September 2006 ISSUE
National Mentoring Conference
Designed to Enhance Mentoring
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BY Nancy Toth, MA, CHRP
Manager, Professional Development & Human Resources
Mark Nov. 6 and 7 on your calendar if you want to learn more about mentoring. Those are the dates when APEGGA will hold the first annual National Mentoring Conference at the Westin in Edmonton.
The conference has several objectives. It has been structured to enhance the skills of mentors, strengthen the relationships of mentoring pairs and encourage potential mentors to take the next step. Best practices will be shared to assist coordinators in improving their programs. Managers of human resources and professional development will hear information about starting mentoring programs.
The increasing numbers of baby boomer retirements, the pace of the workplace within Alberta’s hot economy, and the increasing numbers of foreign-trained professionals have raised the value and interest in mentoring. APEGGA’s sister associations and other professions will be encouraged to attend and share ideas.
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MENTORS AMONG US |
APEGGA has had a mentoring program since March 2004. Over the past two and a half years, we have made changes and learned what does and doesn’t work.
Our program is restricted to engineers and geoscientists with an APEGGA member number; however, we believe we can learn from what other professions are doing. For example, the law profession is actively mentoring. We also want to help other professions benefit from our experiences.
June Anonson, MN, PhD, the assistant dean of nursing at the First Nations University of Canada in Prince Albert, Sask., is a long-time champion of mentoring. Dr. Anonson will be our keynote speaker. As with quality assurance and foreign language assessment, mentoring has long been a practice within nursing, which has often served as a model for other professions.
Rob Macdonald, P.Eng., CHRP, of Western Leadership Inc., will present several seminars on the coaching skills so essential to good mentoring. You will hear from some of our most active APEGGA mentors, including mentors of the year for 2005 and 2006.
If you have a personal interest in mentoring or you want to start or enhance an existing mentoring program, visit www.apegga.org for more information or to register. You can also contact APEGGA Mentoring Coordinator Arlene Lack at alack@apegga.org, to find out more.