2024

A revamped version of CERIC’s Canadian Career Development Researcher Database is now available, answering the question: “Who is doing what research in Canada”? Canada is home to many leading researchers across the country, whether at universities or within community-based settings, doing important work throughout many areas of interest within the career development field. The database brings this rich information together in one easy-to-use searchable online resource. 

There are currently 201 researchers in the database – both anglophone and francophone. It is expected that the database will be updated on an ongoing basis with new researchers added. The database can be filtered by institution, location or 50+ areas of interest, from gender to vocational psychology, and from Indigenous career development to social justice. 

How is the database of use? 

• Researchers, students, organizations and individuals can use the database to identify potential academic and non-academic partners for future research projects. 
• It can be used to begin to determine research already being done in Canada and how to best advance this knowledge. 
• The database is also of value as a jumping off point for those seeking to learn about the latest research in any area of career development. 

Starting with Michael Abbott at Queen’s University in Ontario with an interest in labour markets, through to Marcelline Bengaly at Université Laval in Quebec whose research includes immigrant groups and Dave Redekopp at Life-Role Development Group in Alberta whose focus includes mental health, and concluding with Richard Young in BC who has done research into youth and transitions, you are invited to scroll through the database found at ceric.ca/researchers. 

Consistent with CERIC’s strategic priorities, it is our intent that by documenting researchers in Canada, we can continue to advance knowledge in career development theory and practice, champion collaboration among diverse interestholders and facilitate conversations between career practitioners and researchers, as well as among educators, employers and policymakers. 

In particular, anyone applying for CERIC project funding will find the database helpful to assess how to proceed in building on existing research, and whether there is potential for collaboration. Additional related resources include 60 CERIC literature searches, the Canadian Journal of Career Development as well as our list of previously funded projects. 

CERIC will work to keep the database as current and accurate as possible. Researchers are asked to contact us to be added to the database or to have their information amended. Anyone is also welcome to reach out with a recommendation of a Canadian researcher to add by emailing CERIC’s Manager of Research Initiatives Alexandra Manoliu at alexandra@ceric.ca. 

The CERIC Board of Directors recently approved a project to revise Military to Civilian Employment: A Career Practitioner’s Guide for publication in January 2025. The new edition would reflect substantive changes within the Canadian military ecosystem and ensure that Canadian career professionals have an up-to-date resource to help ex-military clients smoothly transition from military roles into the civilian workforce. 

This second edition of the book will once again be authored by Canadian careers expert Yvonne Rodney, in collaboration with the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, Veterans Affairs Canada, Military Family Services as well as the Chief of Reserves and Employer Support. Organizations in Canada active in supporting veterans and military-to-civilian transitions are also again invited to become part of the project as Knowledge Champions. 

First released in 2016, more than 16,000 copies of the original book have been distributed. As with the first edition, the follow up will also be available both for sale as well as free download in English and French. The original edition was embraced by career development professionals across Canada seeking to be better equipped to support veterans in navigating the civilian job market and educational opportunities. 

 “The Military to Civilian Career Guide is an invaluable tool for Career Development Practitioners (CDPs) working with transitioning members of the military. It provides knowledge and comprehensive insight into needs, skills and experiences of members of the military, as well as effective tools and strategies for next steps. Yvonne uses storytelling, which brings the guide to life, providing a more immersive and dynamic learning experience. We have assisted military members and their families with career transitions, and we could not have done this as effectively without this guide. We look forward to an updated version of the Military to Civilian Career Guide which will ensure we provide the best possible service for our clients.” 

– Sue Watts, Executive Director, Employment + Education Centre, Brockville, ON 

The demand for support with employment transition for veterans remains high. The 2021 Statistics Canada Census of Population shows there are more than 450,000 veterans in Canada (up to age 59). Additionally, each year in Canada, approximately 8,000 military members are released from service (up from 5,000 each year when the original book was published) and increasingly at a younger age. 

Content for the second edition of the book will be updated to address current realities. In particular, the concept of “Military Cultural Competent Counselling” or M3C has emerged as a foundational approach to supporting veterans. Military cultural competence requires learning about military and veterans’ culture to be able to understand their unique experiences. Further, the kinds of services and support provided to transitioning military members has shifted as a result of Canada’s new Strong, Secure, Engaged Defence Policy and been augmented under the framework of the “Seven domains of well-being,” of which employment or meaningful purpose is at the top. It is also anticipated that new chapters would be added on reservists as well as on recruitment for the first time, informing career professionals about opportunities for clients to join the military as well as exit it.  

In the decade since CERIC began to develop the first edition of the book, it has continued to support military transition, including funding another project A Question of Style, that examined employer bias regarding veteran working style and continued to point the way for how career professionals can best support veterans in making the transition from military to civilian careers.  

The upcoming Cannexus conference, taking place Jan. 29-31, 2024, both online as well in Ottawa will also feature several military-focused presentations: 

• MCC: Military Cultural Competency Counselling with Jordan Camarda, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group (in-person) 
• Empowering Military Spouses’ Employment and Economic Opportunities with Elizabeth Nicholas, Trenton Military Family Resource Centre and Vanessa Walsh, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (virtual) 
• Canadian Forces Recruiting Group will also be back exhibiting for the first time since 2020 

For more information on this project or to get involved, please contact Sharon Ferriss, CERIC’s Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at sharon@ceric.ca

In 2024, CERIC is marking 20 years as a national charitable organization, advancing the field of career development in Canada. We have worked over that time to support diverse communities of career and employment professionals through education, research and advocacy.  

During the course of the coming year, we will be highlighting our history, our impacts, and our future directions to achieve our vision of a Canada where people have the capacity to use their skills and talents towards a more fulfilling future for all. 

Of course, these past two decades have only been possible with the incredible leadership and support of our funder The Counselling Foundation of Canada, our project partners, supporting organizations, Board members and Advisory Committee volunteers, and staff. 

We’ll kick off our anniversary celebrations on Jan. 29 at Cannexus, Canada’s Career Development Conference, which takes place both in Ottawa and virtually. 

Just some of the exciting initiatives to be showcased at Cannexus include: 

• Release of two seminal CERIC-funded reports – Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent: Mapping Canada’s Career Development Sector and Career Development 2040: Preparing for Possible Scenarios of Work and Careers  
• Publication of three new CERIC resources: Practice Principles: Career Theories and Models at Work, Exploring Possibilities! Journeying Through Career-Related Learning in Grades 4–6 and L’accompagnement visant l’intégration des personnes réfugiées faiblement scolarisées : une perspective interculturelle en orientation   
• Relaunch of CERIC’s Canadian Career Development Researcher Database featuring 200+ leading anglophone and francophone researchers from across Canada, in both academic and community-based settings   

With funding from The Counselling Foundation of Canada, CERIC began operations in 2004. CERIC provided a home for many important programs that preceded it, including the ContactPoint (now CareerWise) and OrientAction online content communities and the Canadian Journal of Career Development. CERIC launched the Cannexus conference in 2007 and has seen it develop into the largest annual event of its kind in the country. It has also nurtured a variety of project funding partnerships that have created innovative resources for career counselling and development. 

Over the past 20 years, CERIC has maintained its focus on increasing the economic and social well-being of people in Canada through career development. Our current strategic mandates to realize this are by “Promoting career development as a priority for public good” and “Building career development knowledge, mindsets and competencies.” During this time, we have continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of Canada’s career development professionals, enabling and supporting thought leadership, learning and skill building, community collaboration, and raising the profile of the field.