SCS recently launched a new season of free Knowledge Hub webinars. Presented in partnership with the school’s new Blueprint Career Services, the first webinar delved into some of the keys to identifying your strengths and designing the career you want in 2023.

Panelists Career Development Officer Yoyo Eto and Career Strategist Ann Park introduced some of the basic concepts behind Blueprint’s new in-depth, interactive workshops: CliftonStrengths and Designing Your Life’s Work. 

Park kicked things off by pointing out that Canadians are currently experiencing an “employees’ market” with plenty of opportunities for people who are hoping to change or pivot in their careers. 

She went on to illustrate the natural tendency people can have to focus on their weaknesses, rather than their strengths, by asking webinar participants to compare what it felt like to write their names with their dominant and non-dominant hands. By changing this mindset and focusing on our strengths, we can achieve greater results and personal satisfaction, she explained. She noted that this is where concepts developed and inspired by Donald Clifton can help. 

“Donald Clifton was the father of positive psychology,” she said. “And he posed the question: What would happen if we studied what was right with people instead of what was wrong with people? In the 1950s he conducted a series of interviews with highly successful people to find out what made them successful. Were they born into certain circumstance or privilege? Was it just luck? What was going on? What quickly became evident was that these people used their greatest strengths and talents, things that were natural, to achieve excellence.”

Beyond reflecting on and identifying your innate strengths, something Park said the SCS CliftonStrengths workshops can help learners to do, it is also vital to take actions that will allow you to harness and express those strengths effectively. 

Park said first it is important to focus on what you enjoy most and do best. 

“Don’t waste your time trying to do things because other people say ‘Oh you should do this. If you do this you’ll make more money or there’s more prestige.’ No. Focus on what you do best and what you enjoy.”

Next, Park said, you must take an active role in individual development. 

“So this means it’s not just about recognizing your strengths. It’s about seeing that this is just the beginning,” she explained. “Real change takes place when you nurture and cultivate those strengths. Don’t passively wait for things to happen to you. Go out and engage in activities which elevate your strengths.”

Thirdly, Park said it is important for those who are currently working, to engage in active dialogue with your managers about your career and skills development.  if you’re currently working, engage in dialogue with your manager about it. 

“Ongoing dialogue such as quick check-ins create a perfect setting to set expectations, review successes and recalibrate processes. And ask for feedback! That’s how we learn and we grow,” she concluded.

Eto joined the conversation to share how, in addition to Park’s tips, people can use the principles of design thinking to advance their careers. 

“Design thinking is commonly used when we are working maybe in the tech industry, designing a product or a program…It involves problem-finding so you can understand what the problem you’re trying to solve is, and then prototyping your way into better and better solutions in little steps. So in essence design thinking, or building your way forward, is a way of thinking and approaching problems.”

In design thinking, once you have defined a problem’s scope and its shape, it is time to move on to ideation, the phase of the process where participants are encouraged to brainstorm any and all ideas to solve the problem. 
No idea is too impractical, explained Eto. “Designers use this technique to get past our brains’ tendencies to block good ideas. In life design it’s the same thing. Coming up with as many ideas as we can to solve our problem and then we can choose.”

Once you’ve selected one or two of your best ideas, it’s time to pick a prototype, said Eto. “In product design this looks like a sample. But in life design prototypes are designed to ask questions, test things out, get a feel for what things are,” she added. “So they require questioning, talking to people, gathering data to figure out will I like this career? Will I like this role? Will I like retirement?”

Eto also highlighted that acceptance of where you are now, and reframing problems are important aspects of life design. “So for example, when the pandemic first started a belief a lot of people had was ‘I spent the last few years preparing for my dream career but COVID-19 sent me on a new path and now I have no idea what to do and I’m absolutely stuck,’” she said. 

“A reframe of that would be ‘Yes COVID-19 has required me to pivot from my original career goal, but what does this provide me? Opportunity to reflect, reorient, better understand my values, and come up with what my life purpose is.’ So it really does look at what does a pivot look like, where do I go next, now that there has been a change or I want a change.”

See the full webinar recording, including a follow-up question and answer session, below.

While Paulina Morgan’s focus in her undergraduate program was economics, she was always interested in the world of marketing. So when she graduated in 2018, that’s the direction she struck off in. Initially diving into a job as a marketing analyst, she quickly moved into the field of marketing automation. 

She enjoyed the combination of technology and creativity her work demanded, but she wasn’t content to settle in for the long haul. “My motivation has always been to keep learning,” she says. 

When she discovered her company at the time had a budget for employee learning and development Morgan jumped at the opportunity to register for a Customer Experience Management course at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. 

She was drawn to the course because while it had some overlap with the marketing automation work she was familiar with, it also offered a new, complementary set of skills and knowledge she knew she could use to propel her career forward. 

“I use marketing journeys in my own role for planning campaigns from start to end for the customer, but I realized that that can also be applied to customer experience as a whole within companies to help look at the customer’s journey from becoming aware of a brand to purchasing to becoming a loyal customer,” she explains. 

“So I was like this isn't exactly what I do, but I wanted to learn more because I saw a lot of overlap with the marketing that I was doing,”

Even with the overlap between customer experience and her own marketing automation work, Morgan says she was surprised to realize just how pervasive customer experience is. 

“It’s mind-blowing how much customer experience is in everything from a streaming platform testing out their content with their audience to a big bank looking at how they can increase loyalty and increase retention among their customer base,” she says. 

“This class really did open my eyes to something that I don't think I would have been aware of, even though it was touching all aspects of my life the whole time.”

Morgan also recognized that in a constantly rapidly evolving field like marketing, she would need to keep learning to keep up. 

“It is an area that's developing all the time with all these new technologies. We really don't know what it's all going to look like in 10 years,” she says. 

“Marketing now is very different than it was before, and it's going to keep changing.”

To that end, she was pleased to be learning from instructor Sandra Pacitti, who not only teaches, but currently works in the field. She also found that her classmates had valuable insight and experience to share. “It’s kind of rare to find yourself sitting in a group of people who think about the same topics, because think about your friend group. You're not likely going to be friends with a bunch of marketing automation people or customer experience professionals,” she says. 

“So it was really cool to have that community to bounce ideas off of and learn from. A lot of us worked in different areas and had different experience and I think that kind of diversity of people within the group is definitely a strength.”

After her course ended, Morgan kept in touch with her classmates via LinkedIn and reached out to Pacitti when she was ready to take the next step in her career. She wanted to continue to work in marketing automation, but was also eager to continue exploring the customer experience industry. 

Her strategic job search paid off and she now works for Alida, a customer experience management platform, where she was able to apply the knowledge from her SCS course immediately. “The company deals with customer experience, employee, experience, brand experience, and product experience. So it provides what we call Total Experience Management,” she says. 

“During our onboarding, they were teaching us about customer experience, and I was so excited to realize this was literally what Sandra taught us! This is one of those moments where what you learn in school actually applies to what you’re doing at work in the real world.”

Aside from the new skills and knowledge she acquired in the classroom, Morgan says her SCS experience reinforced her instinct to make learning a continuous part of her life, and that she would recommend other recent grads take the same approach when thinking about how to advance their career or take it in a new direction. 

“I would say, never stop learning. Stay curious and be open-minded. Even if something isn't directly exactly what you're already doing, if it interests you, or you see some overlap, try it!” she says. 

“Go ahead and pursue it, because you never know where it's going to lead.”

Making resolutions is one thing, but we know keeping them can be quite another. Our courses and services are designed to help you find the structure, support and motivation you need to reach your goals in 2023. 

Here are just a few of the resolutions we can help you keep this year: 

1. Make new friends

We know it can be challenging to make new connections as an adult. We’ve heard time and time again from our learners that they were thrilled to find, in addition to learning a new skill or exploring a long-held interest in depth, they also made true, lasting connections in class. So if forging new friendships is on your list of goals for this year, consider taking a class! 

2. Uncover your strengths and plot a path to your career goals

If you are determined to make 2023 the year you dig deep into your strengths and passions to discover meaningful work for yourself, or if you are ready to begin, advance or change your career, our Blueprint Career Services can help. Join the Blueprint portal to register for in-depth, interactive workshops and to gain access to free resources designed to help you create and navigate your career path. 

3. Learn a language 

Whether you’re starting from scratch and looking to master the basics of a new language, or you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, our expert language instructors are ready to help you open a whole new world of communication. You can find information about our language courses here.

4. Write your novel

If this is the year you’re determined to finally get your brilliant idea down on paper, connect with the supportive instructors and community of writers in our creative writing courses to help you find the perfect words to bring your story to life. 

5. Earn a professional designation 

Whether you are working towards earning a professional designation or certification, or need to maintain your credential with continuing education requirements, we have partner-recognized courses and certificates to help you succeed on your journey forward. 

6. Improve Your Marketing and Communications Skills

As the world and technology have rapidly evolved over the past decade, so have effective marketing strategies and techniques. If it’s time for you to update your skills and learn new strategies, our dedicated marketing, communications and pr instructors can help you thrive in today’s competitive landscape. 

7. Incorporate Mindfulness into your Life

If your goal this year is to seek more discipline, tolerance, calmness, and mental clarity, the courses and certificates in our mindfulness program can help. 

8. Brush Up on History 

If your knowledge of history is starting to feel ancient, let our passionate, expert instructors refresh your memory or introduce you to fascinating parts of history you’ve never explored. 

9. Launch your career in Canada with an Educational Credential Assessment

Whether you need your credentials assessed for immigration purposes, to achieve permanent residency or to further your higher education in Canada, we have services to support you. Visit our Comparative Education Service page to get started. 

10. Bring out the best in your team

Organizations with strong learning cultures support their team’s growth and are more likely to see gains in areas that positively impact their business. This year, invest in your team and unleash their full potential with the help of our corporate and organizational training program. 
 

In her twelve years of healthcare administration, Haleh Rahimi has never been short of projects to keep her on her toes. 

Over the years, colleagues who recognized her skills encouraged her to work towards earning her Project Management designation. Haleh knew that honing her instinctive project management abilities would be the key to propelling her career forward. She just needed to find the time. 

“The reason I decided to finally do this was because I found the SCS Foundations of Project Management course and it was so flexible. The whole program was doable while working full time and managing my other responsibilities,” she explains.

Haleh was also thrilled to find that when she shared her plans to take project management courses at SCS, her employers at Sinai Health were happy to invest in her professional development by helping to fund her tuition.

She began her first course during a pandemic lockdown, and so was limited to online classes, and she was impressed to see that once in-person classes returned, they took place in the evenings, making it possible for her to attend after work. 

“I couldn’t believe it, how flexible it was,” she says. 

“I did my first two project management courses online and for me it was even better than being on-site. The lectures are recorded so even if you miss them you can go and watch them after. I didn’t miss any lectures but I did go and watch some of them twice even just to get a good, in-depth understanding of them.”

It took no time for Haleh to begin using what she learned in class at work. 

“We’re working in a society now that it doesn't matter what industry you're in, whether it’s healthcare, marketing, or finance, project management is in high demand,” she says. 

“So project management has always been a part of my job, and I started applying these tools, techniques, processes, and strategies on the spot.”

Haleh’s instructor, Peter Monkhouse, also ensured there were plenty of opportunities for her and her classmates to put what they were learning to the test in class. “He gave us in-depth, hands-on experience so I felt like a project manager right from the foundations course,” she explains.

“We were in teams working on actual projects and came away with a good understanding of the different approaches to project management. Not all the approaches are going to work well for all the projects that you are given. We learned how to decide why one is better than the other one and how you can use a combination of approaches.”

In addition to sharing his expertise during class, Haleh says Peter took the time to explain the 11 different certificates students could apply the Foundations of Project Management course to, and was always happy to go above and beyond to answer learners’ questions and share expert advice when asked. “You’d email him and have a response back before you’d even hit send,” she jokes. 

As she continues to work towards her project management certificate at SCS, Haleh’s new skill set is already having a positive impact on her career. She is currently the executive assistant for medical affairs at Mt. Sinai hospital; the dept of obstetrics and gynaecology at Women’s College Hospital; and Toronto General Hospital, in affiliation with U of T medicine. And recently, she shares, her managers have taken note of her increased efficiency and ability to streamline processes within her department. 

Haleh has even used her newfound skills to help a colleague manage a home renovation project, which she says just highlights how useful project management skills can be to anyone, regardless of the field they work in. “This is the course you want to take if you want to get a good, in-depth understanding of project management. The skills you learn in the Foundations of Project Management course can be applied to any industry. Whether you’re doing construction, working in retail, or in a hospital setting, it doesn't matter,” she says.

“Everyone can benefit from this course.”

Workplace harassment investigators have a mandate to investigate complaints, make factual determinations about what likely happened, and decide whether those facts add up to a violation of the company’s harassment policy. It’s an important job with serious ramifications. After all, at the end of the investigation, the investigator will decide whether one employee likely harassed another, and significant consequences will attach to whatever conclusion the investigator reaches.

The success of such a high-stakes process depends in large part on the investigator gaining trust and establishing rapport with participants. Research shows that people provide more detail when the interviewer is encouraging, and people actually remember events better when they feel comfortable with their interviewer. Here are 5 top investigator strategies for doing just that:

1. Be respectful to every investigation participant throughout the process. Workplace harassment investigations are not criminal investigations and the investigator’s job isn’t to browbeat someone into a confession, cross-examine or make moral judgments. Not only is the old adage about honey and flies appropriate here but, even when harassment is found to have occurred, parties often have to work together again later. This will already be a difficult ask without adding the indignities of being treated poorly by the investigator into the mix.
2. Check your neutrality, check it again, and keep checking it throughout. It’s essential that the investigator is neutral. This means a range of things. It means that the investigator should never be in a conflict of interest as it relates to the investigation and the people it involves. It also means that the investigator must not be biased, nor should there be a reasonable apprehension of bias. This includes hidden prejudices and unconscious and psychological biases. If a participant doesn’t experience and perceive the investigator as neutral, they may be less forthcoming and detailed, negatively impacting the quality and reliability of the information the investigator gathers.
3. Create safety. Investigations are hard on all participants. They are stressful, sometimes trauma-triggering and scary. By starting interviews with a polite greeting using a pleasant tone of voice, eye contact, leaning in and open body language – whether in person or in virtual interviews – investigators can create a sense of safety and comfort for participants.
4. Demonstrate active listening during interviews. Investigators can do this with their body language, including maintaining eye contact, as well as with their questions. Periodically repeating back to the participant what the investigator has heard them say in order to confirm understanding also shows active listening.
5. Be transparent throughout. Most participants have never been through a harassment investigation before and have no idea what they are in for. Investigators who spell out the process clearly and transparently throughout, provide status updates to the parties, and check in with them during the course of the investigation build rapport and trust. Investigators should carefully introduce themselves, their role and mandate, and clearly explain the investigation process. Investigators with excellent training and/or fulsome experience can anticipate the likely questions that the parties will ask at an interview. By pre-empting those questions and supplying clear answers in advance, the investigator demonstrates their knowledge, experience and commitment to process; provides an opportunity for the party to settle in; helps put participants at ease, and improves the overall process.

Jennifer Wootton is a lawyer, workplace investigator and speaker. She has more than 28 years of experience in the workplace human rights law field in Canada. Jennifer’s law practice focuses on the proactive and compassionate resolution of internal workplace complaints through investigations, assessments, training and policy development. She is a pioneer in the field of workplace harassment investigations in Canada and has investigated thousands of workplace harassment, bullying and violence allegations as an external investigator since 2000.

Learn more about how to successfully conduct workplace harassment investigations in her upcoming course, Conducting Workplace Harassment Investigations. 

SCS recently celebrated our creative writing community with a return to our annual in-person awards ceremony at the Toronto International Festival of Authors. 

Members of the SCS writing community, along with their friends and family gathered to share their work, celebrate this year’s award winners, and connect with other writers and publishing industry professionals. 

Over $10000 in prize money was awarded to the winning writers, including: 

Bradley Alvarez, Janet Lamb, and Jessica Lapp, winner and finalists of the The Janice Colbert Poetry Award.

Sahar Golshan, Christina Strasbourg, María Fernanda Rodríguez Aguilar, and Basia Gilas, winners of the The Marina Nemat Award for top Certificate Final Project in Creative Non-Fiction, Children’s Writing, Writing in Spanish and Multi-Genre.

Alexis Patoine, Sheila Burpee Duncan, and Alison Stevenson, winner and honourable mentions of the Penguin Random House Canada Student Award for Fiction.

“Our Creative Writing Awards is one of my favourite nights of the year. It’s a privilege to see how, with the help of our amazing instructors, our learners’ have nurtured their talent and used it to bring to life these incredibly compelling stories. It’s no surprise that many of our award-winners go on to find publishing success.” said Creative Writing Program Director Lee Gowan. 

“I also love to see the connections they’ve made with their fellow writers. It’s a lot of creative energy and excitement in one room!”

Smit Patel’s focus on supply chain management began with an unexpected twist in his career journey. After earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering in India, Smit came to Canada and began working on a diploma to become an auto power technician. “While I was earning my diploma-still focused on engineering- I was working part time at a juice company, managing their shipping and receiving,” explains Smit. “It came quite naturally to me, and I was promoted to a manager position, overseeing the logistical side of the business. This is where the supply chain seed was planted in my mind. I wanted to learn more about the theoretical side of supply chain management and grow my skills, so I came to the School of Continuing Studies (SCS).”

Smit began pursuing a Operations & Supply Chain Management Certificate, and appreciated the opportunity to learn from instructors with real-world supply chain expertise. “My instructors- Ammar Ahtisham, Ash Gude, and Anil Mislankar-were experts with deep industry experience, which made my learning very relevant and applicable. All my classmates were there with a motivated and curious mindset, just like me,” he recalls. “What really made this certificate great was the flexibility of online learning. I was able to make it happen with my work schedule, and for me it was just the right amount of time, commitment, and challenge.”

After earning his certificate in June 2022, Smit began interviewing for a new role. “My instructor Anil really helped me prepare for an interview, and I landed the role. I’m now leading supply chain management at a new company, and using the skills I learned at SCS daily,” he says. “At first, I was a bit nervous about managing work and study, but within the first week I knew I would be ok. I had the freedom to do things at my own pace, and learning fit well into my life, not the other way around. Next, I want to study Lean Six Sigma at SCS, and earn a green and black belt. I think that continuing education can mean different things to different people; to me, the ability to upskill while still working was a powerful choice, and the benefits have been very clear from day one.”

The School of Continuing Studies recently welcomed its first Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) to our SCS team. 

A vital part of our commitment to creating an inclusive, accessible environment for our community of learners, instructors and staff, this inaugural role will be filled by Amanda Weaver, whose focus will be to embed EDI and Accessibility principles into everything we do, in collaboration with everyone at SCS, as well as the Executive Director, EDI for U of T, Divisional EDI Directors, and Office Directors for the Division of People Strategy, Equity and Culture.

Amanda’s career has been heavily focused on Human Resources, Respect in the Workplace, Human Rights, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, with experience working in multiple sectors, such as health care, manufacturing/construction, government services, policing, and now education. In all aspects of her life, she is a strong proponent of the importance of inclusive language, respect and dignity for all, understanding the layers of intersectionality, and for advocating and/or being an ally for those experiencing injustice or inequities in our communities and workplaces. 

Amanda says she was raised with the influence and values of a large Francophone family in Northern Ontario/Quebec, and the importance of culture, tradition, heritage, connectedness, and inclusivity. Additionally, through the lens of a mother of a child with significant health challenges, developmental delays and special needs, Amanda advocates for inclusivity, equity, dignity, and human rights every day, for everyone. She is dedicated to being attuned to those with varied lived experiences and the importance of listening and storytelling. 

A life devoted to effecting change and realizing authentic inclusion in our workplaces, educational institutions and communities is one that takes drive and resilience. Amanda is committed to being a transformative leader with a focus on education, understanding, and removing/addressing systemic barriers in the pursuit of authentic inclusion. Key priorities for Amanda as Director of EDI will involve education, curriculum enhancements with an EDI lens and the student/learner experience, strategic initiatives, data collection and analysis, community engagement, conflict/complaint resolution, and addressing anti-racism/discrimination commitments as noted in the University’s various reports related to Truth and Reconciliation, Anti-Racism and Discrimination, Accessibility, Workplace Culture, and more. For information related to U of T’s EDI learning opportunities and events, please visit the U of T EDI calendar site.

Amanda is committed to lifelong learning and to using her authenticity, integrity and passion to drive change, actively listen to others and provide a forum for all voices to be heard, and ensure everyone can attend work, school and/or community events as their authentic selves. 

It was early in the days of the pandemic when Kara Stelfox began dreaming about a career change. She was working as a corporate trainer, and also freelancing as a consultant working with athletes on mental skills in sport. 

While her resumé and educational background in kinesiology might not have made for a linear path to becoming a translator, she had attended French immersion schools for 13 years, and languages had been her hobby ever since. 

“I suppose I’m a confirmed language nerd, and my French had been lurking in the background, waiting to leap back into the spotlight! Furthermore, having first studied in other areas besides translation gives me a lot of subject matter expertise I wouldn’t otherwise have had, so I see the quirkiness of my path as an advantage,” she says. 

The online format of the School of Continuing Studies translation courses allowed Kara to continue her freelance business as she studied, and the small class size made it easy for her to get to know classmates, who she is still in touch with after completing the program.  

Kara says that there were opportunities to put her skills to the test right from the first course in the Translation: French to English certificate.

“Our instructor, Pamela Lipson, got us translating relevant, real-world materials early on so that we could test the translation techniques we were reading about. We experienced a variety of source texts from diverse sources such as press releases, codes of ethics, marketing, speeches, and more,” she shares. 

“The diversity of the texts we were exposed to helped set the stage for understanding our strengths, building our knowledge, and preparing for the world of translation outside the classroom.”

Kara quickly discovered that she loved the puzzle of translating the meaning of one language to another as well as the variety of subject matter involved. 

“It’s always different and mentally stimulating. Although I have favourite topics to translate, one of the best things about translating is that you get to read about a lot of different topics. As someone who is a lifelong learner, I find that very rewarding,” she explains. 

Despite quickly realizing she was on the right path once she got going, Kara says she did have some reservations before starting the translation certificate. For one, she wondered whether her love of language learning would mean she would enjoy translating. 

“Will I be any good at it? What jobs should I apply to once I finish? Should I go freelance or try to work for an agency? You get the picture,” she adds. “However, to quote Winnie the Pooh from The Little Things, a charming book for children (and adults!): ‘Questioning yourself can be good. Doubting yourself rarely is.’ Fears and concerns can spur us to learn and prepare, which helps us succeed, but they should not be allowed to run the show.”

When the time came to apply for translation work, Kara went back to her instructor Pamela for advice on job applications and interviews in the translation industry. With her help, and armed with her new translation skills, Kara was able to secure her first, full-time position as a translator with a Quebec-based firm just a few months after completing her translation certificate. 

For anyone else looking to launch their career in translation, Kara has plenty of sound advice.  

“Learn ravenously and continuously. Use the SCS certificate as a wonderful jumping-off point for even more learning about translation and the language industry. Take translation-related webinars and short courses that complement what you’re learning in the SCS courses. Sign up for newsletters and blogs related to translation topics you want to know more about! Ask questions, both during and outside of class, to maximize your learning,” she says. 

“We learn by engaging, not by osmosis. Finally, leverage your peers in the SCS program – they and your translation instructor are your first translation network!”

Please read this important statement from the University of Toronto’s Vice-President of People Strategy, Equity and Culture. The School of Continuing Studies echoes its support and sincere condolences for James Smith Cree Nation and the Community of Weldon, Saskatchewan. If you feel vulnerable or need support, please consider accessing one of the resources available and noted within the statement. Please know there are people within and outside the University who will listen and connect you to additional resources should you need them.

Alexa Posliff has always been interested in employment law. A lawyer, who opened her own firm with two partners in 2021, she decided that one of the things she would like to be able help her clients with was resolving workplace harassment complaints through an effective response including complaint management and investigation. 

Geared towards lawyers, human resource professionals and business owners, the School of Continuing Studies Specialized Certificate in Managing, Investigating and Resolving Workplace Harassment Complaints gave her the ability to do just that. 

“One of the areas that I practice in is labour and employment law,” Alexa explains. “Through speaking with my clients and other lawyers, I have learned harassment complaints are often handled internally without much guidance as to best practices in the industry (or even without consideration that there is an industry focused on workplace investigations). I am now able to guide my clients through an investigation process and help them come up with creative solutions when there is a conflict at their place of business.”

Having been in the workforce for several years, this was Alexa’s first time returning to the classroom as an adult and she was glad to find that her course instructors were very understanding of the fact that she and her classmates were balancing school with full-time work and full schedules. 

“For me, the most challenging part of taking this course was time management. As I was starting my own firm at the same time, I felt sometimes I was pulled in a lot of different directions. The instructors were very understanding about that and were supportive when I advised them what I was doing in my professional career,” she says. 

“It was also clear that everyone in the class actually wanted to be there because we all were interested in the subject matter.”

Alexa says that the safe learning environment fostered by the instructors was key to tackling sensitive subjects in class. 

“I felt my instructors were completely free of judgment. Some of the topics we discussed in class were personal and, at times, sensitive; knowing that my instructors were not going to judge us for how a situation was handled or how we would react in hypothetical situations made class a fun and safe learning environment,” she explains. 

This was a vital aspect of the courses as it allowed Alexa to learn about the experiences of her classmates across different industries. “The dialogue in class was productive and thought-provoking.” She says. “My peers had a lot of unique professional experiences, and learning about how things are done in their own industries was incredibly interesting.”

Alexa says one of her most valuable takeaways from the Specialized Certificate in Managing, Investigating and Resolving Workplace Harassment Complaints was that being creative and listening to all parties involved in a conflict is key to  coming up with an effective solution, and adds: 

“My advice for students taking this course would be to keep an open mind and stay curious. Asking questions and actively participating in course discussions made my experience a happy and fruitful one. I felt like I got a lot out of the course because I was genuinely open to all ideas presented, even though they might not be consistent with my own professional experiences.” 
 

Each year, the Penguin Random House Canada Student Award for Fiction is awarded to an SCS creative writing learner whose work and commitment to creative expression inspires us. This year’s u place prize has been awarded to Alexis Patoine. Two honourable prizes have been awarded to Sheila Burpee Duncan and Alison Stevenson. These three writers have taken a chance and embraced their creative potential; we are honoured to celebrate their innovative work. 

 
WINNER ($2,500 PRIZE):

Alexis Patoine, A Pile of Bones

Alexis Patoine moved to Ontario from Regina, Saskatchewan to study animation. She currently works in the animation industry as a 3D modeller and will be going back to school through the University of Toronto in the Fall. Her fascination with people, culture, and the natural world greatly inspire her art and writing.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS ($1,000 PRIZE EACH):

Sheila Burpee Duncan, Arbour Marie

Sheila Burpee Duncan has written many short stories, a novel, a memoir and several screenplays. One of her humour pieces was published in Reader’s Digest. Through a twenty-plus year career in external communications, Sheila wrote press releases and technical articles for trade publications and major technology companies, and enjoyed a three-year stint in Stockholm. Now, she’s back living in Ottawa with her husband and their 145-pound dog. Find her on Twitter @SheilaBDuncan.

Alison Stevenson, A Mouthful of Sunshine

Alison Stevenson is a Toronto lawyer. Her short stories have appeared in Prairie Fire, The New Quarterly, PRISM international, and This Will Only Take a Minute: 100 Canadian Flashes (Guernica Editions). She was a finalist in the Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story Contest and longlisted for the CBC and TNQ/Peter Hinchcliffe prizes. She is working on a story collection. alisonstevensonwriter.com