In recognition of his lifetime of achievement in career development, Bryan Hiebert accepted the Etta St John Wileman Award at the Cannexus14 National Career Development Conference in Ottawa. The award is designed to celebrate individuals who have devoted their lives to furthering the profession of career development and have established themselves as leaders in the field.

Mark Venning, the Chair of the CERIC Board of Directors, presented the award to Hiebert and highlighted his many contributions to advancing career development in Canada and around the world as an educator, researcher and author. Venning quoted Hiebert as saying about his current status: “Most people would say I’ve retired, but I’d prefer to think of it as a career transition, from paid employment to self-employment.”

Hiebert holds positions as Professor Emeritus of Education, University of Calgary; Adjunct Professor, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, University of Victoria; and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Lethbridge. His research interests include counsellor education, career development, and demonstrating the value of counselling services.

Active with many professional groups, Hiebert is an Associate of the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF), a member of the Canadian Research Working Group for Evidence-Based Practice in Career Development (CRWG) and was has been both a Vice-President and President of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG).

“In the past, I have co-ordinated many provincial, national, and international professional initiatives designed to raise the profile of career development, career guidance, and counselling psychology. One of my main goals in all of these initiatives was to work with others to develop a sustainable approach to advancing our profession and meeting needs that was not dependent on me for success,” Hiebert has said.

The award, which is presented on a less than annual basis, is given in the name of Etta St John Wileman. In the early 20th century, Wileman was a champion and crusader of career, work and workplace development in Canada. She was also a strong advocate for a national system of employment offices.