CANNEXUS 2009, hosted in Toronto on April 6 – 8 was an overwhelming success! Thank you to all the delegates, session presenters and exhibitors for making this, our 3rd national conference, a success. Thanks also to our Sponsors as well as the many Partnering and Supporting Organizations.
CERIC is pleased to share its 2023 Annual Report, taking stock of all that we’ve accomplished during the past year, while looking ahead to our 20th anniversary. The theme of this annual report is “Future-proofing the field,” and reflects the many exciting projects and initiatives we undertook to prepare the career development sector for what’s next.
Our CERIC strategic plan, which will remain in place until 2025, outlines two primary strategic mandates that allow us to deliver on our mission of advancing career development in Canada:
These mandates guide our work and are centred around research and advocacy on the one hand, and education and resource development on the other.
CERIC continues to do the tireless work of raising the profile of career professionals and career development. Our big tent approach invites engagement and collaboration from interestholders and partners nationally as well as globally. Our 19th year saw increased media coverage of our efforts as well as high-profile international exposure with keynote talks in New Zealand and Austria.
The past year, CERIC hosted the first-ever fully hybrid Cannexus conference. Our team leveraged what it learned about hosting virtual events during the pandemic with our existing knowledge of how to run world-class in-person conferences. A pivotal moment for CERIC, Cannexus 2023 allowed us to expand our reach to new attendees on a global scale. The hybrid nature of the event also made the conference more accessible and inclusive as attendees and presenters alike could join from anywhere.
Our research and advocacy initiatives to raise the profile of the field took on many forms in 2023, including the thought-provoking Career Development in 2040 report, which identifies 10 megatrends that workers, employers – as well as those who advise them – need to understand in a labour market facing massive disruption. Development of a National Advocacy Campaign kicked-off with important conversations taking place across the country to explore how we can best promote why our work matters. Throughout the past year, research was also carried out that will for the first time deliver a comprehensive picture of who is doing what career development work and where in Canada. The resulting report Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent: Mapping Canada’s Career Development Sector will provide rich insights to drive advocacy.
It was an equally prolific year for CERIC with its educational offerings as we held in-depth webinars on a range of topics, including Indigenous approaches to career development, trauma-informed practice, and neurodivergence in career development, to name just a few. A new publication, the Exploring Possibilities! Journeying Through Career-Related Learning in Grades 4–6: A Teaching Toolkit shines a light on the value and many ways of undertaking career-related learning in elementary schools. Resources such as these are designed to be practical and immediately useful. Another example of this is the release in 2024 of Practice Principles: Career Theories and Models at Work, the follow-up to the original book that featured leading theorists from around the world.
The work achieved by CERIC in 2023 was under the leadership of new Executive Director Kay Castelle, building on the solid footing established by founding Executive Director Riz Ibrahim. The year came to a close with our 20th anniversary on the horizon and many seeds planted for a fruitful anniversary in 2024. CERIC is poised for another bold year ahead, at the forefront of an ambitious global movement to solidify an evidence base for the field and communicate the transformative potential of career development.
In addition to these highlights, as well as financial statements, the CERIC 2023 Annual Report includes an acknowledgement of CERIC staff as well as a special thank you to the Board of Directors – chaired by the award-winning Dr. Candy Ho – Advisory Committee volunteers, and our funder, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, for its steadfast support.
It is with profound sadness that CERIC learned of the sudden passing last week of its founding Board Chair and one of Canada’s foremost career development leaders, Dr. Robert (Rob) Shea.
Rob had been involved with CERIC since its inception 20 years ago and was a member of its 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,” said Riz Ibrahim, President and CEO of The Counselling Foundation of Canada, who counted Rob as not only a colleague but a longtime friend. “His passion and enthusiasm were infectious. This is a heavy loss.”
Rob had a significant and deep history with CERIC and its work. He was the Board Chair at ContactPoint, the pioneering web hub for Canada’s career development community that launched in 1997. He was also instrumental in establishing the Etta St. John Wileman Award, bestowed for outstanding achievement in career development. And he helped to shape Cannexus into Canada’s largest career development conference, continuing to support its growth.
Those in the career development community are remembering Rob as a transformational leader, a gifted storyteller and a positive force. An award-winning researcher, he was passionate about students and career development and an inspirational mentor to countless colleagues. Rob has influenced generations of graduate students and contributed his talents to support multiple associations in the career development sector and beyond. His peers are reflecting on the huge hole he leaves in many hearts and his tremendous legacy in the career development field.
“In the year since I joined CERIC, Rob had generously shared his wisdom and incredible depth of knowledge as part of our Board,” said CERIC Executive Director Kay Castelle. “Rob has been a tireless advocate for our work and was excited about new projects CERIC was developing, including around military to civilian transitions, which he was particularly passionate about.”
The CERIC Board and staff extend their deepest condolences to Rob’s family, friends and colleagues. We will be continuing to showcase and honour Rob’s remarkable life, and contributions to the career development field over the coming weeks and months.
Unit: Learning and Development
Reporting to: Lead, Programs, Learning and Development
Duration: Full-time summer contract position from June 12, 2024 to September 4, 2024
Compensation: $20.00/hour for 35 hours/week
Location: Hybrid or Remote
For remote work, the hire can be situated anywhere in Canada. It requires that the individual have a reliable computer, good internet access and a dedicated (quiet) workspace. For hybrid work, workplace accommodations can be made. CERIC’s office is located in Toronto, the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Petun, Haundenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Mississauga Anishinaabe of New Credit.
About Us:
CERIC is a charitable organization dedicated to advancing education, research, and advocacy in career counselling and development. Our mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being of Canadians by promoting career development across the country. We fund innovative projects, host bilingual conferences, publish a peer-reviewed journal, curate online platforms like CareerWise/OrientAction, and offer comprehensive webinars and courses to empower career and employment professionals.
Position Overview:
You’ll join a small, passionate group working to advance the learning and professional development of Career Development Professionals. As Content, Learning & Communication Intern, you’ll collaborate with the Learning and Development team, working closely with the Lead, Programs, Learning and Development, and the Lead, Content, Learning and Development. Leveraging your skills in research, writing, communication, and organization, you will undertake tasks such as writing blog post listicles and webinar scripts, identifying subject matter experts for webinars, researching resources to enrich our learning materials, posting content on WordPress sites, and analyzing survey results.
By joining CERIC, you will have the opportunity to contribute to our mission of advancing career development in Canada, making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and communities.
CERIC’s values are Inclusivity, Accessibility, Collaboration, Diversity, Integrity and Aspiration. We prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion not only in our programs but also as an employer. Our team consists of individuals with diverse strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, all sharing a passion for advancing meaningful projects. All of our employees’ points of view are key to our success. We are committed to racial justice and reconciliation. For this role, we will be actively prioritizing individuals from underrepresented groups (including women, gender minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, Black individuals, racialized individuals, and individuals from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities) to apply for this position.
CERIC offers a positive work environment (in a unique co-location space at Foundation House) and a culture that supports healthy balance as well as professional development. We also offer flexible work arrangements to accommodate diverse needs.
Accessibility
Our Toronto office, located at Yonge and St Clair, is wheelchair accessible and is conveniently accessible by subway. We offer disability-related accommodations upon request for candidates participating in our hiring process.
Please contact Cyrielle Filias at cyrielle@ceric.ca to discuss your needs or if you have any questions regarding accessibility.
Core Responsibilities
What We Look For
Additionally, this position is being funded in part by the Canada Summer Jobs program. As such, the hire MUST be:
*International students are not eligible. Recent immigrants are eligible if they are Canadian Citizens or permanent residents.
How to Apply
Send an email to Cyrielle Filias, Lead, Programs, Learning and Development at cyrielle@ceric.ca by Monday, May 27, 2024 (or until filled). The email must include:
CERIC will once again fund a project for Mount Royal University to update its popular guide to computing careers, reflecting the significant changes to both the computing industry and computing careers since the pandemic. The third edition of Computing Disciplines: A Quick Guide for Prospective Students and Career Advisors will reflect how new areas such as data science, AI and cybersecurity have burst onto the scene, feature more content on BIPOC professionals in the technology field, and include additional information on educational pathways available in the North.
The main aim of the guide remains to support career counselling for students interested in technology. The updated version of the guide will be relevant to a broad demographic of Canadians exploring a career in the computing disciplines. It will help high school counsellors, parents and prospective students seeking to understand the many educational pathways into computing careers.
Research for the original project – undertaken by an international research team led by Calgary’s Mount Royal University – found that most undergraduate students did not understand the differences between the five computing disciplines (computer engineering, information technology, information systems, software engineering and computer science). It also became clear that career counsellors and other career advisors needed more information to support their clients.
This research informed the development of a graphically oriented 32-page guide from Mount Royal authors Randy Connolly, Janet Miller and Faith-Michael Uzoka. The first edition of Computing Disciplines launched 2018. Based on demand, a French adaptation of the guide was also released. In 2020, the 40-page second edition of the guide was launched and featured new areas of specialization within computing, providing more information about pathways into computing careers, as well as career advice from professionals working in these fields. Remarkably, more than 200,000 copies of the guide are now in circulation and they have met with very positive feedback. The Guide has been featured on several post-secondary websites including Dawson College and McGill University.
The third edition of the guide will incorporate several key changes:
The guide is being used at both the secondary and post-secondary levels to inform students in their decision-making around computing-related education and career paths, so they can make choices that are aligned with their values, interests and skills. Computing Disciplines provides an overview of each of the disciplines and related careers, core courses, key tasks and sample jobs. In particular, the guide helps provide students with adequate discipline information prior to application for program admission or prior to when they are required to choose their major.
The new guide is expected to be released at the Cannexus conference in January 2025, and once again will be made available for free download.
CERIC provides funding and other support to develop innovative career development resources. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to submit project proposals for career counselling-related research or learning projects.
CERIC is recruiting participants for a set of virtual Idea Exchanges to understand the current state of career exploration and planning in high schools across Canada, from the perspective of students as well as educators. These insights will help to inform the development of career education initiatives at the secondary school level.
Idea Exchange
Open Call for High School Students
How Are You Thinking About Your Career?
Note: A Participation Release Form must be signed by a parent/guardian. Each participating student will receive an honorarium. This is also an opportunity to gain community involvement volunteer hours where required.
Idea Exchange
Open Call for High School Guidance Counsellors, Educators & Administrators
How Are You Supporting Student Career Planning?
If you are a high school education professional – or parent of a teenager – please share the opportunity to participate in the student Idea Exchange. We encourage members of historically under-represented groups to apply.
These dynamic discussions – to be conducted over Zoom – will centre around experiences, needs and aspirations related to student post-secondary career exploration and planning. We are seeking to gather insights into how educators, families and communities can better support students to begin charting their work-life journeys. As everyone navigates a fast-changing world, we want to identify what’s working and what’s not:
If you’re interested in participating in this national conversation, apply by Monday, May 13: https://ceric.ca/special-initiatives/high-school-idea-exchange/ Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a difference in students’ futures.
FREE SPONSORED WEBINAR SERIES
 Presenters
The three groups of panelists will be announced by RBC Future Launch soon.
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| This webinar series is generously sponsored by RBC Future Launch and offered free of charge for all participants. Learn more about RBC Future Launch and its current work. |
French subtitles are available on the recordings of this webinar series.
The future of work is changing. Youth are motivated and embrace lifelong learning as a key to their success – but they still need support.
Join us for this FREE webinar series from RBC Future Launch to hear from three different valuable groups of panellists composed of researchers, youth-serving organizations and social enterprises discussing resources focused on supporting Canadian youth with skill development, practical work experiences, networking and mentorship supports.
This 3-part webinar series will cover a range of engaging topics, from scholarships to post-secondary education, to practical tools for youth seeking job experiences and skill development opportunities. Participants will also get the chance to gain insights from research on the labour market and further understand the outcomes for youth participating in career development programming.
Throughout the series, career practitioners and educators will get the chance to engage with subject matter experts and sector leaders and get actionable insights on programs and initiatives that have made a significant impact on youth. Participants will be exposed to a diversity of free programs and resources to add to their tooldkit. By the end of the series, career development practitioners – especially those working with youth aged 15-29 – will leave with practical knowledge, tools and resources they can apply and share in their work with their young clients.
In this webinar researchers from the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo will share the results of the RBC Young People & Economic Inclusion Longitudinal Study. A panel of youth will respond to the findings of the study.
In this webinar, RBC will share the findings of its recently published thought leadership report Untapped Potential: Opening Doors to Opportunity Through Scholarships. You will also learn about the RBC Future Launch suite of scholarships that support access to post–secondary education for youth who remain underrepresented in colleges and universities.
In this webinar, participants will learn about free online programs and resources offered through RBC Future Launch from RBC partner organizations in the career development ecosystem.
CERIC webinars are hosted on Zoom. Learn about it in our FAQ.
Youth deserve a better chance! RBC Future Launch is a catalyst for change bringing people together to co-create solutions so young people are better prepared for the future of work. With that in mind, RBC has made a commitment to youth and to Canada’s future. Going beyond financial investment, RBC is engaging the public and private sectors to further understand the issue and make a significant impact on the lives of young Canadians.
Access hundreds of programs, tools and resources designed by RBC’s partners to help youth launch their career.
PAID WEBINAR SERIES
| Presenter
Magdalena Mot, Senior Manager for Work-Integrated Learning, Capilano University
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Storytelling is perhaps the most time-honoured form of communication. More often than not, our first professional encounter starts with an invitation: “So, tell me about yourself”. Yet many of us are not equipped to tell our story to someone unfamiliar with our culture. Indeed, the art of storytelling draws on self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and effective message delivery. So, how do we support a client and alleviate the stress resulting from cultural misunderstandings? How do we eliminate the risk of a client being “dismissed” before they even get assessed for the job? How can career practitioners, especially those working with diverse populations, equip their clients with the knowledge of storytelling and support them in navigating not only the process of their job search, but also their life transition?
The series aims to empower practitioners by providing a comprehensive understanding of storytelling’s profound role, with a specific focus on pivotal aspects during significant transitions. It will prepare career practitioners with practical skills to guide clients through storytelling nuances, fostering self-confidence and preserving cultural distinctiveness.
We’ll start the series by reviewing the differences between cultural assimilation and cultural integration. We’ll explore the essentials skills that career development practitioners need to build when helping clients to integrate their story with their culture and how they can empower clients to cultivate cultural competency by encouraging authentic storytelling. Our presenter will use intercultural learning models and point participants towards tools and resources to support their clients in finding common communication grounds when conversing with people from different cultures.
At the end of the series, practitioners will be able to better coach their clients in telling their own stories and will have the tools to effectively support them in implementing practical steps that allow for a smooth cultural transition. Our end goal is to empower clients to preserve and appreciate their cultural uniqueness while learning how to nurture their own understanding and appreciation for cultural differences.
Career practitioners will gain an understanding of the mechanisms that underpin cultural integration, which in turn will help them illustrate the steps clients would need to take so they can move forward. CDPs will look at these steps through the lens of those who are just entering a new workplace culture.
The importance of storytelling in one’s life will be the highlight of this second webinar of the series. With a focus on the span of a major life transition, such as moving to a new country, we will be using Nancy Schlosberg’s transitions theory to look at factors describing the Self. To showcase the importance of storytelling, we will watch video interviews and review the implications that “dismissed” or “muted” stories can have on one’s professional development, growth and mental health.
Learn how to find common communication grounds and encourage diverse clients to use authentic storytelling in all their professional encounters.
Individual certificates of attendance will be provided for each webinar of the series. Please note that individual certificates of attendance will ONLY be provided to registered participants who attend the webinar LIVE.
| COST for the full series | |
| Individual Rate | $159 |
| Group Rate* | $119.25 per person |
| ASPECT Members | COST for the full series |
| Individual Rate | $119 |
| Group Rate* | $89.25 per person |
* If you register 5 or more participants from the same organization at the same time, you qualify for the group rate of 25% off registration fees.
CERIC webinars are hosted on Zoom. Learn about it in our FAQ.
Magdalena Mot is currently the Senior Manager for Work-Integrated Learning at Capilano University. With an academic background in cultural anthropology and several years of work experience in project management, Dr. Mot’s current research interests are focused on the ties between one’s cultural heritage and the ways this inheritance affects one’s career development decisions, especially when in a major transition. Dr. Mot’s work connects experiences scattered over 25 years of living, working and studying in four different countries and speaks directly to her core values of diversity, authenticity and her drive to build inclusive communities.
Dr. Mot is an experienced educator and she has over 12 years of teaching experience. Her specializations include career development and intercultural communication in a global business ecosystem. Currently a Certified Master of Career Services (CMCS), Dr. Mot is also the Chair of NCDA’s Global Connections Committee, and an active member of CERIC’s Practical and Academic Research Committee.
CERIC has issued its Call for Presenters to be part of the next hybrid Cannexus, the largest bilingual Career Development Conference in Canada. The call is open to anyone who wants to help the career development community to reflect, celebrate and dig into new trends. Speakers can present in-person in Ottawa, Canada, or virtually at the conference to be held Jan. 27-29, 2025. Cannexus welcomes presentations in either English or French.
Presenting at Cannexus provides an unmatched opportunity to exchange information and explore unique and effective approaches in the areas of career counselling and career and workforce development. The last conference brought together 2,000 people across Canada and the world. Presenters inspire others thanks to their knowledge and gain experience as well as a new level of networking.
Cannexus speakers are researchers and practitioners from universities, schools, community agencies, governments, private practices and corporations. We strongly encourage proposals from individuals from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities. Speakers and attendees are professionals in career and workforce development and related fields who are forward-thinkers with fresh and impactful ideas and projects to convey.
More than 29 areas of interest have been identified to help presenters develop their submissions. Themes range from Effective career counselling and coaching to Trauma-informed practice, and from AI & new technology/tools to the Future of work and workplaces. There is also interest in sessions on Talent management & leadership development geared to directors of career and employment centres. Additionally, international presenters are also welcome to present global perspectives on career development research and practice.
The submission deadline is Friday, May 31, 2024. Please review the terms and guidelines of presenting prior to submitting a proposal. Learn more about Cannexus in this recap of Cannexus24 along with reviews from past delegates.
Cannexus is presented by CERIC and supported by The Counselling Foundation of Canada and a broad network of supporting organizations and partners.
PAST PAID WEBINAR SERIES
| Presenters
Marie Zimenoff, CEO of Career Thought Leaders and Resume Writing Academy
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Artificial intelligence is now a power skill, and will soon be integrated into roles across the workforce. Generative AI is a requested skill in job descriptions across industries, and AI is one of the top skills employees want to learn. We read posts about how AI tools can be used in career services and the best prompts to use, but most are still unsure of the appropriate tools to use, how to incorporate them in a way that best serves their clients’ job search process, and what to watch out for to ensure ethical use and avoid missteps. We lack practical case studies shared from a career development lens and a reframe of “prompt engineering” that incorporates our expertise for the best outcomes from the tools.
Generative AI and other AI tools are a powerful addition to the career service toolkit, speeding up research, improving jobseeker approach, and freeing up time for transformational coaching interaction. But they can also create content that raises red flags and provide incorrect or misleading answers.
In this series, career services providers will get a comprehensive toolkit for using AI tools and generative AI alongside career development best practices for the best client outcomes. Participants will engage in a hands-on learning series where they will be walked through several tools and scenarios to experiment with, along with opportunities to exchange and discuss with colleagues in smaller groups. Based on tests of dozens of tools, attendees will get recommendations for free or low-cost resources for working with clients, guidelines for using these tools ethically, and new ways to think about prompting in generative AI tools.
At the end of the series they will know how to use tools to improve career exploration and research, job search and interviewing, and writing career search documents like resumes, LinkedIn profiles and cover letters.
Individual certificates of attendance will be provided for each webinar of the series. Please note that individual certificates of attendance will ONLY be provided to registered participants who attend the webinar LIVE.
| COST for the full series | |
| Individual Rate | $159 |
| Group Rate* | $119.25 per person |
* If you register 5 or more participants from the same organization at the same time, you qualify for the group rate of 25% off registration fees.
CERIC webinars are hosted on Zoom. Learn about it in our FAQ.
Marie Zimenoff is known as a pioneer on the leading edge of career industry trends and technology. She began her professional career as an advisor and recruiter in higher education while completing her M.Ed. in human resource studies, career and counselling development. In 2008—the peak of the Great Recession—Marie left the university to start her business. Inspired by a passion to make a difference in the industry, as CEO of Career Thought Leaders and Resume Writing Academy, she releases an annual industry trends white paper and trains career professionals around the globe in resume writing, career coaching and business development. She has been speaking on technology topics in the careers industry at international events like the Asia Pacific Career Development Association, national industry conferences, and career and technical education events.
In a significant advance forward in the field of career development, CERIC and the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) proudly announce the launch of their first online course, “An Intersectional Approach to Supporting Career Development” moving towards greater equity and empowerment for clients.
Canada’s workforce thrives on its diversity, with each individual bringing unique identities and experiences. Understanding his diversity is crucial for career and employment professionals, especially when addressing the needs of BIPOC-D communities. CASE’s Diversity Works report underlines how racialized Canadians with disabilities often face unstable work conditions, despite being qualified. Given that 14.3% of Canadians over 15 with disabilities belong to visible minority groups, an intersectional approach is vital for employment professionals to effectively support their job search.
Crafted with a keen understanding of the nuanced challenges faced by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities who experience disability (BIPOC-D), this 6-weeks certificate program will enable career professionals with the awareness, tools and insights needed to navigate the complexities of intersectionality in career development, support and assist clients to advance in their chosen careers.
Participants can expect to:
Registration for “An Intersectional Approach to Supporting Career Development” is now open and the first cohort starts on March 4, 2024. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.
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