By Carole MacFarlane

Highlights from Cannexus 2007

I recently had the opportunity to attend the very first CANNEXUS conference sponsored by CERIC – the Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling. The three-day event held on April 16, 17, and 18 took place at the Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre and Spa. The conference program outlined approximately 85 workshops on various aspects of career development. Five keynote speakers offered their expertise on topics ranging from savant syndrome, the evolution of management practices in organizations, aboriginal counselling and healing, and the world shift game and how we participate in that game. Seeing and hearing savant Kim Peek was a poignant and powerful reminder that every individual has special talents and we must continuously strive to acknowledge and highlight those talents. The fact that Kim was given a standing ovation was indicative of just how much career development practitioners, educators and counsellors not only acknowledged his “gift” but also the fact that indeed we actually know very little about the brain and what drives peoples’ behaviours. We still have so much to learn!

The final keynote speaker, Dr Jean Houston, was an inspiration for me. Her enthusiasm and infectious zest for life, combined with her obvious desire to understand human behaviour was compelling. I found it fascinating that she accomplishes her goals through the founding of the Foundation for Mind Research and the International Institute for Social Artistry. Her connection with people as well as her exploration of new ways for people to work, and to help solve societal problems is done through her work with the United Nations and leaders in developing countries. Dr. Houston’s hypothesis is that we are in grave need of “social artists” – we need a “new mind” on social change. This has certainly inspired me to read some of her books and to try to broaden my own understanding!

In addition, I enjoyed and learned a great deal from the workshops that I attended. Beverly Buermann-King, in her workshop on “Depression in the Workplace” offered information on current research in the health and wellness field. Information that is valuable and useful when working with those who are in the process of making decisions about career directions (in my case, adolescents). Her booklet called “Work Smart Live Smart” is a useful resource for educators, both when helping youth with career direction and also for teachers who are in the position of teaching this topic in secondary school classrooms.

Dr. Denis Pelletier, in his keynote speech, addressed the new paradigm of career counselling for a new working world. He certainly stressed that work now requires a mix of new elements that were not always required in the past – we have to constantly keep adapting. Due to the nature of my work as a school district career coordinator, I was particularly interested in a workshop that addressed this issue for adolescents: “A post modern approach to helping young people plan in a changing world” by Cathy Campbell. Participants explored some of the differences between the traditional and the post modern approach to career counselling. Adolescents are being pressured to have certainty but this request creates much anxiety for them! Educators need to make certain that young people have the support that they require to be successful, to explore the roadblocks they face and to be able to strategize on how they can work around them.

All in all, CANNEXUS was a most enjoyable learning experience and I look forward to CANNEXUS 2008!

Carole MacFarlane is the District Career Programs Coordinator at the Vancouver School Board, British Columbia.