Employer Symposium: Building Tomorrow's Workforce

A conversational Questions and Accessibility (Q&A) conversation between Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer Ms. Stephanie Cadieux and our own Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator. This conversation provides practical and insightful tips and tricks to increase workplace inclusion and accessibility for organizations of all sizes.

Presenter:

• Ms. Stephanie Cadieux, Canada's chief accessibility officer

Thinking about hiring a University of Victoria co-op student but unsure how to begin?

Each year, over 3,500 UVic co-op students contribute to workplaces across sectors, offering a flexible and cost-effective way to meet your business needs. Whether you're navigating seasonal shifts or tackling long-term goals, students from diverse academic backgrounds — spanning tech, science, business, communications, and more — are ready to help.

Our employment development officers will walk you through the steps to hire a UVic co-op student including key timelines and application tips. They will be joined by a representative from the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), a Federal SWPP funding partner, to share insights on how their wage subsidy program can support your hiring goals in 2026.

Co-op students bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn. They can support your daily operations or take on a specific project that’s been waiting for an extra set of hands. Discover how hiring a student can benefit your team — and how you can play a meaningful role in their professional journey.

Presenters:

• Morgan Filliol, UVic employment development officer
• Tara Coulter, UVic employment development officer
• Christine Bobyn, UVic employment development officer

Special guest:

• • Dave Murray (he/him), Senior Advisor, Industry and Ecosystem Engagement at ICTC.

In this 20-minute presentation we will share how community engaged learning (CEL) differs from other forms of experiential learning such as Co-op and Work Integrated Learning (WIL). Presenters will share the purpose, ethics/philosophy and spectrum of engagement with community partners (20 minutes, 10 minutes for presentation, 10 minutes for questions).

Presenters:

• April Vanini, UVic community-engaged learning coordinator
• Rosa McBee, UVic community-engaged learning coordinator

In this presentation, we will describe several curriculum initiatives across Co-op & Career that support students to graduate career-ready. We will highlight our competency assessment process on the Co-op & Career portal and the centralized curriculum we offer through the Career Services website. We will also showcase two Brightspace courses that we offer: the Introduction to Professional Practice, our preparation course for all co-op students and Your Career Starts Here, our new careers course for undergraduate and graduate students.

Presenters:

• Meg Thompson, UVic curriculum coordinator
• Jada Tasker, UVic information and operations coordinator
• Allison Benner, UVic associate director of career development and experiential learning

This session introduces employers to the Indigenous Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Resource Hub and highlights best practices for hiring and retaining Indigenous students. Participants will gain practical strategies, tools, and cultural insights to build stronger, more inclusive recruitment and retention practices that support Indigenous student success.

Presenter:

• David Busch, UVic Indigenous co-op coordinator

What does the data tell us about attracting student talent from UVic? In this session, we'll share key insights from the University of Victoria’s co-op program on factors that drive student engagement and what that means for employers looking to optimize their hiring strategies. Learn when students are available and most active in their job search, which jobs capture attention, and how to make the most of postings.

Presenter:

• Leo Spalteholz, UVic acting director of operations

This presentation explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping hiring and the future of work. From the role of AI in cover letters and online interviews, to its impact on entry-level positions, workforce demographics, and the skills employers now value most, we’ll examine both the challenges and opportunities AI brings. We’ll also discuss how AI is transforming workplace tools, why adaptability and people skills matter more than ever, and how employers can connect with universities and co-op programs to build a future-ready workforce.

Presenter:

• Karae White, UVic career educator

Join us for this session and hear from employers spanning from the non-profit to a multinational corporation on how they actively recruit students from International Pathways and the benefits they receive as a team and company as many of these students’ knowledge and expertise provide a culture add to ultimately better serve their clientele and business outreach. We will also provide tangible strategies on how you can better integrate equitable hiring practices in your organization including the ACE-WIL Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit for employers to attract, hire and onboard SFIP.

Presenters:

• Landa Crockatt, UVic career educator
• Amy Chen, UVic co-op coordinator
• Sheri Love, UVic co-op coordinator

Panelists:

• Roopam Roopam – People & Culture Business Partner, Redbrick
• Mariana Ximena Bretado Brizuela – People & Culture Coordinator, Redbrick

Join the Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator for an engaging panel conversation on what strategies accessible employers use to ensure inclusive and accessible representation of the community they serve.

Presenter:

• Niels Melis-de Lamper, UVic accessibility and inclusion coordinator

Panelists:

• Graham Ball – Engineering Manager, Urban Solar
• Emily Dietrich – Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Program Manager, BCAA
• Shirley Prasad-Naiviqa – Workplace Initiatives and Accessibility Manager, First West Credit Union

In this presentation, Career Educator Joy Andrews will discuss best practices in attracting and retaining skilled and talented recent graduates. From posting the job to selecting your chosen candidate, she'll share strategies to help you become an employer of choice. You'll have an opportunity to assess your practices including strategies to engage with students prior to graduation that help you connect with today's new grads.

Presenter:

• Joy Andrews, UVic career educator