EmployEE nEwslEttEr
s rin 2011
Kim Hodasy gets an autograph from keynote speaker Sami Jo Small.
Learning at Work 2011
United Way
Staff from Housing pose for a photo.
RAVE Awards
Keynote speaker Sami Jo Small smiles at her Gold Medal from the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
On March 9, the Region held its first ever RAVE Employee Award for Values Excellence. Check out page 5 for more photos and a list of the award recipients.
Stacey Ferris and Linda Zavarella test out the stage.
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
~ ON LI NE ! ~ Do you know the history of your department? Records related to your job are preserved in the Region of Waterloo Archives! The Archives has recently launched Archives Online! Archives Online allows staff to: • search for archival records by keyword • search histories of departments, divisions, programs and committees • view digital copies of archival records Archives Online has records from Regional departments, divisions, programs and staff. Why would you want/need to use the Archives? To obtain: • photographs of staff for retirement celebrations or historic bridges for plaques • copies of reports, minutes and by-laws • capital budgets • aerial photographs
• research on health hazards • subdivision or historic water plans • and much, much more! The Region of Waterloo Archives is the official archives for the Region of Waterloo, County of Waterloo, Township of Woolwich, and Town of Elmira. The Archives also preserves specialized collections documenting the history of the region. Search Archives Online as www.region.waterloo.on.ca/archives for more information! Watch for upcoming events in April in honour of Archives Awareness Week. There will be prizes awarded to staff who use Archives Online! The development of Archives Online was made possible by funding from the Museum Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
Join the region’s Baseball league 2011 Healthy Lifestyles three-pitch baseball league begins the end of May. Last year was a season full of fun and excitement as the league leading Sunnyside Sluggers were narrowly defeated by the Fowl Balls in the playoff tournament. Team registration as well as individual signups should be sent to Greg Crane of Water Services by April 27. Please call Greg at 519-502-2770 with any questions.
2
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
what do you consider the biggest challenge in your job? what is the most rewarding? The biggest challenge in my role is being able to tap into the huge talent and skill set within the IT division and present it to the business in a way that brings technology to the table to aid in growth, innovation, customer satisfaction and ultimately reaching business goals and strategic plans. When done successfully this is also the most rewarding.
Arlene MacDonald Arlene is the new Director of Information Technology Services. She just sold her house in Barrie and is currently looking for a house in this area. She lives with her husband, Ted, and their children Eddie (4.5) and MJ (2) and their two dogs, Nikko and Moukso.
what personal skills are essential to the work you do? Leadership, ability to create a vision, strong business understanding, coaching and mentoring skills as well as a very solid sense of customer service, are the key components for my role. what do you do to relax after a long day? With the age of my kids, relax isn’t a word that gets much use around our home. If we aren’t playing road hockey or at the rink we are playing mini sticks in the basement, with the odd interruption from the zamboni, which is disguised as a baby stroller. It isn’t uncommon to find us all dancing in the living room to my
son’s favourite song of the week (this week seems to be Soul Sister), or running around the house playing tag. We are a very active family and love the outdoors. Ted and I always have good intentions to watch a movie or work out after the kids are sleeping, but often find ourselves voluntarily going to sleep, and or reluctantly falling asleep on the couch before long. what is your favourite meal? Wow, this is a tough one. I am not sure if I have a favourite meal, I have multiple… I love pasta and cheese so, maybe Cheese Cappelletti??? what is your favourite holiday and why? I love all holidays, not necessarily for the historical or religious reasons but for the good excuse to get family together - to take a break from the day to day and reconnect with friends and loved ones. If you could travel to one place, where would you go? I have travelled reasonably extensively with work over the years, but one place my husband and I both agree is a destination of choice for when our children are a bit older is New Zealand.
Creating social Change – 33rd Annual Justice Dinner wednesday, may 25, 2011 reception - 5:30 p.m. Dinner - 6:30 p.m. Bingemans, Kitchener tickets $50 each The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council is pleased to present “Creating Social Change” featuring Hannah Taylor, founder of The Ladybug Foundation as keynote speaker for the 33rd Annual Justice Dinner. Hannah Taylor is Canada’s youngest advocate for the homeless. At the age of eight, Hannah founded The Ladybug Foundation, a non-profit registered charitable
foundation to raise awareness and assist organizations that provide food, shelter and other needs of the homeless, without judgment, so they can find dignity, security, hope and refuge. To date, the foundation has raised over $2 million and supported over 45 shelters and food banks across Canada. Now 14, Hannah continues to believe that caring can and will change our world for the better. www.ladybugfoundation.ca Tickets for the Justice Dinner are $50 each and are available through the Crime Prevention Council office at 519-883-2304 or online www.preventingcrime.ca
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
“Everyone should have a home. No one should eat from a garbage can.” Hannah Taylor
3
Kathleen Gardiner Kathleen is a Caseworker in Home Child Care in the Social Services department. She lives in Breslau with three cats. Her daughter, Sarah, who just got a job in Social Services, lives with her 12-year-old grandson, Zack, who is a great hockey player! She enjoys her job at the Region and finds that there are many opportunities to expand her knowledge.
what do you consider the biggest challenge in your job? what is the most rewarding? My biggest challenge is finding placements for childcare areas that have no caregivers. It is a balancing act trying to keep caregivers full, yet having caregivers available for space for children. what personal skills are essential to the work you do? You need to be able to be able to work independently in Home Child Care. You have to have great organizational skills as well. Every day is different and you have to be able to handle change and work with all kinds of families. We are now Road Warriors and take our laptops with us. what do you do to relax after a long day? I like to garden in my big backyard.
I also enjoy watching my grandson play hockey and shopping with my daughter. I volunteer as a speaker with Heart and Stroke and educate people about heart health. what is your favourite meal? My favourite meal is grilled chicken mandarin salad with almonds and a glass of ice water with lemon; I always order that in a restaurant when I go out with the girls for lunch. what is your favourite holiday and why? I enjoyed a trip to Arizona and enjoyed looking at the majestic Grand Canyon. It was a beautiful sight. If you could travel to one place, where would you go? I would love to go to Greece as Greek mythology has always fascinated me.
Do you know someone who would like to be spotlighted? Do you have suggestions for new Spotlight questions? E-mail your ideas to connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
water services’ Cookie tin – more than meets the eye The cookie tin in Water Services has been offering food, fuel and comfort to staff for more than 10 years, but since 2007 the proceeds have been channelled into an international program offering microloans to entrepreneurs in developing countries all over the world. Patti Palmer learned about Kiva, an organization based in California, which collects loan requests from microfinance institutions and posts them on their website. Lenders sign up to fund $25-portions of each loan, which are then paid back by the recipients. As each loan payment
4
is made, the money is refunded to the lenders and then becomes available for re-investing in a new loan. In this way, the cookie tin has funded 80 loans and currently has 27 loans outstanding. Entrepreneurs use the money for everything from putting a roof on a house to buying a cow so the milk can be used to
make cheese for sale. In most cases, the prime concern for the borrowers is to improve their quality of life and send their children to school. If you would like more information, Kiva.org describes the program and all the initiatives funded by loans. And drop by for a cookie sometime – your quarter might end up in Uzbekistan!
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
rAVE Employee Awards for Values Excellence On March 9, the Region held its first ever RAVE Employee Awards for Values Excellence recognition event. The RAVE awards were created as a direct result of the employee survey. Regional employees were eager to recognize their peers. More than 200 employees were nominated for living our Regional values. Recipients were selected by a group of senior staff from across the organization and represented each of our five Regional values: service, integrity, respect, innovation and collaboration. Keynote speaker and Olympic Gold Medalist, Sami Jo Small, inspired staff with her stories of character, determination and her Olympic dream. The awards were presented by CAO Mike Murray and Regional Chair Ken Seiling. And the award recipients are… For service: Maxim Chigak, Organic Chemist, Water Services Donald Graham, Technologist I, Transportation Jennifer Arsenault, Bus Operator, Transit Services Craig Crawford, Senior Program/Analyst, Information Technology Services Ann Stephenson and Cliff Eggleton, Paramedic Team, Emergency Medical Services For innovation: José Bicudo, Senior Project Engineer, Water Services For respect: Clara D’Cunha, Program Assistant, Employment and Income Support Dave Degouveia and Gerry Lefler, Cambridge Fleet Supervisor Team, Transit Services
For Integrity: Diane Schofield, Health and Safety Advisor, Employee Relations For collaboration: social Housing renovation and retrofit program team Jeffrey Schumacher Lisa Seaward Mary Parent Helen Georgiou Carol Teigen SERVICE – Donald Graham Krista Scott Alba Michelucci Doris Zettel and Tom Pedlar Honourable mentions went to: Cyndi Dienesch Jackie Good Greg Proctor Lee Scheerer Kathy Thomas COLLABORATION – The Social Housing sunnyside tAms Renovation and Retrofit Program Team Implementation team David Thompson David Peplinski Zel Sousa Lori McDonald Gus Gutierrez Each of the recipients and their stories will be featured on the employee portal over the next few months. Be sure to check in and read these inspiring and often emotional stories of how our employees are living our values and making a difference in our community every day. Take time to recognize a Regional employee today by sending an email, card or e-card, showing appreciation in unique and tangible ways, or just saying thanks!
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
SERVICE – Cliff Eggleton and Ann Stephenson
SERVICE – Maxim Chigak
5
learning at work 2011 The 2011 Learning at Work calendars have arrived, and have been distributed to all locations. Course registration can be accessed through the Region’s online Training Registration System. You can access it through the green Details and information tips are posted to help with registration and frequently asked questions. There are popular returning programs and exciting new training offerings that support employee development, health and safety, and key employee engagement survey priorities.
New Employee Development • Communicating with for 2011 Confidence • Enhancing Personal and Interpersonal Effectiveness • How to Prepare for an Interview at the Region • Performance Development Program (PDP) Workshop for Employees • Understanding Social Styles leadership (manager and supervisor specific) • Emotional Intelligence for Managers • Leader as Trust Builder • Performance Development Program (PDP) Workshop for Managers
learning at work
wellness • Meals and Moves to Maximize Metabolism Corporate Health and safety • Chainsaw Operator • Elevated Work Platform • Health and Safety Orientation for Lead Hands / Team Leaders • Landscape Equipment Safety • Mould Abatement • Noise Awareness and Hearing Protection • Propane Handling, Welding, Hot Work Permit • Respirator Fit Testing • Respirator Selection, Care and Use • Spills Response
Catching up with rapid transit
The rapid transit team just finished a busy round of public consultation that included seven open houses across the region, mall and market displays and a live webcast. More than 1,000 people attended the public consultation centres and almost 600 people have submitted written comments on the implementation options. Eleven options were presented connecting Cambridge, Kitchener and
6
Waterloo. One option is full bus rapid transit (BRT), one is full light rail transit (LRT), and another eight options are various combinations of LRT in the north and adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT) in the south. The 11th option is “business as usual” - i.e., no rapid transit at all. However, it has already been concluded that this option is not viable, both for economic reasons (including forfeiting all of the funding from the provincial and federal governments) and for the negative impact it would have on quality of life throughout the community.
After considering public input, Regional staff will present a preferred implementation option in April. The public will have the opportunity to provide input through a second series of public consultation centres in early May 2011. Staff will also be visiting malls and markets across Waterloo Region. For more information about the project and to find details on upcoming public consultation, please visit www.region.waterloo.on.ca/ rapidtransit.
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
the way to success is the United way
Achievement Night Dec. 9, 2010 when it was announced that we not only reached but surpassed our fundraising goal!!
Every year, the Region bands together to raise hope for those struggling and suffering in our community. We pledge donations, host events, and run Friday casual days to give back to this community in a way that suits their needs. Those needs range from food and housing, to needs of the mind, body, and soul; whatever the need, the agencies of United Way will guide and assist them along the way. Our 2010 campaign raised an impressive $233,000 for United Way funded agencies and that number continues to grow! When the twoweek campaign blitz ends each year, the campaign of giving continues on. Employees from several departments play a role in coordinating the collection of donations to the planning and preparation of events all year round. To these staff, THANK YOU! They are the support system that recognizes giving must never stop, because the need never stops. If you are interested in becoming a United Way Campaign Coordinator, or you have event planning skills to offer, please contact tcooper@regionofwaterloo.ca. Being a hero to someone in need doesn’t
require a suit of armor or a cape; being a hero merely requires time and belief in a worthy cause. United way loaned representatives and their stories By Rhonda Gould Working at the Region we are all familiar with United Way, either through pizza lunches or casual dress down days. From September to December 2010, I had an opportunity to work full time on a secondment for 17 weeks as a Loaned Representative with KitchenerWaterloo United Way. I was able to see firsthand where money is needed and where the money goes in our region. The dollars we raise in the Region do go a long way to make a difference in the lives of families and individuals in our own community. I am very thankful that I was able to be part of United Way. Together we can all be change, make change, see change … I would like to thank the Region of Waterloo and CUPE 1883 for this great experience and for supporting the Loaned Rep Program. By Cheryl Marcy From September to December 2010 I
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
had the opportunity to be a Loaned Representative with the United Way of Cambridge & North Dumfries working on the fall fundraising campaign. I have many memories from this experience, but especially the impact that United Way agencies have on the lives of so many people in our community. The work was an interesting mix of project management and event planning while supporting our partners to meet their fundraising goals. Some fundraising events were the Great Restaurant Challenge, the Starlight Film Festival (an all night movie event for 13 to 18 year olds), a walk/run-athon, hamster races… and attending a lot of lunches! It was a great experience for me both professionally and personally. It gave me an opportunity to use skills developed through my career at the Region to give back and be involved in my community in a way that I would not have otherwise…always wearing my Live United shirt! Thank you to the Region of Waterloo and CUPE 1883 for this opportunity and supporting the Loaned Representative program!
7
The beginning of 2011 is bringing with it a number of new beginnings for the Region and its employees. This year we have a new Regional Council developing a new Strategic Plan that will establish priorities and guide our work over the next four years. This is an important time to look at community input and ensure that we are doing the things that make the biggest impact – the things that truly make a difference in our community. There will be continued opportunities for staff input into the strategic planning process and we will be sharing the public input with you as
Do you have a question for mike? send it to connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
well. Watch for updates on the portal and on staff bulletin boards. We also recently held our first ever Employee Awards for Values Excellence recognition event. The event celebrated the work of all our nominees and award winners in demonstrating our Regional values of service, integrity, respect, innovation and collaboration. We look forward to making this an annual event. Finally the Region is about to launch a brand new website. The new site will improve our ability to communicate with the public, provide easy-toaccess information about our services and make our website more accessible. The website committee will be looking for your feedback before the official launch this spring. Be sure to log on, get a sneak peek and provide your input. Watch the portal for details. 2011 certainly promises to be another busy and exciting year at the Region of Waterloo!
social media by the numbers YouTube exceeds 2 billion views a day
There are 200 million accounts on Twitter
1 in every 13 people on earth are active Facebook users
The Region has over 500 followers on Twitter
Using social media to reach the community The Region started posting regular updates on Facebook and Twitter at the beginning of the year. Updates include videos and photos, media releases, Council Info, newsletters, information about jobs at the Region, updates from Public Health, Waste Management, Grand River Transit and much more. In March, the Region broadcasted a live webcast about rapid transit from 150 Frederick St.
Social media is just another tool that the Region is using to get information about our programs and services to the public. More immediate two-way dialogue is possible through this tool. A social media policy will be presented to Council in April. If you have questions about how the Region is using social media, contact Corporate Communications.
connections@regionofwaterloo.ca
Words to Live By “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity – not a threat.”