‘Inspiring’ and ‘transformative’: Cannexus25 united career professionals to lead in a new era

Cannexus, Canada’s largest Career Development Conference, brought together more than 1,700 visionaries and practitioners dedicated to transforming lives through career development. Taking place January 27-29, 2025, the conference sparked vital conversations about revolutionizing how we empower individuals in their career journeys in the face of AI, shifting workplace dynamics and economic turbulence. Cannexus was hosted by CERIC, both in-person in Ottawa as well as virtually.

The event highlighted innovative approaches through diverse presentations, an exhibitor showcase and dynamic networking opportunities, where participants explored how to help people navigate career transitions and unlock their full potential. In the post-conference survey, 91.3% of delegates rated the conference as good to excellent and 94.8% indicated they plan to share their learning with colleagues to impact change broadly. In-person delegates celebrated “The goodwill, hope and feeling of being part of a community” while virtual praised the “user-friendly platform and insightful, engaging sessions.”

Three compelling keynotes anchored Cannexus25: Diversity expert Tina Varughese tackled unconscious bias and had participants up Bollywood dancing, Dr. Kevin Glavin illuminated the convergence of life design and AI in career development, and award-winning Indigenous author Niigaan Sinclair presented a powerful vision of reconciliation as a shared journey for all people in Canada. Across 100+ education sessions, delegates examined urgent workforce priorities including AI integration, labour market disruption, youth mental health, and building inclusive pathways for neurodivergent, Indigenous and newcomer talent, while addressing critical challenges such as public funding of employment services.

This year’s conference, under the theme “Together We Lead: Adapting to a New Era,” also featured an array of special programming that included:

• A two-day pre-conference National Convening of leaders of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program from across Canada to learn about each other’s barriers and successes

• A first “Military-connected” stream focused on supporting veterans and their families, in conjunction with the launch of the second edition of CERIC’s Military 2 Civilian Employment: A Career Practitioner’s Guide. (In-person delegates received a complimentary copy, courtesy of our Knowledge Champions)

• Release of the findings of the CERIC 2024 Survey of Career Service Professionals, which revealed the views and experiences of more than 1,000 professionals throughout the country, with a deep dive into the impact of AI on career services

• The launch of two additional CERIC publications: Computing Careers & Disciplines: A Quick Guide for Prospective Students and Career Advisors and Supporting the Integration of Refugees with Little Formal Education: An Intercultural Approach

At Cannexus, CERIC’s 2025 Wileman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Career Development honoured two trail-blazing leaders in the field. Gillian Johnston was recognized for her nearly five-decade career, including founding the influential Career and Work Counsellor Program at George Brown College and contributing to national certification standards. Dr. Rob Shea was honored posthumously for his visionary leadership as CERIC’s founding Board Chair, his pioneering research in Career Integrated Learning at Memorial University, and his dedicated advocacy for military career transitions.

Here’s a glimpse into the Cannexus25 experience, in delegates’ own words:

 “The Cannexus25 conference has been an inspiring, eye-opening and truly transformative learning experience over the past three days. The event featured outstanding keynote speakers, exceptional presenters, and insightful content that left a lasting impact. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to engage with such thought-provoking discussions and innovative ideas.” – Christy Kimball, Lead Facilitator/Career Advisor, YWCA Metro Vancouver, SouthVan WorkBC Centre

“Cannexus25 was the connection/reconnection/rejuvenation experience that I needed! I walked away feeling reminded of why I love what I do.”  – Juliana Wiens, Career Counsellor, Saint Mary’s University, NS

“At Cannexus25, I was truly impressed by the diverse range of workshops and networking opportunities. The sessions were rich with actionable insights, and the community atmosphere was incredibly welcoming. I especially enjoyed the chance to engage with thought leaders in the field of career development and connect with professionals from across the country.” – Qilak Kaludjak, Career Development Specialist, Makigiaqta, NT

“I absolutely loved the conference! It brought together the entire ecosystem, creating a true sense of community where, despite our differences, we all spoke the same language – sharing challenges, solutions and insights. I gained valuable updates on the labour market and sector trends, made meaningful connections with key players, and discovered new service providers from across different provinces. The experience was energizing and inspiring!” – Sarah Dodeen, Executive Career Coach, Sarah Dodeen Coaching Inc, ON

• Take a visual journey through Cannexus25 with these captivating conference photos
• Dive into some of the best Cannexus social media moments in this CareerWise blog

Cannexus25 was presented by CERIC and supported by The Counselling Foundation of Canada with a broad network of 38 supporting organizations and valued partners who helped contribute to its success. Mark your calendars for the Cannexus26 conference to be held Jan. 26-28, 2026 – which will celebrate 20 years of Cannexus. The Call for Presenters will be released this spring. Meanwhile, all Cannexus25 delegates have access to the conference recordings for three months.