Kompass Blog

Are you passionate about helping Ontario families settle disputes, separations, divorces, or custody issues without resorting to costly litigation?

Going through the process to become a certified family mediator is an excellent way to gain the skills and credentials to begin your career.

Certification is not technically required to work as a family mediator in Ontario. But it can open a lot of doors.

For instance, you generally need to be certified if you want to provide court-connected family mediation services.

So how do you get started?

This post details the steps required to become accredited through the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM).

Here's how the process works.

Health and safety managers are tasked with looking out for the physical, mental, and emotional health of staff members at all levels of an organization.

That means more than just avoiding accidents. The most effective health and safety (H&S) plans incorporate both safety and wellness.

But what's the difference between the two?

In a nutshell: Workplace safety initiatives revolve around preventing illness and injury on the job. Everyone is required to follow the rules and non-compliance can have serious consequences.

On the other hand, workplace health and wellness initiatives are aimed at promoting healthy behaviours (including mental health and emotional well-being). These are often voluntary programs, so participation is not mandatory.

Learn which workplace health and safety initiatives fall into each category—and why a good OHS plan must include elements from both.

Many organizations are still struggling to redefine and optimize their approach to workplace safety and employee wellness.

We're seeing growing demand for health and safety leaders who can balance business objectives with the increasingly complex needs of workers. 

From hygiene control to mental health to the unique needs of people working from home: health and safety in today's environment poses a whole new set of challenges.

Striving to enhance your skills and stay ahead of the curve?

This is exactly what we teach in the new Health and Safety Management certificate at Kompass.

This week, we interviewed the instructor, Kylie Boyd to get an inside look at the training.

Kylie has over 17 years of experience in H&S leadership and has taught courses at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Meet the instructor and find out what this course has to offer.

Updated December 2022

Occupational health and safety is top of mind for many people these days. In the wake of a global pandemic, keeping people safe and healthy on the job has a whole new importance.

But workplace health and safety goes far beyond protecting people from disease. It encompasses total wellness, from physical safety to mental health, emergency procedures, risk prevention, and safety training for staff.

Each year brings new regulations, new best practices, and new research on how to improve health and safety at work.

If you're looking to advance your OHS career, which areas should you focus on? Which health and safety manager skills are most important right now and over the long term?

We asked our own OHS instructor and industry expert Kylie Boyd to weigh in. She teaches a Health and Safety Management course specifically designed to enhance leadership skills.

Find out which areas you should focus on to create a stronger safety culture and take your career to the next level.

Updated January 2023

What exactly is public policy and what does an analyst do?

In a nutshell, we can think of public policy as a system of laws, regulations, and courses of action implemented by government. These directives touch every aspect of our lives, including education, law enforcement, the allocation of environmental resources, healthcare, etc.

Ideally, public policy is developed to serve the public interest. But ideas about what is "best" for the public are always changing, influenced by shifting values, and evolving social, political, and economic needs.

Therefore, public policy is constantly in flux. Government commitments change. Public interests change.

How do decision-makers choose which new policies to introduce, and how best to develop and implement them?

Enter the public policy analyst.

Public policy analysts advise governments at all levels on which new policies are needed and what's involved in launching those policies.

In this post, we break down the core skills required to do this job well and truly thrive in the challenging, ever-complex sphere of policy leadership.

Updated January 2023

So much skill, care, and hard work goes into developing thorough policy recommendations. Analysts spend months gathering research, analyzing data, developing solutions, and evaluating pros, cons, and possible outcomes from every angle.

Then comes the crucial stage of presenting those findings in a comprehensive proposal.

In addition to ensuring accuracy and thoroughness, what else should policy analysts do to make sure their ideas are clearly understood and highly valued?

Start with these five steps to more impactful and persuasive policy proposals.

Updated January 2023

Public policy refers to the collection of laws and regulations that governments create in response to problems or issues. Such directives are meant to support and promote the collective good.

A public policy certificate program focuses on helping students understand how those laws and regulations are put together.

Training at this level should provide an overview of the policy development cycle and the core skills needed to drive effective decision-making.

And there are plenty of reasons to consider public policy training. The field offers a unique opportunity to create directives that support the well-being of Canadians.

All levels of government rely on skilled policy professionals to help solve complex problems related to law enforcement, education, public health, the environment, social justice, and a host of other important issues.

In this post, we outline what you can expect from a public policy certificate. Find out what this type of training includes and decide if it's right for you.

Updated January 2024

Quick summary: Compare accredited mediation and arbitration certificates offered at Kompass. Learn how you can build your own customized online dispute resolution training program.

Disputes are an inevitable part of the human experience. In personal and professional relationships, in family groups and work settings, at the community level, and between nations—conflict is a fact of life. 

It’s how we deal with disputes that defines our capacity to evolve and grow. This is an increasingly valued personal and professional skill.

We’ve been delivering online dispute resolution training for years, and are continuously surprised at the diverse backgrounds and motivations of students. 

Like many judges and lawyers, Mary Joseph entered the field of alternative dispute resolution after retiring from a successful career in law. But she’s not your typical lawyer-turned-mediator.

Mary brings a unique repertoire of skills and scholarship to her mediation practice, including 30 years as an immigration lawyer, a Master’s in Divinity, and expertise in online dispute resolution (ODR).

Two years ago, Mary added mediation instructor to the list. She teaches the accredited Mediation Certificate at Kompass Professional Development.

Updated January 2024

“I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, you bet on people not on strategies.” - Larry Bossidy 

It's tough to argue with Larry Bossidy—renowned business leader, author, speaker, and now retired CEO of Honeywell. 

Bossidy was never an HR manager, but there’s no doubt he understood the enormous value of recruiting, nurturing, and retaining top talent. He knew that business success is intrinsically linked to employee success. 

And who monitors and cultivates employee success? The human resources team. 

That’s why HR has risen in stature to occupy a central role in business. Organizations must compete for the best workforce—and only talented HR professionals can give them an edge. 

Exactly what are companies looking for when hiring human resources managers? They’re looking for candidates with a specific set of core HR competencies.  

Take a look at the top 10 skills you need to work in HR.