Our Programs and Initiatives

CIC Vancouver is happy to announce the return of our Mentorship program! This program will pair industry experts with post-secondary students and young professionals in order to gain valuable insights in the fields of global affairs and public policy. With the intention to support the professional and personal growth of our members, this program aims to provide a mutually beneficial relationship to both mentors and mentees. The mentorship program will launch with our Mentorship Icebreaker session on May 30th, 2023. 

Are you a post-secondary student or entry-level professional interested in a career in international affairs or public policy?

As a mentee, you will be provided with an industry-experienced mentor who will share their insight and experiences. You may want to explore career paths, develop professionally, or be considering a transition to a different profession. This program aims to provide you with career advice, academic encouragement, advice on preparing to enter the workforce, and opportunities to make professional contacts. Topics of conversation and goals of the relationship are to be directed by you, the mentee. To be a mentee, you must be a registered CIC member. The CIC Vancouver Mentee application form is currently closed for the current year. However, one will be made available during the program’s application renewal in early 2024. 

Are you an industry professional looking for an opportunity to guide a mentee’s career development?

You will be given the opportunity to contribute to your professional community and hone your leadership skills by imparting industry knowledge and career guidance to a mentee. You should have at least 10 years of experience or 5 years with a postgraduate degree in the field of foreign policy, international affairs, or global economics. Mentors with CIC Memberships are preferred, however, to attend other CIC events outside of the Mentorship Program, a CIC membership is required. The CIC Vancouver Mentor application form is currently closed for the current year. However, one will be made available during the program’s application renewal in early 2024. 

Program details and the pairing process

The pairing process will be completed by the Mentorship Committee through a personalized matching process. Both mentees and mentors will be shortlisted and may be interviewed for program fit. While every effort is taken to match applicants as best as possible, pairing is not guaranteed. Our priority is to find the strongest fit possible, thus completing the application form in detail is recommended. Applicants who are not matched this year, are encouraged to reapply. 

This program will commence with a mandatory Ice Breaker Session on May 30th 2023. Mentorship pairs will meet at least once a month virtually or in-person following this session until February 2024 when the program ends, however, mentoring may continue at the discretion of participants after the program ends. The Mentorship Committee will regularly check-in with mentor-mentees pairs to assess progress. Program pairs are also encouraged to attend other CIC Vancouver events. Please check eligibility and apply using the links below. Deadline to apply is May 15th 2023. For questions, please contact Vancouver@thecic.org

Did you miss the opportunity to attend our events? Did you attend but want to refresh what you learned? Below are recorded photos and videos of CIC Vancouver’s prior events for you to view and/or watch!

February 22nd 2023: Key Foreign Policy Challenges for Canada in 2023 and Beyond with Senator Yuen Pau Woo

May 18th 2023: Ship tour of HMCS Ottawa with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). More photos can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsXPf9GPjNq/