Category: Campus Life

By Rabia Khan

Canada has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world with thousands of job opportunities for everyone. The pandemic also resulted in transitioning job prospects for people. Ranging from white-collar to blue-collar positions, there’s plenty of space and room for every skill set.  Here are the most in-demand skills and jobs in Canada in 2022.

Customer Service Representatives 

If you’re excellent at communication skills and know how to solve issues with customers no matter what medium it is, a job like a customer service representative is what you must chase. This job position is well-paying and many companies are hiring with no experience needed. Without a doubt, one of the most in-demand skill and jobs in Canada in the year 2022 has to be Customer Service Representatives!

Software Engineers

Every company is dependent heavily on software engineers today for various reasons related to mobile/online apps or computer programs. Coders make plenty of money annually, all thanks to the most desired job position in the field of engineering. In two years, Canada now demands more engineers. It is also one of the most high-paying jobs.

Cybersecurity Professionals

Many companies are pressured to hire people to help against cyber threats such as attackers, malware, and other spyware. And with growing concerns related to security issues, there is a huge shortage of cybersecurity professionals. Your responsibility is to protect the company that you work in from all possible virtual hazards.

Registered Nurses

If you’ve practiced nursing in any country, Canada will welcome you with open arms with an expected salary of about $74,000 per year. Over the past few years, the nursing field has become quite popular for job prospects.

Delivery Drivers

After the pandemic hit, the life of delivery service changed drastically and that’s when companies realized the true value of delivery drivers. They benefit firms by stocking shelves with goods once they deliver them. With constant production daily, the demand for delivery drivers across Canada has greatly increased.

Accountants/Financial Experts

In 2022, accountants and financial experts became one of the most in-demand careers in Canada. They are an important branch of the office and without them, the company cannot run smoothly. Accountants are extremely great with record keeping of numbers, and confidential data related to financial institutions. If you possess a great attention to detail, you’ll love doing this job as it pays like jewels yearly!

Administrative Assistants

An administrative assistant is one job that is consistently in demand. If you love to work and having a 9-5 job, then this role fits like a glove! All assistants working in an office have to follow the rules and assist swiftly in daily tasks under strict deadlines. In addition, you have to do some on-the-spot work for your boss like filing paperwork, running some important errands, etc.

Video games may not teach players how to throw fireballs or capture pocket-sized monsters in real life, but they teach many people life skills.

According to the Entertainment Software Association’s “Bringing Canadians Together through Gaming: Essential Facts 2022” report, many Canadians believe that video games help:

• Lessen stress levels
• Bring happiness
• Develop teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving skills

Video games allow players to not only relax, but improve skills utilized outside of gaming.

Skills That Video Games Teach

Teamwork

Seventy per cent of Canadian teen gamers play with others online, showcasing that many socialize through video games. Games like Among Us require players to work together to win.

In Among Us, players work in two teams: the game assigns players as either crewmates or imposters.

Crewmates focus on repairing their spaceship through small tasks, while figuring out who are the imposters: players whose objective is to sabotage the spaceship, or kill all the crewmates. The game encourages players to figure out roles through discussion and observation.

In addition, since the game relies heavily on communication, some teachers use it to teach languages. The gameplay provides a space for people to strengthen their teamwork and language usage by collaborating through commands and questions.

Problem Solving

Problem solving requires identifying a problem, understanding what causes it, and fixing it. Many video games present puzzles as a common form of problem solving.

Players generally make use of their resources, sometimes even newly introduced mechanics, to progress in games. Puzzles within The Legend of Zelda series display many examples of problem solving.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild features many puzzle-filled shrines. Players need to use various runes to complete the puzzles. Some of these puzzles require Link to activate a Stasis rune to freeze an object for a short time, or to activate a Cryonis rune to create ice pillars that he can walk on.

Persistence

Video games work well for teaching persistence. Persistence means ongoing motivation, generally towards some sort of goal. Tasks like training towards a boss battle or collecting materials count as persistence.

Minecraft teaches many skills including persistence. The gameplay revolves around managing and using resources to create structures. Schools around the world have used Minecraft to teach students, especially with the game’s Education Edition.

A 2017 Canadian study on Minecraft noted many educational benefits from the game. According to data collected from 118 Quebec elementary school students, using Minecraft in school gave 25 main benefits: this list includes improving students’ motivation, communication, and academic skills (reading, writing, and math).

Hand-Eye Coordination

When a person’s eyes take in visual information, they tell their hands how to complete a task. The eyes and hands work together using hand-eye coordination.

Video games count as activities to strengthen hand-eye coordination, as hands use a controller while eyes take in visual information from screens.

Shooter games, such as those in the Fortnite or Splatoon series, excel at this area of teaching. Players must aim focus on a target as they progress through battles. They take in visual information at the same time they press controller buttons for the intended actions.

Multitasking

Many video games help players practice multitasking. By multitasking, players learn how to manage completing many actions over time.

Life is full of multitasking, especially in post-secondary studies and jobs. Many students juggle a job with their education and social lives.

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet features multitasking as part of the main story. It offers many objectives that players must complete. Players must work towards three distinct objectives to finish the game.

They must alternate between battling gym leaders, fighting giant Titan Pokémon, and challenging the rebellious Team Star. Planning and organization help keep track of the three paths as the game progresses.

Taking a break by playing a game is not just an engaging way to relax. Playing video games combines both learning and enjoyment into something memorable. Game on!

The world is advancing at light-speed, especially when it comes to technology and its uses in every aspect of our lives.  The workforce is one of the places where these changes are being most strongly felt, with many aspects of work becoming more digital and more automated than ever.

This means that the jobs we have now are changing, and that there will be new jobs in the future that have never existed before.

Even without the changes to work that we expect to see over the next decade, its unlikely that you’ll be in the same job your entire working adult life. Unlike what was common in older generations, it’s now much more likely that you will change jobs every few years—especially when you’re early in your career and new to the working world.

But there are ways to be prepared for these as-yet-unknown future career paths, even without knowing what these jobs will be, and that is to build your transferable skills.  Transferable skills are universal, and can be applied to any job – even the jobs that don’t exist yet, or that we can’t yet imagine.

It’s a good idea to start cultivating these skills early, so you will be ready to jump into these future jobs as they appear.

Digital Information and Data Literacy

Everything is becoming more digital and more reliant on data, which means having strong skills in data literacy and digital technologies will be essential to success in the jobs we can expect to see in the next decade.  This skillset involves knowing how to understand and operate digital technologies – both software, and hardware—as well as knowing how to access, read and understand the vast amounts of data being generated by our technologies.

Having strong digital and data literacy skills also means that as new technologies arise, you will be able to learn them quickly and apply them to solve problems and make decisions.

Creativity and Critical Thinking

No technology can match the creativity and critical thinking abilities of the human mind, and much of the work of the future will focus on generating new ideas and making these ideas into reality.  This means that being able to think creatively and critically about problems will be essential. Creativity is a key component of this, the ability to imagine solutions, new products, and innovative concepts. Critical thinking is also vital to parsing information, identifying biases, and examining the truthfulness and accuracy of the data and other information.

These skills combined will enable you to develop creative, innovative solutions to solve complex problems.

Adaptability and a Willingness to Keep Learning

Being adaptable, flexible, and willing to learn new things is a key component of success, and will be more important than ever as new technologies and new careers appear on the scene.  Those who can’t or won’t adapt to these changes will simply get left behind.

The workplace is changing rapidly, and will continue to change going forward – automation, remote working, and new digital technologies will change the shape of nearly every job.  You will need to be flexible about when and where you’re willing to work, and have the ability to rapidly assimilate and begin applying new information and processes.

Continuous learning is part of this, and you should take every opportunity to learn new skills and technologies, take courses and training opportunities, and spend time researching and studying up on things that interest you or will be useful for your chosen career path.

 

Sources

https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/future-skills-youll-need-your-career-2030

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/future-skills

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2022/08/22/the-top-10-most-in-demand-skills-for-the-next-10-years/?sh=329f2b517be7

https://hrforecast.com/a-complete-guide-to-top-job-skills-needed-for-the-future-jobs/

By Bhargavi Venkataraman

At the beginning of December, everyone is getting into the holiday mood. This means holiday shopping, delicious food, large gatherings and, of course, thinking about New Year Resolutions! Every year, my family and I get excited to sit down and write resolutions for the upcoming year. We make a big deal about the activity and carefully ponder how we would like the next year to look. Then, we write a beautiful list of these goals and paste it on our wall to stare at during the coming year. I am unsure if we were always successful in accomplishing these goals. Still, I believe the process offers an opportunity for some well-needed reflection regarding what we want for ourselves. Over the years, I believe the goals have gotten a lot less finish-line focused and instead focus on improvement in general. I am following that trend this year and have created a list of important goals I aim to follow through with. I have listed them below.

• Journal Regularly: This past year brought a lot of stressors for everyone, and I was going through some significant changes in my life. In my program, we do a lot of reflections which I have found to be very therapeutic for me. So, I thought the natural next step was journaling. I have been keeping with it for the past couple of months, which has been a pleasant surprise as I thought I would not be able to continue with the habit. I think one of the factors which helped me journal regularly was that I was not too strict about my frequency or quantity of writing. I sometimes write a page a day for a week continuously; other times, I write a small paragraph every couple of days. This upcoming year, I plan to continue with the habit. I want to graduate to write reasonably regularly. I hope it will provide me with some emotional clarity and also document the happenings of my life so that I can look back at them in the future.
• Exercise Frequently: This is a very common goal for most people, and like them, I have had this goal on my list every year for nearly the past decade. However, these past couple of years, I have really seen the importance of exercise after being cooped up for so long during the pandemic. The past year, I have tried getting at least some semblance of exercise every day such as through biking, going on the treadmill, or a simple walk. I have found that I am refreshed and more motivated whenever I do this, so I am hoping to implement this habit in the new year.
• Try Something New Every Week: This is a new goal on my list. I thought of this because of something one of my professors tells us every class. She recommends that we do one small thing that is new or weird to appreciate the little delights in life. For example, brushing with the wrong hand. I loved the idea and thought it would be interesting if I can keep something like that going long term. So, I want to try one new thing every week. It could be something small like learning how to count in a new language or something big like attempting a self-portrait. I want to document the process and look back at it in the new year.
• Adopt a Vegan Day of the Week: This goal comes from an exercise I did for a class I took on sustainability where I was told to go vegan for the days. I am already vegetarian so I thought the switch would be easy but I found it surprisingly difficult to cut out dairy products from my life. However, it felt really good to make the switch. I thought that it helped with both my physical and mental health, being able to appreciate my contribution to a more sustainable environment. So, I want to bring this energy into the new year and try out vegan life for one day a week. This way, I can ease into the lifestyle, while also taking a step to contributing to a better environment.

This is currently where I am at with my goals. I am sure that going into the new year, I will have more on my list. Some others that I am currently thinking of is adopting a “Sunday reset” routine which I have seen a lot of on social media, and also setting up a habit to read for 15 minutes in the night before sleeping so that I can get off screens for that time. I hope to build and sustain these habits in the new year and encourage you all to make your own list soon to envision what you want 2023 to look like for you!

Graduating can be a very exciting experience. All the hard work you’ve put in over the past four to five (or more) years has paid off and you can proudly bring that degree/diploma, etc. home. Nonetheless, this may also be an intimidating time because you’re entering the next chapter of your life. It might even seem as though there are so many things to address now that you’ve finished school and you don’t know where to start.

Here are some tips if you’re graduating/have graduated and unsure about what to do next:

Update Your Resume and Start Applying for Jobs

Revamp your resume. This would include (of course) adding that you now have a degree/diploma, etc. and, if applicable, you’ve participated in any work-study programs. Also, look up ways on how you can add some extra flair to your resume. Incorporating creative touches will help you stand out to potential employers.

It’s further a good idea to start applying for jobs. Of course, don’t worry about landing one right away. It often takes a while to secure employment after graduation. Additionally, remember that most in your situation are relatively new to the workforce, and it’s typical to go through several different jobs before eventually finding the one you’ll keep for the next few decades. For now, even finding work outside your chosen field is completely acceptable.

See a Financial Advisor about Your Personal Banking

Unless you’re thinking of applying for graduate school or pursuing another certification/bachelor’s degree, graduating likely means you’ll no longer be a student. As a result, you won’t continue receiving benefits/exemptions (if you have been receiving them) from your bank that are associated with being one unless they can extend these benefits/exemptions for an additional amount of time. It’s encouraged to see a financial advisor and ask about what the next best steps are regarding your personal banking.

Take Some Time to Recoup if You’re Feeling Burnt Out

Getting a degree/diploma, etc. can be a very difficult and tiring experience, so it’s understandable if you’re feeling burnt out. Though it’s normal to begin applying for jobs immediately after graduating, take the time to also rest if necessary. You can proceed with applying, but further engage with things you enjoy and relax as well in between. Are there any hobbies you miss? Have you been wanting to see a movie that was released recently?

All in all, the best way to go about doing what’s necessary after you’ve graduated is determining what the most logical measures are. If you feel overwhelmed, just take one step at a time. Creating a list of these things is a good idea. You could also organize them according to how urgent each list item is and mark down when you’d like to have them done by (as in, specific dates) for extra motivation.

It’s also important not to put too much pressure on yourself and refrain from worrying about what other recent grads/soon-to-be grads are doing. If you try your best and focus on your own goals, you’ll be on the right track.

People commonly pursue a degree, diploma, or any other academic-related accreditation after high school. Nonetheless, sometimes continuing with academics isn’t the best path for everyone. Considering how much pressure students often receive when it comes to getting an education, deciding whether or not to continue with their schooling (especially when they’re in the middle of it) can be a stressful and an anxiety-inducing experience.

If dropping out is a serious consideration, here is some advice on how to make your decision:

Consider Other Programs

Before making this decision, take a look at other programs and see if any pique your interest. You can even consider ones at a different school(s) as well. Its understandable if you find your interests have changed (or you weren’t that interested in what you’re doing to begin with) but try giving academics another chance rather than stopping altogether. To provide an example, if you’re attending university, switching to a different major and/or pursuing a minor that aligns better with what you enjoy might be the answer.

Take a Temporary Break from School

Is feeling burnt out or overwhelmed the reason why you’re thinking of dropping out? Exhaustion can definitely impact a person’s motivation and a restful break could put you in a better position to decide. The logical solution is taking a semester or two (or some time) off, then making your choice. For certain cases, even withdrawing from courses you’re currently enrolled in remains an option if school has been taking a serious toll on your health.

Have a Realistic Plan in Place

If you haven’t done so already, it’s best to think of a plan. Ask yourself this question: “What would my next steps be if I were to drop out?”

This isn’t to say that everything must be figured out right now, but it’s still encouraged to have ideas of what you’d like to do after parting ways with school. For instance, if you’re thinking about a specific career but aren’t entirely sure you’ll pursue it, working an odd job in the meantime would be a good measure to take.

Do What You Believe Is Best for You

This is a difficult situation, and if you’ve already discussed this with others, you are probably receiving/have already received advice from these people about what to do. Above everything, however, trust yourself. If you truly believe dropping out is what’s best, then proceed by all means. It’s also possible that this isn’t a permanent farewell as you could go back to school should you choose to do so in the future.

Overall, take your time to decide. Whether it’s continuing with your education but pursuing a completely different field or leaving school, consider all your options. What’s crucial is ensuring you’re in the right headspace so you can think rationally as you ponder this decision. Also, while those around you who are aware of your situation and want to advise you likely have your best interests at heart, remember that you know what the correct direction for you is.

Being cooped up for the last two years, making all efforts to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy and safe, it’s only natural that we were filled with excitement once the world returned to normal (or what is normal after COVID, that is).

According to a Forbes.com article, a major signal that we were all ready to put the pandemic behind us is our eagerness to attend live events once again, especially live concerts and sports games. For example, in the United States, Madison Square Garden, one of the top event venues in the country, reported record earnings for the Spring of 2022.

In Canada, one can say it’s the same. In Toronto, Ontario, venues like the Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena, which host both sports and music events, have been able to bounce back. On that note, as the holidays approach, people can look forward to events that they’ve missed due to COVID for the last two years, and so much more. For example, the well-loved Santa Claus Parade was back with a bang last November 20^th as thousands lined up the streets of Downtown Toronto amidst cold temperatures (minus-degree weather due to the wind chill) to catch a glimpse of Jolly Ol’ St. Nick and his helpful bunch of elves.

Let’s take a look into the other events that are worth checking out in Ontario.

Distillery Winter Village – Toronto, ON 

If you only have time to visit one Christmas market, this should definitely be on top of the list. It opened November 17 and will be open until December 31. For this year, a total of at least 65 local merchants, restaurants, and cafes are taking part. A few days before the market’s official opening, Google Canada, a big supporter of small businesses, had a treat for the vendors, providing them with $10,000 to help with booth rental and operating costs. Be sure to get a photo with the 50-foot tall White Spruce Christmas tree, one of the main attractions of the market!

Burlington Festival of Lights – Burlington, ON 

Since we have longer nights at wintertime, it’s fairly common for cities to launch light festivals. One of these is the Festival of Lights that takes place in Burlington’s waterfront through December to early January each year.  This event receives thousands of local residents, as well as visitors from across the region, and even outside Ontario. This festival also offers a candlelit stroll and lights from the rooftop display.

Winter Festival of Lights – Niagara Falls, ON

Niagara Falls is a favourite summer destination of locals and tourists alike, but not a lot of people know that it’s still worth visiting during the winter months because of this outdoor festival. This year marks the 40^th year, beginning on November 12, 2022 and ending on February 20, 2023. And it’s completely free! The displays are inspired by the northern winter and features gentle snowfalls to the aurora borealis gliding over snowy tundra, to blizzards and the frosted falls.

Jingle Bell Rock – Kitchener, ON

If holiday lights display are exciting enough, can you imagine what it will be like if the lights are illuminated in sync with vibrant holiday music? That’s exactly the goal of this festival, where the light displays dance to our favourite holiday carols. Visitors can also enjoy warmth at the open fire pits with some s’mores and get a chance to decorate cookies in Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen. Live entertainment is also available on some nights.

Holiday Magic at the Blue Mountain – Collingwood, ON

Most people know that Blue Mountain is one of the premier ski resorts in the province and even the country, but it’s also a great destination to amp up your holiday spirit. The Village sparkles with festive light displays. You can choose to walk the Holiday Light Trail for an enchanting and interactive array of light displays. During weekends, the Village offers live holiday music, street performers, warming stations, and a horse drawn carriage with Santa roaming the Village.

Stories of animal rescues are always uplifting. Take for example the tale of one shelter dog named Ruby from Rhode Island back in 2011. Ruby is an Australian shepherd and border collie mix, which are two of the smartest dog breeds. However, it seemed that Ruby was too smart for her own good since she was dropped off at an animal shelter five times since the families who tried to adopt her ended up with all kinds of issues.

Because of this, Ruby was on the brink of being euthanized, but a shelter volunteer by the name of Patricia Inman remained hopeful. Thank goodness a state trooper, Daniel O’Neil, who had aspirations to be a part of the K-9 unit in the state police, took Ruby in. The pair spent years training, and eventually they applied and earned their spot.

In 2017, a boy in the area went missing during a hike, and a lot of people predicted the worst had happened. However, Daniel and Ruby worked together to find the missing boy, and Ruby eventually did. The boy apparently fell off a ravine and was unconscious but was alive. It turned out the missing boy was the son of Patricia, the shelter volunteer who always believed in the goodness of Ruby.

The above is merely one of the numerous heartwarming stories involving shelter pets. It was so inspiring it was turned into a Netflix movie. Unfortunately, now that Canada has implemented a ban on street dogs from over 100 countries, stories like the one above will surely diminish. Let’s delve deeper into this new policy.

Protecting the country from rabies

Street dogs in underdeveloped countries are in the most need of help from animal rescue dogs based in Canada. Since these countries already have a lot to deal with, whether it’s economic challenges or political conflicts, rescuing animals from the streets doesn’t exactly make it to the top list of priorities, and that’s understandable.

This is why animal rescue groups specifically target such countries and make an effort to help out animals in need, particularly those who have been neglected or abandoned in the streets. Unfortunately, as exposure to the outdoors for prolonged periods of time without the right amount of food and nutrients, coupled with insufficient medical attention, makes animals vulnerable to contracting diseases like rabies.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), rabies is a viral disease that goes directly into the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. Once rabies has taken effect and the affected has manifested symptoms, the disease has a 99 per cent fatality rate. The CFIA further said dog rabies kills 59,000 people every year in countries affected by the ban.

“The importation of even one rabid dog could result in transmission to Canadian humans, pets, and wildlife,” the CFIA further emphasizes.

This is the main rationale for announcing the ban for any commercial dogs entering Canada — dogs intended for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, exhibition, and research — which started on September 28.

A ban is not necessarily the solution

A large number of dog rescue groups, however, feels that implementing a ban is jumping the gun since it is not the answer to the rabies problem.

Sam McElroy from Soi Dog Foundation hoped that the government would opt for making rabies titer tests (RTT) mandatory before entry, a common method in first-world countries.

In fact, the United States introduced the same ban in July 2021 but has since revised its policy. Now, with the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all dogs entering the U.S. territory must undergo the titer testing.

These tests are performed to determine if pets have been immunised against rabies as the test checks for the presence of the antibody that neutralises rabies in the pet’s blood. The presence of the antibody in sufficient amounts means that the pet has been vaccinated and is immune to rabies.

A titer test though doesn’t come without a price. Each test will cost about $100.

Rescuing street dogs is nothing unfamiliar for Canadians. However, with the ban, it will certainly be a thing of the past, and is the country ready for that?

 

Sources

https://centralvet.ca/titer-testing/

https://petraveller.com.au/blog/the-rabies-titre-test-explained

https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/titer-tests-dogs

https://people.com/pets/hero-shelter-dog-netflix-movie-rescued-by-ruby/

https://www.newsweek.com/rescued-ruby-true-story-real-life-netflix-1688980