2024 Annual ReporT
Fuelling 20 Years of Impact: Rooted in resilience. Growing through change.
Watch the CERIC 20th Anniversary video
- Français
- English
Leadership Message
CERIC celebrated a major milestone in 2024: our 20th anniversary. Our small but mighty team and core group of passionate volunteers recognized two decades of commitment to advancing career development in Canada.
As CERIC’s Executive Director Kay Castelle and Board Chair Meghan Lavallee reflect on this journey, we’re struck by both how far we’ve come and the exciting road ahead. We’ve grown into a national organization that’s become synonymous with career development in Canada, building a foundation of research, education and advocacy that’s transforming how Canadians navigate their career journeys.
Our 20-year evolution mirrors the growth of career development itself in Canada. What was once considered a “hidden sector” has increasingly become recognized as essential infrastructure for social and economic well-being. The evidence speaks for itself: Our groundbreaking Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent research revealed an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 career development professionals from coast to coast to coast, while our forward-looking Career Development in 2040 study positioned us to anticipate and shape the future of work in Canada.
This anniversary year saw our advocacy efforts reach new heights with the development of a National Advocacy Campaign for Career Development in Canada and the accompanying Beyond Decent Work Playbook. These initiatives represent our deepening commitment to raising the profile of career development services and demonstrating their essential role in supporting Canadians. By engaging policymakers, employers and the public, we’re working to ensure everyone recognizes the critical contributions of career development professionals to Canada’s economic and social fabric.
Cannexus24, described as “soul-nourishing” by one attendee, continues to be Canada’s premier career development gathering. This vibrant hybrid conference brought together 1,900 professionals from across Canada and globally to exchange ideas and explore innovations that empower communities and individuals. Building on this success, Cannexus25 was poised to unite practitioners under the theme “Together We Lead: Adapting to a New Era,” addressing pressing issues like AI integration, changing workplace dynamics and economic turbulence.
In collaboration with our project partners, we’ve also expanded CERIC-funded resources to address diverse needs across the career development spectrum. Exploring Possibilities! equips elementary educators with tools for developing career-related skills in young learners. Supporting the Integration of Refugees offers intercultural approaches for newcomer workforce integration, while Practice Principles provides practitioners with theory-informed guidance. As we entered 2025, we were preparing to launch updated guides for military transitions and computing careers, ensuring our resources remain relevant in rapidly changing fields.
As we look to the future, we’re designing new pathways to scale our impact across Canada. In 2025, we’ll introduce a more accessible approach to funding career development initiatives through biannual open calls, creating more equitable opportunities for diverse applicants. We’re developing innovative tools like a careers mythbusting quiz for high school students and launching our first Learning Management System to transform how professionals access CERIC learning.
It’s more than just jobs. Career professionals are helping people define their identity and grow their sense of belonging. Amid all this change we’re facing, career professionals are uniquely equipped to support Canadians – perhaps more so now than ever. As we celebrate our past achievements and embrace future opportunities, we remain rooted in resilience and committed to growing through change.
In looking ahead, we extend our deepest gratitude to The Counselling Foundation of Canada, which founded CERIC 20 years ago and continues to fund and believe in our mission. Their unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success.
Read on to learn more and see our year in review.
Kay Castelle, Executive Director
Meghan Lavallee, Board Chair
- Who We Are
CERIC is a charitable organization that works to advance career development in Canada through education, research and advocacy. In 2024, CERIC celebrated two decades of leadership, innovation and impact.
Over the past 20 years, CERIC has become synonymous with career development. In a time of so much uncertainty, our many contributions to the sector continue to stand for public good by focusing on people first.
CERIC’s vision is for people in Canada to have the capacity to use their skills and talents to create a more fulfilling future for everyone.
“CERIC has been such a guiding force for our field over all these years. I am very grateful for all the cutting-edge work you do and the day-to-day work of keeping us informed.”
Gillian Johnston
CCDP, ON
“As we work towards helping others create preferred futures, it is important to pause to reflect on our collective past. Thank you for your role in shaping Canada’s career development community, and really looking forward to seeing #CERIC20for20years!!”
Kris Magnusson
Simon Fraser University, BC
- 2024 Impact-at-a-Glance
resource downloads
0
combined conference attendees & learners
0
million media impressions
0
unique visitors to CERIC websites
0
combined social media followers
0
subscribers to CERIC publications
0
- Our Work
Two strategic mandates shape everything we do — from research to partnerships to practical tools.
Promoting career development as a priority for the public good
CERIC marked an important milestone in 2024, celebrating 20 years of supporting and elevating the work of career development in Canada and beyond. Amid the backdrop of so much upheaval in the world, we have remained grounded in our values, while adapting to a constantly shifting economic and social landscape. Staying true to our strategic mandate, we continue to work closely with partners to raise the profile of the sector. Here are some of the highlights from our activities in 2024 that align with our strategic mandate to promote career development as a priority for the public good.
We ask how we can best support our community amid uncertainty
Once every four to five years, we ask the career development community what’s most important to them, what challenges they’re facing and how CERIC can best support them. 1,033 career professionals across Canada responded to the 2024 CERIC Survey of Career Service Professionals, giving us crucial insight into the evolving state of the career services community in Canada amid labour market and economic shifts.
Key findings from the survey revealed:
- Research gaps in the career development field
- Career professionals’ experiences and client expectations of AI
- Public perceptions of the career development field
What we learned from survey results directly informs our direction, shapes our offerings and ensures that we continue to provide relevant and meaningful support to the career development community.
We conduct research that demonstrates the value of career development
Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent: Mapping Canada’s Career Development Sector
This groundbreaking CERIC-funded report, produced by Challenge Factory with the Canadian Career Development Foundation, offers the first comprehensive mapping of Canada’s career development sector. It estimates that between 40,000 and 60,000 professionals work across up to 1,635 organizations providing career services nationwide. The study introduces a Sector Scoping Model featuring 10 organization types and 15 personas to represent the diverse roles within the sector, highlighting the need for greater visibility and recognition of career development professionals.
“With billions in public funding being allocated, the stakes for making smart investments are high—as is the opportunity. Done well, Canada can establish and support a culture of lifelong career development and ownership that is responsive to local labour markets, while also guiding Canadians to meaningful, decent work in sectors and industries that will dominate in the future.”
Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent: Mapping Canada’s Career Development Sector (Section 5)
Career Development in 2040: Preparing for Possible Scenarios of Work & Careers
This forward-looking CERIC-funded research project, led by Creative Futures, explores how work and career development may evolve by 2040 and the implications for career development professionals (CDPs). Through literature reviews, interviews and workshops, the study identified 10 major trends – including AI and automation, climate change and geopolitical shifts – that are poised to reshape the future of work. The report outlined nine key insights and 15 recommended actions to help CDPs and policymakers proactively adapt to these anticipated changes.
"There's a lot to dig into within the research, so I'd highly recommend reading the full report...whether we are considering the changes that could impact our own profession or working with our clients to help them navigate the changing world of work, the concept of 'possible futures' is definitely one that I'll be referring back to more regularly in my work moving forward."
Chris Webb
Career Consultant, University of Huddersfield, UK
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Career Development
Career shocks are expected to become increasingly common. Pandemics, climate change and technological advancements present considerable challenges to the career development field.
This CERIC-funded research from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) examines pandemic-driven transformations in career guidance while identifying adaptation strategies. The study reveals how COVID-19 disrupted job markets and client expectations. It highlights complex issues including remote work transitions and mental health impacts, while offering perspective for professionals to better support clients.
We produce relevant & meaningful resources grounded in research
Supporting the Integration of Refugees with Little Formal Education: An Intercultural Approach
In 2024, CERIC released the English translation of an important resource for career advisors, guidance counsellors and anyone whose work involves helping direct refugees to meaningful employment. Supporting the Integration of Refugees with Little Formal Education: An Intercultural Approach, originally published in French with Laval University, acknowledges the many hurdles refugees to Canada face – particularly those with low levels of education.
The guide offers evidence-based, culturally sensitive best practices for supporting immigrants to identify and seek out career opportunities that align with their values and aspirations for a decent life in their new country.
Supporting refugees to successfully integrate into society and the workforce is a professional, political and ethical commitment for the professionals who work alongside them.
“It’s reassuring to know that scientifically validated findings and strategies are now available.”
Nancy Arseneault
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and Guidance Counsellor, QC
Computing Careers & Disciplines: A Quick Guide for Prospective Students and Career Advisors
Some sectors evolve quickly, with new information and career opportunities emerging faster than most of us can keep up. This is true for the field of computing. The need for up-to-date resources to support students, parents, career practitioners, academic advisors, school and career counsellors is clear.
Produced by Mount Royal University and funded by CERIC, the third edition of Computing Careers & Disciplines: A Quick Guide for Prospective Students and Career Advisors outlines the many educational pathways into computing careers. The latest edition features more content on BIPOC professionals in tech and includes additional information on educational pathways in the North.
“A fantastic guide to introduce students to computing disciplines using engaging infographics. A very helpful overview of the computing professions that can serve as a springboard into career conversations around computer-related occupations.”
Trevor Lehmann
Career Counsellor, University of Manitoba, MB
Military 2 Civilian Employment: A Career Practitioner’s Guide
The second edition of CERIC’s Military 2 Civilian Employment: A Career Practitioner’s Guide reflects significant changes within the Canadian military. This resource provides up-to-date information to help Canadian career professionals support veterans and military families to transition into the civilian workforce or further education, and highlights the unique challenges and opportunities they face.
With over 450,000 veterans in Canada and more than 8,000 military members transitioning out of service annually, the demand for effective support has never been higher.
“Since the groundbreaking publication of the 1st Edition, the military-to-veteran transition landscape has changed significantly across both the public and private sectors in Canada. This updated 2nd Edition aptly captures this newer environment and will continue to serve as a valuable resource for career practitioners and other professionals involved in supporting transitioning military personnel and their families.”
Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin Cameron
Former Deputy Commander, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group / Founder of Military Transition Engagement & Partnerships (MTEP), ON
We mobilize career communities to advocate for the public good
National Advocacy Campaign for Career Development in Canada
To help unlock the transformative power of career development, a diverse group of motivated professionals has come together to form a steering committee and working group alongside CERIC and human-centred design firm, Overlap Associates, to develop a National Advocacy Campaign for Career Development in Canada. Participants included People for Education, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and several provincial career development associations.
Career development can have a tremendous positive impact on individuals, employers and the economy. Despite this, it’s underused in Canada, with career education in schools varying widely across the country, few adults accessing career services and limited numbers of employers providing employee career development programs.
Our collaborative efforts have resulted in a valuable new resource to promote advocacy: The Beyond Decent Work Playbook. This practical communications tool provides key messages that organizations can use. The “Beyond Decent Work” concept emphasizes that career development helps Canadians achieve meaningful employment, contributing to personal fulfilment and financial security.
“Check out the Beyond Decent Work Playbook: A National Advocacy Campaign for Career Development in Canada - a practical resource developed as a part of an 18-month collaboration led by CERIC with contributions by career services leaders across Canada - including CACEE.”
Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE)
We work to raise the profile of the sector
CERIC co-authored an open letter to Canada’s policy and business leaders alongside Challenge Factory and the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF). This collective effort advocated for lifelong career development to ensure generational fairness, a sustainable workforce and economic prosperity. The letter calls for moving away from the “fail-first” approach in career services, utilizing career development professionals’ expertise to enhance career literacy and equipping businesses with tools to manage shifting labour markets.
Further testament to the growing recognition of our field came when CERIC was invited by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to participate in the Building a Modern 21st Century Workforce Summit. This high-profile event brought together government, industry education and community interestholders to shape policy directions for addressing workforce transitions. Our participation provided a valuable opportunity to position career development as a strategic lever in building a resilient, adaptable Canadian workforce and to ensure our sector’s voice was represented in national conversations about labour market solutions.
In the spotlight: Capacity-building partnerships that elevate the field
CERIC’s work thrives on partnerships. We truly are stronger together. We had several capacity-building partnerships in 2024 that helped us better serve our community, including but not limited to the featured initiatives below.
Combining efforts to advance First Nations, Metis, Inuit employment & training
CERIC, Jelly Academy and leaders of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program from across Canada came together in the spirit of learning in 2024 at the first-ever national convening to share best practices.
Attendees discussed, learned and listened to ISET holders to identify barriers, understand opportunities and learn from success stories, with the goal of advancing skills training and employment support for Indigenous Peoples.
The ISET program is designed to help Indigenous people improve their skills and find employment. The ISET program includes four specific labour markets: First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban/non-affiliated Indigenous people.
Building on the popularity and success of 2024’s national convening, ISET offices will gather once again in January 2025, prior to CERIC’s Cannexus25 Career Development Conference.
Forging alliances for workforce development innovation
CERIC’s collaboration with RBC Future Launch strengthens our efforts to prepare young Canadians for the evolving job market. This first-ever Learning Advancement Partnership for CERIC helps career practitioners better support youth in building career adaptability and resilience. The partnership enhances our reach while advancing our shared commitment to ensuring young people access meaningful career development support during critical transitions.
Our collaboration with the Future Skills Centre brought valuable labour market insights to the career development community through featured panels at our Cannexus conference. Our most recent collaboration focused on how labour market information (LMI) can shape career pathways, support skills development, and influence workforce policies amid transformative trends like AI and automation. It featured high-profile speakers – including Conference Board of Canada representatives – sharing their expertise.
These partnerships exemplify how CERIC connects career professionals with cutting-edge insights to better support Canadians through workforce transitions.
Collaborating with influential partners to celebrate North America Career Week
Regional North American career development organizations including CERIC (Canada), the Canadian Career Development Foundation (Canada) and the National Career Development Association (United States) convened for a North America Career Week celebration called “Advocacy in Action: Amplifying Career Development in a Changing World.” As part of the larger Canada Career Month in November, the free virtual event was held to celebrate the vital role of career development professionals in shaping the future of work.
The collaboration brought together leading organizations from across North America and beyond to highlight current advocacy efforts and the importance of career development in today’s rapidly changing world.
Celebrating outstanding achievement in career development
The Etta St. John Wileman Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made an outstanding impact in enhancing the field of career development. Indigenous career development leader Trina Maher was the recipient of CERIC’s 2024 Wileman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Career Development.
Trina is a member of Mattagami First Nation, and the President and Chief Creative Spirit of Bridging Concepts, an Indigenous human resources consultancy with the vision to see “Indigenous peoples enjoy meaningful careers in Canadian workplaces.”
An internationally certified adult educator with over two decades of experience, she has dedicated her career to Indigenous diversity education, community organization capacity building, program and project management, and career and personal leadership development.
Since 1999, she has played a pivotal role in educating, strategizing, advising and coaching HR teams to create inclusive workplaces. Her work spans from conducting workshops for government agencies to delivering customized training for private companies in the resource, technology, petroleum, mining, service, banking and non-profit sectors.
Trina Maher, 2024 Recipient,
President and Chief Creative Spirit of Bridging Concepts
Honouring Dr. Robert (Rob) Shea’s great contributions to the field
In 2024, the world lost one of Canada’s foremost career development leaders, Dr. Robert (Rob) Shea. CERIC’s founding Board Chair, Rob’s important contributions to the field will reverberate for many years to come.
Rob had been involved with CERIC since its inception and was a member of our current Board of Directors. He was also the Founding Editor of the Canadian Journal of Career Development, a partnership with Memorial University, where Rob was Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education. Additionally, he was a long-standing Board member of CERIC’s funder, The Counselling Foundation of Canada.
“Rob touched and shaped so much of what CERIC is today. He was a true champion of career development in Canada and had an impact on the lives of so many in the field from his home in Newfoundland and Labrador to across Canada and globally. His passion and enthusiasm were infectious.”
Riz Ibrahim
President and CEO, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, ON
Offering insights nationally as a trusted source & sector leader
CERIC continued to shape national conversations about career development throughout 2024, achieving substantial media visibility with over 110 mentions reaching an audience of 32.8 million. We secured high-profile coverage, highlighted by an op-ed in The Toronto Star advocating for a National Careers Strategy. Other coverage included CBC Radio, The Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Global TV, Sirius and Canadian HR Reporter.
Our media efforts centred around three impactful campaigns intended to resonate with both the public and policymakers. We championed the concept of annual career checkups, leveraging insights from our groundbreaking Hidden Sector report. We also advanced the conversation around children’s career development, promoting early intervention as a foundation for lifelong career resilience. Additionally, our advocacy for a National Careers Strategy gained significant traction.
Media interest in remote work trends, AI’s impact on careers, and evolving approaches to performance reviews and promotions created natural opportunities to highlight CERIC’s expertise. By strategically engaging with these trending topics, we successfully elevated the visibility of career development as a critical factor in addressing Canada’s most pressing workforce challenges.
Building career development knowledge, mindsets and competencies
Aligned with our Annual Report theme, CERIC’s 2024 impact came from helping the sector grow through change while remaining rooted in empowering Canadians toward meaningful careers that enhance both individual well-being and economic resilience. Our strategic mandate builds career development knowledge and competencies by strengthening expertise among career and employment professionals and K-12 educators. Through targeted training, resources and professional development, we ensure practitioners are equipped to navigate an evolving landscape.
We activate knowledge and develop training that support career professionals
Expert-led webinars for every career professional
CERIC offered a series of webinars in the spring and fall of 2024 featuring expert speakers on a range of timely topics, including:
- The transformative trends that will shape the careers of tomorrow
- Innovative approaches to integrating career learning into elementary education
- Effective techniques to support clients toward achieving their career goals
- The critical role of social determinants in shaping mental health outcomes
- Pathways for career development professionals, including diverse roles and opportunities within the sector
- Using AI tools to enhance career counselling and development practices
- Practical strategies and insights for career practitioners, focusing on how to prepare youth for an evolving job market
- Using storytelling to enable diverse clients to navigate life transitions by incorporating their cultural narratives
Among the more than 4,000 webinar attendees, 99% of participants reported being satisfied to very satisfied (62% very satisfied and 37% satisfied) with an average satisfaction rating of 8.4/10.
Webinars are hosted in collaboration with provincial, national and sectoral associations to broaden reach and foster cross-sector engagement.
CERIC’s webinars are designed to equip career professionals with cutting-edge insights and practical strategies to enhance their practice. You can access recordings of past webinars to continue your learning through our online archive.
“CERIC is doing such a great job for career development, employment, and the world of work....thank you!”
Laura Ducharme
Career Advisor, University of Windsor, ON
Intersectional Approach to Supporting Career Development
Canada’s diversity makes our country stronger. Our workforce is no different; it thrives on diversity. Recognizing and celebrating this diversity is key to our economic success and sustainability. In 2024, CERIC and the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) took a giant leap toward creating greater equity and empowerment with the launch of An Intersectional Approach to Supporting Career Development, an online certificate program.
CASE’s Diversity Works report underlines how racialized Canadians with disabilities often face unstable work conditions, despite their qualifications. 14.3% of Canadians with disabilities aged 15 and older belong to visible minority groups. It’s essential for career and employment professionals to take an intersectional approach to effectively support their clients.
Crafted with an understanding of the nuanced challenges faced by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour with disabilities (BIPOC-D), this six-week certificate program gives career professionals insight, tangible tools and increased awareness to navigate the complexities of intersectionality in career development.
“This course should be a mandatory component of every career development practitioner’s foundational training across Canada.”
Kathleen Brutto
Career Development Practitioner, Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre, ON
Media Relations Training Program
CERIC’s Media Relations Training Program prepares career development professionals in Canada and beyond to share their stories with the media and increase visibility of the field. This free program is led by one of Canada’s foremost media authorities, Keka DasGupta. Launched the previous year, the program has had 999 registrations to date.
The training is designed to teach career development professionals the interdisciplinary skills of how to:
- Identify newsworthy media opportunities
- Successfully pitch the media to “land” the news interview
- Establish longer-lasting relationships with media
“CERIC’s Media Relations Training is a powerful step toward empowering career professionals as thought leaders. Your commitment to building our field’s competencies is truly commendable.”
Jenny Gleeson-Sharpe
Career Coach, Australia
We foster a cross-sectoral community of career development-minded professionals
“An invaluable platform for networking, learning and professional growth” and a “warm and inclusive community of professionals” were just some of the ways Cannexus24’s 1,900 attendees described Canada’s largest Career Development Conference. Cannexus saw career development professionals from across the country and around the world come together in the nation’s capital as well as virtually over three days in January for important learning, sharing and community-building.
Delegates explored innovations in career and workforce development while exchanging ideas with peers – all to empower people and communities to achieve economic and social well-being.
Among the many highlights from CERIC’s Cannexus24 conference were four remarkable keynotes:
- Hamza Khan deciphering the future of work;
- Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc telling her story of resilience;
- Dr. Nancy Arthur delving into the trends and turbulence facing career development; and
- Dr. Sean Lessard sharing his work alongside First Nations youth.
Across 100+ education sessions, delegates examined a range of current and emerging issues with strong interest in sessions focused on artificial intelligence, neurodiversity, Indigenous learners, funding of employment services, intergenerational workplaces and mental health.
Delegates’ reflections on their Cannexus24 experience:
- 89.6% of delegates rated the experience as good to excellent
- 94.7% indicated they plan to incorporate what they learned into their work
“Whether you are new to the field or have decades of experience under your belt, Cannexus is the place to keep your knowledge up to date, feel the excitement of sharing new ideas and make connections that will last a lifetime. You will always leave this conference with new energy and lots of plans to implement.”
Blessie Mathew
Director, Career Centre and Experiential Learning, University of Alberta, AB | In-person attendee
Throughout 2024, CERIC developed Cannexus25 under the theme “Together We Lead: Adapting to a New Era.” Planning focused on creating an innovative program addressing key priorities including labour market disruption and building inclusive career pathways. A highlight of the preparations was designing a new “military-connected” stream to support veterans and their families, coinciding with the planned launch of our updated Military 2 Civilian Employment guide. Compelling keynotes were confirmed including diversity expert Tina Varughese, Dr. Kevin Glavin on life design and AI, and Indigenous author Niigaan Sinclair on reconciliation.
We partner to increase access to Francophone content for the sector
CERIC proudly partnered with the Ordre des Conseillers et Conseillères du Québec (OCCOQ) to make the most popular French-language sessions presented at the Cannexus24 national conference available for purchase. The on-demand videos are available to all career professionals, wherever you are in Canada.
We meet the learning needs of our community through innovative online hubs
CERIC’s CareerWise website and its French language sister site, OrientAction, are important sources of career development news and views, designed to meet the learning needs of Canada’s career development professionals.
The sites (careerwise.ceric.ca / orientaction.ceric.ca) and their popular weekly newsletters bring together a curated collection of relevant and thought-provoking articles on education, skills, counselling, employment and the workforce from a variety of publications. Also included are original perspectives and timely analyses from recognized experts and community voices.
In 2024, CERIC published four themed newsletters: Trauma & Career Development, Culturally Responsive Career Development, Neurodiversity and Advocacy.
The sites function as a hub where career professionals can:
- Scan the latest news
- Search areas of interest
- See what’s trending
- Connect with thought-leaders in the field
- Contribute their knowledge
The sites’ vibrant knowledge-sharing ecosystem flourished in 2024, with 193 original blogs and listicles published on CareerWise and 203 on OrientAction. This demonstrates how our professional community actively strengthens the field through practical insights and diverse expertise.
"I just want to say THANK YOU for your newsletter and great resources you offer. As a career development practitioner they help me immensely to increase my knowledge on various career and job search related topics."
Heidi Fuentes Lucente
Specialized Program Manager, COSTI Immigrant Services, ON
“Such an important topic, CERIC- thanks for devoting a themed issue to #neurodiversity and work, a must-read for all #cdps”
Roberta Borgen
President, Life Strategies Ltd., BC
We enable academic & community-based research that enhances career development practice
After the untimely passing of Founding Editor Rob Shea in 2024, Jennifer Browne of Memorial University took the helm as Editor of the Canadian Journal of Career Development (CJCD). Published twice annually, CJCD is a peer-reviewed publication of multi-sectoral, career-related academic research and best practices from Canada and around the world.
The Winter 2024 edition explored workplace bullying; neuro-informed, career-focused counselling; and the career development of working mothers. Retiree mentorship, professionalizing the career development sector, and the relationship between personal traits and career decision-making were also in focus.
The Fall 2024 edition marked the journal’s largest to date and the first under new Editor Jennifer Browne. The issue honoured the journal’s Founding Editor Rob Shea. The journal featured articles from across Canada and the globe – including Africa, the Middle East and Asia – with topics examining youth, young adults, employers, employees, career development theory and career within today’s context.
2024 CJCD highlights:
- Published twice a year in January and September – online only
- 19 articles published (compared to 12 the previous year)
- Most viewed article: “An Exploration of Work-Life Wellness and Remote Work During and Beyond COVID-19”
- Vol.23 No. 2 the largest to date – 218 pages
- 2 articles in French
Exploring Possibilities! Journeying Through Career-Related Learning in Grades 4-6
CERIC’s innovative teaching toolkit, Exploring Possibilities! Journeying Through Career-Related Learning in Grades 4-6, launched in 2024, addressing a vital need in elementary career education. Authored by Lorraine Godden, Nicki Moore, Heather Nesbitt and Stefan Merchant, this resource helps educators understand how their teaching practices develop foundational career-related skills in young learners. Rather than focusing on future job selection, the toolkit emphasizes self-discovery, interest exploration and life aspirations for children. Underpinned by research collected from educators, parents, students and industry partners, it illuminates how everyday teaching activities foster critical skills including healthy habits of mind, social-emotional development and self-efficacy. This resource represents an important step in recognizing career development as a lifelong process that meaningfully begins in elementary school.
“As research is increasingly pointing to the critical role of career development at earlier ages, this toolkit is such a timely resource. It offers a powerful blend of conceptual clarity, linkages to research, tailored strategies and practical tools/activities for classroom or community application. Any educator or career influencer working with children will want this toolkit as their go-to guide.”
Sareena Hopkins
Executive Director, Canadian Career Development Foundation, ON
Canadian Career Development Researcher Database
This past year, CERIC relaunched the Canadian Career Development Researcher Database, an online resource answering the question: “Who is doing what research in Canada?” This updated tool catalogues career development researchers across the country in a searchable format. The database helps users identify more than 200 potential academic and non-academic partners for research projects while spotlighting the work of researchers in both universities and community-based settings. Serving as a starting point for exploring expertise in various areas of interest, this relaunch supports CERIC’s commitment to fostering collaboration in the field. The resource particularly benefits those applying for CERIC project funding by helping them build on existing research capabilities and find potential collaborators across Canada.
Practice Principles: Career Theories and Models at Work
CERIC released Practice Principles: Career Theories and Models at Work, a companion guide to the popular Career Theories and Models at Work: Ideas for Practice book. Authored by Dr. Nancy Arthur, Dr. Roberta Borgen (Neault) and Dr. Mary McMahon, this new publication addresses a gap in the field by providing career development practitioners with theory-informed principles for everyday application.
The book extracts and organizes practice points from the original 43 chapters into guiding principles that ensure techniques used by practitioners are underpinned by actual theory. It offers career professionals a reference to enhance their approaches to career interventions and a foundation for making informed choices about their strategies. Complementing the book, a series of podcasts developed by the authors extends the learning experience.
“Inside, you’ll find eight essential principles that offer a framework for practitioners of career guidance, counselling and consultation to metacognize their practice in a reflective and structured manner. These principles are equally beneficial for researchers seeking to connect their work with real-world applications. This exceptional book significantly elevates the quality of both practice and research.”
Teruyuki Fujita
Professor, Career Education, Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan
We engage and nurture the next generation of researchers
Graduate Student Engagement Program
CERIC’s Graduate Student Engagement Program (GSEP) is designed to empower master’s and PhD students with the expertise required to succeed in their graduate studies and careers while positively impacting the field. Participants can immerse themselves in interactive learning experiences, gain valuable insights from experts in the field as well as build a robust network of like-minded peers and professionals through a dynamic and comprehensive package of opportunities.
In 2024, we made significant enhancements to the long-running GSEP, expanding eligibility to include part-time students. This change reflects our desire to provide inclusive opportunities for career development excellence. By extending eligibility to part-time students, CERIC ensures a broader range of individuals can benefit. By accommodating the needs of part-time students, we are addressing the diverse circumstances of those balancing studies with other responsibilities.
CERIC prepares for 2025 and beyond: Setting the stage to scale impact for the next 20 years
Starting in February 2025, CERIC will introduce a more accessible approach to funding career development initiatives through biannual open calls.
This redesigned framework creates an equitable pathway for diverse applicants to secure support for innovative research and learning projects. By establishing consistent application periods with clear review timelines, we're removing barriers and expanding opportunities for professionals to contribute to the field. Our updated funding priorities focus on four key areas: career practitioning with social impact, policy influence, emerging career theories and models, and evolving professional roles in changing times – all supporting CERIC's mission to advance career development knowledge and practice across Canada.
CERIC is developing a careers mythbusting quiz to address widespread anxiety and misconceptions among high school students about career planning.
The idea for this resource emerged from insights gathered during student and educator “idea exchanges” held this past year. The quiz will identify and debunk common misconceptions like "you must choose one job for life" and "university is the only path to success." In collaboration with partners, the aim is to have this innovative tool integrated into classroom platforms, reaching students nationwide. This secondary school public good initiative furthers CERIC's goal to build career literacy among youth across Canada.
Building on 2024's website redesign, CERIC will launch a resource library in 2025 to enhance the accessibility of our extensive collection of career development materials.
The modernized digital experience, developed in partnership with Wow Digital, will simplify navigation and create intuitive pathways to CERIC's wealth of knowledge assets. This new resource library will serve as a centralized hub where practitioners can efficiently discover relevant research, tools, guides and learning opportunities. By thoughtfully curating and presenting our resources in this structured framework, CERIC continues to strengthen its role as Canada's leading knowledge centre for evidence-based career development practice.
CERIC will launch its first Learning Management System (LMS) in 2025, marking a significant advancement in how we deliver professional development to career practitioners across Canada.
Following extensive preparatory work in 2024 – including comprehensive audience needs analysis, platform evaluation and content development – the Thinkific-based LMS will transform how professionals access CERIC learning. The system will host both valuable existing content and new interactive courses, in both synchronous and asynchronous formats. This strategic shift toward flexible, on-demand learning will meet evolving professional development needs while maximizing the value of our extensive knowledge base.
We will continue extending our efforts toward justice, equity, diversity and inclusion across all aspects of our work.
Building on progress in diversifying our governance structure and volunteer base, we will integrate JEDI principles throughout programming, publications and partnerships. This includes expanded representation at Cannexus and learning focused on inclusive career development approaches. In 2025, we mark the 10-year anniversary of signing the Declaration of Action, which formalized our commitment to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. CERIC remains dedicated to creating an environment where career professionals from all backgrounds can contribute and benefit.
Financial Statements
Statement of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2024
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to all those who help us fulfill our mission of advancing career development in Canada: our Board of Directors; our Advisory Committees; CERIC staff; our funder, The Counselling Foundation of Canada; and the many organizations that support Cannexus, our webinars and our various projects.
2024/2025 CERIC Board of Directors
Meghan Lavallee (Chair)
Executive Director
Apprenticeship, Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Holly Linkert
Eastwood Collegiate Institute Waterloo Region District School Board, Kitchener, ON
Keka DasGupta (Vice-Chair)
Precision Marketing Group Inc, Toronto, ON
Magdalena Mot
Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC
Candy Ho (Past Chair)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC
André Raymond
Laval University, Quebec City, QC
Sue Watts (Secretary/Treasurer)
Employment + Education Centre (EEC), Brockville, ON
Valérie Roy
AXTRA, l’Alliance des centres-conseils en emploi, Montreal, QC
Tony Botelho
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Donald G. Lawson (Honourary Director – Ex-officio)
The Counselling Foundation of Canada, Toronto, ON
Dinuka Gunaratne
Northeastern University, Vancouver, BC
Darlene Hnatchuk
McGill University, Montreal, QC
Riz Ibrahim (Executive Officer – Ex-officio)
The Counselling Foundation of Canada, Toronto, ON
Practical & Academic Research Committee
Tony Botelho (Co-Chair)
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Jeff Landine
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
Shalini Sharma (Co-Chair)
Economist, Toronto, ON
Roxy Merkand
McKinsey Health Institute, McKinsey & Company, Kitchener, ON
Noor Al-Zanoon
University of Alberta, Women in Science, Engineering and Research (WiSER), Ancaster, ON
Magdalena Mot
Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC
Lorena Camargo
Labour Market Information Council, Toronto, ON
Vera Ziwei Wu
Career Consultant, Kamloops, BC
Élodie Chevallier
Researcher and Consultant, Montreal, QC
Alison D’Cruz (GSEP)
University of Toronto, Oakville, ON
Tannis Goddard
Mixtmode Consulting, Port Moody, BC
Aziz Mimoudi (GSEP)
Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC
Content & Learning Committee
Dinuka Gunaratne (Co-Chair)
Northeastern University, Vancouver, BC
Jenny Lee Northey
Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
Michael Ford (Co-Chair)
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
Holly Linkert
Eastwood Collegiate Institute, Waterloo Region District School Board, Kitchener, ON
Akshay Arora
Yorkville University, Vancouver, BC
Trina Maher
Bridging Concepts, Barrie, ON
Shereen Ashman
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals, Toronto, ON
Romalie Manalang
Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, Winnipeg, MB
Nordia Bogle
NKB Consulting & Professional Solutions, Brampton, ON
Amanda Assi
University of Calgary, Calgary, AB (GSEP)
Annika Gilgen
Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YK
Advocacy and Community Engagement Committee
Akosua Alagaratnam (Co-Chair)
First Work, Toronto, ON
Adriano Magnifico
Louis Riel School Division, Winnipeg, MB
Valérie Roy (Co-Chair)
AXTRA, l’Alliance des centres-conseils en emploi, Montreal, QC
Joel Murphy
Mount Saint Vincent University, Berwick, NS
Yvanne Caballero
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Candace Stewart-Smith
University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC
Keka DasGupta
Precision Marketing Group Inc, Toronto, ON
Sophie Turner
Brazen & Co., Toronto, ON
Trevor Lehmann
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Deepti Mhaske (GSEP)
College of North Atlantic, Corner Brook, NL
Alastair MacFadden
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), Saskatoon, SK
Staff
Kay Castelle
Executive Director
Farzaneh Babazadeh Bedoustani
Manager, Events, Learning and Development
Diana Castano
Executive Assistant and Office Administrator
Cyrielle Filias
Lead, Programs, Learning and Development (Bilingual)
Sharon Ferriss
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
Rachel So
Senior Specialist, Digital, Marketing and Communications
Norman Valdez
Director, Technology and Design, Marketing and Communications
Amélie Almonacil
Specialist, Stakeholder Outreach, Marketing and Communications (Bilingual)
Lindsay Purchase
Lead, Content, Learning and Development
Heba ElHalees
Conference Planning Co-ordinator
Alexandra Manoliu
Senior Manager, Research Initiatives (Bilingual)
In 2024, CERIC was also supported by interns Eman Ali and Aysha Akthar.
CERIC also wishes to thank Ben Liadsky of The Counselling Foundation of Canada as well as Angella Reid and Simran Gill of Foundation House.
Partners and Supporting Organizations
CERIC Annual Report 2024 | CERIC - Annual Report
