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The Call for Nominations for CERIC’s Etta St. John Wileman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Career Development is now open. This is your opportunity to recognize and celebrate the trailblazers who are making significant contributions to the field of career development. 

Do you know someone who has: 

• Made an impact through outstanding service, community engagement, advocacy or education? 

• Inspired and mentored colleagues, students or clients? 

• Advocated for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace? 

• Demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to enhancing the field of career development? 

This award is more than just a recognition—it’s a celebration of the outstanding achievement within the career development profession. Past recipients have recently included Trina Maher and Lynne Bezanson with the Wileman Award honouring their remarkable contributions. 

It was announced earlier this year that CERIC’s flagship award was evolving to become more inclusive and accessible. The changes were to ensure the award honours those who are making a significant impact within the wide-ranging field of career development, regardless of role or position within an organization. 

The award 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.  

Don’t miss this chance to highlight the incredible work of your peers. By nominating someone, you help us recognize and uplift the voices and efforts of those dedicated to advancing career development in Canada. Submit your nomination by September 20, 2024.

Cannexus25, Canada’s largest bilingual career development conference, is now open for registration with Super Saver rates available until Sept. 6. The Cannexus25 conference will take place from January 27-29, 2025, both virtually and in Ottawa, Canada. Under the theme “Together We Lead: Adapting to a New Era @ Cannexus25,” this event promises to bring leaders and delegates together to successfully navigate the evolving landscape of career development, whether in-person or virtual. Almost 2,000 professionals attended the last hybrid Cannexus. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an accessible, content-rich, and value-packed experience.

As a delegate, you can choose to “Experience Cannexus Your Way.” The virtual and in-person portions have largely separate programs but shared keynotes and main stage sessions for all delegates to interact. In both experiences, you can expect an impactful gathering where you will explore innovative approaches in career and workforce development, and connect with peers from across Canada and around the world. 

Super Saver rates for the virtual conference start at $320 with special $50 rates for students. The in-person rates start at $590. Members of supporting organizations receive 20% off either virtual or in-person registration. The 20% discount is also available for groups of 5 or more.  All delegates get access to the virtual recordings after the conference for three months. 

This year, delegates can choose to attend a highly-anticipated pre-conference workshop in Ottawa to enrich their conference experience. Career Counselling the Whole Person – Empathy, Strength, Creativity and Co-Construction of Career-Focused Solutions will be held on Sunday, January 26. Held by award-winning psychotherapist Sonny Wong, delegates will learn how to conduct effective career-focused counselling sessions.

The Cannexus25 schedule teases plenty of highlights for delegates to discover, with the full program to be posted by Sept. 25. Tina Varughese, Canada’s cross-cultural communication and diversity expert, was announced as Cannexus25’s first keynote at the launch of registration. Varughese’s interactive keynote, The Human Side of Unconscious Bias, promises to entertain while inspiring attendees to think, behave, act and communicate with intention. Delegates can also look forward to these conference highlights:

• An expanded national gathering of Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) program holders coming together for open discussion and sharing of wise practices
• Results of the next CERIC Survey of Career Service Professionals, which will examine the current state of the field across Canada, with a special section on the impact of AI
• A special “Military-connected” stream focused on supporting veterans and their families transitioning from military to civilian employment or on to further education

In addition to these new features, Cannexus is bringing back the powerful Indigenous Blanket Exercise as part of the program, which explores the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Bursaries are available to support career development professionals in attending the virtual portion of Cannexus. The Marilyn Van Norman Bursary will be awarded to 13 community-based career development or employment practitioners, one from each province and territory. The Young Professionals Bursary will go to 12 individuals aged 30 or younger and engaged with career development or employment work. Individuals from equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is September 30, 2024. 

Additional information is available on: 

• Discounted hotels near the Shaw Centre where Cannexus is hosted 
• Reduced fares to travel by plane or train
• Events and activities to enjoy in Ottawa 
• Frequently asked questions about the hybrid conference
• Opportunities to become a Cannexus partner or exhibitor (note last year’s in-person Exhibitor Showcase sold out) 
• Testimonials from past attendees about the conference 

Cannexus is presented by CERIC and supported by The Counselling Foundation of Canada and a broad network of partners. For more information on the conference and to register, visit  cannexus.ceric.ca.