BCCDA ABOUT US

The BRITISH COLUMBIA CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (BCCDA) is a non-profit professional association registered under the Society Act in the Province of BC. Incorporated in 2009, the BCCDA was formed through the merger of two successful, well established, BC career sector associations: BC Career Management Association (LMI Career Management Association of BC) and ENET Society (Employment, Network, Education and Training Society). As the services and memberships of these two associations converged, both boards and memberships voted to merge to create one streamline, stronger and more dynamic professional association for career and employment professionals in BC - the BCCDA.

Our Vision

We envision a future where BC and Canada are known for developing, retaining and supporting a fully engaged, competent and satisfied labour force:

• Where the workforce is flexible and able to adapt readily to economic change and emerging trends in the labour market
• Where every British Columbian and Canadian has a personal Career and Personal Development Plan and where Career Development (career planning, development and ongoing maintenance and management) are considered and promoted as an essential life/work skill, and
• Where career practitioners and the continuum of their services are known and understood by, and easily accessible to, all career development stakeholders (the public, government, current and potential practitioners, employers and HR professionals and referral agencies)

 

Our Mission and Purpose

In support of this vision, the mission and purposes of the BCCDA, as stated in our constitution, are:

(a) To support and advance career development and employment practices, practitioner professionalism, career development sector activities and all activities that enhance the career development and employment opportunities of Canadians within the local, national and global labour market, and

(b) To perform all objectives lawfully which are incidental, necessary or conducive to the above purposes, with a primary focus within British Columbia

Our Activities and Strategies

To fulfill our purpose we currently engage in the following activities:

• Certify, train, develop, represent and promote Career and Employment Professionals (Career Practitioners) in BC
• Offer regular training days and networking events for members, providing a central networking, educational and training service for professionals in employment, rehabilitation, career-counselling and related fields
• Post and promote job openings, training opportunities and other sector events of interest to career and employment professionals
• Coordinate the annual Career Development Conference (CDC), Internationally Trained Professionals Conference (ITP) and other special member events
• Govern and manage the Certified Career Development Practitioner professional designation and establish, encourage and promote competencies and standards for career and employment professionals currently practicing or seeking to practice in BC
• Provide members with resources and tools for practice including publishing association journals, researching and listing sector related resources, conducting sector research and providing members with a variety of other opportunities to share knowledge and to network (Philosophers Cafe, Book Club)
• Undertake funded research projects and other labour market and career development sector contracts appropriate to the purposes and experience of the association’s board members, staff and association members ex. HRSDC/government/foundation funded research, sector surveys and projects specific to non-profit professional associations)

Our Members

Our membership is comprised of professionals across the spectrum of career and employment practices and services in BC. These include professionals in employment, rehabilitation, career-counselling, human resource management, settlement, other and related fields, working in a wide range of environments including (but not limited to) government funded employment programs, non-profit and other community agencies, private career and employment service companies, employers, outplacement and career transitions services, independent/self-employed practitioners, public secondary and post-secondary schools, colleges, and universities and private training colleges.