November 26th & 27th, 2024 | Online
Learning and collaboration for professionals supporting
student career development.
Registration is now closed
To find out when the next Career Development Forum is taking place,
we invite you to join our mailing list.
Gain Insights and Build Meaningful Connections
Live presentations by industry experts
Collaborative roundtable discussions
Engaging discussion boards
Interactive networking opportunities
Affordable professional development for anyone who talks to students about their future.
The Career Development Forum offers a virtual conference and collaboration platform for professionals in co-op, WIL, EL, career services, and other campus departments that respond to students’ career questions and concerns.
With a particular focus on individuals and teams who are newer to the field or working directly with students, the Career Development Forum provides an affordable learning and networking opportunity for all.
Why should I attend?
Grow your confidence when addressing students questions and concerns
Discover the “big picture” when it comes to students’ career development
Understand co-op, WIL, EL and students’ other developmental options
Participate in discussions with like-minded individuals
Hear about new approaches to help students discover their future
Build a network of peers at schools across Canada
Discover areas of the profession for your own career growth
Learn techniques and practices to improve your work
Access resources and session recordings for six months
Expert Presenters
The following presenters are confirmed – others will be added soon.
Blessie Mathew
University of Alberta
Director, Career Centre and Experiential Learning
Brenda Badgero
Simon Fraser University
Career Education Manager, Career & Volunteer Services
Cara Krezek
The Talent Strategy Collective
Chief Purpose Officer & Founder
Dr. Jennifer Browne
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Director, Student Life
Graham Donald
Brainstorm Strategy Group
Founder & President
Graham Donald
Brainstorm Strategy Group
Founder & President
Greta Heathcote
University of Calgary
Associate Director, Work-Integrated Learning & Neurodiversity Initiative, Taylor Institute for Teaching & Learning
J.J. Kemlo
Ontario Tech University
Strategic Partnership Officer & Program Manager, Student Enrichment Program - Partnership Office
Jeanelle Desjarlais
University of Saskatchewan
Indigenous Experiential Learning Coordinator
JP Michel
SparkPath
Founder
Katherine St. Louis
Wilfrid Laurier University
Associate Director, Operations & Experiential Learning – Career Development Centre
Kimberley Rawes
UBC
Manager, Career and Professional Development
Matt Purdey
RRC Polytech
Career Advisor, Work-Integrated Learning and Career Services
Melanie Richardson
Centennial College
Coordinator, Cooperative Education Career Services & Cooperative Education
Melissa McNown-Smith
Conestoga College
Manager, Career Services
Roberta Braid
University of Saskatchewan
Career Educator, Career Services, Teaching, Learning and Student Experience
Shenelle Payne Cuffy
Ontario Tech University
Manager, Career Centre
Sheri Browne
University of Toronto Mississauga
Assistant Director, Career Development, Career Centre
Stephanie Harper
McMaster University
Associate Director, Centre for Career Growth & Experience, Faculty of Engineering
Tristyn Sachkowski
University of Saskatchewan
ScotiaRISE Indigenous Student Employment Readiness Program Lead
Program Highlights
Day One
November 26th, 2024
Opening Plenary
Understanding the Career Interests and Intentions of Today’s Students
11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Be among the first to gain insights from the 2024 edition of Canada's national study of students' career and employer interests – The Brainstorm Report.
Based on a survey of more than 24,000 university and college students, this presentation will explore how students' preferences and attitudes are evolving and what that means for those who support their career development.
What kinds of support do students want? What are their greatest challenges? How do they feel about the current job market? Are they using AI in their job search... and are they worried about AI's impact on their employment prospects?
Don't miss your opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the students you support!
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Graham Donald
Founder & President, Brainstorm Strategy Group
Concurrent Workshops
Guiding and Supporting Students from the Front Line
12:30 - 1:15 pm EST
Students often ask questions like “what do you do here?” or “can someone help me to…?”. As front-line professionals, we are typically the first point of contact for students, and we play a pivotal role in making them feel welcome on campus. We also inform, support, and connect students to the resources that will shape their career journey.
Join us for an engaging workshop designed for front-line professionals where we will explore the underlying theories that influence student development during the degree experience. Whether you're new to the field or looking to refresh your knowledge, this workshop will enhance your ability to support student career development in meaningful ways.
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Kimberley Rawes
Manager, Career and Professional Development, UBC
Concurrent Workshops
Incorporating Diversity and Equity Principles into Front Line Service
12:30pm - 1:15pm EST
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Blessie Mathew
Director, Career Centre and Experiential Learning, University of Alberta
Concurrent Workshops
Understanding Students’ Options & A World of Acronyms: Careers, Co-op, WIL, EL and More!
1:30pm - 2:15pm EST
In this session, participants will explore the diverse ways post-secondary education approaches career education and experience exploration available to students today. Exploring key terms and acronyms shaping students' educational and professional journeys to be equipped to navigate your own career within the field. We will cover the fundamentals of various pathways, including:
- Career: Overview of career education terminology and pathways regarding how students navigate their career opportunities.
- Co-op (Cooperative Education): An introduction to co-op programs, their structure, and the benefits they offer for gaining practical experience while studying.
- WIL (Work-Integrated Learning): Explanation of work-integrated learning initiatives, highlighting the importance of hands-on experience in enhancing employability and student learning and development.
- EL (Experiential Learning): Discussion on experiential learning principles, emphasizing the value of active participation and real-world applications in the learning process.
The session will provide practical insights into how these options benefit students' academic and career development. Participants will also discuss the importance of understanding these acronyms and concepts to support students better as they navigate their career journeys. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the landscape of career development options and resources available to students.
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Cara Krezek
Chief Purpose Officer & Founder, The Talent Strategy Collective
Concurrent Workshops
Indigenous Career Education
1:30pm - 2:15 pm EST
Indigenous Career Education offers opportunity to provide meaningful, culturally responsive, and inclusive programming to help address the systemic inequities in degree completion and employment outcomes historically faced by Indigenous students.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) Career Services offers two programs that support Indigenous students’ career success through a focus on four key elements: community building, Traditional & Land-based teachings, supporting pathways to employment, and addressing Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. These four elements follow the Medicine Wheel and its four quadrants to represent a wholistic view of well-being in Indigenous principles.
In this session, the presenters will speak to how each of these four key elements play such a pivotal role in ensuring Indigenous students have the opportunity to come together in community as they identify, develop, and articulate their employment-related skills.
At the end of this session, attendees will:
- Understand why Indigenous Career Education is important
- Be able to articulate the key elements to consider when developing Indigenous students’ Career Education programming
- Be able to identify different strategies to ensure programming is culturally sensitive and responsive
- Understand local context when preparing to develop Indigenous Career Education
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Jeanelle Desjarlais
Indigenous Experiential Learning Coordinator, University of Saskatchewan
Tristyn Sachkowski
ScotiaRISE Indigenous Student Employment Readiness Program Lead, University of Saskatchewan
Concurrent Workshops
Leveraging Peer Programs for Optimal Impact
2:30pm - 3:15 pm EST
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Melissa McNown-Smith
Manager, Career Services, Conestoga College
Concurrent Workshops
Embracing the Challenge Mindset in Student Career Development
2:30pm - 3:15pm EST
The question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Is no longer serving students. For too long, we’ve encouraged them to prepare for their future by choosing a job title. This approach is causing anxiety and not preparing them for a complex, rapidly changing world.
Career services can change the world by helping young people look beyond job titles to find important challenges to solve. This new approach is called the Challenge mindset, and it is igniting a sense of purpose in youth. Come discover the difference it can make on your campus.
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JP Michel
Founder, SparkPath
Day Two
November 27th, 2024
Concurrent Workshops
Understanding Employers’ Challenges and Goals
11:30am - 12:15pm EST
Based on Brainstorm's research and work with employers, this presentation will explore the challenges and goals that organizations face when recruiting new talent, particularly from universities and colleges.
By understanding the employer’s perspective, professionals supporting students’ career development will be better equipped to guide students in their job search and career preparation. Attendees will gain valuable insights into what employers prioritize, the hurdles they encounter, and how this knowledge can be used to enhance student-employer alignment, ultimately leading to more successful career outcomes for students.
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Graham Donald
Founder & President, Brainstorm Strategy Group
Concurrent Workshops
Career Development for Career Developers
11:30am - 12:15pm EST
As career development professionals, we spend our days guiding others through the complexities of job search and navigating career paths. However, our own career growth often takes a back seat. In this presentation, learn how career development professionals can actively advance their own careers through deliberate strategies and actions.
We will explore 11 strategies for professional growth:
- Setting and Reviewing Career Goals
- Continuous Learning
- Developing Technological Proficiency
- Reflective Practice
- Seeking Mentorship and Coaching
- Personal Branding
- Networking and Collaboration
- Diversifying Experience
- Pursuing Leadership Opportunities
- Engaging in Research and Publishing
- Engaging in Cross-Disciplinary Learning
This presentation will provide practical insights into these strategies, empowering career development professionals to invest in their own journey while continuing to support the aspirations of others.
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Matt Purdey
Career Advisor, Work-Integrated Learning and Career Services, RRC Polytech
Concurrent Workshops
Competency Frameworks – Case Study on Implementation at Wilfrid Laurier University
12:30pm - 1:15pm EST
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Katherine St. Louis
Associate Director, Operations & Experiential Learning – Career Development Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University
Concurrent Workshops
Supporting Neurodivergent Students
12:30pm - 1:15pm EST
As staff in WIL, experiential learning, career development, and student services, our workday calendar is filled with student interactions including meetings, email communications, advising appointments and small/large group workshops. Each student has unique needs and may require different adjustments and support throughout their journey.
This session will explore different ways of being and doing for our neurodivergent student population. We will explore UDL strategies that can help create accessible/inclusive systems and practices into your interactions with students. This session will be framed through a strengths-based approach, and you will leave with practical strategies that you can implement right away into your best practices toolbox.
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Greta Heathcote
Associate Director, Work-Integrated Learning & Neurodiversity Initiative, Taylor Institute for Teaching & Learning, University of Calgary
Concurrent Workshops
Collaborative Programming: How Career Services Support Cross-Departmental Initiatives
1:30pm - 2:15pm EST
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Shenelle Payne Cuffy
Manager, Career Centre, Ontario Tech University
J.J. Kemlo
Strategic Partnership Officer & Program Manager, Student Enrichment Program - Partnership Office, Ontario Tech University
Concurrent Workshops
Listening for Understanding When You Have Lots to Do
1:30pm - 2:15pm EST
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Sheri Browne
Assistant Director, Career Development, Career Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga
Closing Plenary
Career Development Unplugged: Ask the Experts
2:30pm - 3:15pm EST
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Stephanie Harper
Associate Director, Centre for Career Growth & Experience, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University
Graham Donald
Founder & President, Brainstorm Strategy Group
Brenda Badgero
Career Education Manager, Career & Volunteer Services, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Jennifer Browne
Director, Student Life, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Roberta Braid
Career Educator, Career Services, Teaching, Learning and Student Experience, University of Saskatchewan
Melanie Richardson
Coordinator, Cooperative Education Career Services & Cooperative Education, Centennial College
More than a Virtual Conference
Virtual conferences offer the benefits of being more affordable and more accessible,
but the Forum offers even more than that.
For six months, all registrants will have access to:
A networking platform to connect with other participants
A discussion board for posting topics, engaging in conversations, and sharing
A resource centre for accessing materials and presentation recordings
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Who is this for?
If you interact with students who are trying to figure out their future, then this event is for you. Whether you want a better understanding of how career development works; what all the available options are for students; or what techniques, tools, or programs, schools are using to support students' successful transition into careers, then this will be a great place to start.
(Note: if you’re already an “expert” in the field or working at a manager level or higher, then much of this program may be a review/refresher for you. Everyone is welcome.)
Can we share one registration?
No. The Forum is priced, and the learning platform is designed, to make it accessible for everyone and for each participant to have their own profile. The discussion boards, networking, and chat functions are all dependent on each participant having their own registration.
If you choose to watch sessions as a group, please ensure that everyone in the room has registered to attend.
Why is it SO inexpensive?
Almost every post-secondary institution in Canada is under some level of financial pressure right now and in many cases student support offices have been hit the worst. Brainstorm’s mission is to support the people who support student success. We hope this program will help you do that.
What happens after the event dates?
The Forum will take place in our interactive learning platform. While the actual sessions will be hosted in Zoom (because almost everyone is accustomed to Zoom), the learning platform will offer a means to network with all of the participants; a discussion board to continue the conversations and sharing; and, a resources section where we will post recordings of all the sessions and other materials.
All registrants will have access to the platform to continue the learning and collaboration for six months after the event dates!
What if I have to miss my favourite session?
All sessions – with the exception of some roundtable discussions – will be recorded and available for access in the learning platform for all registrants for six months after the event dates.
Interested only in 2 or 3 sessions?
The Forum is priced to ensure you get great value for your investment even if you attend only a few sessions. Plus, recordings will be available for six months so you can catch up on what you miss.
Registration Rates
Discounts are available for small, medium, large and very large groups!
If you'd like to hold these rates while you secure the budget needed to attend,
please email Julie Rahmer at julie@brainstorm.ca.
Individual
$165
per person
Group of 3 to 4
$135
per person
Group of 5 to 7
$115
per person
Group of 8 to 10
$105
per person
Group of 11 to 20
$1,200
per group
Group of up to 50
$1,900
per group
No refunds will be provided within three weeks of the program. Cancellations three weeks or more before the event date will be refunded less a $100 administration fee.
Substitutions from the same organization are welcome at no cost up to three weeks before the event date.