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.

Designing Interactive Dashboards Using Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets
2021-10-04 12:00 - 2021-10-06 13:30 UTC | Online
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/designing-interactive-dashboards-using-microsoft-excel-and-google-sheets-tickets-163586310057
CES-ON is pleased to offer a workshop for learners to develop their technical skills using Excel and Google Sheets to create interactive dashboards.
Creating dynamic dashboards in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets is a fantastic and cost-effective way to view important data with minimal construction time. This workshop takes you through all you need to know to design interactive dashboards from start to finish. This skill-building workshop will demonstrate how to generate an interactive dashboard in 5 easy-to-learn steps: Pivot, Analyze, Rename, Chart, and Slice. Using sample survey data, you will learn how to a) use a Pivot table to analyze data, b) create a chart using PivotCharts, c) incorporate Slicers and d) create a professional looking dashboard that allows stakeholders to slice-and-dice the data in seconds. Additionally, we will share best practices in dashboard design to make your dashboards really pop! Finally, we will demonstrate how to incorporate inferential statistics (e.g., paired samples t-test) into your dashboards that will update as you slice-and-dice your data. After attending the workshop, you will be equipped with clear steps that you can immediately implement to create stunning dashboards that are dynamic and easy to reproduce.
This skill-building workshop is aligned to the following CES competencies:

1.1- This workshop explores new thinking and practices related to interactive dashboards;
2.8- This workshop will give participants accessible tools and process to help them interpret and present their data;
2.10- By allowing evaluators and stakeholders the ability to interact with data, interactive dashboards promote complete and balanced evaluation reporting to support decision-making; and,
3.4- Interactive dashboards are an efficient way for evaluators and stakeholders to understand results in real-time.

Evaluation learners and those interested in evaluation digital tools can benefit from this learning experience. Learners will need access to their own Microsoft Excel and Google Sheet to fully engage with the content of this workshop as well as a passion for learning new ways of mobilizing data for knowledge sharing.
Workshop Schedule
Session Dates: Monday, October 4 and Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Session Times: 12-1:30 pm for both dates
About the Facilitators
Shelly Engelman, Ph.D., is the Director of Research and Evaluation at Custom EduEval LLC in Austin, TX. She earned her PhD in Social Psychology and has over 10 years of research and evaluation experience. Dr. Engelman served as an external evaluator on over 40 federal and state funded grants and programs related to STEM Education. She has led over 20 workshops, seminars, and webinars for a variety of clients including, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) in Georgia, and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin).
Tom Withee is a Senior Researcher at Goshen Education Consulting Inc in Edwardsville, IL and is their data visualization expert. His involvement with STEM Education for over 15 years and his passion to make STEM Education accessible for everyone is evident throughout his work. Tom is an active member of the American Evaluation Association, with a focus of STEM Education, K-12 Education, and Data Visualization. As a founding member of the Evaluation Association of St. Louis, he shares his insights on data visualization and clear, concise reporting.

Eval Cafe: Journeying to Truth and Reconciliation
2021-10-07 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
The Water Well Evaluation Cafe will be convening a fall 2021 series of 2-3 Zoom sessions on Journeying to Truth and Reconciliation. There will be advance readings, discussion, and guided facilitation. We anticipate traveling together as a group, and value commitment for the entire series. Our first meeting is on October 7, at noon, with these two articles under discussion. Interested evaluators can email jillianbaker@gmail.com to join.
Advance reading:
Increasing Cultural Competence in Support of Indigenous-Led Evaluation: A Necessary Step toward Indigenous-Led Evaluation
Nan Wehipeihana Research Evaluation Consultancy Limited
© 2019 Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation
Volume 34 (2) 2019, Fall 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.68444
White Privilege and the Decolonization Work Needed in Evaluation to Support Indigenous Sovereignty and Self-Determination,
Kate McKegg The Kinnect Group
© 2019 Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation
Volume 34 (2) 2019, Fall 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.67978

Rapid Impact Evaluation
2021-10-18 13:00 - 2021-10-29 15:00 UTC | Online
Register through Eventbrite by October 12, 2021

First time introductory offer at a one-time membership rate, CES-ON is pleased and privileged to have worked with Andy Rowe to provide a hands-on introduction professional development opportunity – Rapid Impact Evaluation.

Rapid Impact Evaluation offers the ability to evaluate the impacts of a program using developmental and formative evaluation as well as summative. RIE triangulates perspectives of three separate groups of experts. Three methodologies that are central to RIE will provide learners with an understanding to apply RIE. RIE is a cost-efficient and quick approach to assessing impacts and does not intrude on design or implementation of the program. Evaluation learners will benefit when they add RIE to their toolbox of evaluation methods.
Participants will have virtual hands-on interactive learning opportunities across multiple sessions that are comprised of three 3-hour learning modules and optional two 2-hour learning labs and one final session for questions and discussions about applications. The labs will offer the opportunity to applying the method using real-world cases using RIE methods learned in the modules. Professionals who participate in RIE will:

Develop an understanding of principles of RIE and the methods specific to RIE and CE designation credentials.

Evaluation learners and those interested in evaluation methods can benefit from this learning opportunity on a leading example of the trend towards more nimble evaluation methods. No prerequisite of skills/knowledge are needed to fully engage in this learning opportunity except your passion for evaluation.
Workshop Schedule
Workshop Modules: 12 Hours of Interactive Instructional Learning

Monday October 18th, 1-4 pm EST
Friday October 22nd , 1-4 pm EST
Wednesday October 27th, 1-4 pm EST

Optional Learning Labs: 6 Hours of Interactive Co-Learning

Wednesday October 20th, 1-3 pm EST
Monday October 25th , 1-3 pm EST
Friday October 29th , 1-3 pm EST

About Andy Rowe
CES Fellow and Award Winner for Contributions to Evaluation in Canada
“Over the past 30 years, Andy Rowe has been actively involved in the field of program evaluation, both as a tireless advocate for the function of evaluation, and as a significant contributor to the advancement of evaluation theory and practice
Through numerous publications, lectures and presentations, Andy has challenged evaluators in Canada and abroad to explore new approaches that could better accommodate the need for timely and relevant information on program results. His work on Rapid Impact Evaluation (RIE), the Scenario-Based Counterfactual, and Metric for Forecasting Impacts are some of the innovative approaches that Andy has been developing and promoting. Andy also stands as a predominant evaluator engaged in the fields of environment and sustainable development, through multiple assignments in Canada and abroad. He has championed evaluation strategies that place sustainability at the very heart of evaluation’s core mission and mandate and is a founding member of Footprint Evaluation.”
Andy Rowe has a PhD from the London School of Economics, is former President of CES, a CES Fellow and was the founding Chair of the Newfoundland Chapter of CES. He has also served on several Task Forces of the American Evaluation Association. He has engaged in evaluation globally and his current work includes as a member of the Technical Evaluation Reference Group of the Adaptation Fund, evaluation of smallholder farmer climate adaptation with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and his work with Footprint Evaluation hosted by Better Evaluation and funded by the Global Evaluation Initiative.

Eval Cafe: Exploring Equitable, Transformative Evaluation
2021-10-27 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
Register here: https://www.meetup.com/Evaluation-Cafe-Ontario/events/280748966/
As evaluators seek to integrate more equitable (and dare we dream, more transformative) approaches to evaluation, we often find that the systems that employ us to evaluate are not yet positioned to enable approaches that give more voice and decision-making power to clients or beneficiaries. Despite this, we are seeing increasing examples and opportunities for community-based participatory evaluation. In this Meetup, we’ll see an example from the international development sector that “put the community in the driving seat” of conducting a baseline of their goals and see the impact this led to. We’ll discuss what it would take for the principles of this work to be replicated in other contexts based on consolidated learning from Salanga’s work in Community-Led Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (CoLMEAL).
For more information, check out www.salanga.org and what they are doing in Community-Led MEAL at https://salanga.org/measure-impact/colmel/
This session will be facilitated by Elaine Stavnitzky. She has experience leading and implementing a wide range of complex strategic, programmatic and quality assurance processes to support leadership, staff, communities and children in international development and humanitarian aid programs since 2002. To date her expertise has covered on-going learning and improvement in 30 countries across 15 sectors, including gender equality and youth. The nexus of her passion, skills, and value is in empowering communities to understand and monitor the change they seek to actualize. She is ever ready to apply her energy and enthusiasm to support organizations in strengthening systems that ensure people have right-sized information to trigger change making decisions. She loves experiencing with others the “a-ha” moment that tips the balance for transformation at the individual, community and/or systems level.
Find out more about Elaine on her LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-stavnitzky/

The Art and Science of Producing Effective Infographics
2021-11-10 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Online
The interactive and multi-modal workshop focuses on infographics – artistic or graphic presentation of data to communicate insights.

Register online here!

About this event

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 Facilitator:
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.

Webinar: Non-profit Impact Measurement: Using Tech for Powerful Results
2021-11-17 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/webinar-non-profit-impact-measurement-using-tech-for-powerful-results-tickets-190690439237
Socialsuite is inviting CES members to a unique 1 hour session on Nonprofit Impact Measurement: Using Technology for Powerful Results, featuring our very own impact experts, and introducing our partner evaluation specialists.
Are you working within the nonprofit sector? Don’t miss this very special opportunity to discuss your impact measurement strategy with experts within the field, and hear how our partners are using technology to advance their nonprofit clients’ monitoring and evaluation strategies.
This specialized panel will be discussing their approaches to measurement and evaluation, in addition to giving you an overview of Socialsuite’s impact technology.
Key outcomes:

Introduction to impact measurement
The principles of evaluation to measure impact
How technology can enhance your impact measurement strategy
Nonprofit case studies to help empower your journey

Introducing:
HOST: Christian Mosley
Christian Mosley is the Head of Business Development at Socialsuite, supporting nonprofit organizations by accessing their needs and helping them get started on a path to success. With extensive experience working at the intersection of technology and the nonprofit sector, Christian is passionate about empowering organizations to measure and show how close, or how far, we are to the world we want to live in.
Speaker: Zach Sonnett
Zach is Socialsuite’s North American Business Development Manager and Impact Specialist based in San Francisco. Passionate about combining his extensive technology background with his knowledge of the nonprofit sector, he is an expert in helping organizations to measure, monitor and report on how their activities affect our communities.
Speaker: Gillian Kerr, Ph.D., C.Psych.,President Emeritus – Logical Outcomes
Dr. Gillian Kerr is a Canadian psychologist who consults with organizations, mostly nonprofits and the public sector, to improve their effectiveness. Most of her projects relate to policy analysis, evaluation, process improvement, performance measurement and the use of knowledge and information. Gillian has assisted dozens of organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors to develop evaluation frameworks, logic models and/or performance monitoring systems. She is developing an open source evaluation framework builder based on thousands of validated survey questions that exports to configuration files for Socialsuite and other survey platforms.

February 2022 e-Essential Skills Series
2022-02-07 09:00 - 2022-04-24 17:00 UTC | Online
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/february-2022-e-essential-skills-series-tickets-200922985057
About This Event
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.

Facilitation Skills for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Practitioners
2022-03-21 12:00 - 2022-03-25 14:00 UTC | Online
Hone your communication and facilitation skills as an evaluation practitioner!

About the Course:
At some point in their careers, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practitioners will be placed in a position where they have to communicate M&E work to a group of people. This may be to project staff, policy makers and other stakeholders. Sometimes, the meeting will be comprised of people who are not fully versed with the technical M&E jargons, or to people who may not be receptive to the less-than-positive findings from an evaluation report. Likewise, the group may consist of people with diverse backgrounds and competing interests, yet their consensus is needed.
This is where skills are needed to navigate the group (and power) dynamics to effectively facilitate a meeting that is engaging, elicits participation and produces tangible results.
This course covers:

The facilitation process
Facilitation roles and responsibilities
Various facilitation techniques, including when and how to use them for best effect
Active Listening
Group Dynamics
Characteristics of Good Facilitation
Energisers and Ice breakers
Addressing difficult people situations

The course is highly interactive with role-play and simulations. The live Zoom sessions are scheduled for Monday, March 21, Wednesday, March 23 and Friday, 25 March 2022 beginning at 12 noon EST. Run time is 2 hours. The Tuesday and Thursday of that week will be used for homework/assignments and self-paced study on an online learning platform, which will be provided before the course begins.
Key Canadian Evaluation Society Competencies:
4. Management Practice competencies focus on applying sound project management skills throughout the evaluation project.

4.1 Provides leadership to the evaluation project.
4.5 Uses group management and facilitation skills.

5. Interpersonal Practice competencies focus on the social and personal skills required to communicate and interact effectively with all stakeholders.

5.1. Uses communication strategies appropriate to the cultural, linguistic, social, and political context.
5.2 Demonstrates effective and appropriate written and visual communication skills.
5.3 Demonstrates effective, appropriate, and respectful verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
5.4 Uses a variety of processes that result in mutually negotiated agreements, shared understandings and consensus building.
5.5 Builds partnerships within the evaluation context.

About the Facilitator:
Ann-Murray Brown is Jamaican and is an independent consultant based in The Hague, The Netherlands. She has provided professional services to several international NGOs such as the UNDP, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Commission on programmes related to Migration, Governance, Child Protection, Poverty Reduction and Gender.
As a facilitator she delivers workshops in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) to strengthen organisational capacity and designs evaluation manuals.
She is the holder of multiple advanced degrees in Sociology and International Development and is a member of professional bodies such as the American Evaluation Association (AEA), the European Evaluation Society (EES), the Dutch Evaluation Society (Vide) and the Caribbean Evaluators International. She also maintains a blog on Monitoring and Evaluation (https://www.annmurraybrown.com/blog ).

The Art and Science of Producing Effective Infographics
2022-04-13 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | 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.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-art-and-science-of-producing-effective-infographics-tickets-269782987177
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
April 12, 2022

2022 CES-ON AGM & Learning Event
2022-06-22 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Online
CES – Ontario is pleased to announce that the chapter’s 26th Annual General Meeting will be held online on June 22, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Register here!
Why Attend the AGM?
The AGM is a great opportunity to:
– Learn more about recent chapter activities;
– Elect new board members and approve any bylaw changes;
– Participate in the annual Learning Event.
Event Agenda:

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: AGM presentation, including progress on our strategic goals, our recent incorporation as a non-profit, and upcoming chapter events

12:30 PM – 12:40 PM: 10-minute bio break

12:40 PM – 2:00PM: Learning Event: Culturally responsive approaches to evaluation: Making sense of theory and practice with Dr. Jill Chouinard

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:
Join us for a discussion with Dr. Jill Chouinard on culturally responsive evaluation. The presentation will include a reflection on the roots of evaluation and how evaluation practices and theory have evolved over time. Please bring your questions and thoughts to this thought-provoking event!
About the Speaker:
Dr. Jill Anne Chouinard is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration. Her interdisciplinary scholarship is shaped by anthropology, cultural studies, feminism, critical theory, social geography and post modernism, all of which informs her interest in culture, and in issues of in/equity and social justice, whether here at home or more globally. Her main research areas are in culturally responsive approaches to research and evaluation, participatory research and evaluation, and evaluation and public policy. Much of her evaluation work has been conducted in culturally and socially diverse community settings, where she has extensive experience leading evaluations at the community level in the areas of education, social services, public health, and organizational learning and change. She positions evaluation as a catalyst for learning, collaboration, equity, social justice and community change.

Eval Cafe: Evaluators Picnic
2022-07-07 18:00 - 20:00 UTC
From the Eval Cafe description:
We are looking forward to finally seeing people in-person again!
We hope you can join us at the first ever Evaluator’s picnic on July 7th starting at 6pm. Also, save the date of July 14th in case July 7th gets rained out.
Come bring your favorite food for just yourself or for sharing (optional) to Wells Hill Park (145 Hilton Ave. Toronto; just across from St. Clair West subway station’s main exit). If you want to buy food along the way there’s a Lawblaws right there, and you may want to get some Dutch Dreams ice cream nearby as well.
There will be ice-breaker activities and games like bocce ball, table tennis, frisbee, and other games you want to bring.
The park has picnic tables, but you can also bring picnic blankets/chairs if you prefer those options.
Wells Hill Park is family friendly, so if you would like to bring your kids along, you can.
As this will be an outdoor event, masks will be optional, but we ask that you respect physical distancing with anyone choosing to wear a mask.
We’ll start wrapping up around 7:30/8pm, but people are free to hang out or go to a nearby place afterwards.
Exciting to see many of you again.
If you can’t make it, don’t worry. We will book more online events in the future.

September e-Essential Skills Series
2022-09-12 08:00 - 2022-11-19 17:00 UTC
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.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/september-2022-e-essential-skills-series-tickets-272205663467
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.

CES-ON Webinar: Braiding and Restorying Indigenous Research Methodologies: Engaging with Responsive Research
2022-09-16 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Online
Dr. Jeff Corntassel shares his experience using the First Nations Perspective to decolonize research.
Register here!

About the Webinar: Braiding and Restorying Indigenous Research Methodologies: Engaging with Responsive Research
With extensive experience in practicing community-centered research methods, Dr. Jeff Corntassel and Dr. Jacqueline Quinless developed an approach called “Responsive Research” in 2017. This talk will examine the ways that relational accountabilities, responsibilities, and strength-based approaches are key strands of a responsive research model. Utilizing a braiding methodology, Corntassel will look at examples of how Indigenous knowledge systems are woven alongside western methods in ways that are distinct from a “two-eyed seeing” approach. From a Responsive Research perspective, research processes developed by and for Indigenous peoples that affirm and strengthen their self-determining authority are just as important as research outcomes.
This webinar is a presention of the CES-ON Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Oppression (DEIAO) Committee.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Jeff Corntassel is a writer, teacher and father from the Cherokee Nation. He is currently Associate Professor in the Indigenous Studies Department at the University of Victoria and Acting Director of the Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE). His research and teaching interests focus on “Everyday Acts of Resurgence” and the intersection between sustainable self-determination, Indigenous resurgence, climate change and community well-being. He situates his work at the grassroots with many Indigenous led community-based programs and initiatives ranging from local food movement initiatives, land-based renewal projects, understanding Indigenous fatherhood, to gendered colonial violence and protection of homelands. His recently published book is an edited volume in collaboration with Kanaka Maoli professors at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa, with a collection of works from twenty-two Indigenous an non-Indigenous contributors and is entitled Everyday Acts of Resurgence: People, Places, Practices (2018, Daykeeper Press). He is currently completing work for his forthcoming book on Sustainability, Climate Action and Gender-Based Resurgence.

Culturally Responsive Evaluation Training
2022-10-04 11:00 - 2022-10-25 17:00 UTC | Online
Register online here!
Course Description:

The Canadian Evaluation Society – Ontario Chapter has partnered with Reciprocal Consulting, Inc to offer a two-part online workshop for evaluators to support Culturally Responsive Evaluations through a Reconciliation lens. These sessions will focus on the need for culturally responsive evaluation, while challenging and disrupting status quo evaluations, and will re-orient evaluators to practice evaluation in a culturally responsive way. Through interactive examples, this training will support transformative learning for working alongside Indigenous communities. The engaging live session allows for participants to have a catered experience where facilitators adapt the content based on the interests and knowledge levels of the learners. Furthermore, these online sessions will foster an open and facilitated space for discussion. Learners will have the opportunity to connect with others as they explore the different ways, they can strengthen their practice.
Workshop structure:

Day one: October 4, 2022, 11 AM – 5 PM
Day two: October 25, 2022, 11 AM – 5 PM
There will be assignments and readings to complete between Day One and Day Two. Further details will be shared with participants.

Credentialed Evaluator Competencies:

1.4 Considers the well-being of human and natural systems in evaluation practice.
1.7 Uses self-awareness and reflective thinking to continually improve practice.
3.3 Respects all stakeholders and strives to build and maintain trusting relationships
3.4 Promotes and facilitates usefulness of the evaluation process and results.
3.6 Engages in reciprocal processes in which evaluation knowledge and expertise are shared between the evaluator and stakeholders to enhance evaluation capacity for all.
3.7 Uses evaluation processes and practices that support reconciliation and build stronger relationships among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

About the Facilitators:
Sofia Vitalis was born and raised on the unceded stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and mi ce:p kʷətxʷiləm (Tsleil-waututh) Nations. Sofia is a mestiza Colombian Latina, with strong roots in her culture and family. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Simon Fraser University, where her passion was deepened for critical reflection of systems and heart-centred value that affect all aspects of her work and life. In her role, as Lead for Education and Mentorship she can spread her passionate for transforming’s systems. Sofia also thrives on fostering relationships and deepen understandings of anti-racism and decolonization through the organizational and community education work she is privileged to do at Reciprocal Consulting Inc.
Billie Joe Rogers is an Anishinaabe member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Southwestern Ontario and holds a PhD in Law and Forensic Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Billie Joe has worked with Reciprocal Consulting, Inc since 2010 and has contributed to over 300 program evaluations, research projects, and facilitation contracts. Billie Joe has 12 years of experience conducting evaluations and research at the local, provincial and national levels, with a focus on programs and content relevant to Indigenous communities. Furthermore, Billie Joe has considerable experience providing mentorship and teaching in the area of culturally responsive evaluation and research, providing training to evaluation society conference attendees and provincial and territorial evaluation chapters, as well as to non-profits and educational institutions.

The Art and Science of Producing Effective Infographics
2022-10-13 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Online
The interactive and multi-modal workshop focuses on infographics – artistic or 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 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.

Eval Cafe: Evaluation Mentoring to Support EDI
2022-10-20 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
From the Meetup description:
The Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) values mentorship as an important facet to evaluation learning, and currently offers an informal self-directed mentoring initiative that enables members of the CES to voluntarily register as a mentor, mentee, or both (https://mentoring.evaluationcanada.org/). As CES is launching a new Association Management System, there is an opportunity to enhance the features and usability of the mentoring platform to better meet the needs of our members. With an increased focused on diversity & inclusion in the evaluation field and within CES, this new mentoring platform can be developed in a way to bring a more diverse group of new practitioners into the practice from an EDI lens. This Evaluation Café session will discuss the importance of mentoring in the lens of inclusion, and the potential benefits for consultants and new practitioners from equity-deserving groups, as well as look at how the CES mentoring platform can further support EDI moving forward.

This session will be facilitated by:
Cassandra Parsons is a senior evaluation consultant with Ference & Company, an independent research and evaluation firm based on Vancouver, BC. She is an emerging evaluator who has been in the field for almost three years with an interest and focus on health and social programs. Cassandra is currently the student & emerging evaluator representative for the CES Board, and leads the ongoing Mentorship Platform Initiative.
Natalie Kishchuk, CE, FCES, has worked as an independent evaluation consultant for close to 30 years, with mandates in health and social services, community development, and research, for various types of organizations and levels of government. An active volunteer in CES since the 1990’s, she was its Vice-President in 2017-19. Now mostly retired, she is a member of the Fellows’ executive and its representative on the CES National Board.

October e-Essential Skills Series
2022-10-31 08:00 - 2023-01-08 17:00 UTC
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.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/october-2022-e-essential-skills-series-tickets-272238391357
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.
