The Job Talk Podcast Kim Brix and Robert Belland

Firefighter Talk with Kevin Royle
Kevin Royle, a 14 year veteran with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, is a First Class Firefighter, Firefighter Medical Responder, Apparatus operator, and Fire Investigator.
Kevin founded Firefighter Aid Ukraine in 2014 and remains the project director. Firefighter Aid Ukraine has delivered over 209 tons of aid to first responders and hospitals to Ukraine. The organization has also sent or helped to send equipment such as fire trucks, medical supplies, firefighting rescue equipment, and PPE to other countries such as Lebanon, Chile, Paraguay, Syria, Mexico, the Philippines, India, and Cuba. They have continued working in Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Kevin was the recipient of the Hetman Award for his work in Ukraine, and was recently appointed to the Premier’s AdvisoryTask force on Ukraine. Kevin has a beautiful wife and is the father of two young children. When not working or volunteering, Kevin enjoys skiing and travelling the world.
When the conflict started, FAU used their trusted network to focus on the immediate delivery of critical aid to Ukraine. In a week, the organization accomplished what typically takes well over a year collecting 14 tones of critically needed life rescue equipment, PPE, and medical supplies, chartered a cargo plane, and departed from the Edmonton International Airport on March 10th. In less than 24hrs of landing in Europe, FAU and AUCC personally delivered two-semi trucks full of equipment into Ukraine and handed them off to our contacts in the State Emergency Services. Within days of that equipment being provided, it was on the front lines of the war and making international news, as seen on CNN.
FAU’s will continue to collect critical aid and ship it to the front lines and communities affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Description
Firefighters carry out firefighting and fire prevention activities, and assist in other emergencies. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal governments and by large industrial establishments that have internal firefighting services. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Job Forecast
Visit: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/6279/ca
Employment Requirements
This is what you typically need for the job:
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of a college program in fire protection technology, fire science or a related field may be required.
Firefighting and emergency medical care training courses are provided and vary in length depending on the requirements of different fire departments or services.
An apprenticeship training program for firefighters and voluntary trade certification is available in New Brunswick.
Experience as a volunteer firefighter may be an advantage.
Physical agility, strength, fitness and vision requirements must be met.
Several years of experience are required for senior firefighters, such as lieutenants and captains.
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Environmental Professional Talk with Ryan Muri
Ryan Muri is from a rural background in North Central Alberta in a region with significant energy activity. He was able to obtain some “environmental” experience and exposure to the environmental consulting industry prior to selecting environmental sciences as his primary focus at post secondary.
Ryan received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences (ENCS) with a minor in Soil science in 2001 from the University of Alberta. He then received his Professional Agrologist designation in Alberta in 2003. Ryan began his career as an Environmental professional in 2001 with a small Edmonton based private consulting firm in the spring of 2001. After 12 years (8 of which were primarily field based) and 2 “boom and bust” cycles associated with the energy sector, Ryan moved into an industry role with Husky Energy (now Cenovus Energy) in 2013.
In 2017 Ryan moved back into consulting and in 2018, joined Vertex Professional Services (parent company – Vertex Resource Group). Initially the role was General Manager of Environment North. As a result of significant company growth in the environmental division and a decision to re-structure by sector instead of by region, Ryan was appointed as Vice President of Regulatory and Compliance Monitoring early in 2022. The team that Ryan facilitates supports projects in the following sectors across Canada; renewables, transmission lines, pipelines, Sand and Gravel, Oil Sands, commercial and residential developments, and supports various clients on green initiatives.
Ryan is married and has two children, Caleb, and Camryn and still calls the Edmonton region home.
Description
What can you do as an Environmental Professional? The list is long and diverse, and individuals come form a wide range of educational and speciality backgrounds. Some of the career paths include: (but not limited to):
Biophysical Sciences (Natural Sciences) Wildlife Biology Fisheries and Aquatics Soil and Reclamation professionals Vegetation and Wetland Ecology Groundwater (Hydrogeology) Surface Water professionals Contaminated Sites Management Assessment and remediation Risk assessment and human health toxicology Spill response professionals Contaminant hydrogeology
Job Forecast
Increased sector development in Canada (i.e. renewables, increased green initiatives) and in increase in regulatory and stakeholder engagement in the development and restoration/reclamation of projects have led to a increase in demand for Environmental Professionals. Specific to Western Canada there is a shortage across the board for all areas associated with pre-development assessments scopes, regulatory permitting and management and closure of impacted sites.
Employment Requirements
Most industries that employ Environmental Professionals do require post secondary education associated with a related field for entry level positions. This includes two- or three-year technical diplomas from accredited colleges and technical institutes or a Bachelors degree. With increased specialization in a specific discipline, higher level education is often obtained. Most Environmental Professionals work towards a professional designation that accommodates the work types and areas in which they practice.
Education requirements and professional designations do vary by province and governing body.
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Psychologist Talk with Michaela Kadambi
Michaela Kadambi Ph.D., R. Psych. (she/her): is a BIPOC (South Asian/European) registered psychologist in Edmonton who specializes in anxiety disorders and traumatic stress. Having the highest levels of education and training experiences required for psychologists in Alberta, she offers in-person and telehealth services to individuals and couples. Her clinical work is deeply informed by current research, best practices, advanced clinical training, and over two decades of professional experience. Dr. Kadambi is a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional through Post-Partum International and is a certified consultant in Prolonged Exposure therapy through the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (Division of Pennsylvania State University). Diversity is celebrated in her practice. Clients from all backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, and gender expressions are welcomed for individual or couples counselling.
Description
Psychologists assess and diagnose behavioral, emotional and cognitive disorders, counsel clients, provide therapy, conduct research and apply theory relating to behavior and mental processes. Psychologists help clients work toward the maintenance and enhancement of psychological, physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning. They work in private practice or in clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centres, community service organizations, businesses, schools and universities, and in government and private research agencies.
Job Forecast
For Psychologists, over the period 2019-2028, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 15,700 , while 13,700 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them.
With regard to labour supply, psychologists are a regulated occupation and in most provinces in Canada workers need to have a doctorate degree in order to be able to work. Without a PhD degree, workers must work in some closely related occupations for some years before being granted the right to work as a psychologist. As a result, occupational movers are projected to account for the majority of job seekers.

Employment Requirements
A doctoral degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation “Psychologist” in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
A master’s degree in psychology is required for the designation “Psychologist” in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
A master’s degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation “Psychological Associate” in Ontario and Manitoba.
In Prince Edward Island, a doctoral degree is required to work in private practice, or a master’s degree with practice limited to institutions and agencies.

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Headshot Photographer Talk with Jeanette Sesay
Jeanette Sesay is the owner of a high-end headshot business where she photographs anyone from top executives to dental assistants and young actors. She has been working as a photographer since graduating from the NAIT Photographic Technology program in 2010. Her careers with both NAIT and the University of Alberta have brought her photography onto billboards, buses, magazines and promotional materials across the country. She’s volunteered as a photographer for an NGO in Uganda, photographed an event in Paris and captured countless weddings and family sessions.
After her time in the spotlight she started a family and as a mom she was looking for a career that she was able to do while also parenting three young boys. While she was working in the corporate world she dreamed of owning her own business capturing headshots for professionals but it was so hard to leave a secure position with regular pay and benefits for the unknown. Finally, while pregnant with her third son she and her husband decided it was time to get that dream started and in the height of COVID she perfected her lighting style and built up a portfolio of images to be used for her promo materials. Since then the business has taken on a life of its own and it’s almost impossible to keep up with both the business and life at home with the boys.
When she first studied photography she had no intention whatsoever to make it a career so the direction her life has taken still surprises her all the time!
Description
Photographers operate still cameras to photograph people, events, scenes, materials, products and other subjects. They are employed by photographic studios, newspapers, magazines, museums and government, or they may be self-employed.
Job Forecast
In order to determine the expected outlook of an occupation, the magnitude of the difference between the projected total numbers of new job seekers and job openings over the whole projection period (2019-2028) is analyzed in conjunction with an assessment of labour market conditions in recent years. The intention is to determine if recent labour market conditions (surplus, balance or shortage) are expected to persist or change over the period 2019-2028. For instance, if the analysis of key labour market indicators suggests that the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill the job openings (a shortage of workers) in an occupational group in recent years, the projections are used to assess if this situation will continue over the projection period or if the occupation will move towards balanced conditions.
As job openings and job seekers are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2019-2028 period, the balance between labour supply and demand seen in recent years is expected to continue over the projection period.
Employment Requirements
This is what you typically need for the job: A bachelor’s degree in visual arts with specialization in photography or Completion of specialized training in photography in high school, college or specialized training schools or Extensive on-the-job training under the supervision of a photographer is required. Experience in, or knowledge of computerized photography or digital imaging may be required.
Creative and technical ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are required.
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Digital Communications Specialist Talk with Liz Pittman
Liz Pittman is a freelance digital communications specialist in Victoria, BC. She works with clients across North America on social media strategy and management, content creation, web writing, and podcasting.
Liz is also a part-time instructor at the University of Victoria, where she teaches a couple of days per week. Her main courses are Social Media Marketing and Digital Communication, which are credit programs that are applied to Business Administration Certificates and Diplomas.
Her formal education is in broadcast journalism. She worked in that industry for six years before moving into digital marketing and communications.
Description
Advertising, marketing, public relations and e-business managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of establishments and departments involved in commercial, industrial and e-business advertising, marketing and public relations. They are employed by commercial and industrial establishments, government departments, and advertising, marketing and public relations firms or consulting businesses.
Job Forecast
n order to determine the expected outlook of an occupation, the magnitude of the difference between the projected total numbers of new job seekers and job openings over the whole projection period (2019-2028) is analyzed in conjunction with an assessment of labour market conditions in recent years. The intention is to determine if recent labour market conditions (surplus, balance or shortage) are expected to persist or change over the period 2019-2028. For instance, if the analysis of key labour market indicators suggests that the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill the job openings (a shortage of workers) in an occupational group in recent years, the projections are used to assess if this situation will continue over the projection period or if the occupation will move towards balanced conditions.
The analysis of key labour market indicators such as job vacancies and employment growth as well as the unemployment rate suggests that the number of job seekers was sufficient to fill the job openings in this occupational group over the 2016-2018 period.
For Advertising, marketing and public relations managers & Other business services managers, over the period 2019-2028, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 19,400 , while 19,900 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them.
As job openings and job seekers are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2019-2028 period, the balance between labour supply and demand seen in recent years is expected to continue over the projection period.
Employment Requirements
A university degree or college diploma in a field related to electronic commerce, Web site content development, or Internet services and Experience in Web site design, interactive media development, data administration or information systems analysis or experience related to Web site content are usually required.
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Entrepreneur & Community Leader Talk with James Cumming
James Cumming is the former President & CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, the largest urban chamber in Canada, James is an active leader in Edmonton’s business and non-profit volunteer communities.
As a life-long entrepreneur, James understands the focus and drive needed to build something from scratch – whether starting out as an independent business owner or becoming the Chair of NAIT’s Board of Governors.
With entrepreneurship comes an inherent responsibility to give back to your community. This is why James has actively supported non-profit organizations such as Junior Achievement, Northlands Park, Edmonton Construction Association, Alberta Art Stabilization Fund, Norlien Foundation, Alberta Opportunity Corporation, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada, to name a few. A recipient of NAIT’s Alumni Award of Distinction and Top 50 Alumni, James is a current member of the World Presidents’ Organization and the Harvard University Alumni OPM 27.
A lifelong Edmontonian born and raised in Edmonton Centre, James and his wife Debbie have been married for 35 years. They are the proud parents of three beautiful children, and are grandparents.
Description
An entrepreneur is an individual who takes the risk to start their own business based on an idea they have or a product they have created while assuming most of the risks and reaping most of the rewards of the business.
Job Forecast
In 2019, there were 1,143,610 active enterprises in Canada with one or more employees. Of those, 64.6% had four employees or less. In the same year, there were 79,530 births and 90,710 deaths of enterprises. The construction sector represented the largest number of high-growth enterprises by employment and by revenue. With 1,140 high-growth enterprises by employment and 2,530 high-growth enterprises by revenue, this sector accounted for 15.9% and 19.5% of the total, respectively.
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