By Cathleen Crain (LTG Associates) and Jaime Yard (Douglas College)

Professional, practicing, and applied (PPA) anthropologists have taken the tools of anthropology and employed them in wide-ranging realms over the past several decades. Uses of anthropology in the world have included such topics as: health; human services; environment; law; community development; international development; and myriad others. Ways of engaging with these areas include: research; monitoring and evaluation; policy analysis and development; design; management; and many others.  The opportunities for PPA anthropologists continue to grow as the importance of anthropological tools and perspectives are recognized and valued. An important challenge is exposing new and young anthropologists to the array of opportunities as well as showing their teachers and mentors the widening paths for PPA anthropologists.

For the 14^th year, the National Association of Practicing Anthropologists (NAPA), the American Anthropological Association (AAA), and this year, the Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA), will host the Careers Expo (Expo). NAPA created the Expo to provide a readily accessible opportunity for anthropologists to broaden their understanding of the important and creative opportunities for using their skills. The Expo features anthropologists who come to share their career paths through public, private, and non-profit sectors, domestically and internationally. Last year, over 60 professional anthropologists met with more than 500 new and young anthropologists and their mentors during the 5-hour Expo. 

This year, special effort has been made to ensure that the Expo contains not only PPA anthropologists from the host city, but also from across Canada. Canadian participants include professionals working on housing and aging-in-place; Archaeological firms from BC, Saskatchewan and Ontario; biological anthropologists working for the BC Coroners Service; and consultants working in fields ranging from insurance to linguistic and cultural revitalization in indigenous communities. Excited by the prospect of learning more about careers in professional anthropology in Canada? The Expo isn’t a career fair, but rather an opportunity to talk to and learn about options in anthropology for new and young anthropologists and their faculty and mentors.  Grad students and early career anthropologists can also receive instant, on-site career mentoring.

The Career Expo will take place Friday November 22, 11 am – 4 pm in the main exhibit hall. Come out and join the conversation about PPA anthropology!

Photo credit: Josh Gold Photography