--- title: Blog - Kompass Professional Development | Kompass Professional Development description: Explore the Kompass Online Training blog hub at Herzing College. Discover articles on flexible, interactive courses to advance your career and skills. --- [Chat with us](https://www.livechatinc.com/chat-with/11581958/), powered by [LiveChat](https://www.livechatinc.com/?welcome) ### Book a Tour X Visit a Herzing College Campus! ### Ask a Question X Want to Learn More? ### Explore X ### Is Career Training right for you? [TAKE OUR CAREER TRAINING READINESS KIT](https://yourcareerexploration.ca/?lead_src=w-cta-box&mid=18419) Live Chat   Tour   Ask   Explore   [Chat with us](https://www.livechatinc.com/chat-with/9506940/), powered by [LiveChat](https://www.livechatinc.com/?welcome) [![Kompass logo](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/kompass_logo@2x.png "Kompass logo")](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/) - [Home](https://www.herzing.ca/professionaldevelopment/) - [About](https://www.herzing.ca/professionaldevelopment/why-choose-kompass-online-training) - [Programs](https://www.herzing.ca/professionaldevelopment/) - [FAQ](https://www.herzing.ca/professionaldevelopment/academic-and-finance-faqs) - [Blog](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/) [![her-ic-facebook@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/her-ic-facebook@2x.png "her-ic-facebook@2x")](https://www.facebook.com/kompasstraining) [![her-ic-twitter@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/her-ic-twitter@2x.png "her-ic-twitter@2x")](https://www.twitter.com/kompasstraining) [![her-ic-blog@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/her-ic-blog@2x.png "her-ic-blog@2x")](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training) [![her-ic-youtube@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/her-ic-youtube@2x.png "her-ic-youtube@2x")](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7PwpqOP2aEwqNCAvlBa9rA) # Kompass Blog Online professional development and custom corporate training ![menu@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/menu@2x.png?width=42&name=menu@2x.png "menu@2x") ## [How to Get Your Q.Med: A Guide for Kompass Students](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/how-to-get-your-q.med-a-guide-for-kompass-students) [![Mediator looking serious](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/get%20your%20qmed.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/how-to-get-your-q.med-a-guide-for-kompass-students) Sep 16, 2026, 12:26:57 PM One of the most common questions we get from our mediation students is, “How do I go about getting my Q.Med designation?” The process can be confusing, so we put together this blog to take you through it step by step. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/how-to-get-your-q.med-a-guide-for-kompass-students) --- ## [Finding Common Ground: Meet Mediation Instructor Demi Peters](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/finding-common-ground-meet-mediation-instructor-demi-peters) [![Kompass mediation instructor Demi Peters](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Demi%20Peters%20headshot.png)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/finding-common-ground-meet-mediation-instructor-demi-peters) Aug 21, 2026, 10:22:56 AM Demi Peters has spent the last decade helping people navigate everything from divorce and parenting arrangements to estate and sport disputes. She is a Chartered Mediator through the ADR Institute of Canada and a recognized family mediator in Saskatchewan. Demi’s career has been built on hands-on mediation practice, curriculum development, and mentoring the next generation of mediators. And now she’s bringing all that experience to Kompass. We sat down with her to talk about her path into mediation, what she’s learned along the way, and what students can expect when they start out in the field. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/finding-common-ground-meet-mediation-instructor-demi-peters) --- ## [Writing an MOU for Family Mediation in Ontario: Expert Tips](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/writing-an-mou-for-family-mediation-ontario) [![Smiling mediator sitting at laptop](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/drafting%20an%20MOU.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/writing-an-mou-for-family-mediation-ontario) Jul 17, 2026, 12:06:08 PM Family mediation in Ontario almost always ends with the same document: a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU. It’s the bridge between what was agreed to in the room and the legally binding separation agreement that comes later. Getting the MOU right is one of a mediator’s most important responsibilities. If you’re just starting out, it’s good to be aware of helpful tips and potential pitfalls. Read on to learn more about what belongs in a family MOU, how the open vs. closed distinction shapes what you write, and where new mediators tend to run into trouble. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/writing-an-mou-for-family-mediation-ontario) --- ## [How to Market Yourself as a Mediator](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/how-to-market-yourself-as-a-mediator) [![Mediator sitting with client in restaurant](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/mediation%20practice-1.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/how-to-market-yourself-as-a-mediator) Jun 2, 2026, 11:25:09 AM There are no rules in Canada about who can call themselves a mediator. Literally anyone can claim to have the expertise to guide people through conflict. That means it can be tough to stand out as a credentialed, responsible professional. So if you’re looking to [start a mediation practice](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/whats-involved-in-starting-your-own-mediation-practice-6-key-steps), your marketing job is really about building trust, not just visibility. The good news is there’s a clear playbook. Whether you’re planning to work in family disputes, workplace conflicts, or community settings, the steps are largely the same. Here’s how to get started. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/how-to-market-yourself-as-a-mediator) --- ## [Dementia Care: A Key Skill for Those Who Support Older Adults](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/dementia-care-a-key-skill-for-those-who-support-older-adults) [![Home caregiver and senior adult woman](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/caring%20for%20someone%20with%20dementia.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/dementia-care-a-key-skill-for-those-who-support-older-adults) Apr 10, 2026, 12:14:39 PM If you work with older adults in any capacity—as a support worker, healthcare provider, or informal family caregiver—chances are you will encounter someone affected by dementia. Over [650,000 Canadians](https://alzheimer.ca/en/the-many-faces-of-dementia-in-canada-landmark-study-volume-2) live with the condition, and that number is expected to grow to [one million](https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/reports-dementia/navigating-path-forward-landmark-report-1) by 2030. To provide effective care, you need to understand what dementia looks like in daily life and how to respond with compassion and confidence. In this post, we walk through what dementia actually is, how it affects the adults you support, and what skilled care actually looks like in practice. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/dementia-care-a-key-skill-for-those-who-support-older-adults) --- ## [Starting a Career as a Mediator or Arbitrator? How ADRIA Can Help](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/starting-a-career-as-a-mediator-or-arbitrator-how-adria-can-help) [![ADRIA Deputy Director Arifa Virani](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Arifa%20Virani.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/starting-a-career-as-a-mediator-or-arbitrator-how-adria-can-help) Feb 2, 2026, 8:00:02 AM For many people entering the field of alternative dispute resolution, it can be tough to know where to start. How do you build credibility in a profession that isn’t formally regulated? That’s where the ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) can help. As the province’s leading association for mediators and arbitrators, ADRIA provides professional training, standards of practice, widely recognized designations, and a supportive network that helps practitioners grow their careers. To better understand how ADRIA supports aspiring ADR professionals, we spoke with Deputy Director Arifa Virani. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/starting-a-career-as-a-mediator-or-arbitrator-how-adria-can-help) --- ## [Helping Families Navigate Change: Mediation Instructor Jessie Mason](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/helping-families-navigate-change-mediation-instructor-jessie-mason) [![Kompass mediation instructor Jessie Mason](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Jessie%20Mason.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/helping-families-navigate-change-mediation-instructor-jessie-mason) Jan 27, 2026, 12:47:12 PM Jessie Mason was drawn to family mediation from a deeply personal experience. After working with a mediator during her own separation, she saw firsthand how the right guidance can keep communication respectful and help families move forward with confidence. Since then, Jessie has built a thriving career as a certified family mediator, supporting couples through separation, divorce, and the complex decisions that follow. And now she’s helping Kompass students develop the skills to navigate family conflicts fairly and effectively. We spoke with Jessie about what drew her to this field, what makes family mediation distinct, and what future practitioners should be aware of. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/helping-families-navigate-change-mediation-instructor-jessie-mason) --- ## [Bringing Clarity to Conflict: Meet Kompass Instructor Shelley Chrest](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/bringing-clarity-to-conflict-meet-kompass-instructor-shelley-chrest) [![Kompass mediation and arbitration instructor Shelley Chrest](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Shelley%20Chrest.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/bringing-clarity-to-conflict-meet-kompass-instructor-shelley-chrest) Jan 16, 2026, 11:44:25 AM Shelley Chrest has both Chartered Mediator and Qualified Arbitrator designations along with a JD, an LLM, and extensive training from the Justice Institute of BC. She has spent years helping people navigate contentious disputes. Her career spans mediation, arbitration, and policy development across various sectors, including workers’ compensation, local government, and social assistance. She’s driven by the core belief that every person deserves a fair process and the chance for their experience and evidence to be heard and thoroughly considered in a fair and balanced manner. We sat down with Shelley to learn how she got into ADR, how she sees the role of mediators and arbitrators, and what she feels new practitioners need to know. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/bringing-clarity-to-conflict-meet-kompass-instructor-shelley-chrest) --- ## [Bridging Differences: Meet Mediation Instructor Laraine Ashpole](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/bridging-differences-meet-mediation-instructor-laraine-ashpole) [![Kompass mediation instructor Laraine Ashpole](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Laraine%20Ashpole.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/bridging-differences-meet-mediation-instructor-laraine-ashpole) Jan 7, 2026, 9:37:06 AM Laraine Ashpole started her career in government almost 30 years ago and quickly became the go-to person for the toughest disputes. That led her to seek formal training in negotiation and mediation. She went on to become a Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada and a Registered Roster Member with Mediate BC. She currently works as a Conflict Management Consultant with the BC Public Service and operates a [private practice](https://laraineashpolemediation.com/) focused on workplace dispute resolution. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Laraine as an instructor in Kompass’s mediation program! Keep reading to learn more about her unique perspective and what she brings to the classroom. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/bridging-differences-meet-mediation-instructor-laraine-ashpole) --- ## [Building Trust in Family Mediation](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/building-trust-in-family-mediation) [![Smiling woman sitting with hands clasped](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/building%20trust%20family%20mediation.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/building-trust-in-family-mediation) Nov 28, 2025, 10:31:38 AM In family mediation, individuals are asked to revisit past hurts and openly discuss fears about parenting, finances, and more. These are sensitive issues that are often tied to a person’s deepest emotional experiences. For mediation to work, participants must believe that the space is safe, that the mediator is fair, and that speaking honestly won’t backfire. Family mediators must build rapport, demonstrate neutrality, establish structure, and create conditions where people can hear one another with less defensiveness. None of this can be achieved without one essential ingredient: trust. In this post, we explore why trust is fundamental in family mediation, how mediators foster it, and how formal training can equip you with the skills to build trust effectively. [Read More ❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/building-trust-in-family-mediation) --- [1](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/1) [2](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/2) [3](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/3) [4](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/4) [5](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/5) [6](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/6) [7](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/7) [...](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/6) [7](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/7) [❯](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training/author/kompass-professional-development/page/2) ## Start Now #### At Kompass we believe that throughout your career, the more you know, the more you grow. 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