint John River, ...

. The company initially provided online education such as IT training which expanded to other subjects. The company was acquired in 2005 by Vitesse Learning, which eventually folded the business into its own operations and stopped using the LearnStream brand. In 2021 the company was relaunched by the original founder Ken Reimer to provide consulting for company education and training courses.

History

The company was originally started in 1998 through a leveraged

management buyout A management buyout (MBO) is a form of acquisition in which a company's existing managers acquire a large part, or all, of the company, whether from a parent company or individual. Management- and/or leveraged buyouts became noted phenomena of 19 ...

of the operation from its former parent company, FirstClass Systems Corp based in White Rock, BC. LearnStream Strategies relaunched in 2022, to provide strategic consulting and development services in the online education, corporate training, and eLearning space. The company was founded by entrepreneurs Ken Reimer and Phil Lambert, who raised the capital and engineered the management buyout from the parent company. Reimer was previously president of FirstClass Systems Product Development Corporation, and had previous entrepreneurial adventures in Western Canada. Lambert was previously vice president of FirstClass Systems Product Development Corporation and brought extensive experience with large multi-national manufacturers and small start-ups to the venture. The company was purchased in 2005 by Vitesse Learning, and operated from its

New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...

base until the original LearnStream was folded into a merged entity. In 2021 LearnStream was relaunched by the original founder Ken Reimer to serve a growing market for eLearning and online learning.

Operations

Although the company focused originally on IT training, it expanded the client base to include financial services, pharmaceuticals, international development, and defense. One of the recognitions for the company was winning the Canadian New Media ''Company of the Year'' award in 2000. It also won Cindy awards, the KIRA Award, the K. C. Irving Quality Award, and a number of Multimedia Producer awards. Since its relaunch the company focusses on providing consulting services to companies that are provide training for their staff, clients, and partners. This is done through a networked team, working on client sites, or from home offices across the US and Canada.

Influence

As an eLearning pioneer based in Fredericton, LearnStream was a major player in the development of the eLearning workforce of instructional designers, graphic artists, media developers, programmers and others. Many LearnStream alumni have joined and now bring those skills to other firms in the Fredericton area, including Bluedrop Performance Learning, Innovatia,

Skillsoft Skillsoft is an American educational technology company that produces learning management system software and content. History Skillsoft was founded by Charles Moran in 1998. Moran served as chief executive officer and President from 1998 to 20 ...

, PulseLearning, Red Hot Learning, PQA, and Virtual Expert Clinics. The alumni remain in contact through a Facebook group for Former LearnStream Employees. A

Telegraph-Journal The ''Telegraph-Journal'' is a daily newspaper published in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, owned by Postmedia Network. It serves as both a provincial daily and as a local newspaper for Saint John. The ''Telegraph-Journal'' is the only New ...

editorial referred to LearnStream as one of four companies (LearnStream, Mariner Partners, Q1Labs, and Radian6) who "have demonstrated that New Brunswickers have what it takes to excel in the development and application of new technologies".The Future is Intellectual, Editorial, Telegraph Journal, April 9, 2012

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Learnstream Companies based in Fredericton Technology companies of Canada