Junior High School Teacher Talk with Peter Medina

Peter Medina is currently a Junior High Teacher for the Edmonton Catholic School District. He is entering his 19th year of teaching in the 2022-23 school year. Peter also spent his first three years of teaching with the Calgary Catholic School District where he taught combined Grade 5/6 classes. A major highlight of his job includes leading teens to discover social justice issues in Edmonton and the organizations that are trying to help people facing these issues. Some organizations Peter and his school have worked with are: United Way’s Tools for School, Autism Edmonton, and Warm Hands Warm Hearts. Peter graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Concordia University of Edmonton in 2001. Afterwards, he followed up with a 2-year Bachelor of Education (After Degree) from the University of Alberta. In 2004, Peter was nominated for the Edwin Parr Teacher Award which is awarded to first-year teachers who have displayed outstanding skills and performance during their initial year of teaching. Outside of work, Peter can be found being active in the local fitness community, parenting 2 young boys alongside his wife Kaila (an elementary school teacher), and cheering on the Edmonton Oilers.

Description

Secondary school teachers prepare and teach academic, technical, vocational or specialized subjects at public and private secondary schools. Secondary school teachers who are heads of departments are included in this unit group.

Job Forecast

Over the 2016-2018 period, labour market conditions have not changed significantly for this occupational group. Employment declined slightly, which was reflected in a small increase in the unemployment rate, reaching 5.2% in 2018. On the other hand, the number of job vacancies increased mildly, but only in 2018. As a result, the number of unemployed available to fill those vacant positions remained relatively stable over the past three years. Nevertheless, the jobless rate remained below the national average of 5.8%.

Employment Requirements

Teachers of academic subjects require a bachelor’s degree in education which is often preceded by a bachelor’s degree in the arts or sciences.

Teachers of vocational or technical subjects require a bachelor’s degree in education which is usually preceded by specialized training or experience in the subject.

Instructors of trades in Quebec require completion of an apprenticeship training program and industry or trade certification.

Department heads usually require several years of teaching experience.

To specialize in special education or English or French as a second language, additional training is required.

A provincial teaching certificate is required.

Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers’ association or federation may be required.

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Talk with Kaila Medina

Kaila Medina is currently a Grade 3 Teacher for the Edmonton Catholic School District. Kaila has wanted to be a teacher since she was in grade two. Currently, she has been teaching for 11 years and is enjoying (mostly) every minute! Kaila graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 2009 from the University of Alberta. Most of Kaila’s career has been in lower elementary. She has taught regular classes, double classes and online classes. She loves using her creativity and tech skills to create educational resources for herself and other teachers. In 2019, Kaila and her best friend Kristi (also a teacher) wanted to combine their love of teaching and social media. They created their first teacher Instagram page, @teachers.tea and have since grown a community of teacher followers. Kaila and Kristi share resources they have made for free with their followers, post teaching ideas and inspiration and some pretty (in our opinion) funny Instagram reels! For the past two years, they have reached out to local small businesses for donations and hosted a Teacher Appreciation Giveaway during Teacher Appreciation Week with amazing success. Outside of work, Kaila loves to walk, enjoy Edmonton’s food scene with her besties and spend time with her two boys Xavier (4) and Mason (2) and of course her husband of 7 years, Peter.

Description

Elementary school and kindergarten teachers teach basic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic or specialized subjects such as English or French as a second language at public and private elementary schools.

Job Forecast

Labour demand and labour supply are expected to be broadly in line for this occupation group over the 2019-2028 period at the national level. The section below contains more detailed information regarding the outlook for this occupational group.

Employment Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in education is required.

A bachelor’s degree in child development may be required.

Additional training is required to specialize in special education or second language instruction.

A provincial teaching certificate is required. Additional certification is required to teach English or French as a second language.

Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers’ association or federation is usually required.

Salary Range

Job Bank Link: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/6176/ca

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Realtor Talk with Robbie Kamaleddine

Robbie Kamaleddine (pronounced ‘Camel-deen’) is recognized as an industry innovator and takes pride in delivering a luxury real estate experience at all price points. After a decade in luxury fashion, he launched his real estate career in late 2017. By 2018, Robbie took home Remax’s prestigious Rookie of the Year Award.

Edmonton has been home to Robbie since emigrating with his family from Lebanon in 2002. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Alberta during which he was also heavily involved in the drama department.

Since graduating he has continued his association with Edmonton’s arts community and is a frequent theater goer and avid Fringer. The central tenet of Robbie’s approach to life, both professionally and at home, is a strong conviction about having a positive impact on everyone he meets. He passionately believes that the real estate experience should be dynamic and fun.

Robbie is a horrible dancer.

Description

Real estate agents and salespersons act as agents for the sale or purchase of houses, apartments, commercial buildings, land and other real estate. They are employed in the real estate industry.

Job Forecast

For Real estate agents and salespersons, over the period 2019-2028, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 58,300 , while 58,900 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them.

Employment Requirements

Completion of secondary school is required.

Completion of a real estate training course is required.

Provincial or territorial licensure in the province or territory of employment is required.

Stressed about work? Check out our Career Crisis Interview Series: https://thejobtalk.com/help

Fine Jewellery Designer Talk with Sonja Deklerk

Sonja Deklerk is the owner of a bespoke jewellery design studio in Edmonton Alberta and offers a curated collection of vintage fine jewellery. After studying Fine Art at MacEwan University, Sonja began her career in fine jewellery design working as an in-house designer for Adamas Goldsmiths and then Vandenbergs Jewellers. With over 22 years experience in the fine jewellery industry, Sonja is passionate about creating fine jewellery as uniquely beautiful as the individual for whom it is intended.

Sonja completed the Applied Jewellery Programme through the Gemological Institute of America and is currently studying to become a Graduate Gemologist.

Sonja is currently a member of the Canadian Jewellery Association and serves on the board of directors at the Leduc Arts Foundry. In addition to this, Sonja is the host of the podcast “More Than Gold” a podcast that navigates the joys and sorrows of this world while rejoicing in three very important truths:

You are precious

You are of value

You are worth more than gold

Description

Jewellery designers design and make jewellery using a variety of materials, including gold, silver and precious stones. You could either produce designs for mass production, make jewellery in small numbers or create bespoke pieces commissioned by a client. If you work for a company, it is likely that other members of staff will make your designs.

Job Forecast

As job openings and job seekers are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2019-2028 period, the balance between labor supply and demand seen in recent years is expected to continue over the projection period.

Employment Requirements

You don’t need a degree or HND to be a jewellery designer – proven craft skills are more important – but those without a higher education qualification would usually need to undertake an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.

Salary Range

Salaries vary widely according to whether you’re employed or self-employed, how experienced, successful and well-established you are, and how actively and skilfully you promote your jewellery or business. It’s possible to earn high salaries, but this can be difficult in the early part of your career and an additional income may be needed.

Stressed about work? Check out our Career Crisis Interview Series: https://thejobtalk.com/help

Industrial Designer Talk with Brendan Gallagher

Brendan Gallagher is one of the creators and founders of Onetwosix Design Inc, an Edmonton based Industrial Design Agency with fellow University of Alberta Industrial Design graduate Nick Kazakoff. The goal of Onetwosix was to provide world class product design services in the city of Edmonton while creating products that improve the human experience. In 2015, the duo elevated the world of office furniture by launching Loop Phone Booths. Over the last seven years, they have scaled the company to include a full manufacturing facility in Edmonton as they worked with clients ranging from Lockheed Martin to Pokémon to Google X.

After graduating from the Industrial Design program at the University of Alberta in 2012 and prior to co-founding Onetwosix, Brendan specialized in digital manufacturing and design for 3D printing. His expertise in additive manufacturing led to early career opportunities at the University of Alberta, as well as the Institute of Reconstructive Science in Medicine where he specialized in using 3D printing and digital surgical planning to assist in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients.

Brendan’s design philosophy was developed during his childhood while growing up in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Being immersed in the natural environment helped develop his aesthetic which combines honest materials and sustainability with bold structures and silhouettes. Throughout his education and design practice Brendan’s daring designs have been deeply grounded by their simplicity and efficiency in manufacturing.

Now in charge of leading a diverse team of designers and talented fabricators paired with a full-scale manufacturing facility, Brendan balances his role as a creative with the responsibility of being a organization leader. All of which has come together, Onetwosix being named Industrial Designers of the Year by Western Living Magazine in 2020.

Description

Industrial designers conceptualize and produce designs for manufactured products. They are employed by manufacturing industries and private design firms or they may be self-employed.

Job Forecast

For Technical occupations in architecture, drafting, surveying, geomatics, over the period 2019-2028, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 17,100 , while 38,400 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them..

Employment Requirements

A university degree in industrial design, architecture, engineering or A college diploma in industrial design is required. Creative ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, is required.

Stressed about work? Check out our Career Crisis Interview Series: https://thejobtalk.com/help

Producer Filmmaker Talk with Adam Scorgie

Adam Scorgie’s plan A has always been to work hard, be humble and take chances; and it has worked tremendously to date. A father of 3, a loving husband and an acclaimed documentarian, Adam has an astonishing ability to balance his relentless work schedule and his invaluable family time. To date, Adam has produced ten feature films, with two features currently in post-production including ‘Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo’ and ‘Bisping’, an in-depth look at the life of UFC legend Michael Bisping. His leadership and loyalty to his team has ensured that his future films guarantee to impress and inspire those who watch them.

Description

Producers, directors, choreographers and professionals in related occupations oversee and control the technical and artistic aspects of film, television, video game, radio, dance and theatre productions. They are employed by film production companies, radio and television stations, video game companies, broadcast departments, advertising companies, sound recording studios, record production companies and dance companies. They may also be self-employed.

Job Forecast

Over the 2016-2018 period, employment in this occupational group grew strongly. The unemployment rate increased slightly to reach 4.1% in 2018, below the national average of 5.8%. However, the unemployment rate for this occupation has been historically below the average of all occupations, mainly because about 60% of the workers are self-employed. The increase in the number of unemployed workers, coupled with a low and stable number of job openings, led to a surge in the number of available workers to fill those vacancies. The mixed signals of key labour market indicators suggests that the number of job seekers was sufficient to fill the job openings in this occupational group.

Employment Requirements

A university degree or college diploma in the performing arts, broadcasting, journalism, business administration, theatre production or film studies and Experience in a technical or production occupation in motion pictures, broadcasting or theatre are usually required.

Stressed about work? Check out our Career Crisis Interview Series: https://thejobtalk.com/help

College Head Coach Talk with Kiera Lyons

Kiera Lyons grew up in Ryley Alberta, a town of 400 an hour east of Edmonton. She played 1A high school basketball as well as a myriad of other sports and athletics.

After going through the provincial team program and helping re-establish her high school as one of the best 1A programs in the province, she played two years for the Augustana Vikings and helped lead them to their first playoff appearance in 8 years. She then played three years as a Huskie at the University of Saskatchewan- a team that had just graduated 5 starters the season before she arrived. She finished her career as a captain with a Canada West championship and two Final Eight appearances.

Since moving back to Alberta she has been a mentor, a coach, a public speaker, and a broadcast analyst all within the world of basketball. She has worked with the NAIT women’s program in previous years, as well as the Lakeland Rustlers as a player development coach, and last summer was an assistant coach with the reigning 2021 Canadian Elite Basketball League Champions, The Edmonton Stingers.

On May 17, 2022 – Kiera was named the head coach of the NAIT Ooks women’s basketball team.

Description

Coaches prepare and train individual athletes or teams for competitive events. They are employed by national and provincial sports organizations, professional and amateur sports teams, sports clubs and universities or they may be self-employed. This unit group also includes sports scouts who identify and recruit athletes for professional sports teams. They are employed by professional sports organizations.

Job Forecast

The job prospects vary across Canada depending on the province or territory.

Employment Requirements

Completion of the National Coaching Certificate program is usually required for individual and team sports coaches in all sports.

National Coaching Certificate Level 3 is usually required for provincial coaches.

National Coaching Certificate Level 4 is usually required for coaches of national team athletes.

A degree in physical education may be required.

Experience in and technical knowledge of the sport is required.

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Fiction Author Talk with Michelle Cornish

After spending almost 20 years in the public accounting industry, Michelle sold her accounting practice to spend more time with her family and pursue her dream of writing. In 2017, she published Keep More Money, a guide to help business owners find a trustworthy accountant. Realizing that she wanted to write fiction, in 2018, Michelle published Murder Audit, her debut novel and book one in the Cynthia Webber financial crime series. Michelle also writes children’s books with her sons under the pen name AJ Kormon. When she’s not writing, you’ll find Michelle in small-town Canada cartooning and losing to her kids at Uno!

Description

Authors and writers plan, research and write books, scripts, storyboards, plays, essays, speeches, manuals, specifications and other non-journalistic articles for publication or presentation. They are employed by advertising agencies, governments, large corporations, private consulting firms, publishing firms, multimedia/new-media companies and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Job Forecast

As job openings and job seekers are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2019-2028 period, the balance between labor supply and demand seen in recent years is expected to continue over the projection period.

Employment Requirements

Technical writers usually require a university degree in the area of specialization, such as computer science or engineering.

Copywriters usually require a university degree or college diploma in French, English, marketing, advertising or another discipline.

Creative writing programs are offered by universities and colleges.

Talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria.

Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation may be required.

Stressed about work? Check out our Career Crisis Interview Series: https://thejobtalk.com/help

Crime Scene Investigator Talk with Cst. Stephen Berney

Stephen Berney moved to the Edmonton area with his family in 1999. Stephen attended St. Francis Xavier High School where he was enrolled in the Soccer Academy, which had the highlight of playing exhibition games in Italy. After high school, Stephen attended the University of Alberta where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree.

When looking at potential careers, Stephen focused his attention on careers he felt would make the greatest positive impact for the community he lives in. Naturally, the Edmonton Police Service was at the top of his list and 2 months after graduating from university, he was hired in the fall of 2014.

At the beginning of his career, Stephen met his wife Julia who is also a member of the EPS. In the following 8 years, Stephen worked in Northwest Division in patrol for 5 years, and has now nearly completed his 3rd year in the Crime Scenes Investigation Unit.

In his free time, Stephen enjoys visiting family and friends, playing soccer, ball hockey, flag football and traveling, notably to visit Julia’s family in Poland.

Description

Police officers protect the public, detect and prevent crime and perform other activities directed at maintaining law and order. They are employed by municipal and federal governments and some provincial and regional governments.

Patrol assigned areas to maintain public safety and order and to enforce laws and regulations.

Investigate crimes and accidents, execute search warrants, secure evidence, interview witnesses, compile notes and reports and provide testimony in courts of law.

Apprehend and arrest criminal suspects. Provide emergency assistance to victims of accidents, crimes and natural disasters. Participate in crime prevention, public information and safety programs. May supervise and coordinate the work of other police officers.

Job Forecast

Labour demand and labour supply are expected to be broadly in line for this occupation group over the 2019-2028 period at the national level.

Employment Requirements

Completion of secondary school is required.

Completion of a college program or university degree in law and security or in the social sciences is usually required.

A three- to six-month police training program is provided.

Physical agility, strength, fitness and vision requirements must be met, and psychological or other tests may also be required.

Experience as a constable and the completion of specialized courses are required for detectives and sergeants.

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Entrepreneur Talk with Theresa Smith

Theresa Smith is Co-founder of Optimize Dental. As a leader, teacher and perpetual learner, Theresa finds herself in the amazing field of dentistry. She strives to help dental teams find balance, enrichment and productivity in their everyday tasks. Theresa has 3 wonderful kids who she enjoys spending time with and watching them in their respective sports activities such as basketball, horse showing, and dance. While she continues to create a work life balance, she also enjoys her passions of skiing, traveling, and horses.

Description

An entrepreneur is an individual who takes the risk to start their own business based on an idea they have or a product they have created while assuming most of the risks and reaping most of the rewards of the business.

Job Forecast

In 2019, there were 1,143,610 active enterprises in Canada with one or more employees. Of those, 64.6% had four employees or less. In the same year, there were 79,530 births and 90,710 deaths of enterprises. The construction sector represented the largest number of high-growth enterprises by employment and by revenue. With 1,140 high-growth enterprises by employment and 2,530 high-growth enterprises by revenue, this sector accounted for 15.9% and 19.5% of the total, respectively.

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