Let’s rethink the term “big idea”… and the notion that only a few of us are ideas people. If we want to change our reality, we need to change our perspective. That starts with each of us seeing ourselves as the people we are: “ideas people” Whether you are the one who reads Engage from cover to cover, scans only for stories and photos that are of interest to you, have no interest in reading any of it, or until now have been unaware of its existence, may you take this insight away with you: we are all capable of accomplishing great things. In an environment that is increasingly complex, we work tirelessly together, through great opportunities and sometimes seemingly insurmountable challenges; we achieve more than some people think possible; and we generate solutions that – combined – set higher standards for service delivery, sustainability and accountability. While some initiatives are large scale and complex (think Harbour Clean Up or the Safe Clean Drinking Water Project), others are simple and seemingly rather small (think individual donations made to P.R.O. Kids or the United Way). Regardless of the scope and size of these initiatives, your efforts share this – they are the bi-product of an idea, and their impacts on our community are unprecedented. As we embark on the latest organizational challenges set before us and enter into a period of continuous improvement and revenue generation, we can draw on our experiences and feel confident that these new opportunities are ones we are positioned well to face. Engage is proof that we work hard and come up with ideas that improve our City. We are all ideas people.
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A publication for employees and retirees of the City of Saint John
In the headlines
In the Headlines Page 2 – 6
Recognition Pages 7 – 11
Good Works Pages 13 – 13
Engage in the Community Pages 13 – 23
Health and Safety Page 24
Hires, Promotions and Retirements Pages 25 – 28
EAFP Page 28
Published by City of Saint John Communications Editor Lisa Caissie Senior Communications Officer 506-648-3714 engage@saintjohn.ca Next issue Winter 2016 Deadline for submissions: November 26
City officially opened Hannah & Jack’s Sunshine Headquarters in Rockwood Park The Kiwanis Playpark for all Children in Rockwood Park has a fantastic new addition, in large part thanks to the dedicated efforts of City staff. After years of planning, and a spring 2016 installation, Hannah & Jack’s Sunshine Headquarters was officially opened by the City, Province of NB, and Porter/Bursey families on June 17th. Many donors and over 100 kids
from Seawood and Princess Elizabeth Schools were in attendance for the event. The addition has been installed in memory of Hannah and Jack Porter, and their Father Jason Porter. The three family members passed away in a motor vehicle accident February 15, 2009. The Rockwood Park location was initiated by Christy Bursey (Porter), Continued, page 3…
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In the headlines Mother of Hannah and Jack, widow of Jason. Christy worked closely with Marc Doucet, Operations Manager, Parks and Public Spaces, to create a play area that reflects the spirit of her children and family. Initial funds for this project were generously donated by many to the Porter Memorial Playground Fund. The City of Saint John and the Province each matched the fund amount to fulfill the complement of funding required to see this project come to fruition. The new investment in the park was over $120,000. Special recognition is extended to those who supported the park build and opening event, including Parks and City Landscape staff, Barry Freeze, Marc Doucet, Emilie Murphy and Lisa Caissie.
Mobiles are up in the Saint John City Market If you haven’t been through the Market lately, be sure to stop by and look up. The theme for the community art project is Up and Away, which depicts the colourful display of 520 handpainted balloons that hang from the Market rafters as 10 large mobiles. Along with 1,800 students from 28 schools within the two local school districts and Touchstone Academy, 28 preschool-aged children and four Early Childhood Educators participated in the project. “What a privilege to have been invited by our Historical City Market to participate in this community-minded project. When the children and their families visit our uptown Saint John, the displayed artwork tells them how important and valued their creations have become.” ~ Charmagne Stevens, Living Waters Child Development Centre
City carpenters Mark Garnett and Troy Kirkpatrick put days’ worth of work into getting the mobiles ready, strung and hung for their final display Students from ASDS joined City and Market staff and merchants to unveil their artwork and speak to local reporters
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In the headlines
Financial close and proclamation signaled next phase for Water Project Council proclaimed February 8 as “the beginning of the design and construction phase” for the City’s Safe Clean Drinking Water Project. The proclamation also served as a public declaration that financial close between the City of Saint John and Port City Water Partners was completed in Toronto on February 4. Port City Water Partners was selected as the preferred proponent for the project on November 6, 2015. Financial close occurs when all project and financing agreements have been
Former Mayor, council & local politicians celebrate the proclamation
signed and all the conditions specified in the agreements have been met. It enables funds to start flowing so that the project can begin. Following financial close, work on the project began with shovels in the ground and project signage installation at the future site of the east side water treatment facility. A ground breaking event will be held at the site once development progresses to a point where it’s safe for visitors and there is more to see.
Safe Clean Drinking Water Project Team
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In the headlines
Before
New Bridge on TransCanada Trail in Rockwood Park Last summer, members of the 4 Engineer Support Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces undertook a significant bridge building training exercise in Rockwood Park. They returned this spring with a focus on making additional improvements to the surrounding trail system. Their project not only looks extremely impressive, but it
After Marc Doucet and Emilie Murphy join members of 4 Engineer Support Regiment for the official opening
represents an important upgrade to the Rockwood Park trail system and the overall TransCanada Trail/NB Trail network. The work of the Canadian Armed Forces was supported in part by the City of Saint John and the UNB Engineering Department to ensure the infrastructure was built with the highest safety,
environmental, and sustainability standards. The bridge was recently opened with City parks staff Emilie Murphy and Marc Doucet, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and media on hand for the celebration.
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In the headlines
Saint John Heritage Development Board celebrated the 2015 Heritage Awards The Heritage Development Board recognized eight heritage property owners during the 2015 Heritage Award ceremony held in February. Awards were given for commercial signage, residential façade preservations, slate roof restoration, cedar wood restoration and heritage leadership. Special recognition goes to Jill Good and Alice Fudge from Growth and Community Development for their tremendous work to organize and plan for the event. Visit the Heritage Conservation page and click here for awards program
Jill Good and Alice Fudge
Did you know… As of December 2015, efforts to conserve energy through our Municipal Energy Efficiency Program (MEEP) has resulted in an energy savings of over $2.3 million, and a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of approximately 27 per cent or 9,500 tons of CO2. This is equivalent to roughly 600 houses using electricity for heat and lights! Established in 1999 as Saint John’s environmental and fiscal code, the MEEP has grown significantly in scope and is now ingrained in all City operations. Under the direction of Energy Manager Samir Yammine, the program includes such things as retrofits to arenas, waste water pumping station and treatment facilities, commission buildings, municipal buildings and offices, and street lights. Saint John was one of the few cities in the country to establish such a program and has been recognized on a regional and national level for leadership in environment and energy efficiency. To support our climate change outreach efforts, the City recently partnered with Saint John Energy to launch an energy efficiency awareness program for elementary school students. The program, dubbed Planet Protector Academy, ran through a six-unit curriculum at Princess Elizabeth School (PES) in March and is designed to lead behaviour change at home. Samir Yammine (back centre) speaking with grade 3 students at PES
RECOGNITION
Saint John Water data drives decisions, and garners us national recognition
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Saint John Water tied for first place in the “Storytelling with Data” category at the Data Visualization Exhibition during the Canada Open Data Summit 2016 held in Saint John. The submission, entitled “Using Iron and Chlorine Levels to Evaluate Watermains for Cleaning and Lining and Improving Water Quality”, demonstrated how data pulled from a variety of sources helped determine where the cleaning and lining program would have the largest impact for the dollars invested. The cleaning and lining program involves removing a build-up in the cast iron pipes and coating the pipes with a
thin polyurethane lining. This program has resulted in significant water quality improvements for residents and fire flow improvements. Click here to see the City’s submission
Saint John wins national award for Municipal Innovation Jacqueline Hamilton, Commissioner of Growth and Community Services and Phil Ouellette, Deputy Commissioner of Growth and Community Services (second and third from left) are presented the 2016 CAMA Willis Award for Innovation from representatives of CAMA (Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators) during CAMA’s national conference in Winnipeg, MB. The award was given to the One Stop Development Shop (OSDS) initiative. “Thanks to our entire team for all of your incredible work during the past three years to bring the One Stop Development Shop vision to reality. I am so proud of all of your dedication and for continuing to drive excellence in our service delivery each and every day.” ~ Jacqueline Hamilton
The team behind the submissions, from left to right: Pierre Leblanc, James Margaris, Kendall Mason, Al Phinney, Brent McGovern and Jodi Stringer-Webb
RECOGNITION
Service Excellence is what we do best
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Since January, over 10 Certificates of Excellence have been presented to staff from various service areas in recognition of exceptional work and commitment to serving citizens and fostering a respectful workplace. Certificates are prepared on a monthly basis, and upon request. Managers looking to request them can contact Lisa Caissie in Corporate Communications. Commissioner of Saint John Water, Brent McGovern, Deputy Commissioner Kendall Mason, and City Manager Jeff Trail recognized SJW staff for their perfect attendance in 2015, and class III certifications with certificates and City jackets. Staff recognized for their attendance included Harold Eatmon, Bruce Slovitt, Michael Montgomery, Mark Green, John Perry, Christopher Crowley and Kyle Dorken. Those recognized for certifications were: Steve Anderson, Clyde Carpenter, Peter Fudge, Tanner McDevitt, Adam Newman, Ed O’Neill, Chris Petrie, Jodi Stringer-Webb, Rob Hamilton, Art Hovey, and Richard Graves
This certificate was presented to Kevin Watson, Recreation Manager, upon his retirement in May
RECOGNITION
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RECOGNITION
City receives accolade for National Award
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Yves Leger and John Ellefsen were acknowledged as major contributors to the New Brunswick Road Network (NBRN) initiative that recently won a 2015 GTEC Award in Ottawa in the category of Excellence in Collaboration.
was led by three key provincial organizations (Service New Brunswick, N.B. Department of Public Safety and Ambulance NB), and involved Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton, Natural Resources Canada and Statistics Canada.
The NBRN initiative was a multi-tiered collaborative effort involving three levels of government (provincial, municipal and federal). The initiative
The outcome of the initiative is the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate provincial digital road network in Canada.
Staff lead major continuous improvement effort The Continuous Improvement (CI) Team engagement to date and an on-going recently completed Lean Six Sigma commitment of our service areas to (black and green belt) training in June. implement and sustain these results. Training was designed to support the Questions about any of the current CI Team in facilitating the first cycle projects and requests to participate of projects. Over the course of the on future projects can be addressed to last ten weeks, the CI Team has been a member of the team or stephanie. working with employees from across rackley-roach@saintjohn.ca. the organization to improve service to our customers, ensuring that service delivery is cost-effective through eliminating waste in our processes. Throughout this first cycle of projects, approximately 21 per cent of employees plus a number of casual employees, the City’s Commissions, and external consultants have been engaged in the CI program by participating on a team, collecting and organizing data, completing surveys, and providing subject matter expertise either directly or in a workshop. The Team just recently presented their project results to the Senior Leadership During training, teams tested an SOP for a process to move toy Team. Project results in cars within specified limits. Ian Fogan, front centre terms of projected cost savings were made possible by strong employee
RECOGNITION
Engaging employees to build up from within Healthy teams are the foundation of any strong organization. They are what make or break the ability to carry out a vision and often play a role in developing stronger leaders. The Healthy Team Challenge is a world-wide movement designed to improve how teams work together to unlock their full potential. Knowing this, and having heard about Leadercast, Trevor Gamblin, Manager of Facilities Management, put himself and his team up to the four-week challenge. The following topics were covered during each of the four weeks: remember your why; clarify roles; create a collaborative culture; and celebrate the victories. Upon completing the challenge, Trevor had this to say: “The Leadercast Healthy Team Challenge has been instrumental in helping us define the beginning of a new start for our team. We have been somewhat unhealthy and the insight gained from a management perspective will be invaluable moving forward. Our team now has ownership of their vision, definition of roles, insight into roadblocks to collaboration and ways to celebrate. To see the comradery built in our team over the duration of the challenge, and to know we ended up with something real to build upon, makes me excited as a manager.�
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GOOD WORKS
Kelly Lavin, back right
“Kelly Lavin and Jeanne Chown became leaders with the YMCA and are helping a Syrian fami ly settle here in Saint John. They have enjoyed every second of it and have had a few bake sale fundraisers at work for the family to purchase a washer/dryer. Keep up the great work, ladies!” ~ Danielle Mackin
“Thank you to Kelly Lavin in ils assisting with the annual Daffod nue Ave ay hes campaign. Between Rot the for ed rais s and City Hall, $500 wa !” Canadian Cancer Society ~ Pam de la Torre
Traffic to saintjohn.ca increased by 300 per cent during Boil Water Order “After doing an analysis on the web traffic during the Boil Water Order, we have concluded that the upgrade effort for the Mobile Optimised Website project and cost was justifiable, and that citizens predominately received the City’s communication messages via a mobile device (cell phone). Our analysis also points to the importance of making sure our web site is updated by our communications team, and available with capacity by IT. On a normal day, the City’s website receives 6,000 to 7,000 visits. During the recent Boil Water Order, that number increased by nearly 300 per cent to 19,000. This we would have expected based on data from previous events. However, of this total, 7,000 (30 per cent) visits were made to the Boil Water Order news item on the mobile optimised page alone. Furthermore, over 3,200 or nearly 60 per cent were access by citizens on mobile devices.
Troy McGraw should be thanked for taking the time to crawl through Google analytics to put together a reasonable conclusion. Our Communications staff should be congratulated for their tireless efforts and dedication to keep citizens informed.” ~ Brian Woods Way to go!
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GOOD WORKS
“Congratulations to Jackie Coates of the Fina nce and Administration Services Area for receiving her Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) Certification with the Canadian Payroll Association. Jackie joined the City in October of 2013 and soon became one of the most important employees to each and every one of us… especially on Thursdays! Along with her wee kly payroll commitment, Jackie has worked on various payroll related projects including the automobile taxable bene fits, parking taxable benefits and creating various process manuals for the payroll department.” ~ Debra Beddow
Social Media sites say…
GOOD WORKS
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GOOD WORKS
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GOOD WORKS
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GOOD WORKS
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ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Safe Clean Drinking Water Open Houses Saint John Water and Port City Water Partners (PCWP) recently hosted two open houses designed to inform citizens about the project. Over fifty residents met with project officials to learn more about construction impacts and upcoming changes to the City’s water system. Ownership of water was a common concern expressed by residents. The City and Saint John Water will maintain ownership of its water sources. PCWP will design and build the east water treatment plant and complete a number of improvements to the water distribution system. Once the project is completed, PCWP will operate and maintain the eastern water treatment plant for a 30 year period. West side residents will be supplied with groundwater that will be treated at the Spruce Lake Treatment Facility and operated by Saint John Water.
2016 Cheers to Volunteers The New Brunswick Museum was the host location for some of Saint John’s finest during this year’s Cheers to Volunteers recognition celebration. During the event, close to 30 peernominated volunteers in the areas of sport, recreation and community development were recognized by Saint John Common Council for their contributions to the quality of life and well-being of the citizens of Saint John. There was a fantastic show of support from a number of City staff who attended the celebration. Congratulations are extended to Lori Lambert, Broc Belding and Helen Bridgeo for the work they did to plan this year’s program.
Helen Bridgeo
Click here for the 2016 honourees. Lori Lambert and Broc Belding pose for a picture before the event
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ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Car verses Train -- there’s value in cooperation Operation Lifesaver, NBM Railways, the Saint John Fire Department, the Saint John Police Force, Ambulance New Brunswick, Harbourview High Students, Safety Services NB, PALS, Transport Canada, the New Brunswick Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, Saint John EMO and Castle Funeral Home participated in a mock train car collision at the Douglas Avenue Railway Crossing. The purpose of the exercise was to educate and enlighten new and young drivers of the hazards surrounding railway crossings and trespassing on railway property. Every injury or death at a rail crossing is entirely preventable. “The exercise provided emergency first responders an opportunity to test interoperability with the railway, and to identify the strengths and weaknesses within the planning, preparedness and response needs of both the railway and local emergency first responders.” ~ Saint John Fire Chief Kevin Clifford “A sincere appreciation for your efforts and support with our car versus train mock collision. Just this week we were reminded of the value of our efforts in cooperating to promote rail safety. Well done everyone.” ~ Lorrie Johnston, NBM Railways
A blog post of the exercise is posted on the National Operation Lifesaver Website For more information and resources to help you and your family prepare for local emergencies, visit www.saintjohn. ca and www.GetPrepared.ca
Jeanne Chown with SJ-EMO (second from left) and Captain Dean Moriarty with the Fire Prevention Division gave a presentation at the Crescent Valley Resource Center for Emergency Preparedness Week.
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
City observed 2016 Day of Mourning On April 28, the City observed Day of Mourning to commemorate workers who have died, been injured or suffered illness as a result of work-related incidents. The service was held at the W. Franklin Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre in Rockwood Park. Special recognition goes to Peter Morgan for his efforts to organize the City’s involvement with this annual occasion.
20 SJFD Qualified Lieutenant Joe Vautour stands with his bagpipes while Councillor John MacKenzie reads the proclamation for the Day of Mourning
One Stop Development Shop launches and visits the Home Show
Jonathan Taylor at the podium
City of Saint John and Elections New Brunswick open house Common Clerk, Jonathan Taylor presented at a Candidate Information Session hosted by Elections New Brunswick and the City of Saint John. The open house provided prospective Mayoral and Council candidates and interested citizens with information about the function and responsibilities of our elected officials as well as City operations.
Staff with the City’s One Stop Development Shop took to the floor with an information booth for the 2016 Home Show at Harbour Station and spent the weekend providing attendees with information and demonstrations designed to help with their 2016 building projects; familiarize them with the Click2Gov online permit tracking application; and inform them about the City’s pilot incentives program. Click here for more in the Urban Development Incentives. Growth and Community Development staff Max Lapierre, Katelyn Davis and Chris McKiel
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Curious about P.R.O. Kids?
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Check out our new video by clicking the image here
P.R.O. Kids hosted its 2nd annual Hockey tournament at Stu Hurley Arena in April. Local 18 and Leisure Services both had teams in the tournament. Due to the outstanding contributions of City staff and volunteers, the tournament raised over $12,000 for P.R.O. Kids.
P.R.O. Kids has partnered with the Saint John Bike Share program to offer helmets to over 125 children this year. This program provides free bicycles and helmets to individuals in need who are looking for healthy and active transportation options.
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
22 P.R.O. Kids hosted the Saint John Spring Registration Expo at the Trade and Convention Centre on April 13. The Expo is a one-stop-shop for families to register for sports and recreation programs offered in Saint John. Forty vendors attended and hundreds of members of the public visited the expo.
P.R.O. Kids staff David Dobbelsteyn and Jessica McPherson
P.R.O. Kids was the beneficiary of funds raised during the annual RKYC Charity Regatta and Poker Run. The sun shone bright and hot for the event, and a lot of fun was had by all! The $47,500 cheque presented to P.R.O. Kids at day’s end was the single largest donation we have received to date and will go a long way to supporting kids in our community!
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ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Helen,
Spring Fest sells out year-over-year
“My motherin Spring Fest a -law attended t Exhibition Park last weekend and had a lo time – it was vely a to socialize a chance for her nd connect wit friends she h adn’t seen in h She was blo wn away by years. ho well organiz ed the event w was, and the num b attendance. er of guests in She said tha ty shining star” ou are a “real a pass along h nd asked that I er appreciati on for a job well don e. Congratu lations!” ~ Lisa Caissi e
“I love knowing that the seniors are having fun!”
~ Helen Bridgeo
Seniors’ Spring Fest has been taking place in Saint John for over 40 years and the City is a proud sponsor of the event. With live music, lunch, games and a chance to speak with and hear from our very own Helen Bridgeo, Community and Recreation Development Coordinator, the event has become one of Saint John’s most sought after social affairs for seniors. This year’s tickets sold out to 550 seniors in a matter of hours!
are always exciting. “The senior events see seniors from It is so wonderful to areas of the all all walks of life and d really enjoy an er th ge city get to e always very themselves. They ar d socializing t an happy just to be ou congratulate t us m I with others. the entire event Helen as she makes ey love her.” d th happy for them an McAlary ~ Councillor Shirley
Helen Bridgeo, right
Human Resources, Health and Safety
Record breaking year for construction across the City With over 75 construction projects for 2016, we have been reminding motorists to look out for our crews who perform construction, maintenance, public safety services and other work on, under or above city roads and other right of ways.
“The safety of our staff and citizens is a priority for us. City crews and public safety personnel leave home every day and work hard to keep citizens safe, and we ask that motorists do their part to keep them safe too. Motorists must slow down, concentrate, and obey posted speed limits and other signage while driving through active construction and emergency response zones.” ~ Peter Morgan, Manager of Safety and Policy
Help us spread the word and educate motorists. Safety tips for motorists: • Consider taking an alternate route to avoid driving through construction/emergency response zones. • Give yourself extra time to get to your destination. • Do not speed. Adjust your speed to posted signage and weather conditions. • Stay alert and pay attention to what other drivers, crews, and pedestrians are doing. • Follow other vehicles at a safe distance and merge before lane closures.
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• Avoid doing anything that may reduce your concentration while driving. • Be aware of changes in traffic patterns and pay attention to signals from flaggers and posted signage. • Expect the unexpected. Things can change quickly and unexpectedly in and around construction/ emergency zones, especially when traffic is heavy. • Be patient. Frustration can cause accidents.
Have you done your part to prepare for the event of an emergency? Mike Carr, Manager of our Saint John Emergency Measures Organization (SJ-EMO), wants to ensure you and your family are prepared in the event of an emergency. Some disasters may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face, whether natural or humaninduced. In the event of an emergency, you and your family should be prepared to cope on your own for
at least the first 72 hours rescue workers help those in urgent need. By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies: Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare. Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do.
Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be selfsufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency. Stay connected – Sign up for the Emergency Alert Service at www. saintjohn.ca so that SJ-EMO can quickly notify and stay in touch with you and your family, by phone or email, in the event of an emergency.
HIRES, PROMOTIONS AND RETIREMENTS November 30, 2015 to June 28, 2016
Welcome to the City! Christopher Johnson, Skilled Worker, Waste Water Treatment Jacob Kilpatrick, Municipal Engineer Philip Mitton, Assistant Building Inspector 6 Sarah Ranson, Continuous Improvement Officer Julie Rocca, Administrative Assistant Dustin Thorne-Curtis, Skilled Worker, Wastewater Treatment
Congratulations on your promotion! Robert Adams, Captain, SJFD Jason Barton, Facility Management Supervisor Frederick Bramston, Captain of Training, SJFD Christopher Clinton, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD Terry Cropley, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD Michael Hugenholtz, Commissioner, Transportation and Environment Richard Humphrey, Sub Foreman Works David Johnson, Lieutenant, SJFD Lawrence Kingston, Qualified Captain, SJFD Charles Landers, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD Claude Leblanc, Sub-Foreman Works Sean Mayes, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD Brent McGovern, Commissioner of Saint John Water Thomas McGrath, Operations Manager, Pedestrian & Traffic Ed Moyer, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD Adam Newman, Certified Operator 1, Wastewater Treatment Hilary Nguyen, Senior Manager Financial Planning, Finance Philippe Ouellette, Deputy Commissioner Growth and Community Development Joseph Shelley, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD Mark Smith, 2nd Class Fire Fighter, SJFD Sonny Urquhart, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD Todd Walsh, Qualified Lieutenant, SJFD
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HIRES, PROMOTIONS AND RETIREMENTS
Thank you for your years of service! George Bogle William Edwards Gerald Green Blake Hatfield Frank Hebert William Hutchings Stephen Kelly Deborah King Barry McGrath Christopher Tobias Kevin Watson
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HIRES, PROMOTIONS AND RETIREMENTS
Commissioner appointments Brent McGovern,
Commissioner of Saint John Water Brent is a Professional Engineer with a proven track record of leading world-class industrial water treatment operations and diverse work teams. He has successfully worked in both municipal and private-sector environments, and has a proven track record of achievement at the City. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Saint John Water and was managing the One Stop Development Shop at the time of his appointment. Brent has an extensive portfolio of professional affiliations in the Water and Wastewater industry, including membership in the Water Reuse Association, American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environment Federation (WEF). He has also been active in the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association (ACWWA) and has received a number of awards from his peers for outstanding leadership in customer service and utility management. “Brent brings a depth of water system experience to Saint John Water and his particular knowledge of Saint John will serve us well.” ~ Jeff Trail, City Manager
Michael Hugenholtz, Commissioner of Transportation and Environment Services Mike is a professional engineer with more than 15 years of public and private sector experience. He first joined the City’s Management Team as Manager of Facilities. During his years of employment with the City, Mike has held positions of increasing responsibility and assumed the role of Deputy Commissioner, Parks and Public Spaces in 2011. He was Acting Commissioner of Transportation and Environment Services at the time of his most recent appointment. Mike is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick, the Project Management Institute (NB Chapter) and Recreation New Brunswick. In his role as Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Public Spaces, he managed a number of key capital improvement projects such as the revitalization of Harbour Passage, Rainbow Park, Queen’s Square and numerous other recreational assets. “While in the role of Acting Commissioner, Mike was a major contributor to the City’s senior leadership team and showed great capacity to serve the citizens of Saint John. He brings a lot of experience to his position, and I look forward to continuing to work together.” ~ Jeff Trail, City Manager
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HIRES, PROMOTIONS AND RETIREMENTS
Meet our Mayor and Council Back, left to right: Councillors John MacKenzie, David Merrithew, Greg Norton, Sean Casey, Ray Strowbridge and Blake Armstrong Front, left to right: Councillor Gerry Lowe, Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary, Mayor Don Darling, Councillors Donna Reardon and Gary Sullivan For full council profiles, visit saintjohn.ca
Life is full of challenges - Help is available all day, all week, all year Through Manulife’s Resilience Program, the City of Saint John offers a full-service, confidential Employee Assistance Family Program (EAFP) to all City employees and their immediate family members. The service offers assistance from a team of experienced counsellors who will listen, offer sound advice and help create an action plan to address the issue. Counselling is offered for, but not limited to, the following: • Marital and family problems • Stress • Psychological disorders • Drug and alcohol problems • Bereavement • Lifestyle problems • Referral for financial and legal problems If you wish to contact an EAFP counsellor to discuss a personal situation you may be experiencing, you can do so 24 hours/day by calling (toll-free) 1-866-644-0326. All contact between you and your counsellor is completely confidential.
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