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Author Lisa Taylor will be offering a free webinar on Sept. 9 based on her popular new book that supports government managers in developing and engaging employees. Retain and Gain: Career Management for the Public Sector Playbook sold out on Amazon on its launch date and was downloaded more than 2,000 times in the first two months of release, demonstrating that career development, public sector careers and implications for public policy are critical topics in 2021.   

In this interactive webinar, future of work strategist Lisa Taylor will share how the Playbook has been received as she has worked with groups across the country to introduce this unique resource to executives, managers and employees. Having interacted with close to 1,800 public sector employees in a short period of time, Taylor will share some of the “behind-the-scenes” conversations, findings and uses that have been unearthed.  

Aimed at both public sector managers and career professionals counselling Canadians about opportunities in the public sector, the webinar will address: 

• What career management looks like in the post-pandemic hybrid workplace  
• How career management strategies can help to advance diversity, equity and inclusion   
• Shifting demographics and the implications for career management today  
• Concrete practical starting points for putting career management into action  
• How public servants at all levels affect the career development of Canadians   

A sought-after expert on today’s fast-changing world of work, Taylor is President of Challenge Factory and the Centre for Career Innovation. She offers invaluable leadership and insights on how to gain strategic workforce and career advantage with a focus on talent equity, demographics and new market dynamics. 

The Playbook, which was released in May, identifies 40+ low-cost tips, activities and actions that public sector managers can take starting today (some in only 10 minutes a day) to attract, engage and retain staff. Written in an innovative “travel guide” format, the Playbook integrates a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) throughout and recognizes the unique context of public sector workplaces. It is available for purchase or can be downloaded for free at ceric.ca/publicsector. This Playbook follows two earlier Retain and Gain editions Career Management for Small Business and Career Management for Non-Profits and Charities. 

The 2022 Cannexus Career Development Conference – to be held as a hybrid event for the first time – is now open for registration. This dual format for the 16th annual conference will offer the best of both worlds, providing an accessible, content-rich and value-packed opportunity for Canada’s career development communities to convene, share and learn. Cannexus22 will take place Jan. 24-26, 2022 both virtually and in Ottawa, Canada with a bonus ​virtual-only conference day, Cannexus Reflections, on Feb. 4.  

Cannexus brings together professionals across the career and workforce development ecosystem to explore research, policy and practice. The conference will continue to reimagine the impact of career development on education, the economy and social justice as pandemic recovery unfolds. In the past, live Cannexus conferences have drawn more than 1,200 delegates and, last year, the virtual conference attracted more than 2,300 participants.  

Two keynote speakers have been announced so far for Cannexus22: Waneek Horn-Miller and Yvonne Rodney. Horn-Miller is a Mohawk Olympian whose keynotes are aimed at bridging the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. A former Director of the Career Centre at the University of Toronto, Rodney describes herself as an unapologetic introvert who is also an author, career consultant, speaker and playwright. She will discuss how to move from languishing to finding joy in the now.  

The Cannexus schedule for both the in-person and virtual portions is available with the program to be posted by the end of September. Content will cover current and emerging hot topics in career development, including: the future of work and workplaces, building mental health and resilience, and post-COVID labour market trends. Whether part of the in-person version or the virtual conference, delegates will be able to access: 

• 150+ sessions both live and on-demand 
• Presenters from across Canada and around the globe 
• Recordings that are available for six months 
• Networking opportunities 
• Exhibitor Showcase 

This instalment of Cannexus will continue to offer special Gratitude rates plus deep discounts for groups, students and members of 30+ provincial, national and international supporting organizations. The Gratitude rate ends Sept. 9, 2021. There are also bursaries available to support individuals in attending the virtual portion of the conference. For 2022, the Marilyn Van Norman Bursary will be awarded to 13 applicants from charitable or non-profit community-based organizations. Additionally, the Young Professionals Bursary will support 12 emerging employment and career development practitioners to attend. Application deadlines are September 30, 2021.  

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