The Career and Education Advisors (CEA) program at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) was established to work with Grade 9 to 12 Northwest Territories (NWT) students, to provide career and education advising services.

The CEA program is a practical, efficient, modern resource designed for the unique needs of students, youth and their families, as well as educators across the NWT. CEAs begin working with students and youth as early as Grade 9, and they help them identify skills, strengths and possibilities for their future.

CEAs focus on connecting with these students and youth and assisting them to make meaningful choices about their next steps, which can lead to employment in their home community and beyond after high school.

• Fact Sheet: Career and Education Advisors

How CEA program works

The diverse team of eight CEAs work directly with students in their schools, and work with school-aged youth who are not currently attending school. They connect students with people who are doing work that interests them, and with learning opportunities they can participate in while still in school. CEAs are now based in every NWT region.

CEAs provide practical support, including how to write resumes and cover letters and how to complete applications for work, post-secondary programs, Student Financial Assistance, bursaries, grants or scholarships. They also provide information to youth about NWT jobs that are in demand to help them make informed decisions to improve education and employment outcomes.

Connect with a CEA

When CEAs connect with students it can make them feel supported and heard. Youth who have met with a CEA have expressed feeling more clear, confident and hopeful about their future. If you want to know more about the program, contact your local school principal, or get in touch with a CEA at cea@gov.nt.ca.

History of CEA program

School pilots were initiated in all regions from March to June 2019 in 20 schools. Almost 500 Grade 9 to 12 students met with a CEA and learned about NWT jobs in demand, the importance of post-secondary education and training, and how to navigate their best academic path from classroom to career.

Though limited due to COVID-19, the 2020-21 school year saw CEAs travel to Fort Simpson, Aklavik, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, and work with students in Yellowknife.

The program expanded in the 2021-22 school year, with the team growing from four to eight CEAs. As part of the expansion, CEAs are now based in every NWT region. The program is accessible in all communities, and CEAs work with educators at every school to determine how to best support their students.