Professional Growth and Support of Other Professionals

19
Oct 2023
CPHR Alberta
69
A woman is giving a presentation to a group of people.

Author : Jodie Jeworski 

Kelly has been an HR Practitioner for 20 years and has recently become the Director for HR Client Services and Support.  This is a team of Business Partners and Advisors that support portfolios of clients within ABC Company.  The company has 25,000 employees.  Kelly has a lean team due to budget constraints and workforce reductions.  Coupled with the ‘hot’ market for human resources skills and expertise, it has been challenging to recruit and retain generalists.  Although in a high-level leadership role, Kelly has had to ‘pick up the slack’ and become a ‘working manager’ until they are able to hire a full team.

It is October, and Kelly recently received an email from the CPHR reminding them their Professional Log is due in three (3) months.  When Kelly looks at their online portal, they realize they have not done any personal or professional development this year and will not have the required amount of hours to maintain their CPHR designation.  On one hand, if Kelly is unable to dedicate time to personal and/or professional development, they will not complete the required hours and are at risk of losing their professional designation, which is a requirement for their job.  On the other hand, if Kelly takes time away from work, they will become increasingly behind in their workload, which will impact their team, the clients, and the HR Client Services and Support function as a whole.

As Kelly contemplates the two ‘options’ and balances them with the fact that they are still learning their role, Kelly comes to an epiphany.  Kelly finds their copy of the CPHR Code of Ethics and flips to Division VII - Professional Growth and Support of Other Professionals.  Although Kelly has an obligation to continue with professional growth, there is also an obligation to contribute to the growth and development of others.  Kelly reaches out to their leader, the Associate Vice-President of Human Resources, to seek funding for professional development and receives a commitment of $15,000.

Kelly puts together a plan that includes both individual and team training over the next three months:

Individual 

  • CPHR webinars
  • Internal leadership training
  • Enrols in an online learning program through Bow Valley College

Team

  • Drawing on their past experience with mental health and well-being, develops a health promotion program for ABC Company
  • Brings in a guest speaker to educate the team on equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility
  • Identifies a lack of training for civility and respect.  With the help of an external consultant, they launch a project to develop a comprehensive program that will be implemented for all employees in early 2024

Although a lot of time and effort, Kelly realized the importance of maintaining their professional development hours.  Kelly was able to achieve the hours needed and will maintain their CPHR designation.  They have also developed a personal goal to do one type of individual or team development each month in 2024 and to immediately record it in their Professional Log.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.

 

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.



Reminder to cast your vote for the next CPHR Alberta Board of Directors

March 5, 2026
Your current CPHR Alberta Board of Directors selected a slate of two (2) strong candidates to fill the current Board vacancies from a talented pool of applicants. The nomination process began in late 2025 with a call for applicants. The applications period ended on January 9, 2026. The responsibility of reviewing all applications sits with the Human Resources Committee of the Board. All applicants were reviewed in full, and based on the established selection criteria, a short-list was identified and interviewed. Following interviews a proposed slate was developed and presented to the Board, with the final slate generated for your consideration. The 2026 slate of Directors are Adediwura (Wura) Odiase and Terri Davis. These applicants reflect the skills, experience, and qualifications to supplement the existing Board of Directors and to guide the association into the future and to serve you, the members. 2026 Slate: Adediwura (Wura) Odiase - Click here to watch Wura's introduction video. Terri Davis - Click here to watch Terri's introduction video. Read more about our 2026 slate of directors here. How to Vote Only Chartered and Retired members can vote. Open the email you receive from CPHR Alberta via Simply Voting , read the bios, and vote yes or no to the slate. The voting website is available from March 2, at 1 PM MST until March 13, at 12 PM MST. The Simply Voting email contains your elector ID and password, which is needed for you to cast your ballot. If you do not see an email from CPHR Alberta via Simply Voting ( vote@simplyvoting.com ), please check your junk mail and spam filters. If you experience any technical difficulties in accessing the voting website, please email Heather McMaster at for assistance. On behalf of the CPHR Alberta Board of Directors, thank you in advance for your participation in the 2026 CPHR Alberta Board of Directors Election. We look forward to seeing you online for our Annual General Meeting on May 7. Registration will open in April, watch your email for more details.

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By Jessica Jaithoo • March 4, 2026
Author: Taia Northrup, 2026 Social Media Committee Member International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women, recognize the barriers that still exist, and renew our commitment to advancing equity in the workplace and beyond. Across industries, women continue to shape organizations, strengthen communities, and lead innovation. In the HR profession especially, women play a vital role in designing inclusive workplaces, fostering culture, and driving meaningful change. Today, we celebrate those contributions — and acknowledge the responsibility we share in continuing to build equitable environments where everyone can thrive.  Creating Workplaces Where Women Thrive Celebrating women’s achievements also means creating environments where future leaders can grow. Equity is not about identical treatment; it is about ensuring access to opportunity. It is about removing systemic barriers and fostering workplaces where individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Organizations can take meaningful steps by: Actively monitoring representation across levels of leadership Conducting regular pay equity reviews Encouraging inclusive leadership training Amplifying diverse voices in decision-making spaces Recognizing and valuing different leadership styles Moving Forward Together At CPHR AB, we recognize the important role HR professionals play in advancing equity across Alberta’s workplaces. By embedding fairness into our policies, embracing inclusive leadership, and thoughtfully integrating technology with people-first values, we can continue to shape a future of work that is both innovative and inclusive. Progress happens when intention meets action. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the resilience, leadership, and achievements of women across our profession and our communities. We also reaffirm our commitment to building workplaces where every individual — regardless of gender — has the opportunity to contribute, lead, and succeed.

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By Jessica Jaithoo • February 19, 2026
We’re excited to congratulate the CPHR Alberta 2025’s scholarship recipients! Each year, these awards help us recognize emerging HR talent and support students who are taking meaningful steps toward their future in the profession. CPHR Alberta scholarships play an important role in easing financial barriers, celebrating academic achievement, and connecting students with the professional community that will support them as they work toward earning the CPHR designation. Below, meet this year’s outstanding recipients. CPHR Alberta’s Eldon Emerson Scholarship: Undergraduate Award Created in 2021, the Eldon Emerson Scholarship honours Eldon’s exceptional leadership, contribution, and passion for the HR profession. Eldon received the Fellowship Award in 2013—one of the highest honours in our community, recognizing exemplary service and impact. 2025 Eldon Emerson Award Winner Chine Rajafa CPHR Alberta’s Diploma Scholarship: Undergraduate Award Launched in 2023, the Diploma Scholarship supports student members enrolled in a 2‑year HR diploma program. Recipients show strong academic performance, community involvement, and a clear commitment to the HR profession and the CPHR designation pathway. 2025 Diploma Scholarship Award Winner Mehar Kaur Follow Their Journey We encourage you to connect with Chinenye and Mehar on LinkedIn and support them as they begin their HR careers. A simple follow, message, or connection can go a long way for emerging professionals. Watch for 2026 Scholarship Dates The next intake period for CPHR Alberta’s Scholarship Program opens Fall 2026. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates. Become a Student Member Whether you're studying in an accredited HR program or building your skills through part‑time, continuing education, or bridging programs, CPHR Alberta has a student membership option designed to support your path into the profession. Joining as a student member gives you access to resources, events, and a community that can help you take your next step with confidence. Learn more and join
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