Evaluation During Social Distancing
2020-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
From the Eval Cafe website:
The COVID 19 crisis has required people and organizations to shift priorities and practice social distancing.
In response, Evaluation Cafe Ontario is shifting to online meetings during this crises to help people connect, share, and learn how to deal use evaluation to support the response to COVID 19.
Join us on CES National’s Zoom Meeting platform to get help with your challenges, share tips to help others with their challenges, or discuss sector trends and developments.
Anyone interested in conducting evaluation during these times can RVSP and join the conversation; you don’t have to be a CES member (https://evaluationcanada.ca).
Make sure you can receive organizer messages, and I will send the meeting password the day prior.
Rapid response and action is important during crises, so anyone is also welcome to join our Slack group for more real-time sharing and support. https://join.slack.com/t/evaluationduringcovid/shared_invite/zt-dcqj8qbq-vV2kcuROqt_zwkaXhN6lzA
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/270647982/?rv=co1&_xtd=gatlbWFpbF9jbGlja9oAJDAzOTRjYjgyLTViOWUtNDk2NC1hYTMyLWUxOWJmNjcxYmQ2OQ.

Webinar: The Art and Science of Producing Effective Infographics
2020-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto)
This webinar focuses on infographics: artistic / graphic presentation of data to communicate insights.

About this Event

Data visualization as a hot topic in the evaluation world, especially in knowledge transfer activities. The 2-hour webinar will focus on a specific type of data visualization, infographics – artistic or graphic presentation of data to communicate insights. We will briefly orient infographics in the realm of data visualization, illustrating the different types of infographics. Then our focus will shift briefly to the science of why we use infographics in communicating to our various audiences (clients and funders). The bulk of the time will be focused on a step by step process to create infographics, and including relevant design elements of graphics, colour, and font, which provide the visual cues to our most important element: the data. We will then put these elements together with examples, and then look at some resources and tools for infographic production. The session will conclude with a short question and answer period.
Learning objectives:
By the end of the Workshop, the participant will be able to:
1. Compare the different types of infographics and situate them in the greater web of data visualization
2. Understand the basic tenets of design theory, how the brain processes information and how infographics are designed to appeal to information processing
3. Identify and appraise the design elements of effective infographics
4. Utilize a sequenced plan to create infographics
5. Locate and use various resources and tools for effective infographic production
In addition, this workshop aims to strengthen capacities in line with the following Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice:
2.8 Identify data sources
2.13 Assesses trustworthiness of data
2.16 Reports evaluation findings and results
3.5 Serves the information needs of intended users
4.6 Reports on progress and results
5.1 Uses written communication skills and technologies
Biography of presenter:
A. Sidiq (Sid) Ali, is an expert in education programs, focusing on assessment program development, management and evaluation. He has over 20 years’ experience as an evaluator. Sid combines his skills in psychometrics and evaluation to foster his professional interests in program evaluation capacity-building in the private sector, program development in licensure and certification contexts, as well as in effective data analytics and visualization. Since founding his consulting practice (www.rae-consult.com), he has worked with profession regulators and governing bodies in accounting and financial management, healthcare, law and international sanctions, as well as with the learning and development units of two of the big five Canadian banks. He began his better data visualization journey in 2008, focusing on effective presentation strategies for PowerPoint. He now blogs and speaks about data visualization, and has been an invited guest blogger on Stephanie Evergreen’s effective data visualization blog. He has produced infographics for official CES communications, has conducted a CES national webinar on infographics and has facilitated workshops on infographics for CES-ON and CES-MB. Sid is a Credentialed Evaluator, earned his M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in Educational Measurement and Evaluation, and was a two-term Director for CES-ON.

A note on refunds:
If, for any reason, you prefer not to go ahead with your participation in one of our professional development events, you can cancel at any time and receive a 100% refund. If you wish to cancel, please contact Kaitlyn by email at admin@evaluationontario.ca.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-art-and-science-of-producing-effective-infographics-tickets-102221735964.

Evaluation During Social Distancing
2020-06-04 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Toronto) | Online
From the event organizer:
The COVID 19 crisis has required people and organizations to shift priorities and practice social distancing.
In response, Evaluation Cafe Ontario is shifting to online meetings during this crises to help people connect, share, and learn how to use evaluation to support the response to COVID 19.
Join us on CES Ontario’s Zoom Meeting platform to get help with your challenges, share tips to help others with their challenges, or discuss sector trends and developments.
Anyone interested in conducting evaluation during these times can RVSP and join the conversation; you don’t have to be a CES member (https://evaluationcanada.ca).
Make sure you can receive organizer messages, and I will send the meeting password the day prior.
Rapid response and action is important during crises, so anyone is also welcome to join our Slack group for more real-time sharing and support. https://join.slack.com/t/evaluationduringcovid/shared_invite/zt-efzixjau-NfQJH0OkyWDQllteUWG0vQ
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/270931875/.

Evaluation Cafe Ontario Online
2020-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The COVID 19 crisis has required people and organizations to shift priorities and practice social distancing. Movements against systemic racism are leading us to question our practices and what we can do to work toward liberation for all.
In response, Evaluation Cafe Ontario is shifting to online meetings to help people connect, share, and learn how to use evaluation to support the response to COVID 19 and support anti-oppression action.
Join us on CES Ontario’s Zoom Meeting platform to get help with your challenges, share tips to help others with their challenges, or discuss sector trends and developments.
Anyone interested in conducting evaluation during these times can RVSP and join the conversation; you don’t have to be a CES member (https://evaluationcanada.ca).
Make sure you can receive organizer messages, and I will send the meeting password the day prior.
Rapid response and action is important during crises, so anyone is also welcome to join our Slack group for more real-time sharing and support. https://join.slack.com/t/evaluationduringcovid/shared_invite/zt-efzixjau-NfQJH0OkyWDQllteUWG0vQ
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/271190672/.

2020 CES Ontario Annual General Meeting + Learning Event
2020-06-23 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Please join us for the 24th annual CES Ontario AGM and Learning Event! This event is open to all members of the Canadian Evaluation Society Ontario chapter, as well as interested members of the public.
Event Agenda:
9:30 AM-11:00 AM: AGM presentation: report back on 2019/20 activities and plans to address strategic plan and results of members survey
11:00-11:10 AM: 10-minute bio break
11:10AM-12:00PM: Learning Event: Re-imagining Evaluation Criteria: Learning Lessons from the Pandemic
We will distribute the Annual General Meeting package, including a full agenda, Annual Report, and audited financial statements, to all CES members and event attendees prior to the event.
About the Learning Event:
Re-imagining Evaluation Criteria: Learning Lessons from the Pandemic
Evaluators have long debated on the criteria that should be used to evaluate interventions. The criteria are linked to both the purpose of the evaluation and also to the type of intervention under consideration. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has argued for the following criteria in its recent updating. They include: (1) Relevance (Is the intervention doing the right thing?); (2) Coherence (How well does the intervention fit?) (3) Effectiveness (Is the intervention achieving its objectives?); (4) Efficiency (How well are resources being used?); (5) Impact (What difference does the intervention make?); (6) Sustainability (will the benefits last?)
In light of experiences that interventions have had with the recent pandemic, we will explore if these criteria are sufficient to understand the value added of interventions. We also will explore these criteria in light of the focus of the Sustainable Development Goals of “no one left behind.” The focus of this presentation will be on understanding how such criteria shape our imagination and measurement of how programs work, how programs can be designed to address inequities and the types of evaluation approaches that capture the value-added of interventions
About the Speaker:
Sanjeev Sridharan is Country Lead, Learning Systems and Systems Evaluation at the India Country Office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Sanjeev was the Founding Director of the Evaluation Centre for Complex Health Interventions at St. Michaels Hospital and Associate Professor at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Prior to his position at Toronto, he was the Head of the Evaluation Program and Senior Research Fellow at the Research Unit in Health, Behaviour and Change at the University of Edinburgh. He is a former associate editor of the American Journal of Evaluation and has been on the boards of the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, New Directions for Evaluation and the Journal of Evaluation and Program Planning.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2020-ces-ontario-agm-learning-event-tickets-107348797142.

July 2020 Essential Skills Series
2020-07-20 09:00 - 2020-09-27 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The Canadian Evaluation Society’s on-line ten-week course offers participants with a basic understanding of the main models and practices of evaluation. No prior knowledge of evaluation or social science research methods is required to participate. Participants will gain:

Basic knowledge and skills,
Appreciation for essential elements of evaluation,
Capacity to apply acquired knowledge and skills, and
Development as an evaluation professional.

The Essential Skills Series is ten self-paced learning modules that cover everything from basics like the objectives of evaluations, all the way through to practical skills such as budgeting and workplan development. The discussion forum encourages knowledge transfer/sharing among participants and instructor, instructor reviewed assignments to guide learners and real-time Zoom learning at the start and conclusion of the course.
Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of evaluation in the program lifecycle;
Explain common evaluation terms, functions, and approaches;
List the steps in planning and conducting an evaluation;
Describe how common social science data collection methods are used in evaluations;
Describe the value and use of project management concepts in evaluations;
Outline ways to support the use of evaluation findings and produce actionable evaluation reports; and
Recognize evaluation standards and ethical principles and identify their role in the professionalization of evaluation in Canada.

Learners will be expected to:

Complete one module per week independent of the facilitator;
Participate regularly in discussion forums with participants and the instructor;
Complete seven assignments to submit to facilitator for review/feedback

About the Facilitator
Tina Sahay has worked in the area of Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement for more than 24 years, supporting governments at the national, provincial and municipal levels in Canada as well as the not-for-profit sector. Tina operates a consulting firm in Toronto and works on client projects in all areas of her specialty of community and public health. She works extensively with vulnerable populations including newcomers, youth and those at-risk for mental health and substance use disorders. Tina also provides training to professionals on various aspects of program evaluation. She is an instructor for the Canadian Evaluation Society and has designed and conducted training programs for Toronto Public Health, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, MOHLTC, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health and York University.
Tina holds a Masters degree in Health Science from the University of Toronto and is a certified Quality Improvement Specialist. Tina is also a credentialed evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/july-2020-essential-skills-series-tickets-108789231520.

September Essential Skills Series
2020-09-21 09:00 - 2020-11-29 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The Canadian Evaluation Society’s on-line ten-week course offers participants with a basic understanding of the main models and practices of evaluation. No prior knowledge of evaluation or social science research methods is required to participate. Participants will gain:

Basic knowledge and skills,
Appreciation for essential elements of evaluation,
Capacity to apply acquired knowledge and skills, and
Development as an evaluation professional.

The Essential Skills Series is ten self-paced learning modules that cover everything from basics like the objectives of evaluations, all the way through to practical skills such as budgeting and workplan development. The discussion forum encourages knowledge transfer/sharing among participants and instructor, instructor reviewed assignments to guide learners and real-time Zoom learning at the start and conclusion of the course.
Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of evaluation in the program lifecycle;
Explain common evaluation terms, functions, and approaches;
List the steps in planning and conducting an evaluation;
Describe how common social science data collection methods are used in evaluations;
Describe the value and use of project management concepts in evaluations;
Outline ways to support the use of evaluation findings and produce actionable evaluation reports; and
Recognize evaluation standards and ethical principles and identify their role in the professionalization of evaluation in Canada.

Learners will be expected to:

Complete one module per week independent of the facilitator;
Participate regularly in discussion forums with participants and the instructor;
Complete seven assignments to submit to facilitator for review/feedback

About the Facilitator
Paul Favaro Ph.D., CE is the Chief of Research, Program Evaluation, and Accountability for the Peel District School Board in Mississauga, Ontario. He teaches management sciences at York University in Toronto.
Dr. Favaro has authored or co-authored articles, chapters, and technical reports, and has conducted professional training workshops in the areas of program evaluation, performance measurement, and research methodology. He is on the editorial board of The Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. Throughout his career, he has worked as a research consultant to a wide variety of government ministries, educational organizations, charitable foundations, and community-based programs. He has held several executive positions on the board of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES). In 2010, he was awarded a fellowship in the CES. He is a Credentialed Evaluator by the Canadian Evaluation Society.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/september-2020-essential-skills-series-tickets-111437496552.

The Art and Science of Producing Effective Infographics
2020-09-29 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Data visualization as a hot topic in the evaluation world, especially in knowledge transfer activities. The 2-hour webinar will focus on a specific type of data visualization, infographics – artistic or graphic presentation of data to communicate insights. We will briefly orient infographics in the realm of data visualization, illustrating the different types of infographics. Then our focus will shift briefly to the science of why we use infographics in communicating to our various audiences (clients and funders). The bulk of the time will be focused on a step by step process to create infographics, and including relevant design elements of graphics, colour, and font, which provide the visual cues to our most important element: the data. We will then put these elements together with examples, and then look at some resources and tools for infographic production. The session will conclude with a short question and answer period.
Learning objectives:
By the end of the Workshop, the participant will be able to:
1. Compare the different types of infographics and situate them in the greater web of data visualization
2. Understand the basic tenets of design theory, how the brain processes information and how infographics are designed to appeal to information processing
3. Identify and appraise the design elements of effective infographics
4. Utilize a sequenced plan to create infographics
5. Locate and use various resources and tools for effective infographic production
In addition, this workshop aims to strengthen capacities in line with the following Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice:
2.8 Identify data sources
2.13 Assesses trustworthiness of data
2.16 Reports evaluation findings and results
3.5 Serves the information needs of intended users
4.6 Reports on progress and results
5.1 Uses written communication skills and technologies
Biography of presenter:
A. Sidiq (Sid) Ali, is an expert in education programs, focusing on assessment program development, management and evaluation. He has over 20 years’ experience as an evaluator. Sid combines his skills in psychometrics and evaluation to foster his professional interests in program evaluation capacity-building in the private sector, program development in licensure and certification contexts, as well as in effective data analytics and visualization. Since founding his consulting practice (www.rae-consult.com), he has worked with profession regulators and governing bodies in accounting and financial management, healthcare, law and international sanctions, as well as with the learning and development units of two of the big five Canadian banks. He began his better data visualization journey in 2008, focusing on effective presentation strategies for PowerPoint. He now blogs and speaks about data visualization, and has been an invited guest blogger on Stephanie Evergreen’s effective data visualization blog. He has produced infographics for official CES communications, has conducted a CES national webinar on infographics and has facilitated workshops on infographics for CES-ON and CES-MB. Sid is a Credentialed Evaluator, earned his M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in Educational Measurement and Evaluation, and was a two-term Director for CES-ON.
A note on refunds:
If, for any reason, you prefer not to go ahead with your participation in one of our professional development events, you can cancel at any time and receive a 100% refund. If you wish to cancel, please contact Kaitlyn by email at admin@evaluationontario.ca.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-art-and-science-of-producing-effective-infographics-tickets-111429069346.

Eval Cafe: The Intersection of Race and Gender in Evaluation
2020-10-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
As a segue from Evaluation Café’s recent dialogue on anti-black racism in evaluation, this next session will examine the intersection of race and gender in evaluation, building on a group’s experience and expertise. As some projects, programs and organizations are lacking in sensitivity of race and gender, evaluation can be a catalyst for change, and the conditions for this will be discussed. Looking inward, if the evaluation process and systems are insensitive to race and gender, this adds another layer to the challenge and needs to be responded to.
Chairs of this event:
Abena Thomas – public health, evaluation and project management specialist, and instructor in international project management
Marcus Tan de Bibiana – peacebuilding and governance project management specialist, arts advisor and instructor in international project management
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/273460883/?rv=ea1_v2&_xtd=gatlbWFpbF9jbGlja9oAJGFkOWUwZDYyLThkYjAtNDM2Ni05MTQxLWI0MjgyZDg5MmZlNQ&utm_campaign=event-announce&utm_medium=email&utm_source=promo.

Strategic Project Management for Evaluators
2020-10-07 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Light-touch Project Management Tools for Evaluators
The sheer volume of guidance in the PMBOK® Guide and other project management resources can make it challenging for evaluators to know which project management tools to prioritize, and when and how to apply them. To paraphrase Tommy Lasorda, the effective management of an evaluation project is like ‘holding a dove – you need to hold it tightly enough that it doesn’t fly away, but not so tightly that you crush it.’ This online workshop provides theory and hands-on experience applying light-touch project management tools that have been tailored for evaluation projects.
By the end of the three-hour online workshop, participants will be able to:
· Describe how the project management mindset of “define then deliver” can be applied to evaluation projects.
· Construct a work breakdown structure (WBS) to articulate the scope of a project in terms of concrete deliverables.
· Describe how the deliverables in a WBS can be used as the foundation for schedule and budget development.
· Implement deliverable-based project monitoring and control using a simple tracking sheet.
This project management workshop aligns directly with CES competency 4.0: Management Practice. The workshop aims to support program evaluators with foundational skills and tools that help manage projects/evaluations such as work plans, coordinating accountabilities and resources (including budget) at outlined in the CES Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice. The workshop also supports CES competency 2.0: Technical Practice.
Participants should have a computer with Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel (or equivalent) loaded.
About the Facilitator
Alison Paprica is Principal of the boutique consultancy, Research Project Management (RPM) founded in 2013. She is also assistant professor at the University of Toronto, Executive Advisor and Affiliate Scientist at ICES and a member of the Executive Committee for Health Data Research Network Canada. Her previous roles include inaugural Vice President, Health Strategy and Partnerships at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence; Director, Strategic Partnerships at ICES; Director of the Planning, Research & Analysis Branch at the Ontario health ministry and management positions in international pharmaceutical R&D. Alison holds an Honours Combined BSc in biochemistry and chemistry (McMaster), a PhD in organic chemistry (Western University). She is among the first 3% of people to obtain Project Management Professional (PMP) certification internationally, and has led the development and delivery project management for research courses and workshops for the University of Toronto, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC)-funded CREATE programs, and others.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/strategic-project-management-for-evaluators-tickets-113018856442.

October Essential Skills Series
2020-10-13 09:00 - 2020-12-20 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The Canadian Evaluation Society’s on-line ten-week course offers participants with a basic understanding of the main models and practices of evaluation. No prior knowledge of evaluation or social science research methods is required to participate. Participants will gain:

Basic knowledge and skills,
Appreciation for essential elements of evaluation,
Capacity to apply acquired knowledge and skills, and
Development as an evaluation professional.

The Essential Skills Series is ten self-paced learning modules that cover everything from basics like the objectives of evaluations, all the way through to practical skills such as budgeting and workplan development. The discussion forum encourages knowledge transfer/sharing among participants and instructor, instructor reviewed assignments to guide learners and real-time Zoom learning at the start and conclusion of the course.
Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of evaluation in the program lifecycle;
Explain common evaluation terms, functions, and approaches;
List the steps in planning and conducting an evaluation;
Describe how common social science data collection methods are used in evaluations;
Describe the value and use of project management concepts in evaluations;
Outline ways to support the use of evaluation findings and produce actionable evaluation reports; and
Recognize evaluation standards and ethical principles and identify their role in the professionalization of evaluation in Canada.

Learners will be expected to:

Complete one module per week independent of the facilitator;
Participate regularly in discussion forums with participants and the instructor;
Complete seven assignments to submit to facilitator for review/feedback

About the Facilitator
Dr. Keiko Kuji-Shikatani, C.E., is an internal evaluator with the Ministry of Education, infusing evaluative thinking in collaborative teams to build sector capacity for the use of evidence to inform decisions. She shares her DE expertise widely leading interministerial collaborations, evaluation capacity building for governments both in Canada and internationally, through universities, civil societies and EvalPartners.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/october-2020-essential-skills-series-tickets-111444226682.

Eval Cafe: Water Well Evaluation Cafe
2020-10-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
From the event description:
Your participation is welcome to the first of a fall series of the Water Well Evaluation Café. While we are practicing social distancing, this meeting will be virtual.
This month’s topic: community-based evaluation. We will explore principles of voice, participation, and respect. There will be three cases presented, followed by a Q&A discussion:
1) Community-led baseline and monitoring in Zambia
2) Culturally responsive evaluation with the Michigan Energy Assistance Program
3) TeleMedicine in Northern Ontario
We’ll connect on CES Ontario’s Zoom Meeting platform to build a network of evaluation professionals in the Waterloo Region and Wellington County areas, learn from each other, share tips to help others with their challenges, and discuss sector trends and developments.
Anyone interested in conducting evaluation in the region can RVSP and join the conversation; you don’t have to be a CES member (https://evaluationcanada.ca).
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/273798787/.

Eval Cafe: Experiences with Inequitable Research – Lessons for Equitable Practice
2020-10-27 12:30 - 14:30 (America/Toronto) | Online
From the event description:
During this Evaluation Cafe session, Cameron Kroetsch, a member of the Board for Pride Hamilton and Chair of the City of Hamilton’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee, will describe his experience with third party research and reports on Hamilton Police’s handling of the 2019 Hamilton Pride events and on the City’s Hate Prevention and Mitigation Initiative. He will describe how systems of power and oppression shaped and reacted to the research and describe the effects it has had on him and others in the community. Then, Carolyn Camman, will facilitate small and large group discussions on lessons to be learn relating to equitable evaluation practice and on what power evaluators have to promote equity in our work.
Cameron Kroetsch (he/him) is a queer community builder, organizer, and labour relations professional living in the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas, also known as Hamilton, Ontario. He’s a founding member of the Pride Hamilton Board of Directors, Chair of the City of Hamilton’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee, and proudly serves on the Governing Council for the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion. He’s active on Twitter @CameronKroetsch where he advocates for better civic engagement, safer pedestrian and bike infrastructure, and access to affordable housing for all.
Carolyn Camman (they/them) is an evaluation consultant living on the ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil‑Waututh) in what is currently called Vancouver, BC, Canada. They specialize in evaluating in complexity and in service of justice, practicing developmental and equitable evaluation. Part of the joy they find in their work is co-hosting the podcast Eval Cafe (https://evalcafe.wordpress.com/) with friend and colleague Brian Hoessler, digging into all kinds of evaluation-related topics, from R Stats to how evaluation is like Star Trek. You can check them out on their website (http://www.camman-evaluation.com/) and on Twitter @c_camman.
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/273824074/.

Webinar: Flying the plane while building it: Conducting an evaluation in the time of COVID-19
2020-11-04 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Toronto)
Flying the plane while building it: Conducting an evaluation in the time of COVID-19
The Canadian Evaluation Society – Ontario Chapter (CES-ON) is pleased to invite you to our Fall Webinar: Flying the plane while building it: Conducting an evaluation in the time of COVID-19. The webinar and Q&A will be held online on November 4th 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Register online here!
What kind of evaluation is useful in a situation where social problems are escalating and intersecting in completely new ways, and the strategies we use to address them are morphing into new forms on a weekly basis? What methods make sense, and how should we make sense of the data that we are gathering?
This webinar will attempt to address these questions by sharing the story of three evaluators with different backgrounds who came together to evaluate Toronto’s Community Coordination Plan: a strategy for working with local agencies to meet the needs of vulnerable people during the pandemic. Presenters will share practical tips and lessons learned about evaluating in the time of COVID-19. Discussion will focus on how our experiences in this period might inform a more robust, responsive and useful approach to evaluation work in general.
About our Presenters:
Biljana Zuvela is a Manager of Research, Public Policy and Evaluation at United Way Greater Toronto.
Lora Remacka is a Policy Development Officer in Social Development, Finance and Administration at the City of Toronto.
Andrew Taylor is a Principal Consultant at Taylor Newberry Consulting Inc., an evaluation consulting firm.
When: November 4, 2020, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Q&A session starts at Noon)
Where: Zoom Webinar
How to register: Eventbrite registration
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/flying-the-plane-while-building-it-evaluation-in-the-time-of-covid-tickets-122813228673.

Eval Cafe: Water Well Evaluation Cafe: Community-Based Evaluation
2020-12-10 11:30 - 12:30 (America/Toronto) | Online
Welcome to the second in a fall series of the Water Well Evaluation Café. While we are practicing social distancing, this meeting will be virtual.
Equity continues to be a theme with this month’s topic exploring community-based evaluation. We will explore principles of voice, participation, and respect.
The Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) is one of the largest program’s implemented by United Way of Southeastern Michigan. This year’s evaluation was conducted during the height of the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and also during the height of the civil unrest caused by anti-black racism and police brutality. In the absence of opportunities for formal community-based participatory evaluation methods, other opportunities emerged–use of an Equity Lens to “nudge” the organization toward having a closer alignment with equitable evaluation practices. Results were positive!
Bring your own examples of enabling factors or challenges you have observed around conducting equitable evaluation!
We’ll connect on CES Ontario’s Zoom Meeting platform to build a network of evaluation professionals in the Waterloo Region and Wellington County areas, learn from each other, share tips to help others with their challenges, and discuss sector trends and developments.
Anyone interested in conducting evaluation in the region can RVSP and join the conversation; you don’t have to be a CES member (https://evaluationcanada.ca).
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/274650842/?rv=ea1_v2&_xtd=gatlbWFpbF9jbGlja9oAJDc0YjBkMzg2LTUwOGItNDUwNy1iYjZkLTJhZDRkOTc1NDMyYw&utm_campaign=event-announce&utm_medium=email&utm_source=promo.

Eval Cafe: Mobilizing Evidence in Complex Social Systems
2021-01-21 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Interested in systems change? Welcome to the winter series of the Water Well Evaluation Cafe. Our guest speaker will be Daniel Buckles, who will provide a road map to tools and concepts for engaging people and mobilizing evidence in complex social systems. The approach, detailed in various books and a website, combines rigor with participation and systems thinking with meaningful action to help evaluators deepen and broaden the analysis of interventions and new directions.
We are a network of evaluation professionals in the Waterloo Region and Wellington County areas (and beyond!), learning from each other, sharing tips to help others with their challenges, and discussing sector trends and developments.
Anyone interested in conducting evaluation can RVSP and join the conversation; you don’t have to be a CES member (https://evaluationcanada.ca).
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/275704158/?rv=ea1_v2&_xtd=gatlbWFpbF9jbGlja9oAJDNjYWNiMTA2LWNjMDItNGJjZS04N2ViLWI1ZjA2NmI0MGUyZA&utm_campaign=event-announce&utm_medium=email&utm_source=promo.

Eval Cafe: Canadian Evaluation Society Membership Benefits
2021-02-10 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
From the event description:
The Canadian Evaluation Society Ontario Chapter (CES Ontario) is one of the largest Provincial chapters of the Canadian Evaluation Society, the professional association of evaluators. As you may have heard, CES Ontario is a proud sponsor of Evaluation Cafe Ontario.
CES Membership has its benefits, including professional development and credentialing, networking, mentorship and job opportunities, and promotional rates. Did you know that you can even save on home and auto insurance, and printing costs? We can also answer your questions about CES Ontario’s trainings or membership events, or other aspects of CES membership.
On February 10th at Noon, join us to find out about CES-Ontario and the growing list of membership perks and benefits you can take advantage of!
With whatever time is left after Q & A, we’ll go into breakout groups for networking.
Presenters:
Maria Mardirosian (Membership Committee Co-Chair, CES-ON)
Rachel Laxer (Membership Committee Volunteer, CES-ON)
Kaitlyn Kochany (Administrative Coordinator, CES-ON)
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/275540939/?_xtd=gatlbWFpbF9jbGlja9oAJDZhY2RlNDgxLTI1ZDUtNDk2MC04NzdiLWNlOTRjNTUwOTFmMw.

Evaluation by Design
2021-03-22 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
What if we viewed evaluation as a service as well as a means of assessing value and supporting decision-making? A design-driven approach to evaluation is one that brings insights from service design into the practice of evaluation by integrating creativity, craft, and empathy with data-gathering, feedback, and sensemaking into the evaluator’s role. This approach, which brings together design thinking and evaluative thinking, explores ways to embed evaluation into a program’s development structure, particularly for those that are operating in domains of high complexity and need for innovation. Design-driven evaluation is an approach, drawing on utilization-focused, developmental, and participatory evaluation methods and techniques and brings them together with the creative problem orientation, interactivity, and end-user focus from the world of professional design.
This workshop will introduce evaluators to the fundamentals of a design-driven approach to evaluation. It will orient evaluators to the role that design can play in shaping both the evaluation and the program itself and is suited for those interested in expanding their practice, working more closely with innovative or complex programs and for those interested in developmental evaluation. The workshop will introduce design theory and methods, involve interactive activities aimed at illustrating design thinking in practice in ways that can be used both in-person and at distance, and how evaluators can play a pivotal role in supporting product, program, and service innovation in new ways.
About the Facilitator:
Cameron Norman is a Credentialed Evaluator and consultant who works with organizations seeking to innovate more effectively and use evaluation and service design methods to support that work. As the Principal and President of Cense Ltd., Cameron has worked with non-profits, social services, healthcare, and governments to design and implement innovation-focused programs that embed evaluation in their service offering to support their evolution and transformation. Cameron earned his PhD in Behavioural and Social Sciences from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto where he continues to serve as an Adjunct Faculty Member and a Master of Design degree in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University where he’s taught systems and service design methods.
In 2016, Cameron partnered with the American Evaluation Association to create and deliver the Design Loft Initiative, a ‘micro-conference’ within the annual AEA convention that provided workshops for evaluators on the methods of design. The Design Loft has been featured a regular feature of the in-person AEA Convention every year since. His latest initiative is the Cense Academy which seeks to train innovators in the fundamental methods and approaches to design, evaluation, systems thinking, and psychology.
Registration deadline: March 19, 2021
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/evaluation-by-design-tickets-138670718853.

April 2021 e-Essential Skills Series
2021-04-05 09:00 - 2021-06-13 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The Canadian Evaluation Society’s on-line ten-week course offers participants with a basic understanding of the main models and practices of evaluation. No prior knowledge of evaluation or social science research methods is required to participate. Participants will gain:

Basic knowledge and skills,
Appreciation for essential elements of evaluation,
Capacity to apply acquired knowledge and skills, and
Development as an evaluation professional.

The Essential Skills Series is ten self-paced learning modules that cover everything from basics like the objectives of evaluations, all the way through to practical skills such as budgeting and workplan development. The discussion forum encourages knowledge transfer/sharing among participants and instructor, instructor reviewed assignments to guide learners and real-time Zoom learning at the start and conclusion of the course.
Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of evaluation in the program lifecycle;
Explain common evaluation terms, functions, and approaches;
List the steps in planning and conducting an evaluation;
Describe how common social science data collection methods are used in evaluations;
Describe the value and use of project management concepts in evaluations;
Outline ways to support the use of evaluation findings and produce actionable evaluation reports; and
Recognize evaluation standards and ethical principles and identify their role in the professionalization of evaluation in Canada.

Learners will be expected to:

Complete one module per week independent of the facilitator;
Participate regularly in discussion forums with participants and the instructor;
Complete seven assignments to submit to facilitator for review/feedback

About the Facilitator
Tina Sahay has worked in the area of Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement for more than 24 years, supporting governments at the national, provincial and municipal levels in Canada as well as the not-for-profit sector. Tina operates a consulting firm in Toronto and works on client projects in all areas of her specialty of community and public health. She works extensively with vulnerable populations including newcomers, youth and those at-risk for mental health and substance use disorders. Tina also provides training to professionals on various aspects of program evaluation. She is an instructor for the Canadian Evaluation Society and has designed and conducted training programs for Toronto Public Health, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, MOHLTC, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health and York University.
Tina holds a Masters degree in Health Science from the University of Toronto and is a certified Quality Improvement Specialist. Tina is also a credentialed evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society.
Registration deadline: April 1, 2021
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/april-2021-e-essential-skills-series-tickets-138844163631.

Principles-Focused Evaluation
2021-04-07 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Principles-Focused EvaluationFacilitator: Paul Bakker, CE
Upcoming Sessions

Rescheduled to: April 7, 2021, 9 AM – 12 PM
Registration deadline: April 6, 2021
Online
Register here!

Principles help organizations adhere to values and beliefs, and helps them be effective; especially when dealing with complex issues.
This workshop will enable participants to understand how and when using a principles-focused evaluation design will have the most impact.
After the workshop participants will:

be able to identify when a principles-focused evaluation methodology could be used.
have a framework to help them to assess and/or develop quality effectiveness principles.
develop a principles-focused evaluation plan specific to their interests.

The workshop will include the review of Michael Quinn-Patton’s GUIDE framework for assessing quality effectiveness principles as well as small group and practical application of what is learned by designing a plan to answer principles-focused evaluation questions.
The workshop will be most useful to those familiar with evaluation basics, whose work is guided by principles, or who address complex issues.
About the Facilitator:
Paul Bakker, C.E. has over a decade of experience as an evaluation consultant and runs his independent evaluation consulting practice, Social Impact Squared. His evaluation projects are typically for nonprofits or provincial government agencies in the areas of education, health, employment, youth development, and crime prevention. His wide range of experience includes using developmental evaluation approaches to carrying out quasi-experimental designs, and he has increasingly been using Principles-Focused Evaluation to guide his work. In particular, he has been applying Principles-Focused Evaluation to youth employment, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, and feminist leadership models.

Registration deadline: April 6, 2021
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/principles-focused-evaluation-tickets-138073624929.

Eval Cafe: Demonstrating Value Presentation
2021-04-15 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Ten years ago, Vancity Community Foundation led a collaborative project to address challenges that community-based organizations face in measuring impact. The project resulted in the Demonstrating Value framework, a simple process, with supporting resources, to help organizations work out how to use information and data more effectively for management, planning and engaging partners, funders and other stakeholders (www.dvtools.org and www.demonstratingvalue.org).
Demonstrating Value supports organizations to consider their data needs holistically in terms of what information can be used to understand organizational sustainability, community impact and organization (business) performance and to consider the explicit uses of information by different stakeholders. It also focuses on the development of a ‘Snapshot’ which can be used strategically to communicate the performance and value of an initiative, program and/or organization (an illustrative example is shown to the right). The process of developing a Snapshot can also highlight areas to strengthen measurement capacity and strategies for doing this.
The talk will highlight recent work with Carleton University’s Centre for Community Innovation to update Demonstrating Value’s resources and to align them with the Common Approach to Impact Measurement. It will also describe our work over the Fall and Winter to work with 10 community based organizations to develop Snapshots and to develop recommendations to strengthen impact measurement capacity.
About the Presenter:
Bryn Sadownik is Consultant, Learning & Evaluation at Vancity Community Foundation. Bryn has 20 years experience working in impact assessment, evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis. Prior to joining Vancity, Bryn worked as a consultant and researcher at Simon Fraser University, leading numerous projects for government, private sector and non-profit organizations. Bryn holds a B.A. from Carleton University and a Masters of Resource and Environmental Management from Simon Fraser University. She is co-author of award winning book ‘The Cost of Climate Policy’ (UBC Press, 2007), and other publications including a chapter in ‘Accounting for Social Value’ (U of T Press, 2013).
Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/276957969/?rv=ea1_v2&_xtd=gatlbWFpbF9jbGlja9oAJGM2NTY4MDg5LTc3NWItNGRhZi1iZDkzLTgzZjNiODBkODQyMg&utm_campaign=event-announce&utm_medium=email&utm_source=promo.

The Art and Science of Producing Effective Infographics
2021-04-28 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Data visualization as a hot topic in the evaluation world, especially in knowledge transfer activities. The interactive and multi-modal workshop will focus on a specific type of data visualization, namely infographics – artistic or graphic presentation of data to communicate insights. We will briefly orient infographics in the realm of data visualization, illustrating the different types of infographics. Then our focus will shift to the science of why we use infographics in communicating to our various audiences (clients and funders). We then venture into design theory, calling on the works of data visualization experts Bernard Marr, Stephanie Evergreen, Garr Reynolds and Edward Tufte. The bulk of the time will be aimed at specific design elements of graphics, colour, and font, which provide the visual cues to our most important element: the data. We will then put these elements together with examples, and then look at resources and tools for infographic production. The session will conclude with a short question period.
Learning objectives:
By the end of the Workshop, the participant will be able to:

Compare the different types of infographics and situate them in the greater web of data visualization
Understand the basic tenets of design theory and how the brain process and information
Identify and appraise the design elements of effective infographics
Locate and use various resources and tools for effective infographic production

In addition, this workshop aims to strengthen capacities in line with the following Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice:

2.8
Identify data sources

2.13
Assesses trustworthiness of data

2.16
Reports evaluation findings and results

3.5
Serves the information needs of intended users

4.6
Reports on progress and results

5.1
Uses written communication skills and technologies

Registration deadline: April 27, 2021
Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cesontario/482988.

CES-ON Virtual Conference: Building Better Evaluation: Connecting Ontario
2021-05-11 08:30 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Join us on May 11, 2021 for a stimulating, and interactive virtual conference on Evaluation.
Building Better Evaluation – Connecting Ontario is a one-day conference event that is being held in conjunction with the CES National Conference. Join us and:

Engage and influence conversations about evaluation in Ontario.
Connect to evaluators, networks, and organizations.
Learn from evaluation leaders and practitioners.
Earn professional development hours to maintain your Credentialed Evaluator (CE) status.

Registration: $79 for CES members, $99 for non-members and $49 for students.
CES Ontario supports CES National’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation process and is pleased to offer complimentary registration to Indigenous evaluators. Please connect with our conference team to register.
Conference Agenda:
08:30 – 09:30 Virtual Breakfast/Coffee Networking (tbc)
09:30 – 09:40 Conference Welcome
09:40 –11:20 Panel: Evaluation Today and Future Opportunities
11:45 –13:00 CES Ontario’s 25th Annual General Meeting
13:15 –14:15 Concurrent Sessions Methods Masterclass
14:30 – 15:15 Concurrent Sessions Communities of Practice
15:25 – 16:05 Concurrent Sessions Communities of Practice Networking
16:15 – 16:55 Concurrent Sessions Advancing Evaluation: Innovation in Practice
16:55 – 17:00 Closing Remarks
Breaks are built throughout the day.

Tickets: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/cesontario/504846.

June 2021 e-Essential Skills Series
2021-06-04 09:00 - 2021-08-06 19:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The Canadian Evaluation Society’s on-line ten-week course offers participants with a basic understanding of the main models and practices of evaluation. No prior knowledge of evaluation or social science research methods is required to participate. Participants will gain:

Basic knowledge and skills,
Appreciation for essential elements of evaluation,
Capacity to apply acquired knowledge and skills, and
Development as an evaluation professional.

The Essential Skills Series is ten self-paced learning modules that cover everything from basics like the objectives of evaluations, all the way through to practical skills such as budgeting and workplan development. The discussion forum encourages knowledge transfer/sharing among participants and instructor, instructor reviewed assignments to guide learners and real-time Zoom learning at the start and conclusion of the course.
Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of evaluation in the program lifecycle;
Explain common evaluation terms, functions, and approaches;
List the steps in planning and conducting an evaluation;
Describe how common social science data collection methods are used in evaluations;
Describe the value and use of project management concepts in evaluations;
Outline ways to support the use of evaluation findings and produce actionable evaluation reports; and
Recognize evaluation standards and ethical principles and identify their role in the professionalization of evaluation in Canada.

Learners will be expected to:

Complete one module per week independent of the facilitator;
Participate regularly in discussion forums with participants and the instructor;
Complete seven assignments to submit to facilitator for review/feedback

About the Facilitator
Dr. Keiko Kuji-Shikatani, C.E., is an internal evaluator with the Ministry of Education, infusing evaluative thinking in collaborative teams to build sector capacity for the use of evidence to inform decisions. She shares her DE expertise widely leading interministerial collaborations, evaluation capacity building for governments both in Canada and internationally, through universities, civil societies and EvalPartners.
Registration deadline: June 2, 2021
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/june-2021-e-essential-skills-series-tickets-140593806861.

Eval Cafe: Reflective and Reflexive Practice
2021-06-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Reflective and reflexive practice is increasingly being recognized as a method by which evaluators can monitor their biases, better understand their privilege and increase their awareness of power dynamics. The intended goal of reflexive practice is to reduce the risk that an evaluator uncritically perpetuates systemic oppressions during the course of an evaluation. Furthermore, if the aim of a program or service is to be equitable, integrating a disciplined practice of reflection is increasingly being recognized as a method of practicing social justice and anti-oppression when evaluating those programs and services (Archibald, Neubauer & Brookfield, 2018; Caldwell & Bledsoe, 2018; Jewiss & Clark/Keefe, 2007; Hall, 2019; van Draanen, 2016).
Nick Petten has been practicing reflexivity in his evaluation practice and has opened this practice to investigation through a research project on team-based critical reflexivity. He also occupies some leadership positions within his professional associations, CES and AEA, and is aware of the increasing importance that is being placed on reflective practice and reflexivity as a core competency within the profession. His ecology of evidence tells him that reflective practice and critical reflexivity can be used by evaluators to maintain an ethical stance and be culturally responsive to groups of people that do not fully identify with the dominant ideology in contemporary Western society.
In this presentation, participants will have a chance to learn more about some techniques and practices in critical reflexivity and then discuss the role and impact of critical reflexivity on an individual’s practice, within the dynamics of a team and within the professional community of evaluators.
Those interested in attending are encouraged to read the following short articles:
– AEA’s Statement Regarding Racism and Inequality in our Society (https://www.eval.org/Full-Article/statement-from-the-aea-board-of-directors-regarding-racism-and-inequality-in-our-society)
– CES’s updated competencies on Reflective Practice and Ethics (https://evaluationcanada.ca/sites/default/files/crwg_revisions_clean_version_april_23.18.pdf)

Evaluation Cafe is sponsored by CES Ontario.

Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/278626144.

The Art and Science of Producing Effective Infographics
2021-07-15 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Data visualization as a hot topic in the evaluation world, especially in knowledge transfer activities. The interactive and multi-modal workshop will focus on a specific type of data visualization, namely infographics – artistic or graphic presentation of data to communicate insights. We will briefly orient infographics in the realm of data visualization, illustrating the different types of infographics. Then our focus will shift to the science of why we use infographics in communicating to our various audiences (clients and funders). We then venture into design theory, calling on the works of data visualization experts Bernard Marr, Stephanie Evergreen, Garr Reynolds and Edward Tufte. The bulk of the time will be aimed at specific design elements of graphics, colour, and font, which provide the visual cues to our most important element: the data. We will then put these elements together with examples, and then look at resources and tools for infographic production. The session will conclude with a short question period.
Learning objectives:
By the end of the Workshop, the participant will be able to:
Compare the different types of infographics and situate them in the greater web of data visualization
Understand the basic tenets of design theory and how the brain process and information
Identify and appraise the design elements of effective infographics
Locate and use various resources and tools for effective infographic production
In addition, this workshop aims to strengthen capacities in line with the following Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice:
2.8 Identify data sources
2.13 Assesses trustworthiness of data
2.16 Reports evaluation findings and results
3.5 Serves the information needs of intended users
4.6 Reports on progress and results
5.1 Uses written communication skills and technologies
About the Faciliator:
A. Sidiq (Sid) Ali, is an expert in education programs, focusing on assessment program development, management and evaluation. He has over 20 years’ experience as an evaluator. Sid combines his skills in psychometrics and evaluation to foster his professional interests in program evaluation capacity-building in the private sector, program development in licensure and certification contexts, as well as in effective data analytics and visualization. Since founding his consulting practice (www.rae-consult.com), he has worked with profession regulators and governing bodies in accounting and financial management, healthcare, law and international sanctions, as well as with the learning and development units of two of the big five Canadian banks. He began his better data visualization journey in 2008, focusing on effective presentation strategies for PowerPoint. He now blogs and speaks about data visualization, and has been an invited guest blogger on Stephanie Evergreen’s effective data visualization blog. He has produced infographics for official CES communications, has conducted a CES national webinar on infographics and has facilitated workshops on infographics for CES-ON and CES-MB. Sid is a Credentialed Evaluator, earned his M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in Educational Measurement and Evaluation, and was a two-term Director for CES-ON.
Registration deadline: July 14, 2021

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-art-and-science-of-producing-effective-infographics-tickets-141855522687.

Webinar: Integrating Feminist Approaches Into Evaluation
2021-07-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The Canadian Evaluation Society – Ontario Chapter (CES-ON) is pleased to invite you to our Summer Webinar: Integrating Feminist Approaches Into Evaluation.
For more than a decade, Oxfam Canada (OCA) has been developing and refining feminist approaches to assess and learn from projects in a way that challenges us to think differently about knowledge and power – redefining who and what is valued most. This webinar will unpack the seven foundations highlighted in the OCA Guidance Note on Feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), as well as explore examples of how projects have leveraged these foundations in recent evaluations.
This webinar introduces ideas that will be fully explored in the workshop Feminist Principles in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning on September 29, 2021.
This webinar is free for members of the Canadian Evaluation Society; general admission tickets are also available.
About the Presenter:
Anna Du Vent is the Women’s Rights Knowledge Specialist, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) at Oxfam Canada (OCA), leading OCA’s work in applying feminist approaches throughout its MEAL systems. Anna also led the MEAL work for OCA’s flagship six-country ending violence against women and girls project. Anna specializes in qualitative methodologies focused on program learning processes, including identifying, documenting and sharing best practices. She has led teams on projects related to youth development, economic empowerment, and legal reform in Uganda, Malawi, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/webinar-integrating-feminist-approaches-into-evaluation-tickets-158485844427.
This webinar is sponsored by Socialsuite. Global leaders in outcomes measurement, Socialsuite helps nonprofits to share their positive impact with the world.

Eval Cafe: Evaluator Speed Dating
2021-08-19 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Online
RSVP online here: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/279368328/
From the MeetUp event description:
We can’t quite yet get together safely as a big group on a patio this summer, but we can share some food and drink virtually.
Come join us anytime between 6 and 8pm on August 16 to connect with fellow evaluation enthusiasts. I will put people randomly in small breakout rooms for 15 minutes rounds, where you can meet new people or reconnect over your favorite refreshments. Looking forward to (re)connecting and hearing what going on both personally and professionally.

September 2021 e-Essential Skills Series
2021-09-13 09:00 - 2021-11-21 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
The Canadian Evaluation Society’s on-line ten-week course offers participants with a basic understanding of the main models and practices of evaluation. No prior knowledge of evaluation or social science research methods is required to participate. Participants will gain:

Basic knowledge and skills,
Appreciation for essential elements of evaluation,
Capacity to apply acquired knowledge and skills, and
Development as an evaluation professional.

The Essential Skills Series is ten self-paced learning modules that cover everything from basics like the objectives of evaluations, all the way through to practical skills such as budgeting and workplan development. The discussion forum encourages knowledge transfer/sharing among participants and instructor, instructor reviewed assignments to guide learners and real-time Zoom learning at the start and conclusion of the course.
Learning Objectives:

Describe the role of evaluation in the program lifecycle;
Explain common evaluation terms, functions, and approaches;
List the steps in planning and conducting an evaluation;
Describe how common social science data collection methods are used in evaluations;
Describe the value and use of project management concepts in evaluations;
Outline ways to support the use of evaluation findings and produce actionable evaluation reports; and
Recognize evaluation standards and ethical principles and identify their role in the professionalization of evaluation in Canada.

Learners will be expected to:

Complete one module per week independent of the facilitator;
Participate regularly in discussion forums with participants and the instructor;
Complete seven assignments to submit to facilitator for review/feedback

About the Facilitator
Paul Favaro Ph.D., CE is the Chief of Research, Program Evaluation, and Accountability for the Peel District School Board in Mississauga, Ontario. He teaches management sciences at York University in Toronto.
Dr. Favaro has authored or co-authored articles, chapters, and technical reports, and has conducted professional training workshops in the areas of program evaluation, performance measurement, and research methodology. He is on the editorial board of The Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. Throughout his career, he has worked as a research consultant to a wide variety of government ministries, educational organizations, charitable foundations, and community-based programs. He has held several executive positions on the board of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES). In 2010, he was awarded a fellowship in the CES. He is a Credentialed Evaluator by the Canadian Evaluation Society.
Registration deadline: September 7, 2021
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/september-2021-e-essential-skills-series-tickets-140599275217.

Feminist Principles in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
2021-09-29 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
This workshop will guide participants through Oxfam Canada’s Seven Foundations to Feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL). Oxfam’s feminist approach challenges practitioners to think differently about evidence, push the boundaries on data collection, and question who gives meaning and power to knowledge. Through these challenges, participants will engage in an iterative process of applying and reflecting the principles of the approach.
This workshop will introduce the seven foundations, grounded in three recent Oxfam project examples including the following projects:
• The mid-term evaluation of a six-country project, which integrated a participatory, peer-to-peer approach, co-designed by project partners.
• Women’s Voice and Leadership – Pakistan, including local women’s rights organizations, Oxfam in Pakistan (OiP), and Oxfam Canada.
Participants will have the opportunity to ‘deep dive’ into the three project examples with country-based staff and partners leading discussions in breakout rooms.
Methodologies that can be incorporated into feminist MEAL approaches will be shared and participants will have the opportunity to experience at least one of these methodologies.
About the Facilitator
Anna Du Vent is the Women’s Rights Knowledge Specialist, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) at Oxfam Canada (OCA), leading OCA’s work in applying feminist approaches throughout its MEAL systems. Anna also led the MEAL work for OCA’s flagship six-country ending violence against women and girls project. Anna specializes in qualitative methodologies focused on program learning processes, including identifying, documenting and sharing best practices. She has led teams on projects related to youth development, economic empowerment, and legal reform in Uganda, Malawi, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Registration deadline: September 28, 2021

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/feminist-principles-in-monitoring-evaluation-accountability-and-learning-tickets-140603190929.
