CERIC

01/20/2026

🎓 Welcoming the 2026 Graduate Student Engagement Program (GSEP) cohort

CERIC is pleased to welcome a dynamic group of graduate students whose work spans career development, education, counselling, social work, design, public policy, health and more. Through GSEP, this cohort will engage with Canada’s career development community and contribute research-informed insights that strengthen policy and practice.

👉 Read the full announcement on ceric.ca: https://ceric.ca/2026/01/ceric-welcomes-new-graduate-student-engagement-program-cohort/

👏 Congratulations to the 2026 GSEP cohort:
• Sevgi Cin — St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta
• Tanya Bilsbury — Saint Mary’s University
• Aravindh Palaniguru — University of Calgary
• Jerome Reid — Western University
• Sahar Charouandi — Université de Montréal
• Bailey Binns-Franchetto — Wilfrid Laurier University
• João Victor Faria de Mattos Freire — OCAD University
• Alana Giesbrecht — Yorkville University
• Bridgette Moulton — Wilfrid Laurier University
• Lisa Higashi — University of British Columbia
• Mehre Dlir — University of British Columbia
• Siyi Cheng — University of British Columbia
• Ruohan (Alicia) Tian — OCAD University
• Christine Mishra — University of Toronto
• Noah Arney — University of British Columbia
• Emily Carew — University of Ottawa
• Ariadne Jevnikar — Lakehead University
• Melchior Sysing — University of Saskatchewan
• Oluseun Olayinka — Wilfrid Laurier University
• Hussain Ahmad — Queen’s University
• KhamKham Souad — Université du Québec à Montréal
• Ilakkiah Chandran — University of Toronto

We look forward to learning from this cohort throughout the year as they help shape the future of career development in Canada.

01/20/2026

Just announced! The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families, will appear on the Cannexus Main Stage on Tuesday, January 27 at 8:30 am. The Minister will speak to the future of work and the essential role of career development in supporting Canadians through uncertainty.

At Cannexus, Minister Hajdu will share federal perspectives on preparing Canada’s workforce for the future, including how public policy, skills development and career services can work together to support inclusive labour market participation and long-term economic resilience.

is Canada’s largest bilingual career development conference, and will bring together more than 1,500 professionals in career and workforce development both in-person in Ottawa as well as virtually.

01/15/2026

The Career Myth Buster Quiz was recently featured in the Toronto Sun as part of a broader conversation about common misconceptions shaping how young people think about careers.

Meghan Lavallee, Chair of CERIC’s Board of Directors, discusses why career development is best understood as a lifelong process of exploration rather than a single high-stakes decision.

Here are five of the top career myths explored in the article:
1. Making the “wrong” career choice will ruin your future
2. You must find your passion before choosing a direction
3. Only certain careers allow you to make a difference
4. A university degree is the only path to a good career
5. Top grades alone determine success

The Career Myth Buster Quiz is designed to help students, educators and parents challenge outdated assumptions and support more informed, flexible career thinking.

💭 Which career myths resonate most with you, and which others do you see shaping decisions today?

🔗 Read the full article:https://ceric.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CERIC_TS-Careers_Jan.-14th-2026.pdf

💡 Take the quiz: https://bit.ly/4oU2ZZS

🔍 Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LF5PTU

01/13/2026

Let’s advocate for the value of career development together!

CERIC’s FREE Media Relations Training Program is designed to help career development professionals elevate their public profile and increase awareness of the field.

What you’ll gain:
📜 A certificate in 3 hours
📧 Ready-to-use pitch templates
💡 Knowledge from a Canadian public relations expert

https://bit.ly/3LZrkNk Keka DasGupta

Any career development or related professional in Canada who wants to advance their career development messages and build profile in the media. Whether you have experience in this area or not, this foundational training will allow you to build or enhance your skills, confidence – and results with ...

01/12/2026

Dernière chance de vous inscrire à Cannexus26!

Inscrivez-vous d’ici le vendredi 16 janvier (23 h 59 HE) pour vous joindre à plus de 1 300 pairs et prendre part aux liens et aux conversations qui façonnent le développement de carrière au Canada depuis 20 ans.

Cette année marque le 20e anniversaire de , sous le thème Évolution du travail, impact élargi.

Faits saillants des activités précongrès:

⭐ AI Leadership Lab avec Mark Patterson (Magnet), un atelier intensif d’une demi-journée destiné aux leaders qui accompagnent l’adoption de l’IA dans les services de développement de carrière

⭐ Bâtir l’espoir avec Andrea Fruhling (Doubleknot Works), une séance pratique utilisant des métaphores et la méthode LEGO® Serious Play®pour approfondir les conversations sur la carrière

Vous assistez à Cannexus pour la première fois? Participez à la séance d’accueil des personnes participantes pour la première fois le lundi 26 janvier (7 h 30 à 8 h 15 HE) afin de vous orienter et d’aborder votre expérience Cannexus en toute confiance.

De plus, ne manquez pas notre rencontre de réseautage francophone et francophile le samedi 26 janvier (18 h 30 à 20 h HE) dans un pub situé près du Centre Rogers.

📅Inscription avant le 16 janvier
📍Cannexus débute le 26 janvier — en personne à Ottawa et en mode virtuel

En savoir plus: https://mailchi.mp/ceric.ca/cx26-fr-dernire-semaine-pour-sinscrire-5976700?e=[UNIQID]

01/12/2026

⭐ Last chance to register for Cannexus26!

Register by Friday, January 16 (11:59 pm ET) to join more than 1,300 peers for the connections and conversations that have shaped career development in Canada for 20 years.
This year marks Cannexus’ 20th anniversary, with the theme Evolving Work, Expanding Impact.

Pre-conference highlights include:
• AI Leadership Lab with Mark Patterson (Magnet), a high-impact, half-day workshop for leaders guiding AI adoption in career services
• Building Hope with Andrea Fruhling (Doubleknot Works), a hands-on session using metaphors and LEGO® Serious Play® to deepen career conversations

New to Cannexus? Join the First-timers’ Session on Monday, January 26 (7:30–8:15 am ET) to get oriented and feel confident starting your Cannexus experience.

Plus, don’t miss our Francophone/Francophile networking meetup on Saturday, January 26 (6:30–8:00 pm ET) at a pub near the Rogers Centre.

📅 Register by January 16
📍 begins January 26 — in person in Ottawa and virtually

Learn more: https://mailchi.mp/ceric.ca/cx26-last-week-to-register-5976642?e=[UNIQID]

01/08/2026

Dr. Candy Ho (何甜茵), CERIC Past Chair, recently joined Mark Towhey and Shane Hewitt on Newstalk 1010 to explore two timely workforce issues: what wage transparency really offers workers and employers, and why midlife may be an ideal time to rethink one’s career.

On wage transparency, Dr. Ho discussed Ontario’s new legislation, which requires employers to include salary ranges in publicly advertised job postings and restricts the use of pay history in hiring. She emphasized the value of clarity for both workers and employers, noting that “more information is better. Salary transparency helps people decide whether or not to apply.”

Turning to career transitions on Shiftheads, Dr. Ho reflected on why midlife can be an ideal moment to reassess priorities and possibilities. She highlighted that career growth does not always require a job change, sharing that “there are ways to grow within your organization and look for opportunities before making a change.”

🎧 Listen to both interviews to hear Dr. Ho’s perspectives on wage transparency and navigating career change in midlife.

Changes to Ontario's Wage Transparency Law Takes Effect January 1, 2026: https://omny.fm/shows/newstalk1010/changes-to-ontarios-wage-transparency-law-takes-effect-january-1-2026?in_playlist=mark-towhey

Shiftheads - Why Midlife Might Be the Best Time to Change Careers: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/962-shane-hewitt-and-the-night-193815641/episode/shiftheads-why-midlife-might-be-314612810/

01/07/2026

Start the year with skills you can use.

Developed in partnership with CASE - Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), our 6-week Certificate Program: An Intersectional Approach to Supporting Career Development runs January 26-March 8 — an ideal opportunity to build practical, equity-informed skills you can apply throughout 2026.

Designed for career development practitioners, employment counsellors and workforce professionals, the program supports effective work with Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities who experience disability (BIPOC-D).
Multiple cohort dates are available throughout the year, but the January cohort is starting soon.


Learn more and explore cohort dates: https://mailchi.mp/ceric.ca/case-2026-jan-cohort-5976609?e=[UNIQID]

12/20/2025

How can career educators have more productive, ethical and confidence-building conversations with students about AI?

Megan MacLennan and Jennifer Bradley share practical strategies drawn from their work in post-secondary education. Their reflections moves beyond tools and tips to focus on how intentional prompting, critical reflection and clear boundaries can help students use AI more thoughtfully in their learning, job search and career decision-making.

Read the full article on CareerWise:
https://bit.ly/3ME2sxn

Plus, if you're attending in-person Cannexus in January, join Jennifer and Megan for their session on:
Prompting success: Coaching jobseekers to leverage GenAI for interviews. They'll explore practical AI prompts, ethical considerations and hands-on strategies to support jobseekers in interview preparation. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/497DeyZ

12/19/2025

The CERIC team wrapped up the year with a holiday bowling get-together! We are bowled over and ready to roll into 2026, including celebrating 20 years of Cannexus with you this January.

12/19/2025

L’équipe de CERIC a conclu l’année par une activité de quilles en équipe pour les Fêtes. Nous sommes ravis et prêts à amorcer 2026, notamment en célébrant avec vous les 20 ans de Cannexus en janvier.

12/18/2025

This holiday season, we’re grateful to the partners, presenters and career professionals who helped make this year one of impact and progress.
From Cannexus 2025 to new learning, research and advocacy initiatives, we’re proud to support career development professionals across Canada.

Thank you for being part of the CERIC community. We look forward to what the year ahead will bring!