National Mentoring Program
National Mentoring Program Goals
The CWRA National Mentorship Program aims to support newer CWRA members, fostering their professional growth and enhancing their involvement in both water management and CWRA activities. Through the program, participants can build lasting connections within the CWRA community and facilitate the sharing of knowledge across different generations of water resource professionals. The program operates virtually, allowing for participation across Canada.
Mentorship Program Structure
In 2024-2025, CWRA will offer two mentoring sessions, and participants are welcome to apply for either or both. The Fall 2024 session will run from October to December, with applications currently open exclusively for this period. The deadline for applications is in early October, and successful applicants will be notified by mid-October. This session will feature two 2-hour group meetings, scheduled for mid-October and early November. The specific focus of the mentoring session will be tailored to the needs and interests of the selected participants.
Mentees at any stage of their career, whether early in their undergraduate studies, seeking employment, or looking to advance their careers, are encouraged to apply. Additionally, newcomers to Canada with international experience in water resources who are seeking opportunities in the Canadian water sector are welcome to participate. While group discussions will be conducted in English, we will make every effort to pair French-speaking mentees with French-speaking mentors.
Both mentoring sessions will feature group activities such as speed mentoring, resume reviews with feedback, and open discussion periods. Between meetings, each mentee will have the opportunity to connect with a mentor for a one-on-one, 60-minute virtual session. The program is designed to foster meaningful connections among all participants, with group meetings helping mentees build a broad professional network that includes both experienced mentors and their peer cohort.
Each session will be limited to 15 mentees. If applications exceed this number, smaller groups may be created to accommodate mentees with similar mentoring goals or scheduling preferences. Alternatively, applicants may be placed on a waiting list for the next National Mentorship session. In the meantime, National Staff will work with those on the waiting list to explore potential mentoring connections prior to the next session.
Given the national scope of this program, the diverse time commitments of both mentors and mentees, and the range of time zones, meetings will typically be held on selected weekend mornings, which tends to work best for most participants. However, we understand this schedule may not suit everyone. If these times are inconvenient, please reach out to us.
Participants in the program are encouraged to connect with members of the mentoring network outside of the scheduled group meetings and engage in the SYP and National CWRA Slack channels. Additionally, all participants are strongly encouraged to attend CWRA events and other water-related activities to further expand their professional networks and knowledge.
Following the final meeting, participants will be surveyed to gather feedback on their experience, and suggestions for improvement will be incorporated into future mentoring sessions. Each year’s program format has been improved based on valuable input from previous participants through these surveys.
Participant Expectations
All mentors and mentees in the National Mentoring Program must be members of CWRA.
Mentees are expected to:
- Respond to emails promptly when a response is required.
- Attend all group meetings.
- Prepare a resume and cover letter, if they don’t already have one.
- Complete the feedback survey.
- Proactively communicate their mentoring needs to program coordinators.
- Take initiative in scheduling meetings with their mentors.
Mentors are expected to:
- Attend at least the first group meeting.
- Collaborate with their assigned mentees to schedule individual mentoring sessions between group meetings.
- Communicate any scheduling constraints to mentees and program coordinators.
- Complete the feedback survey.
All group meetings will be held online, and participants must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Program documents will be shared via Google Drive, and participants will need access to it. Program coordinators will be available to assist anyone encountering issues with Google Drive access.
All participants in the mentoring program must comply with the CWRA Code of Ethics and Anti-Harassment Policy.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Fall 2024 Program is October 4th at 12:00 AM PST
