The Canadian Vocational Association (CVA) is pleased to announce a significant transition in its leadership team. On August 9, 2024, John Avery succeeded to Dr Tim Loblaw, who has served as President with dedication and vision. This change marks a new chapter in the association’s journey as we continue to advance vocational education and training across Canada.

As Tim Loblaw steps down from his role, we reflect on his remarkable contributions to the CVA. Under his stewardship, the association has achieved several milestones, including the expansion of professional development programs and the enhancement of industry partnerships. Tim is pleased to continue his contributions to the Canadian Vocational Association in his new roles as Vice-President and Treasurer.

John Avery, the incoming President, brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the CVA. With a background in the production entertainment industry, John is well-equipped to lead the association into its next phase. His vision for the CVA emphasizes innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration, aligning with the evolving needs of our members and the vocational education sector.

The CVA is excited about this leadership transition and confident that John Avery will continue to drive the organization forward with enthusiasm and strategic insight. We extend our gratitude to Tim Loblaw for his exceptional service and look forward to the new opportunities that will arise under John’s leadership.

A Message from John Avery

I am honoured to begin my term as President of the Canadian Vocational Association. The CVA community is typically drawn from business and industry, post-secondary and government officials across Canada as well as internationally.

As we look forward, I could not be more excited for the future of the CVA. As your new president I am making it my mission to bring a renewed level of engagement with our stakeholders.
Our new strategic plan is in full motion, providing a clear roadmap for success as we traverse the landscape of the future.

As president, I am focusing efforts on three key aspects: relationships, relevancy and recruitment. We all know it takes people to get things done, more importantly it takes relationships amongst those people, built on trust, and respect to get things done. Over the next two years, we will strive to strengthen our current partnerships as well as foster new relationships to further build the CVA.

We all know that if you are not adapting you are standing still. Our goal is to ensure we are staying relevant; this is evident by our DACUM development team as we incorporate new training components to improve the efficiency and relevancy of the Association.

As I begin my role, I look forward to learning so much more about the different aspects of the CVA and I am excited to see all that we will accomplish together.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your President.

Please join us in congratulating John Avery on his new role and in expressing our appreciation to Tim Loblaw for his years of dedicated service.

December 2024