- From the top
Leadership Series: Character-Based Leadership for Organizational Success
- POLAR's people
- Learning and performance
- Workplace notices
From the top
Is your money working for you?
This month, LifeSpeak is continuing the conversation on money. Is it working with you, or against you? Join finance experts Shannon Lee Simmons and Bob Gavlak to learn how to make your money work for you on April 21, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
To access LifeSpeak, whether you are using a computer, a tablet or a smartphone, simply log on to the following address: canada.lifespeak.com, select Access Through Group Account and enter the Client Password: canada
Leadership Series: Character-Based Leadership for Organizational Success
The Canada School of Public Service is partnering with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer to deliver this webcast session on character-based leadership.
Join executives from across the federal government to explore how character can be evolved and developed, the attributes needed to lead organizational success, and how these qualities tie into the leadership competencies.
Date and time: April 23, 2021 | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm (ET)Registration deadline: April 23, 2021, 10:00 am (ET) Language: Bilingual with interpretation in both official languages
Location: This event will be delivered virtually. A link to the live broadcast will be provided to registered participants.
Audience: All public servants at all levels
Register for webcast
Please note, prior to registering for an event, you must request permission from your supervisor.
POLAR's people
Meeting our new colleagues!
Meghan recently joined us on Monday, April 12, and has taken on the position of Executive Director, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer. She has significant experience as an executive in leading corporate functions in the public service. Notably, as Director, Economic Programs & Management at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Meghan led two significant Grants & Contributions Programs to support economic development in Indigenous communities.
On Tuesday, April 6, Peggy Bélanger joined the POLAR team to lead the transformational approach to implementing the 2021-22 Work Plan, and its supporting horizontal governance. Peggy will take on the functions of the Chief of Staff, as well as the leadership of the horizontal governance of the POLAR program of work. Peggy brings with her significant experience in leading horizontal initiatives – as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada she successfully led a number of complex projects on behalf of the Deputy Minister. During her tenure at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Peggy regularly provided strategic advice and recommendations to Ministers on departmental and regional issues to support the delivery of communications programs and services.
Welcome to the POLAR team Meghan and Peggy!
Introducing employee profiles
Getting to know your colleagues isn’t as simple as an introduction in the office anymore. With these different times, POLAR communications will be featuring employees in the POLAR XPRESS. Keep an eye out for an email in your inbox with a list of questions to answer about yourself!
Asha St-Hilaire
Alternative text
Surname: St-Hilaire
Given name: Asha
Works here: Virtual
On staff since: 2021
Date of issue: 2021-04-19
Passport number: 3435485456
Department: Communications
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | Asha St-Hilaire |
| Job title | Manager, Communications |
| Your department | Communications, President’s Office |
| What year did you start working for POLAR? | 2021 |
| Where are you based? | It’s complicated, I telework (Ottawa) |
| What inspired you to join POLAR? | The chance to do meaningful work that aligns with my values. |
| What have you learned from working at POLAR? | Just how little I know about the North, but what an exciting learning process! |
| Share something interesting and unexpected about yourself. | I make crystal healing (reiki-infused) bracelets and I love Star Trek. |
| If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? | Nachos with guacamole. |
John Bennett
Alternative text
Surname: Bennett
Given name: John
Works here: Ottawa
On staff since: 2001
Date of issue: 2021-04-19
Passport number: 6132229547
Department: Communications
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | John Bennett |
| Job title | Communications specialist |
| Your department | Communications, President’s Office |
| What year did you start working for POLAR? | I started with POLAR’s predecessor, the Canadian Polar Commission, in 2001. |
| Where are you based? | Ottawa |
| Before joining POLAR, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve held? | Working for Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (the former name of ITK) I was part of a small team that planned and ran annual leadership camps for circumpolar Inuit youth, which were held at a remote location on the west coast of Baffin Island. |
| What was your favourite POLAR project? | The Polar Blog, when it was published by Canadian Geographic Magazine |
| What is your favourite book? | Cold Comfort: My Love Affair with the Arctic, by Graham Rowley |
| Are you a dog person or a cat person? What is your favourite breed? | I like both. My favourite breed of dog is the Black Labrador |
Learning and performance
Communications tip of the week!
Plain language makes critical information accessible and readable for everyone. Given that about half of Canadians have basic literacy levels, POLAR has an obligation to communicate in plain language to help them understand our message easily.
Checklist for writing in plain language
- Start with the most important information
- Get to the point
- Use simple and common words
- Use the active voice
- Use the positive form (see adjective comparison and adverb comparison)
- Use verbs instead of nouns formed from verbs
- Avoid jargon, idioms, and expressions
- Use simple sentences
- Use short sentences and paragraphs
- Convey your message using positive words to make your point
Tone
Tone affects how readers react to your writing. As content can "speak" to its readers, POLAR wishes to be:
- direct
- informative;
- conversational; and
- professional.
Inuktitut word of the week
The Inuinnaqtun word of the week is: immaqaak | ᐃᒻᒪᖄᒃ. It means maybe.
Pronounce it like this: eem-muh-quhk
Listen to the pronunciation here:
Have a word you would like to see in Inuktut? Send us an email: polarxpresspolaire@polar.gc.ca.
Are you ready to Talk the Talk?
Workplace notices
POLAR’s 2021–22 Work Plan
On March 19, 2021, POLAR’s 2021–22 Work Plan was approved by the Board of Directors. It is now accessible to POLAR employees on the intranet. Download your copy of this important document from the Work Plan page.
POLAR is hiring!
A new job posting for Chief Scientist and Executive Director of Programs has opened up at the CHARS campus. The poster has been shared on POLAR’s social media platforms and employees are encouraged to like, comment or share the post in spreading the word. Share the job posting on:
A coffee break with Office 365
Are you out of your element when using Office 365, or simply want to learn more efficient ways to use it? IT Manager, Logan Carisse will be hosting a bi-weekly teams meeting on all things Office 365! Learn valuable, how to’s, tips and tricks for using the application and bring your questions for on the spot answers.
Date and time: April 22, 2021 | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (ET)
Language: English
Meeting link: Click here to join the meeting
Join POLAR’s Office 365 discussion group on Yammer. This group will help you stay up to date on Office 365 discussion topics and share your knowledge with others.