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Overview of the Webinar Series
In a volatile economy, “standard” career advice is no longer enough. Career development professionals must act as strategic navigators for their clients. This free webinar provides the high-level data and sector-specific insights necessary to guide diverse clients toward high-demand, resilient career paths.
By attending, you will:
Interpret Macro Trends: Understand the strategic analysis from the 2026 Workforce Report and how it impacts local employment opportunities.
Connect with Industry Leaders: Gain direct insights from the heads of Tourism HR, EMC, MiHR and CAHRC regarding their specific “pain points” and hiring priorities.
Modernize Career Coaching: Learn to move beyond general job searches to sector-specific advocacy, focusing on high-growth areas identified in the report.
Apply an Indigenous-informed Lens: Explore how sectoral demand is creating opportunities across Canada, including for Indigenous learners, jobseekers and communities.
Why Career Practitioners Should Attend:
For career development professionals, supporting Indigenous learners requires more than a standard toolkit – it requires a fundamental shift toward holistic, person-centred advocacy. This webinar provides direct access to leaders who are successfully navigating these systemic shifts.
Attendees will:
Gain Cultural Intelligence: Move from awareness to action by understanding why cultural competency is the #1 predictor of service satisfaction for Indigenous clients.
Acquire Practical Tools: Learn how to implement “wraparound” service models that address non-academic barriers such as mental health and family obligations.
Enhance Institutional Accountability: Discover how to use the report’s data to advocate for better funding and more inclusive policies within your organization.
Network with Experts: Engage in a live dialogue with ISET leaders and the CEO of Polytechnics Canada to solve real-world challenges in real time.
Webinar Learning Objectives
Learning objectives:
- Analyze the 2026 sectoral demand data to identify emerging high-growth career paths in Tourism, Manufacturing, Mining and Agriculture.
- Evaluate the impact of current labour market shortages on recruitment strategies and how you can better prepare candidates for these gaps.
- Synthesize macro-economic report findings into practical, day-to-day career counselling techniques for diverse client groups.
- Formulate localized strategies that align Indigenous learner success with national industrial workforce needs.
Meet the Presenters
Phyllis MacCallum: is Director, Research & Knowledge Mobilization at the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC). Raised on a commercial cow-calf operation in eastern Ontario, she brings practical expertise to labour market information research, along with a strong passion for agriculture and business. Phyllis earned a Diploma in Equine from Kemptville College and completed her degree in Agriculture Studies – Economics at the University of Lethbridge. She and her partner, along with their twin girls, now raise purebred Herefords west of Ottawa.
Gustavo Jurado: Gustavo Jurado is Senior Labour Market Economist at the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), where he collaborates in the planning and development of labour market research and forecasting for the Canadian mining industry. He brings experience in e-commerce and data science, with work across both the public and private sectors, and has contributed to projects examining the potential impact of automation on the labour market.
JP Giroux: JP Giroux is President of the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC). Beginning as an economic development officer in Canada’s Capital Region, he has devoted the past 20 years to developing innovative workplace performance-based solutions for the Canadian manufacturing sector. His expertise in leading and managing innovative projects has contributed to the creation of advanced human resources technologies, skills and change management strategies, certification programs, learning and business impact assessment tools, and labour market intelligence resources and initiatives. JP holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, an Information Technology (eCommerce) diploma, and a Master of Science specializing in Human Resources and Industrial Relations.
Darian Kovacs: Darian Kovacs is the Indigenous founder of Jelly Academy, a leading digital skills training provider. With over 15 years of experience in education and skill training, he is a passionate advocate for reducing barriers to entry in the modern workforce and brings a unique perspective on how digital literacy and Indigenous-led training models can intersect to drive national economic success.
About CERIC
CERIC is a charitable organization that is dedicated to the advancement of education, research and advocacy in career counselling and development. We fund projects and provide innovative resources and learning opportunities that build the knowledge and skills of diverse career and employment professionals.