wish forforyou and A wish you and yours:you 2016 will be my year, and yours. Let’s fill it with magic, mystery and madness; keep our dreams big and our worries small; surprise ourselves; live as only we can; and celebrate our lives, and those of others. We’ve had a big year of shifts, challenges and memorable change. We shared experiences and new beginnings that will be remembered for all the right reasons, and helped carry each other through some lifechanging lows. The end of the year is a great time to invite celebration and reflection into our lives. As we wrap up 2015, and look forward to a prosperous 2016, let’s: focus on restoration, celebration and gratitude; celebrate our choices, triumphs, mistakes and progress; acknowledge our growth as individuals, teams and an organization; remember the year’s special moments and surprises; identify the people and things for which we are grateful; muster the strength we will need to support and stand alongside our colleagues, family and friends as we face new challenges and change; and cast big wishes for 2016.
Cheers, friends!
2.0
A publication for employees and retirees of the
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A publication for employees and retirees of the City of Saint John
In the headlines
In the Headlines Page 2 – 8
Recognition Pages 9 – 8
Good Works Pages 11 – 14
SCDWP Update Pages 15 – 16
Engage in the Community Pages 17 – 25
Tech Tip/Health and Safety Pages 26 – 27
Hires, Retires, Promotions and Transfers Pages 28 – 31
Notices Page 32
In Memoriam Page 33
Published by City of Saint John Communications Editor Lisa Caissie Senior Communications Officer 506-648-3714 engage@saintjohn.ca Next issue Winter 2015 Deadline for submissions: February 26
Welcome Jeff Trail, City Manager In September, we opened our doors to a new City Manager, Mr. Jeff Trail. Jeff brings with him a unique mix of private and public sector leadership experience having been an operations manager in the manufacturing sector, a successful entrepreneur and business manager, and more recently, a senior provincial government leader. Jeff brings a proven track record of success as a strategic leader of complex teams and challenging assignments as well as administering extensive purchasing and operating budgets. Jeff is a vital asset to Saint John Common Council in helping formulate long-term strategic objectives and policies that will lead to the sustained growth and prosperity of the City of Saint John. After graduating from UNB, Jeff began his career as a chemical engineer with DuPont Canada in Ontario. After eleven successful years with DuPont covering a wide range of operations and head office assignments, Jeff decided to move back home to Fredericton where
he began his own real estate business. Four years later, Jeff moved into the provincial government where, over the last thirteen years, he has held progressively senior roles in investment attraction, export development, government service delivery, education and most recently as Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Procurement Officer since March 2012. These skills and experiences paired with Jeff’s calm, pragmatic, results-oriented and innovative style have prepared him Continued, page 3…
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In the headlines … continued from page 2
to play an integral role in leading the effective delivery of services and the pursuit of the City’s strategy for the future. Jeff believes in the value and importance of being a professional public servant who is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in community in which he lives. Jeff is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick.
to of Saint John and ity C e th in jo to d unicipal “I am excite ntribute at the m co to ity un rt po a op have the and importance of e lu va e th in ve ely level. I firmly belie I have been extrem d an e ic rv se ic bl f members professional pu the calibre of staf ith w d se es pr im d ionate pleased an nuinely very pass ge e ar f af St r. fa that I have met so ity, and it shows.” un m m co e th d an about their work ted to John, I am dedica t in Sa to w ne e here.” Although I am e the quality of lif ov pr im to u yo working with Jeff Trail ~
Welcome, Jeff Trail!
City positions itself as a leader with launch of Open Data Portal #opendatanbsj www.saintjohn.ca/opendata. Thanks to the concerted efforts of staff from various service areas, we were able to launch our pilot open data portal in October and position the City as a leader in the Province’s data movement. The launch of the portal was a response to a resolution of Common Council, and represents our first step forward with a broader open data initiative. Objectives: • Provide information to our citizens; • Improve our City and region’s quality of life; and • Foster new community-based economic development opportunities. For the launch, our GIS Department, led by Yves Leger, has made over 90 geo-spatial data sets available to the public, free of charge, and through the use of existing City technologies. Next steps will focus on collecting user feedback and working with other service areas and agencies to identifying data sets. The team will also evaluate the need for new technologies and resources.
T4G public sector vice-president and New Brunswick Innovation Foundation chair Cathy Simpson says Saint John is making an important move. “I believe we need to push ourselves in becoming a truly digital city and data is the fuel to making that happen. Think of data like an untapped natural and renewable resource coming at us in volumes, variety, and speeds like never before,” she said. “Open data initiatives allow more people to understand public information and that will lead to higher citizen engagement and collectively citizens, businesses, and government coming together to better understand the opportunities to make Saint John even better both socially and economically.”
In the headlines
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Charge Up at the Peel Plaza Parking Garage Electric vehicles can now “charge up” at one of two charging stations installed at the Peel Plaza Parking Facility.
Our Energy Manager Samir Yammine worked with the partners to determine the technology in accordance with the City’s sustainable energy management goals and mission to reduce GHG emissions and increase awareness in the community about clean energy. The charging stations are the result of a partnership between Saint John Energy, the Saint John Parking Commission and the City of Saint John. Costs for the infrastructure purchase and install were shared between the two commissions.
In the headlines
MoveSJ – staff launch first phase of the City’s Transportation Plan Mark Reade, Senior Planner from Growth and Community Development and Tim O’Reilly, Traffic Engineer and Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Public Spaces, kicked off the summer months with the launch of MoveSJ. This project aims to help shape the vision for Saint John’s transportation network. Click here to watch their interview with Global News. MoveSJ will result in a transportation master plan that will include implementation and funding strategies to guide the development of the City’s transportation network over the next 25 years. The plan will consider transit, parking, active transportation (including cycling and walking) and accessibility. Public survey exercises consisted of collecting data related to travel patterns and ranking transportation priorities. Citizens were able to contribute in several ways, including an online tool that allowed them to divulge which modes of transportation they would like to see further investment in, and a household telephone survey that collected information on how people currently travel. The survey results will help identify areas citizens would like to see explored as part of the MoveSJ project.
Survey stats: • Online Survey: 2360 site visits with 756 providing input • Household Travel Survey: 2260 households surveyed. 1681 from Saint John (5% of population) and 579 from surrounding communities (2.5% of population). • All trips an individual took in a day were recorded for 5330 individuals to help identify where people were going from and to, for what purpose, what mode of transportation, etc. • Open Houses: 2 held with approximately 60 visitors MoveSJ is slated to be completed in three phases. Stay tuned for project updates.
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In the headlines
Before After
Energy Manager completes $117,000 LED Lighting Project Swimmers using the Canada Games Aquatic Centre are noticing improved lighting in the competition and leisure pool areas as a result of a $117,000 upgrade to the centre’s lighting. The work, funded through the City of Saint John’s Capital Budget, had a unique challenge -- installing LED lights over a 50 m pool containing 556,000 US gallons of water. LED lighting systems are not widely used in indoor aquatic facilities across Canada. This
project is considered very innovative. “We appreciate the leadership of Samir Yammine, the City’s Energy Manager on this project,” said Brian Woods, Chairman of the Canada Games Aquatic Center Commission, “The pool is brighter and therefore safer for users.” According to Samir, the project will result in over $13,000 annual operating saving and $15,000 in defer capital cost toward relamping the existing light fixtures.
P.R.O. Kids Highlights
P.R.O. Kids receives cheque from 100 Men Who Care 100 Men Who Care of Greater Saint John selected P.R.O. Kids (Positive Recreational Opportunities for Kids) to receive $8,000 at its meeting Tuesday, June 9. David Dobbelsteyn, Manager of P.R.O. Kids, says the money will be used to support low-income families who couldn’t otherwise afford registration fees, transportation or equipment costs. He says arts and sports programming is an essential part of a child’s development. Left to Right : Davis Hilton, organizer, 100 Men Who Care; David Dobbelsteyn, Manager, P.R.O. Kids; Kathryn Davison, Chair, P.R.O. Kids; Danny Jardine, 100 Men Who Care.
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In the headlines P.R.O. Kids Highlights
Mayor’s Cup & P.R.O. Kids introduced skate clinic for youth On Canada Day, the City of Saint John hosted the annual Mayor’s Cup Skateboard Competition at the Station One Skatepark. As part of the programming, P.R.O. Kids helped organize a skateboard clinic for kids who wanted to learn the basics of skateboarding. Close to 25 kids between the ages of four and 10 took part, making it an event worth considering again for next year. The Mayor’s Cup is part of the annual Passport to Parks line-up.
Mayor Mel Norton
Fall Registration Expo P.R.O. Kids hosted a Fall Registration Expo at the Trade and Convention Centre on August 27. Fifty recreation groups had tables at the expo to promote their programs and over 400 members of the public came to register themselves and their children for fall activities. Stay tuned for next year’s expo. Rumour has it, we may host one in the spring!
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In the headlines P.R.O. Kids Highlights
Major Fundraisers • P.R.O. Kids Annual Dinner – May 22 $40,000 Raised for P.R.O. Kids • P.R.O. Kids Fun Run and Swim – June 27 - $4,000 Raised for P.R.O. Kids • Dickie Crossman, Rocky’s & Peter Landers Golf Tournaments - $40,000 Raised for P.R.O. Kids
Left to right: Ethan Bedard, Co-op Student; Joel Landers, Municipal Engineer, Organizer; Jessica McPherson, Support Coordinator, P.R.O. Kids; David Dobbelsteyn, Manager, P.R.O. Kids; Colin Landers, Organizer
• OutKast Car Show & Rides at Rockwood Car Show $4,000 Raised for P.R.O. Kids • Rides at Rockwood, Organized by Sgt Jeff LaFrance, Saint John Police Force
The year in review Thanks to the tireless efforts of City staff and the P.R.O. Kids Advisory Committee and the generosity of sponsors, P.R.O. Kids was able raise $220,000 to assist 1,500 kids in 2015. Highlights: • Thanks to the collective effort of supporters, donors, program partners and parents, P.R.O. Kids offered over $325,000 worth of program fees, equipment and transportation to children whose families otherwise could not afford the rising cost of sports, arts, recreation and culture activities. • P.R.O. Kids placed almost 1,200 children in financial need in the sport or recreation program of their choice. • P.R.O. Kids has grown. Over 250 children applied to P.R.O. Kids for the first time this year and roughly 1 in 5 kids in financial need in Greater Saint John are being assisted by P.R.O. Kids. • P.R.O. Kids assisted over 65 children who are either refugees or recent immigrants.
• P.R.O. Kids expanded the SPARC program with PALS at Prince Charles and St. John the Baptist- King Edward Schools, which will give students at these schools the chance to find their passion by giving them the opportunity to try different activities ranging from basketball, art lessons, Olympic-style boxing, dance, martial arts, improv & music lessons. • P.R.O. Kids partnered with SJPF Community Police Officers, and other youth serving agencies to provide helmets and equipment to 150 children in priority neighborhoods. • P.R.O. Kids offered a Hockey Equipment Swap Program operating out of the Carleton Community Centre. P.R.O. Kids geared up 45 kids this year and has the capacity to help at least 100 more next year. • P.R.O. Kids placed children in 99 different Sports and Recreation organizations and received in-kind support from many of these program partners in the form of free spaces or discounted fees.
RECOGNITION
The sun came out for the 17th annual Management Golf Tournament
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It was a day of fun and - for some - firsts, at the annual Management Golf Tournament. Thanks to David Russell and Curtis Langille for organizing this year’s tournament and Ian Fogan for volunteering to take on the task next year! This year’s winning team, with a 67 score, was Miss-Phits (Curtis Langille, Mike Baker, Joel Landers, Jody Kliffer). “That sweet memory or our team winning will be imbedded in my brain forever,” brags Curtis. Closest to the hole: Hole 6: Men’s - Scott Brittain; Women’s – no winner Hole 18: Men’s - Shayne Galbraith; Women’s - Melanie Tompkins Scott Brittain, Solicitor, Legal
Longest drive: Hole 17: Men’s - Brian Irving; Women’s - Chris O’Keefe
City commissioner honoured with national award Neil Jacobsen, Commissioner, Strategic Services, received Canada’s Resource Champion Award on November 12 at the Delta Brunswick Hotel. The Saint John Regional Chamber of Commerce nominated Neil and he was selected as one of nine recipients from across Canada to be presented with the Canada’s Resource Champion Award.
Neil Jacobsen, Commissioner, Strategic Services
Special recognition (RAK) and thanks to our amazing City Hall custodial staff
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RECOGNITION
Long Service Banquet The Long Service Banquet was held on Wednesday, November 4 at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre. The dinner is held every 18 months to recognize City employees and recent retirees who have contributed 25 years of service. Congratulations to all those recognized for this milestone and thank you for your commitment to our City!
Long Service Employees Finance and Administrative Services Lawrence Beyea Cynthia Blizzard Curtis Langille Daniel McNeill James Thibodeau Donald Walker Growth and Community Development Richard Armstrong Lynda Lockhart Mark Slader Public Safety Services – Fire Frederick Bramston George Buchannan Peter Collings
Daniel Finnigan Joseph Furrow David Hodgson Peter King Public Safety Services – Police Christopher Acker Kim Arsenault Raymond Coleman Ronald Cooper Deborah Easton David HartleyBrown Tanya LeBlanc Grant Lyons Lori Magee Brian Malone Michael McCaig Gordon Redfurn Kelly Stanton
Transportation and Environment Services David Blizzard David Dempsey Michael Duffy Allan Frigault Paul Graham John Granger Blayne Hanson Daryl Kilpatrick Brian Keenan Michael Kincade George Lawlor Grant Lawson Daniel LeBlanc Donald LeBlanc Anthony McDevitt Rodney Mahaney Walter Neal Frank Oliver Ralph Parks Michael Power Paul Woodhouse Arthur Vautour
Saint John Water
Strategic Services
Gary Arsenault Randy Benson Joel Bury John Clack Peter Fudge Leroy Graham Arthur Hovey Christopher Johnson Timothy MacKenzie Patrick Mackin Michael Martin Brock McConkey Cheryl McConkey Mark McKenzie Kenneth Neves John Perry Robert Ringuette Edward Savoy Sean Seaward Joseph Skerry Daniel Stone
Evelyn Hatfield Legislative Services J. Patrick Woods
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GOOD WORKS fford, Fire Chief Cli ion at 33from the situat ed rn tu re st ju owners I have ith both home w et m I . St ck (John 39 Paddo to city officials ed in la p ex e and they hav night with took place last at h w l) el b p to the Cam no doubt due n io at tu si g in d lso there the floo ddock Street. A Pa n o rk o w n taking constructio all Engineering d n ra C f o ck la ners. The was Jeremy C both home ow to g in n te lis d fighters notes an rk that the fire o w e th is e g ls and real messa ole with shove h p ee d a to in or a plugged did by going a natural drain g in en p o w o ay from someh water to flow aw owners e th ed w lo al pipe that e two home ccording to th A . es m o h r ei th r basements t pumps in thei u p t. ep d e fir me back the -4 hours and ca 3 r fo e er th e homes. and wer n both of their o k ec ch to ly me continual ow that the ho kn to d o o g el firefighters It made me fe but praise the g in th o n id d s ts were owner es and basemen ac rn fu r ei th en units even wh ase thank the le p f, ie h C . ed badly damag ome owners behalf of the h on e er th e er w ceeding fire that well done far ex b jo a r fo f el and mys fighting. ry Lowe Councillor Ger
Fire Chief C lifford, Over the cou rse of the ev ening crews to 13 differe responded nt calls for se rvice involvin homes. g flooded A point wort h noting Eng ine 1 crew d exceptional id an job in helpin g home own evacuated b ers elongings fr om within th on Paddock e homes St to a safe a rea. The crew was able to then locate a storm drain pipe th been buried at had in a major c onstruction on that stree lo cation t. They were able to open and subsequ it ently draine d all the stan water from th d in g e street. This allowed the pumps to ge 3 t ahead of th e incoming stopping eve water n more dam age to the p Lt K Conrad roperty. , C Bates, D Doucette, a O’Toole. nd C Also Rescue 4 removed 3 adults and a from a vehic n infant le that had st alled in a larg volume of w e ater across R othesay Ave Mother Natu by res. Crews also re sponded to 3 medical ass calls. ist Steve Vouto ur, Platoon C hief, SJFD
Thanks to you Kristen Flood for “going the extra mile” in providing excellent service to our community! Dear Ms. Hamilton: I am writing to you as Commissioner of Growth and Community Development (GCD) for the City of Saint John to commend the professional manner in which Kristen Flood, a Planner whom reports to you, handled my concerns. I am confident that the professionalism and respect shown by Kristen is likely a customer focused culture fostered by
your GCD team for the City of Saint John, so I believe the entire team at GCD deserves special thanks for this positive culture that promotes active city engagement by ordinary citizens of our great city. Yours sincerely, Gary Chouinard City resident
GOOD WORKS
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Have you checked out the new Chown Field? Thanks to the hard work and talent of our City staff, Chown Field has been repurposed to better serve the evolving needs of the community. The City of Saint John received a $25,000 grant from the CN EcoConnexions program for the project. Marc Doucet, Operations Manager of Parks and City Landscape, put forth the funding application. Community Development Coordinators Lori Lambert and Greg Cutler met with community stakeholders to determine their vision for the park. Between the funding, dialogue and efforts of City staff, the project became a reality. Matching funds were allocated by the City, along with labour provided by several skilled city staff members from Parks and Public Spaces. The opening ceremony presided over a handcrafted Explorer design that completed the brick walkway. The area is now comprised of a youth-sized soccer field that is already getting much use by the students of Prince Charles School, a dog park and a newly turfed in seating area with park furniture. Â A natural walking path was created with granite curbing salvaged from the uptown area. New landscaping completes the park, freshly lined with new shrubs and over fifty additional trees.
Left to Right : Tyler Eatman, Shawn Belding, Maxwell Clark, Jeremy Kilpatrick, Mike LaCroix
GOOD WORKS
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Harbour Passage Restored – Cranberry to the Core Harbour Passage received a much needed refresh this fall. Former Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Public Spaces Mike Hugenholtz coordinated the efforts to ensure the project was completed as quickly as possible. The project included an asphalt overlay and reapplication of the iconic cranberry coating of which restored the Passage to its original beauty that residents and visitors have come to appreciate. Harbour Passage is a great place for a walking break or run. Pack your comfortable shoes and invite a colleague on your lunch hour for a stroll. “I have had the pleasure of taking my morning runs on the newly resurfaced Harbour Passage. It looks great!” ~ Jeff Trail
GOOD WORKS
Take Our Kids To Work Day
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Take Our Kids to Work Day was held on Wednesday November 4 with 17 grade nine students visiting staff across City services. The students were divided into groups that toured with staff from Saint John Water, the Saint John Fire Department and Growth and Community Development Services. After the tours, the students returned to City Hall to complete presentations on what they learned. The presentations were made in Council Chambers. They also enjoyed a pizza party. For the afternoon, the students joined their parents in their respective service areas to catch a glimpse of what happens during Mom or Dad’s typical work day. Special thanks to all staff who ensured the teens had a positive experience: Pam dela Torre, Margot Rankin, Candace Collins, Bernie Cormier, Broc Belding, Richard Evans, Kelly Tibbits, Roy Nolan, Pierre LeBlanc, Paul Clifford, Bob Kaine, Greg Cutler, Terry Cropley, Steve Johnson, Adam Newman, Colin Boyd and members of the Saint John Fire Prevention Division, the Saint John Fire Training Division, and Fire Station 1.
How do our gardens grow? Every fall, our Parks and Public Spaces crews plant close to 12,500 tulip bulbs to help beautify our City come Spring. This year was no exception. Landscapers Shawn Belding and Maxwell Clark were caught on camera planting bulbs outside the front doors of City Hall. These same crews also work hard to maintain over 100 garden ‘beds’ across the City, each varying in size from those seen along Harbour Passage to the smaller ones found within King Square. The work they do is highly admired and appreciated by our citizens and visitors to our City.
Safe clean drinking water project
Water Project progresses to the next phase Staff worked tirelessly from the early days of summer into the fall developing evaluation criteria and reviewing submissions for the final stage of the procurement process: the request for proposal (RFP). Three bids were reviewed. The winning bidder, Port City Water Partners was announced on November 6th. They will be responsible for designing, building, financing and maintaining the new water treatment plant for 30 years. With respect to the smaller project components (wells on the west side, new pumping stations and piping), Port City Water Partners will be designing, building and financing. Saint John Water staff will be operating and maintaining. The City maintains ownership and control of all the water. The SCDWP will result in an enhancement of our system and no jobs will be lost. The following staff members participated in the evaluation and due diligence process: Mike Baker, Cindy Calvin, Paula Carroll, Bill Edwards, Kevin Fudge, Craig Lavigne, Jason LeClerc, James Margaris, Kendall Mason, Gerry Mattson, Tammy McAllister, Cheryl
McConkey, Nancy Moar, Dean Price, Stephanie Rackley-Roach, Chris Roberts, Susan Steven-Power, Jodi Stringer-Webb and Melanie Tompkins Multiple service areas covered off for each other to allow staff to participate. This was truly an all-hands- on-deck effort. Thank you to everyone for coordinating their schedules and duties to allow those mentioned above to participate in the procurement process.
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Safe clean drinking water project
National conferences call on SCDWP team members to present Melanie Tompkins, solicitor, attended the Canadian Infrastructure Law Forum in Toronto from October 4-6 and led a discussion on the SCDWP and water infrastructure projects.
The SCDWP team welcomed two new team members recently, Jason LeClerc and Mike Baker. What is your role on the project? Jason: As the Quality Manager on the SCDWP, my role is to ensure that the management systems put in place by the proponent are competent and followed. The final product must be compliant with the requirements the City has set out. Mike: My role on the project is Construction Engineer. I’ll be helping to coordinate construction activities and acting as a liaison with the proponent’s project team. Was there anything that you learned (or particularly enjoyed) from your time evaluating proposals this summer? Jason: The thing I enjoyed the most during evaluation was the amazing teamwork and support everyone involved showed. As a new employee, I had to acquire a certain amount of knowledge to complete the evaluation successfully and everyone made sure they were available to answer all of my questions and concerns.
Dean Price, project manager, presented at a conference in Newfoundland from October 4-6 regarding the SCDWP.
left to right, Mike Baker and Jason LeClerc
Mike: The evaluation process gave me a better appreciation for how large this project actually is and the extensive amount of effort that has been expended in order to get the project to where it is today. I enjoyed working with the team as well. What are you looking forward to as we approach the construction phase? Jason: During construction, the thing I look forward to the most is the amount of knowledge I will gain from working on this project and from the experienced team that I am fortunate enough to work with. Also, I will be part of a project that will ensure the delivery of safe and clean drinking water to all of our customers for many years to come. Personally, this is of the utmost importance and what I ultimately look forward to. Mike: I’m looking forward to when the proponent begins construction and seeing the milestones get completed.
MAYor’s Cup skAteboArD CoMpetitioN
Passport to Parks grew in popularity
Those responsible for organizing the annual Passport to Parks program are Greg Cutler, Growth and Community Development; summer parks staff; Lisa Caissie, Corporate Communications; and David Dobbelsteyn, P.R.O. Kids. Our summer playground staff play a significant role in its overall success on the ground.
CANADA DAY
The second summer of Passport to Parks or #P2PSJ went off without a hitch, with staff hosting events in ten parks over a six week period. More parks were added to this year’s roster, and public participation numbers doubled, making it a truly inclusive invitation to a fun and active summer in Saint John. Barbeques, face painting, live music, healthy snacks and games at each site, along with additional entertainment and activities, made each park visit special. This year’s lineup of parks included the official opening of the EmeraNB Field at Shamrock Park and an inaugural first responders’ game in memory of former police officer Donnie Cooper. (For the record, this year’s bragging rights went to those playing for the Saint John Fire Department!)
uly 1st Canada day
tation one skate Plaza, aM - 2 PM
ree adMission
PeCtators welCoMe
live dJ Prizes BBQ
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#sjskAte
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
oPen invitational 9 aM - 11 aM
P.r.o. kids skateBoarding CliniC oPen to all ages and aBilities
11 aM - 12 PM
12 & under Freestyle Finals
12 PM - 1 PM
PraCtiCe session
1 PM - 2 PM
13 - 16 years Freestyle Finals
PARK ACTIVITIE
SATURDAY, J PARK ACTIVITIES
PASSPORT TO PASSPORT TO
Rainbow Park Rockwood Park PARK ACTIVITIES
SATURDAY, JULY 1ST SUMMER 2015
SUMMER 2015 Join the funat our local City of Saint John parks this summer. For four weekends, the City will offer exciting family activities and adventures, music and more at featured parks across Saint John.
Rainbow Park Rockwood Par 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
PARK ACTIVITIE
SATURDAY, J
Station One Skate Plaza 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
* this event will include a live DJ and the annual Mayor’s Cup Sk competition. Stay connected @ saintjohn.cafor more details, inclu
Station One Sk
Mispec Park PARK ACTIVITIES
SATURDAY, JULY 5TH Dominion Park Little River Reservoir
10 Parks 9 days lots oF Fun
1 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
* this event will inc competition. Stay
(RAINDATE - SUNDAY JULY 6TH
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mispec Park 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
PARK ACTIVITIES PARK ACTIVITIE Join the funat our local City of Saint SATURDAY, John JULY 12TH parks this summer. For four weekends, the Victoria Square 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. SATURDAY, J Market Place West 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. City will offer exciting family activities and Dominion Park adventures, music and more at featured Little River Res parks across Saint John. passports (2).pdf 5
visit saintJohn.Ca For More inFo
PARK ACTIVITIE
SATURDAY, J
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ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
City launched Green Machine for community clean ups The new travelling Green Machine made its debut this summer. Designed and packed to help citizens keep our community clean, the 14’ trailer provides groups with a free mobile toolkit that has all the equipment needed to support clean-up initiatives in our parks and public spaces.
Kevin Watson, Recreation Manager
Staff take part in Uptown Clean Sweep Uptown Saint John looked a little extra sparkly June 3, thanks to the hard work of Uptown Clean Sweep volunteers. There were 11 teams, with over 55 volunteers from businesses around the Uptown. Volunteers took to the streets with equipment from the City of Saint John’s Green Machine (and a whole lot of elbow grease) to give the Uptown core a good oldfashioned spring cleaning. Our enthusiastic volunteers spent the early morning hours hard at work (with coffee help from Java Moose!) before returning to Loyalist Plaza with over 20 bags of trash. After some hand sanitizer, our helpers had some tasty treats from Urban Deli before making their way back to work with some coupons and prizes!
Staff that participated included (left to right): Brent McGovern, Andrew Valeri and Jeff Cyr from the One Stop Development Shop; Margot Rankin and Paula Doucette from Human Resources; as well as Tammy McAllister and Broc Belding from Corporate Communications.
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Honouring Saint John’s Greatest in Sport
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Kudos to Lori Lambert, Community Development Coordinator, and others on the planning committee for hosting a successful Saint John Sports Hall of Fame. On October 22, four individuals and one sport team were inducted into the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame at the Delta Brunswick Hotel. The Hall of Fame has honoured local athletes, coaches, officials, teams and sport builders since 1987. Showcased in Harbour Station, the Hall of Fame spans decades of achievements in a broad spectrum of sports and stands as a tribute to Greater Saint John’s sports legacy. The Saint John Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is a biennial event. The inductees were also celebrated at the Sea Dogs game at Harbour Station on Saturday, October 24. For additional information on the inductees, visit: www.saintjohn.ca/en/home/cityhall/ developmentgrowth/sportsrecreation/ saintjohnsportshalloffame/hallinductees.aspx
Members of the organizing committee, from left to right, Kevin Watson, Lori Lambert and Fred Horgan
Pink Pumpkins for Breast Cancer Awareness The HR team painted pumpkins that were delivered to Deanna King’s home in support of her fight against breast cancer. Well-wishers from throughout the community painted pumpkins and placed them on the lawn of her home throughout October - Breast Cancer Awareness month. Click here for Deanna’s video. Left to Right: Peter Morgan, Candace Collins, Stacie Tremblay, Stephanie Walsh, Paula Doucette
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
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Momentum Continues For Marigolds on Main Street On June 4, 40,000 marigolds were planted by over 900 students along Main Street in Saint John. Now in its 18th year, Marigolds on Main Street has blossomed into The Marigolds Project, with community gardens sprouting up all over Greater Saint John. Close to 60 schools from Sussex to St. Stephen participated in this year’s planting. Greg Cutler, Community Development Coordinator, has sat on the committee for several years to ensure the event runs smoothly. Have you driven by our crews working on the flower beds along Main Street throughout the summer months? Special thanks to the many staff from Parks and Public Spaces that prepare the beds and keep the marigolds looking beautiful for us all to enjoy. Staff have played a tremendous role since the inception of this project. We can’t wait to see the beauty next year brings. For more information, visit www.marigolds.ca
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Staff partner with Community to Bring Skills Park to the heart of Rockwood
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The Saint John Cycling Club and the City teamed up for the official opening of the Mountain Bike Skills Park in Rockwood Park on October 4. Turn-out for the event exceeded expectations, with well over a hundred people of all ages in attendance. News of the new park traveled quickly and many mountain bikers began taking advantage of the new space prior to the official opening. Where to find it: The skills park is located on the TransCanada Trail and is accessible from Fisher Lakes Drive near the squirrel feeder parking lot. Key park attributes: • A shared vision between City staff and the Saint John Cycling Club • Over 500 volunteer hours • Sponsorship from Velo NB, Kent Building Supplies, Jean Paul Robichaud, Dillon Consulting, and The Bike Guyz @ Alternatives. • $4,000 investment from the City (would have been close to $50,000 without the volunteer hours!) Sitting on an acre, the Mountain Bike Skills Park includes plenty of obstacles and features that are designed to increase the skills and confidence of beginner mountain bikers and is designed to be
challenging and rewarding for bikers of all ages and abilities. But don’t stop there…the park is an extension of the existing 26 km trail system that runs through Rockwood Park. Who to call: If you’re looking to get out to the new park or test out the trails, we have plenty of staff that were involved. Give Dean Price, SCDWP Project Manager, firefighter Laurie Robichaud, or Myles McCormick, Parks crew, a call. Other staff who helped develop the park included Emilie Murphy and Marc Doucet.
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
M iles Mobil
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tth u tth p hird y he M arkett w Ma earr r s y p a w s its in in
The City Market “Mobiles in the Market” community art project grew in both popularity and size this year, with over 400 hand-painted mobiles depicting Canadian icons hanging from the Market rafters, where they remained on display until their auction to support the Harbour Lights Campaign. This year’s project was a collaborative effort between the City of Saint John, the Saint John City Market Merchants Association, local artists, and over 1,450 children and staff, who represent 21 schools from both school districts and a daycare. Saint John City Market Manager, Kevin Loughery, takes the lead on the project every year, and says that the City and market merchants are pleased with its growth and the uptake it gets from the community, “The project has become a highly anticipated and talked about display that excites citizens and visitors
Caption: Center: Kevin Loughery, City Market Manager and Lisa Caissie, Senior Communications Officer with representatives from school districts and City Market Merchants’ Association.
to the Market,” said Loughery. “A tremendous amount of work goes into the project. From start to finish, it engages local children, teachers, local artists, the business community, City staff, and a charitable cause that, in turn, reaches back out to support our larger Saint John region.”
Local 18 receives special recognition for community service On November 22, members of Local 18 took part in the Saint John Santa Claus Parade to collect canned goods and other non-perishable food items for those in need. This is something the City’s outside workforce has proudly done for over 30 years.
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Saint John Energy Lit Up Lily Lake Trail at Rockwood Park Saint John Energy provided the City with a leading edge solar digital lighting system that has extend the use of the Lily Lake Trail in Rockwood Park. The project saw the installation of 26 programmable solar-powered lights along the 1.38 km length of the Lily Lake Trail. A public event was held the evening of November 25 to mark the completion of the $250,000 project. During the event, special remarks will be provided, followed by a short presentation, trail walk, hot beverages, cookies and give-aways. Recognition and thanks goes to staff who were instrumental in supporting the project, as well as those who helped organize the event and media coverage to mark its completion: Marc Doucet with Parks and Public Spaces; Emilie Murphy, Rockwood Park Naturalist; and Nancy Moar and Lisa Caissie from Corporate Communications.
“What an event! I can’t come close to giving enough thanks to all of you for the part you played into making this project a success. There is still work to do, but after last night everyone is very happy.” ~ Jessica DeLong, Saint John Energy “This project has truly changed Lily Lake. It has enhanced the trail and extended the use of the park for so many. Thank you to the City of Saint John for accepting this gift and maintaining the lighting system for years to come. Mayor Norton said it so well Wednesday night when he described Rockwood Park as the Jewel of the City.” ~ Deborah Lawton, Hatheway Pavilion at Lily Lake
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ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
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SJFD and Emera NB partner on new Fire Safety Trailer The Saint John Fire Department, in partnership with Emera New Brunswick, launched the new Fire Safety Trailer as part of its Fire Safety and Prevention program. The 30 foot fiberglass trailer, adorned with Sparky the Fire Dog and decals that make it look like a home, has been designed to augment the training program and educate schoolaged children on household fire prevention and safety procedures. “The new fire safety trailer takes our Fire Safety and Prevention program to a new level by allowing us to offer children in our community top-of-the-line simulation equipment and training that has proven to save lives.” ~ Saint John Fire Department Chief Kevin Clifford
By touring the trailer with firefighters, children learn how to best respond to a fire and are taught about potential fire hazards in the home. “This year, during our School Fire Safety House program, we were able to attend 19 Elementary Schools and over 870 grade three students took part in the program. As for public events, our fire safety house attended eight public safety awareness events,” said Mark Wilson, Division Chief, Saint John Fire Department, Fire Prevention & Investigation Division.
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Service of Remembrance attracts record number of people This year’s November 11th Service of Remembrance at Harbour Station broke previous annual records with over 7,200 people in attendance (not including the units on parade) and left everyone with a deep sense of pride in our community and country. Premier Brian Gallant attended the event and sent special words of gratitude and appreciation to those involved with the Service, care of the Planning Committee Chair, Bernard Cormier, Cultural Affairs Officer with the City. This year Deputy Fire Chief Joe Armstrong led the Saint John Fire Department contingent on parade and accompanied Mayor Mel Norton during the inspection. On behalf of Local 711 members, Peter Alexander, President of IAFF Saint John Firefighters Local 771, presented Bernard Cormier with a $350 cheque in support of the endeavours of the Saint John Remembrance Day Committee.
25 “It was a beautifu l service. Thank you all who organized th is each and every ye ar. My daughter and I have made this a tradit ion to attend. So happy to see a full arena.” ~ Tressa Burgess, attendee
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TECH TIP The requirements for all new passwords in the organization have changed.
passphrases. Examples: “Work & Play 2day!”, “SJ is great 4 living!”
The new password standard for the City Information Systems is:
If you have any questions about passwords, contact the Service Desk or check out these resources online:
• At least 12 characters • Uppercase characters (A through Z) • Lowercase characters (a through z) • Base 10 digits (0 through 9) • Nonalphanumeric characters: ~!@#$%^&*_-+=`|\(){}[]:;”’<>,.?/
• http://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/ simplest-security-guide-better-passwordpractices • http://lifehacker.com/5937303/your-cleverpassword-tricks-arent-protecting-you-fromtodays-hackers
The life of City passwords has been increased from 90 days to 6 months.
• http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-SecurePassword
If you struggle with creating -- and remembering -- a complex password, an equally good option is to use a passphrase instead. Passphrases are simple sentences that use length instead of complexity to make them secure. You can also use spaces in
• http://lifehacker.com/184773/geek-to-live-choose-and-remember-great-passwords
Human Resources, Health and Safety
Safety first
– a message from Mike Montgomery, EAFP Committee Chair When we think safety our thoughts go to the work environment, we all want to go home at the end of the day injury free. LET’S HEAD HOME: We get into our cars every day how many times have any of us taken a quick walk around our vehicle to see if it looks road ready, lights, tires, etc. Now we head out; have to call our partner or friends to see if we need anything for home, or what our friends are up to after work, we do this while manoeuvring a 3000lb mass at 60km/ph. or better. Some of us even think we can text while we drive. Somehow we make it home, the lawn needs to be mowed so we get the mower out and get started you have snickers or even flip-plops on, no safety glasses or ear protection, something you wouldn’t do at work. After supper, the light in the bathroom has to be changed so we grab the chair from the kitchen and use it to stand on; it’s only going to take a
second. Should get the chain saw out and trim some branches off the old maple tree; we do this with shorts and sneakers on and no eye protection or ear protection. You wouldn’t start a chain saw at work without the proper safety gear on. We have to charge all of our devices for the next day, we plug five or six chargers into one power bar and it’s on one plug. If we took a look at some of the power tools we have at home, guards missing, wires frayed or taped up, extension cords with bad ends or taped sections you wouldn’t use them at work, what makes it all right to use them at home? I‘m sure we can all add things to this list. Safety is not only on the job it is a part of life. More injuries happen at home then at the work place. Be safe wherever you are; it only takes a second.
Human Resources, Health and Safety
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Need A Vacation?
Vacation Entitlements HR often gets questions about how vacation accruals work. These questions typically come up when someone is promoted from a casual status to permanent status or upon termination of employment either for retirement or resignation. How it worksâ&#x20AC;ŚAll employees earn vacation base on their continuous service date, unless otherwise negotiated by Management / Professional employees. So the date is individual, however, the annual entitlement drops in for everyone at the start of the calendar year. Ex. 1: Continuous Service Date of October 31, 1999. Vacation entitlement is 200 hours. Resignation date June 30, 2015. This employee would have 200 hours of vacation drop in on Jan. 1, 2015 which they would earn from October 31, 2014 until October 30, 2015. As they will not be ending their employment on June 30 their vacation entitlement for 2015 would be prorated based on the time earned from Oct. 31, 2014 until June 30, 2015 which is equal to 243 days. The proration calculation is 243/365 * 200 hrs = 133 days of vacation. Therefore the employee would possibly owe vacation time if they had used all of the time that was shown in their vacation accrual.
Ex. 2: Continuous Service Date of May 1, 1987. Vacation entitlement is 210 hours. Retirement date is November 30, 2015. This employee would have 210 hours of vacation drop in on Jan. 1, 2015 which they had earned from May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015. So they are entitled to the full amount in their accrual. They are also entitled to the vacation time they have earned from May 1, 2015 until their retirement date of November 30, 2015. This amount is 214 days worked/365 * 210 hrs = 123 hours. They would be paid out 123 hours plus the amount remaining from their 2015 vacation. Ex. 3: Continuous Service Date March 6, 2014, Permanent hire date November 1, 2015, vacation pay paid until November 14, 2015. Need to determine vacation entitlement for 2016 This employee would have been paid 4% vacation pay up until all approvals have been processed, so in this case until Nov. 14. At this time their vacation would be prorated to align with their continuous service date. The entitlement for 2016 would be earned from March 6, 2015 to March 5, 2016 and would be 70 hours. This employee was paid 4% vacation pay in place of earning vacation time from March 6, 2015 until Nov. 14, 2015 therefore their 70 hour vacation entitlement for 2016 is prorated at 113/365 * 70hrs = 22 hours.
2016 workforce training schedule As 2015 winds down, preparations for the 2016 training calendar are underway. All courses can be found on SharePoint (E-City). Staff can access the training calendar to see upcoming courses by using the link Career Development Calendar or by following the attached instructions. Managers, please feel free to forward your suggestions for course offerings to Paula Doucette.
Human Resources, Health and Safety
Winter Tips
With winter approaching rapidly, and the cold weather before us, it is important to keep in mind precautions against cold exposure: 1. Dress warmly: Wear multiple layers of clothing with a water proof, wind resistant outer shell, and inner layers that wick moisture away from the body. 2. Carry a change in case your winter clothing gets wet. Remember that wet clothing loses all or most of its thermal insulating value. 3. Protect your head, face, feet and hands. Insulted mitts are best and insulated gloves where dexterity is required. Dry felts and/or extra dry insulated socks should be available for boots. Remember that exposed skin can freeze very quickly under extreme conditions.
7. Be aware of the symptoms of exposure in other employees and take IMMEDIATE corrective action should any of the following be observed: • Uncontrolled, sustained shivering. • Frostnip: This is the first stage of frostbite, with pain and numbness the fingers and toes. • Drowsiness, slurred speech, stumbling, slow, shallow breathing, confusion: These are symptoms of hypothermia requiring EMERGENCY MEDICAL INTERVENTION. 8. Assist victims of exposure: • Get the victim out of the cold IMMEDIATELY. • Call 911.
4. Remain well hydrated and well nourished. Warm soup is a great choice in cold weather. Avoid excessive coffee and tea consumption due to their dehydration effects.
• Remove wet clothing.
5. Be aware of the extra weight of weather resistant clothing and work at a comfortable pace. Avoid overexertion.
• Administer First Aid/CPR as per standard training.
6. Employ a buddy system to look out for each other. You may well be unaware that you are beginning to experience exposure symptoms.
• Cover the victim with warm blankets. • Give warm drinks if victim is conscious.
Implement Work/Warming Regimen if and as required by General Regulation 91-191 NBOHSA.
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HIRES, RETIRES, PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS April 3, 2015 to November 30, 2015
Welcome to the City! • Evan Almon, Skilled Worker, Water and Sanitation • Ronald Basque Jr, Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Boyd Bullock, Skilled Worker, Building Maintenance • Jeffery Chase, Journeyman T&T Mechanic • Cameron Corscadden, Skilled Worker, Wastewater Treatment • Curtis Dykeman, Skilled Worker, Wastewater Treatment • Robert Galbraith, Facility Management • Timothy Graham, Skilled Worker, Parks • Christopher Gray, Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Gerald Guidry, Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Matthieu LeBlanc, Skilled Worker, Wastewater Treatment • Orlando Lineros, Solicitor • Rebecca Morris, Finance • Dennis Richard, Assistant Building Inspector • Jeff Trail, City Manager • Timothy Vallis, Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation
Congratulations on your promotion! • Melissa Acker, was promoted to 3rd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Tyler Armstrong, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Water Treatment • Luc Bard, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Darryl Berube, was promoted to Municipal Engineering Technician • Jesse Blanchard, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Stephen Blanchard, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Darren Boudreau, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Sanitation • Robert Brown, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Ryan Brown, was promoted to 2nd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Joseph Bursey, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Michael Carr, was promoted to Designated OP, WS • Matthew Clifford, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Kevin Comeau, was promoted to District Chief, SJFD • Rodrigue Comeau, was promoted to Cert OP 11, Water Treatment
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HIRES, RETIRES, PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS • Kevin Corscadden, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Michael Duffy, was promoted to Sub-foreman, Works • Steven Edgar, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Tyler Embree, was promoted to 2nd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Valerie Farrah, was promoted to Administrative Officer, Municipal Operations • David Flewelling, was promoted to 2nd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Pascal Frenette, was promoted to 3rd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Kevin Fudge, was promoted to Commissioner of Finance and Administrative Services • Danny Goguen, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Shane Hachey, was promoted to 3rd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Blayne Hanson, was promoted to Sub-foreman, Works • Natalie Harvey, was promoted to 2nd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Michael Jaillette, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Sanitation • Ryan James, was promoted to Municipal Engineering Technician • Robert Kaine, was promoted to Fire Prevention Inspector • Saleem Kaleem, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Water Treatment • Chris Lanigan, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Jeremy LeBlanc, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Joe MacDonald, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Timothy MacKenzie, was promoted to Customer Service Specialist • Patrick Mackin, was promoted to Cert OP 111 Water Distribution • Mark Madden, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Water and Sanitation • Joshua Maher, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Parks • Brad McCluskey, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Brian McDonald, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Jeremy McFawn, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Lee McGill, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Robert McGinnis, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Mark McKenzie, was promoted to Cert OP 11 Water DIS/WW Collection • Gordon McKenzie, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Christopher McKiel, was promoted to Project Engineer • Daniel McNeill, was promoted to Mechanical Foreman • George Morrow, was promoted to Lieutenant of Training, SJFD • Scott Nason, was promoted to 2nd Class Firefighter, SJFD • Chris Nowlan, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Parks
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HIRES, RETIRES, PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS • Colleen O’Connor, was promoted to Finance Clerk • Donnie O’Donnell, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Timothy O’Reilly, was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Public Spaces • John Phillips, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Joseph Pilmer, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Jessie Ramos, was promoted to Journeyman T&T Mechanic • Jody Savoie, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Water and Sanitation • Steven Savoy, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Jesse Seeley, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Joshua Shannon, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Warren Somers, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • S. Michael Stone, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Craig Taylor, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Liam Theriault, was promoted to Silled Worker, Water and Sanitation • Gordon Thomas, was promoted to Parks Foreman II • James Trail, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Stephen Voutour, was promoted to District Chief, SJFD • Jonathan Westfield, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Bernard Williams, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Ryan Woodman, was promoted to Skilled Worker, Works and Transportation • Wayne Wright, was promoted to Foreman Works I
Thank you for your years of service! • James Bowland • John Clack • Kevin Forrest • Michael Martin • Christine (Chris) O’Keefe • Paul Watson • J. Patrick Woods
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32 You’re all invited! If you’re looking to skate this season, visit saintjohn.ca for a list of arenas and their public skate schedules.
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.
R emembering
Mike Denton
When someone becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.
I
t was with great sadness that we received news of the passing of Michael (Mike) Denton, a valued member of our Facilities Management Team. Mike joined the City in 2010 as a Journeyman Carpenter, after having worked in this field in the private sector as a Tradesman and Supervisor for over ten years. In his five years with the City of Saint John, Mike earned the respect of his colleagues and staff in every Department by his carpentry skill, by the high standards of customer service that he demonstrated on every job, as well as by his positive approach, genuine caring, and excellent teamwork. In his career with the city, Mike continued to develop his knowledge and skills, and was an active participant in the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training and development program. Mike also volunteered in a number of community activities, including skate to care and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Play Ball for St. Joesâ&#x20AC;?.
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R emembering
Peter Saab
I
t was with heavy hearts that we heard of the passing of Peter Saab, a dear friend and valued member of the Saint John Fire Department.
Peter followed in the steps of his father when he joined the Saint John Fire Department in January 1980. He worked most of his career on the rescue squad and in 2008 he was promoted to District Fire Chief / Platoon Chief. He was a member of both the Canadian and New Brunswick Associations of Fire Chiefs. Peter was named the “Fire Fighter of the Year” in 1993 and was a recipient of the “Rescue Commendation”, which was an award for resourcefulness and courage in performing an act of personal bravery. He also received the “Most Venerable Order of The Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem” for the resuscitation of 3 year old, Sean Cook. Peter was an outdoorsman and was an avid fisherman, hunter and ATV’er who leaves behind many tales of adventures he shared with his hunting buddies. He loved spending time at The Three Bears Campground. Peter was a kind and generous man who always extended a helping hand. Family was everything to Peter and he leaves behind the family that he brought together with his partner, Lana.
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