The training environment of NSERC PermafrostNet maximized the research impact, professional development, career readiness and longer-term employability of its graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and northern research assistants. Students and trainees developed a broad network of connections and benefit from diverse experiences through the network of 12 universities and more than 40 partnering organisations throughout Canada and internationally. Through the network, trainees had improved access to specialised training such as field safety, wilderness first aid, diversity awareness and high-performance computing.