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.
The Fall 2024 edition of the Canadian Journal of Career Development (CJCD) marks its largest to date and the first under new Editor Jennifer Browne. The issue starts with a poignant editorial honouring the journal’s Founding Editor Rob Shea, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Inside this edition of the journal are articles from across Canada and beyond, including Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Topics focus on youth, young adults, employers, employees, career development theory and career within today’s context.
Articles
Academic book reviews
CJCD is a peer-reviewed publication of multi-sectoral career-related academic research and best practices from Canada and around the world. Submissions are open to articles that are Canadian and international in scope and deal with career development in its broadest sense. In addition to peer-reviewed Articles on completed research from faculty and graduate students, publication categories also include Research-In-Motion, Graduate Student Research Briefs, Practitioners & Community Best Practices and Book Reviews.
The journal is a partnership between CERIC and Memorial University of Newfoundland with the support of The Counselling Foundation of Canada as well as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. CJCD continues to publish twice a year in a digital format. It is free to subscribe and all issues of the open-access journal dating back to 2002 are available online.
CERIC is pleased to announce Meghan Lavallee as the new Chair of its Board of Directors for a two-year term. Lavallee, also the incoming Executive Director of Apprenticeship Manitoba, will lead the Board in delivering on CERIC’s mission to advance career development in Canada. A national charitable organization, CERIC has two strategic mandates: promoting career development as a priority for the public good, and building career development knowledge, mindsets and competencies.
For the past six years, Lavallee has worked with the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, most recently as the Director of Career and Student Engagement. She believes that we all have a role within the educational ecosystem to create successful career pathways and equitable access to further education, training and/or employment for all. Her passion for experiential learning and student success started as a student and staff member in the post-secondary sector. From there, she turned her love of student development to leadership roles with Career Trek, a not-for-profit that creates opportunities to catapult young Manitobans to career and education success.
Reflecting a cross-section of diverse career development leaders from across Canada, the full 2024/2025 CERIC Board of Directors includes:
Members of CERIC’s three Advisory Committees – Practical & Academic Research; Content & Learning; and Advocacy & Community Engagement – have also been appointed by the Board for the next year. Members of these committees play an important role in shaping CERIC’s projects, programs and publications.
CERIC is a charitable organization that advances education, research and advocacy in career counselling and development, in order to increase the economic and social well-being of people in Canada. We fund projects to develop innovative resources that build the knowledge and skills of diverse career and employment professionals. CERIC also annually hosts Cannexus, Canada’s largest bilingual career development conference, publishes the country’s only peer-reviewed journal, Canadian Journal of Career Development, and runs the CareerWise / OrientAction websites, providing the top career development news and views.
CERIC is thrilled to introduce a compelling series of learning opportunities this fall aimed at empowering career professionals, educators and counsellors with innovative insights and actionable strategies. Join us and elevate your practice, covering topics from diverse clients, youth and BIPOC-D empowerment, and much more!
Equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow. This free webinar series sponsored by RBC Future Launch delves into practical strategies and insights for career practitioners, focusing on how to prepare youth for an evolving job market. Enhance your practice by learning innovative approaches to guide the next generation in their career journeys.
Explore how culturally integrated storytelling can be a powerful tool for career practitioners. This webinar series, in partnership with the Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training (ASPECT), provides practical techniques for helping clients navigate life transitions by recognizing and incorporating their cultural narratives. Enhance your practice by learning to use storytelling to empower and connect with diverse clients.
Recognizing and understanding diversity is important for career and employment professionals, particularly when considering those within the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities who experience disability (BIPOC-D). This 6-week facilitated online certificate program has been developed by the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) in partnership with CERIC and will open two new cohorts in 2024, starting on September 16 and November 4, 2024. Limited spots are available.
We invite career practitioners to shape the future of professional development by submitting their webinar proposals for CERIC’s 2025 learning calendar. Our new submission form now integrates CERIC’s key areas of interest, making it easier than ever to align your ideas with our mission. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your expertise and contribute to the evolving landscape of career education. Consult the Audience Overview and Areas of Interest and submit your proposal.
Paid webinars will be recorded and individual certificates of attendance will be provided to all registered participants who attend the webinars live.
CERIC partners with associations and organizations across Canada and beyond to present webinars that offer affordable professional development. Previously, CERIC has also worked with the Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training BC, BC Career Development Association, Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers, Canadian Association for Supported Employment, Career Development Association of Alberta, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, Career Professionals of Canada, Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada, Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning Ontario, First Work, Labour Market Information Council, New Brunswick Career Development Association, Nova Scotia Career Development Association, Ontario Association of Career Management, Ontario School Counsellors’ Association, Association Québécoise des professionnels du développement de carrière, Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec, Career Development Association of New Zealand and the US-based National Career Development Association.
CERIC is pleased to announce a significant enhancement to its long-running Graduate Student Engagement Program, expanding eligibility to include part-time students. This change reflects our commitment to providing inclusive opportunities for career development excellence.
Since its inception, CERIC’s Graduate Student Engagement Program has been instrumental in equipping students with essential skills to excel in the field of career development. By extending eligibility to part-time students, CERIC ensures that a broader range of individuals can benefit from this exceptional opportunity. By accommodating the needs of part-time students, we are addressing the diverse circumstances of those balancing studies with other responsibilities.
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, researchers, practicians in the field and build a robust network of like-minded peers and professionals through a dynamic and comprehensive package of opportunities.
Open to graduate students enrolled in a Canadian university seeking to advance their careers in career development or related, GSEP offers unique opportunities:
Enrollment for the Graduate Student Engagement Program is now open. Secure your spot and embark on a transformative journey in career development excellence before November 1, 2024. Visit the GSEP page for more information and application details.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
