My Mentorship Story - Vivi Spooner
24
Aug 2023
125
Author
: Vivi Spooner
Confucius once said, "If three people are walking together, one of them is bound to be good enough to be my teacher." It’s a motto I have been living by since my early childhood. As a result, my decision to engage in the CPHR Alberta Mentorship Program came naturally. That was where my mentorship story started.
I had seven years of HR experience as a learning and development specialist in Asia before moving to Canada. As I was planning to launch my career in Alberta, I recognized the importance of joining a professional association to ground myself in the local workforce. I became an Associate Member of CPHR Alberta in 2022 and signed up for the mentorship program once it became available. Having worked in the learning and development field for years, I was acutely aware of the great benefits a good mentorship program could bring the participants in individual development.
Overall, it was a fun-filled learning experience. I had the pleasure of being paired with Melissa as my mentor. Melissa is not only a seasoned HR professional but also a genuinely wonderful person. Both of us were venturing into this mentorship program for the first time, so there was this shared excitement about the journey ahead. In the kick-off meeting, we decided to meet virtually for an hour every other week and narrowed our focus of discussion to diving into HR knowledge, honing skills, and studying HR cases. Occasionally, we would include emerging topics, such as brushing up interview skills, as I started looking for jobs. The combination of flexibility and strong commitment from both parties helped make the whole experience dynamic and enjoyable.
One valuable insight from the CPHR Alberta Mentorship support sessions is that protégés should take the lead driving the mentorship process. This advice really resonated with me. I took it to heart and put it into practice throughout the program. On the one hand, I prioritized giving our mentoring sessions a clear structure by sharing discussion topics in advance and following up with meeting summaries. On the other hand, Melissa consistently amazed me with her approach to tackling HR challenges – always combining reasoning and empathy. By the end of the program, I found that my understanding of the Canadian workplace's HR landscape had expanded, and my interview skills had significantly improved. Yet, beyond all the learning, one of the greatest joys was developing a connection with my mentor, Melissa.
Building upon the foundation of my initial success with the mentorship program, I’ve enrolled in the second half-year with a new mentor named Tracy, who is also an exceptional HR professional. In addition, I am pleased to see many positive changes implemented by the mentorship committee during this intake. I’m grateful for the hard work of the mentorship committee, mentors and fellow protégés. There is a great energy flow here. If you are looking to give, take or both in terms of career advancement, dive into the next mentorship in-take. In the words of Master Yoda, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong soley to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.
As the governing voice of CPHR Alberta, the Board of Directors meets quarterly to provide oversight and guidance in several key areas. The Board, alongside CPHR Alberta operations, continues to deliver on the association's strategic priorities developed in the 2020 strategic plan. To ensure transparency between our Board of Directors, members and key stakeholders, we are sharing post-meeting messages to inform the steps taken towards advancing our profession and ensuring a financially stable association. The Board of Directors met on November 27, 2025, and is proud to share the strong momentum we are experiencing across our community. The Board’s key messages are as follows: Membership Growth As of September 30, 2025, we reached 7,213 active members, a 7% year-over-year increase, with the majority coming from student and emerging HR professionals. This growth affirms the momentum of our HR profession and the impact of our student engagement initiatives. Professional Development Member participation remains strong with 53 events held year-to-date, with 5,013 attendees across workshops, roundtables, webinars, and community sessions. Our complimentary events have played a key role in sustaining engagement and access to learning. Annual Conference The Annual Conference was a heavy focus for the association in Q3. The sold-out event continues to bring together our community for valuable professional development and networking opportunities, creating a strong foundation for 2026. Attendees reported high satisfaction, with over 370 in attendance, and a sold-out exhibitor hall. “The CPHR conference was incredibly educational and inspiring. The speakers motivated me, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. I really enjoyed it, grew closer to my team, and I definitely want to attend again.” – 2025 Conference Attendee The 2026 event will be held at the BMO Centre, in Calgary on June 2 and 3 – with increased capacity, expanded exhibitor space, and enhanced programming will elevate the experience for all HR professionals across Alberta, NWT and Nunavut. Self-Regulation The Board continues to assess the implications of Alberta’s Professional Governance Act (PGA), including: Advocacy, legal, and governance impact assessments are being commissioned. Preliminary recommendations from management will be brought to the Board in March and June 2026, leading to a formal decision. Further information will be shared, when ready. Future Vision Approved: 2026-2028 Strategic Plan Our new 2026–2028 Strategic Plan will be rolled out in December to all members. The 3-year Strategic Plan, crafted from member feedback, market research, and collaboration with CPHR Canada – aims to strengthen our profession’s influence, amplifies leadership, and creates pathways for all members to thrive. Fiscal Responsibility Our Q3 financial review remains on track for a balanced year-end forecast. The 2026 draft budget has been approved – aligning resources with our strategic priorities while maintaining a disciplined and responsible financial approach. Board Governance Our board continues to focus on good governance practice, ensure stability, clarity, and accountability across our organization. FCPHR Nominations A reminder that the prestigious Fellowship Award is open for nominations! This national program recognizes Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHRs) who have made exemplary contributions to the HR profession. Recipients are granted recognition as a Fellow of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (FCPHR). Click here to learn more about the Fellowship Award, including the guidelines and completing your nomination. You can also download a copy of the nomination form here. The next Board meeting takes place in March 2026, after which we will again share our key messages. If you have any questions regarding these key messages or the Board of Directors, please contact chair@cphrab.ca . We welcome your feedback!
At CPHR Alberta, we believe that the future of work is being shaped by the decisions we make today. That’s why we’re proud to share our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan—a bold, member-informed roadmap that will guide our organization over the next three years. This plan is the result of a deeply collaborative process, led by our Board of Directors and developed in partnership with our operations team. It reflects the voices of our members, gathered through surveys and conversations, and is grounded in market research and aligned with the national priorities of CPHR Canada. Together, we’ve crafted a strategy that is responsive, forward-looking, and rooted in data. At its core, the plan is about strengthening the Human Resources profession and supporting the people who drive it. It reaffirms our commitment to building a resilient, inclusive HR community—one that is equipped to lead in a rapidly evolving workplace landscape. Our redefined vision and mission statements speak to this ambition, and our newly articulated values provide a foundation for how we work, connect, and grow. The strategic priorities outlined in the plan reflect the areas where we believe CPHR Alberta can make the greatest impact. They focus on elevating the visibility and influence of the HR profession, fostering innovation and leadership across our community, and deepening engagement with our members and partners. These priorities are designed to meet the diverse needs of our jurisdiction, from urban centers to rural communities, and to ensure that every CPHR has the tools and support to thrive. As we look ahead, we’re energized by the possibilities this plan unlocks. It’s a call to action—for our team, our Board, and our members—to work together in shaping the future of HR. Whether it’s through new learning opportunities, stronger regional connections, or amplifying the voice of HR in public discourse, we’re committed to leading with purpose and impact. We invite you to explore the full 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and see how our shared vision will come to life. Together, we’re building a future-ready HR community—one that’s connected, influential, and prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
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