CPC History
Career Professionals of Canada was founded in 2004. On Canada Day, 2022, we incorporated the organization and are now a national not-for-profit association supporting Canadian career professionals from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
CPC's history...from inception to today!
- Celebrated our first year as a not-for-profit.
- Reduced the professional membership price to $150 with a $50 discount for the first year..
- Welcomed Christine Ball as the new Executive Director.
- Appointed Ayesha Bhikha and Brad Whitehorn to the Board of Directors.
- Launched the Member of the Week program, featuring over 50 outstanding members and their achievements.
- Developed The Career Professionals Creed, defining our Code of Professional Conduct in real-world language.
- Established a revolutionary CPC Member Portal offering resources, networking, and a user-friendly interface.
- Introduced the Résumé and Cover Letter Showcase, allowing members to view and submit samples.
- Launched four Special Interest Groups (SIGs), becoming a cornerstone of our community.
- Revamped and updated instructor-led Career Development Practitioner (CDP) program.
- Embraced the future of learning with new Self-Directed Learning (SDL) courses.
- Celebrated CPC’s 1000th Career Connections eNewsletter Edition.
- Incorporated Career Professionals of Canada Association as a not-for-profit on Canada Day.
- Updated all CPC courses, certifications, and certification eGuides (CCS, CWS, CIS, CES, CRS).
- Implemented the Members Matter Program to prominently feature members and their stories.
- Established Career Professionals of Canada's Code of Professional Conduct.
- Implemented Write Feature Articles Like a Pro program, teaching members how to create high-quality content for publication on the CPC website.
- Confirmed that CPC is an authority website in Canada through a formal SEO and content analysis.
- Established group health, dental, and extended benefits program for members, provided by PROLINK.
- Updated all CPC courses, certifications, and certification eGuides (CCS, CWS, CIS, CES, CRS).
- Deployed Trauma-Informed Member Care program to support members through pandemic.
- Developed Certified Work-Life Strategist Program (CWS certification) and associated course.
- Created The Canadian Work-Life Strategist eGuide.
- Updated all CPC courses, certifications, and certification eGuides (CCS, CIS, CES, CRS).
- Deployed Canada Career Month resource: The Story of Career Development in Canada – Free eBook.
- Implemented cost-effective Liability Insurance program for members through AON.
- Created program for a lower CPC alumni group membership rate.
- Updated all CPC courses, certifications, and eGuides (CCS, CIS, CES, CRS).
- Deployed Canada Career Month resource: Insider Secrets from CareerPros – Free eBook
- Deployed podcast: What Does CPC Membership Feel Like?
- Updated all certifications and eGuides (CCS, CIS, CES, CRS).
- Established CareerProCourse.ca, offering blended delivery courses.
- Updated all certifications and eGuides (CCS, CIS, CES, CRS).
- Deployed Canada Career Month Podcast: Résumé Expert Q&A Session.
- Produced Start a Career Practice free online course for career professionals.
- Created a community of practice with CPC's Facebook Group.
- Established a series of CPC webinars for members.
- Created a Member Referral Program with free extensions to membership.
- Updated all certifications and eGuides (CCS, CIS, CES, CRS).
- Deployed Canada’s first fully-virtual CAREERPRO conference.
- Established Certified Employment Strategist (CES) credential.
- Created The Canadian Employment Strategist (CES) study eGuide.
- Deployed employment strategy tele-class program; a four-week long interactive virtual course.
- Created a new look and feel for CareerProCanada.ca.
- Created CPC Mastermind Mentoring Program.
- Created a Member Marketplace for sharing member offers and discounts.
- Implemented Welcome Wagon program for new members.
- Established 4-week Build a Profitable Career Business program.
- Created an interactive online Career Club Forum for members to communicate.
- Introduced a Shared Resources program for links to useful member tools and resources.
- Created a fully searchable Online Member Directory.
- Established a Member Portal with full content and privacy control by individual members.
- Created CPC's LinkedIn Group, Canada's first community of practice for career professionals.
- Published Best Canadian Cover Letters paperback by Sharon Graham.
- Established in-person Meet-up with Career Professionals program with events across Canada.
- Established Master-Level (M-Level) Certification Program for all CPC certifications.
- Deployed Strategies for Success 2-day conference at the Hilton Toronto Airport (October 2008).
- Established CPC's free Tele-networking Program for members.
- Ran monthly tele-classes on a broad range of career development topics.
- Deployed Strategies for Success conference at Stage West in Mississauga, Ontario, in May 2006.
- Established CPC's Awards of Excellence program.
- Established the Certified Career Strategist (CCS) credential.
- Created The Canadian Career Strategist study eGuide.
- Deployed career strategy tele-class program. Four-week interactive virtual courses.
- CPC members host the Professional Assessment Centre at The National Job Fair & Training Expo in April 2006.
- Deployed résumé tele-class program. Four-week interactive virtual courses.
- Established Certified Interview Strategist (CIS) credential.
- Created The Canadian Interview Strategist study eGuide.
- Deployed interview tele-class program. Four-week interactive virtual courses.
- Ran Creating Powerful Careers event at Stage West, Mississauga, Ontario, in May 2005.
- CPC members provide free résumé assessments at the National Job Fair & Training Expo in April 2005.
- Founded Career Professionals of Canada June 16, 2004.
- Established monthly round table luncheons for career professionals.
- Established Certified Résumé Strategist (CRS) credential.
- Created The Canadian Résumé Strategist study eGuide.
- Issued the first edition of Career Connections eNewsletter.
- Published national bestseller, Best Canadian Résumés paperback by Sharon Graham.
THANK YOU to all of our leaders. No one does it alone!
- Sharon Graham (Chair)
- Felisha Ali
- Dorothy Keenan
- Gabrielle LeClair
- Erika Mendonça-DeSilva
- Cathy Milton
- Barb Penney
- Sharon Graham, Executive Director
- Janet Barclay, Technology Manager
- Debbie Lapointe, Operations Director
- Cathy Milton, Compliance Director
- Leanna Steeves, Development Director
- Jayne Barron
- Gabrielle LeClair
- Maureen McCann
- Cathy Milton
- Wayne Pagani
- Barb Penney
- Michelle Precourt
- Gabrielle LeClair
- Maureen McCann
- Cathy Milton
- Wayne Pagani
- Daisy Wright
- Erika Mendonça-DeSilva
- Jayne Barron
- Dorothy Keenan
- Barb Penney
- Michelle Precourt
- Tara Orchard
- Lynda Reeves
- Linda Schnabel
- Adrienne Tom
- Carrie Wakeford
- Andrew Roach
- Audrey Field
- Daisy Wright
- Deborah Foster-Stahle
- Denyse Cowling
- Howard Halpern
- Judy Friedler
- Judy Suke
- Julie Fulford
- Karen Shane
- Martin Buckland
- Marian Bernard
- Michael Mayne
- Ross McPherson
- Sandra Lim