Mentorship Program

– Mentees: Executives appointed between July 1, 2024, and February 1, 2025, including those who participated in the New Executive Induction Forum on December 2, 2025, will receive a personal invitation to participate in the Program. Please note that mentees must be members of APEX at the time of registration.

– Mentors: Experienced executives (EX-01 to EX-05) who wish to share their knowledge and support the next generation of executives in the federal public service are invited to submit their candidacy. Please note that mentors must be members of APEX at the time of registration.

APEX wishes to recruit mentors from all levels, from EX-01 to EX-05, who have a variety of experiences and expertise in order to best meet the needs, objectives, and aspirations of mentees. For example, a recently appointed executive might want to be mentored by someone who has recently joined the senior executive community, while another mentee might want to be paired with an executive who has several years of experience to better navigate the specific and complex challenges of executive leadership.

For its first edition of the Program, APEX seeks mentees appointed between July 1, 2024, and February 1, 2025, including those in the executive cohort who participated in the December 2, 2025 New Executive Induction Forum. Subsequent editions of the Mentorship Program will take place in March 2026 and June 2026, after the second and third Induction Forums. This phased implementation approach aims to ensure the success of the Program and establish a solid foundation. It will allow APEX to consider extending the Program to other members of the executive community.

– After receiving the registration forms (available below), APEX will propose a potential match for a mentoring relationship based on the information received from the mentee. An email will be sent to both participants, the mentor and the mentee, once the match has been made.

– The mentee will then be responsible for contacting the mentor assigned to them. The team responsible for the Mentorship Program can suggest tools, provide advice, and propose topics of discussion to enrich the mentoring relationship. During their first meeting, the new partners will complete a mutual commitment form, which defines the parameters of the mentoring relationship and the mentee’s goals and objectives, which will determine the type of relationship that suits both parties best.

The relationship generally lasts 12 months, with approximately 15 hours divided into:

– 1 or 2 preliminary sessions to finalize the mentoring agreement.

– 10 one-hour individual sessions between April 2026 and March 2027.

– Participation in the launch, training, closing ceremony, and Program evaluation.

– Preparation for meetings.

A mentoring relationship offers the mentor and mentee the flexibility to set their own meeting schedule based on their availability. Usually, partners meet monthly for about an hour and may exchange a few emails and phone calls from time to time.

Yes. Communications between mentors and mentees are confidential, as stated in the agreement signed by both parties.

Mentoring is an ongoing relationship focused on professional development and strategic thinking, while coaching focuses on performance and short-term tasks.

The mentoring program will be primarily supported by Microsoft Teams, which will act as the primary tool for virtual meetings, document sharing, and communication between mentors and mentees. If a participant requires an accommodation or prefers a different tool for accessibility or technical reasons, APEX will make every effort to provide a suitable solution and ensure an inclusive and effective experience. Mentors and mentees may also choose a different meeting format or communication tools if both participants agree.

When a mentee is paired with a mentor, the mentor will generally:

– Meet with their mentee to discuss and determine the parameters of the relationship, including the objective and next goals, as well as the frequency and terms of their meetings. This discussion will lead the mentee and mentor to enter into a mentoring agreement before beginning to work together.

– Meet regularly (virtually or in person) with their mentee to help them clarify their career goals, strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

– Suggest training and development opportunities for the mentee to consider.

– Periodically provide the mentee with feedback and recommendations to support their development.

The goal of the Mentorship Program is to enable both parties, the mentee and the mentor, to establish satisfying relationships so that they can both fully benefit from the experience. The executive responsible for the APEX Mentorship Program will conduct periodic quality control checks to ensure that all participants’ expectations are being met. If either party is having difficulty establishing a mentoring relationship, they can contact the APEX Executive coordinating the Program at any time during the agreement.

When a mentoring relationship ends at the end of the fiscal year, both the mentee and mentor must participate in the evaluation. The responses help us evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of the Mentorship Program and allow us to make changes, if necessary. Participants may wish to continue the mentoring relationship. In such cases, the Program team can assist participants in establishing a new mentorship agreement. If the relationship ends prematurely, participants will be offered a new match based on their expectations and needs.

Fill out the registration form for mentors or mentees below.

Connect with Martine Tanguay, APEX Executive, Mentorship Program, at martinet@apex.gc.ca.