LinkedIn provides opportunities to stay abreast of industry trends and connect with like-minded peers. Joining LinkedIn groups can help Canadian career professionals and guidance counsellors expand their network and knowledge. Here are some groups that provide platforms to share resources, discuss best practices and explore innovations in the field.
Don’t miss Part 1 in this series: 9 national LinkedIn groups for Canadian career professionals. Part III – coming soon! – will share international LinkedIn groups for career professionals.
West coast
BC Career Development Association (BCCDA)
BCCDA aims to strengthen the field and practice of career and employment counselling in British Columbia through professional development, training, networking, resource sharing and certification of career practitioners.
Prairie provinces
Career Development Association of Alberta (CDAA)
Members in this professional association come from Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, other areas of Canada, the US and abroad. CDAA welcomes individuals working in career development or providing career development services; and students attending career development, counselling, human resources, coaching or related fields of study.
Manitoba Association for Career Development
A group for career practitioners, career counsellors/coaches, employment counsellors, job developers and anyone in a related field. It aims to help professionals network by sharing information, resources, ideas, educational and training opportunities, and more.
Saskatchewan Career Development Association (SKCDA)
This group welcomes professionals in the career development field. SKCDA is an inclusive provincial organization, whose members are committed to providing support and resources to career development practitioners working in diverse settings around the province.
Central Canada
Career Development Practitioners’ Certification Board of Ontario (CDPCBO)
CDPCBO is a not-for-profit corporation that provides certification to career development practitioners in the province. It is committed to advancing ethical practices and mastery of competencies, as defined in the National Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners.
Ontario Association of Career Management (OACM)
This group aims to serve the community of Ontario-based career development professionals, including independent career coaches and counsellors, career consultants, job developers, other career specialists and educators. This forum is for OACM members and non-members interested in joining or being part of the OACM community.
Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada (VRA), Ontario
VRA is committed to supporting, assisting and advocating for individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, disabling conditions along the continuum of achieving or restoring optimum vocational and life goals. Their membership provides support and service to individuals who experience broad ranging vocational and rehabilitation issues.
Atlantic region
Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services (AACUSS)
AACUSS consists of student services professionals from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador. Its forum is committed to professional development, advancing standards in student services personnel, fostering dialogue on regional concerns and providing a medium for informal interaction.
International Coach Federation (ICF), Atlantic Chapter
Like the ICF Calgary Chapter, this LinkedIn Group is for members of the ICF Atlantic Chapter. Its mandate is to help raise awareness of the coaching profession in Atlantic Canada and to provide educational opportunities for their membership.
