Well, it’s that time of year again: back-to-school mode. For K–12 families, it means gathering school supplies, tearing off the tags of new clothes, and inhaling the scent of fresh sneakers. Runs to Costco for school snacks and juice boxes. For those like me, sending a child off to university for the first time (my daughter Ava is headed to Trent to study forensic psychology), it’s a bittersweet blend of excitement and nostalgia—not believing that she is old enough to fly the nest but knowing I have done everything I could to prepare her for it. Roots and Wings—it’s my parenting mantra.
Some of you might feel nostalgia from your student days, or you are welcoming thousands of new students to live and learn in the campuses, cities, and towns you serve. Minivans and pickup trucks at stoplights with hand-me-down sofas and plastic-covered mattresses tied down. Tubs of towels, supplies, and clothing travelling down our highways. Nervous students sitting in the back, watching TikToks about what to expect in their first year.
Welcoming emerging adults (and returning adults) is a huge responsibility. Each one arrives with hopes and dreams stitched together with the expectation that the elusive “piece of parchment” will shape their future. Year after year, the Brainstorm Student Interests Report finds that the top two reasons students enroll in post-secondary are to get a job and to get a better job (Brainstorm Strategy Group). Career outcomes remain the single most significant reason students attend post-secondary.
Of course, students are also drawn by interest —what fascinates them, what they want to explore. Even the most passionate professors often began by following their curiosity before realizing, well, that they wanted to make a living doing what they love.
So here we are, welcoming thousands back to campus, some stepping on for the very first time, some in the messy middle of their journeys, and others, like my nephew, in the final stretch of an undergraduate degree before heading toward grad school. Images of success greet them: smiling students with books in hand, staff wearing welcome pins ready to answer questions, bustling bookstores where students pick that “in” shirt or hoodie that says, “I’m here. I belong.”
Behind the scenes, countless caring professionals have been preparing all summer. They’ve trekked across hazy campuses in August, assembled welcome kits, tested virtual platforms, fine-tuned schedules, and crafted communications. Whether in person or on a screen, they’ve shown up again and again to ensure that these learners, sent by families in their hometowns, across the country, or, for the now fewer than before, across the world, will be well provided for with care and respect.
These staff care deeply. And even when they get home tired, they come back the next day, driven by purpose. They’re guiding these hopeful students, eyes bright with promise, toward their future. They have poured their expertise into the programs, designed the events, and strategized about how to ensure that they fulfill the promises of the glossy brochures.
But the pressure is real. Staff are under immense stress, reminiscent of pandemic uncertainties, when returning to campus felt fragile—but this time it feels more individual. It’s not about “will we be sent home?” but “will I last the next round of cuts?” There’s anxiety about disappearing programs, sudden reorganizations, provincial or federal policy changes, and layoffs across the sector. Every “all staff” meeting or calendar invitation can elevate tension with whispers in the hallways, tensed shoulders, and quieted meetings until the certainty of the conversations begins.
Yet, these dedicated individuals show up with joy and intention, safeguarding the experience that families, media, and recruiters have promised. They want nothing more than for each student, your child, and my child to have an incredible September and beyond. They walk through the doors, soak in the high vibrations of the excitement, and let their personal worries dim for the day while they prepare the campus for its swath of students. They keep going, keep teaching, keep planning, keep moving forward with the aim to ensure that every student who walks in those doors has the opportunity to walk off that stage one day.
So, thank you. Thank you to every one of you for continuing to show up, level up, and walk alongside these students entrusted to your care. It is a huge responsibility, and you deserve a deeply heartfelt thank you. As a parent, as a colleague, and as a champion of education, thank you for continuing to do the best you can in tough times. We see you, and we celebrate all that you do for the present and future of our communities.
Here are the new opportunities over the past two weeks that are currently open as of August 13, 2025.
NFLD
Associate Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Innovation – College of the North Atlantic – Aug 25, 2025
NS
Student Services Counsellor, Personal and Career – Nova Scotia Community College – Aug 14, 2025
Career and Recruitment Specialist – Dalhousie University – Aug 24, 2025
QC
Associate Director – McGill University – Aug 19, 2025
NB
Executive Director, Startup Programs & Innovation Partnerships – University of New Brunswick – Aug 18, 2025
ON
Internship and Outreach Administrator, MFI – University of Toronto, St. George Campus – Aug 24, 2025
Director, Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre – Queen’s University – Open until filled
Experiential Education Coordinator – York University – Open until filled
Program Coordinator, Co-op – York University – Open until filled
Career Coach (Term) – Huron University – Aug 22, 2025
Program Manager, Entrepreneurship – McMaster University – Aug 22, 2025
Program Manager, Work-Integrated Learning & Professional Experience – McMaster University – Aug 20, 2025
External Engagement Specialist – University of Guelph, Gordon S. Lang School of Business & Economics – Aug 14, 2025
Community Engagement Officer (Temp, Part-time) – University of Guelph – Aug 22, 2025
Clinical Placement Manager – Georgian College – Aug 15, 2025
MB
Executive Director, Government & Community Relations – University of Manitoba – Sep 8, 2025
Community Engagement Liaison – University of Manitoba – Aug 26, 2025
SASK
Project Coordinator, Office of the Vice-Provost Indigenous Engagement – University of Saskatchewan – Aug 25, 2025
Indigenous Community Liaison – Central – Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Aug 31, 2025
AB
Dietetic Internship Coordinator – University of Alberta – Aug 22, 2025
Programming Specialist, Industry Training & Continuing Education – Olds College – Open until filled
Manager, Learner Experience – SAIT, School of Business – Aug 15, 2025
Entrepreneurship Advisor – JR Shaw School of Business, NAIT – Aug 16, 2025
Business Development & Engagement Lead – Red Deer Polytechnic – Aug 15, 2025
Indigenous Career Advisor – NorQuest College – Aug 15, 2025
BC
Associate Director, Graduate Programs – Simon Fraser University – Aug 25, 2025
Career Educator – University of Victoria – Aug 17, 2025
Engagement Advisor – University of British Columbia – Aug 21, 2025