POLAR XPRESS – April 7, 2021

From the top

Turning strategic vision into action through the 2021-22 Work Plan

At POLAR, we are working towards a “sustainable future guided by knowledge and collaboration.” To realize this ambitious vision, each of us has a role to play in bringing the values and themes in the Strategic Plan to life in our daily work.

The Work Plan, which was approved by the Board of Directors on the 19th of March 2021, is our primary tool for turning POLAR’s strategic vision into tangible action. The annual planning process is how we collectively formalize work priorities across the Agency and align our resources. By working to accomplish what is in the Work Plan, we are all contributing to POLAR’s long-term goals and success.

Below, there are examples of how activities in the 2021-22 Work Plan support POLAR’s strategic vision:

This year, POLAR will:

• strengthen our relationships with northern and Indigenous partners through co-development initiatives, such as the S&T Framework Implementation and the Knowledge Sharing Forum;
• Advance project-specific collaborations at the CHARS campus to create locally relevant and globally significant knowledge, including wildlife health monitoring and clean technology and infrastructure demonstrations;
• build our knowledge synthesis function through the Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat Report; and
• create space for diverse and representative voices in our organization through internal policies and program measures, such as the implementation of the Inuit Employment Plan and Inuit Nunangat multi-stakeholder review committee, respectively.

In addition to contributing to the Agency’s strategic goals, these 2021-22 Work Plan activities also speak to POLAR’s values of knowledge, collaboration, respect and integrity. These values are important in guiding how we do our work and can be particularly helpful during times of uncertainty. As POLAR continues to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on our operations in 2021 and beyond, these strategic values will provide a foundation to inform our current and future work.

Reminder: Complete your 2021-2022 performance agreements!

All 2020-21 Performance Assessments, 2021-22 Performance Agreements and Learning Plans must be discussed, signed, and submitted to Human Resources by April 16, 2021.

If you haven’t already, you will be speaking to your manager to discuss your performance for the past year against your work objectives and competencies. Get tips on how to make the most of these conversations by visiting the March 22, POLAR XPRESS.

View HR's PMA resource folder for more details and supporting documents for this year's discussions.

Learning and performance

Human Resources tip of the week!

Did you know that each fiscal year employees are granted 15 hours of leave with pay for personal reasons? It’s known as Personal Leave (code 540). Employees can use these hours in periods of 7.5 hours or 3.75 hours.

Learn more about Personal Leave by reading the Directive on Terms and Conditions of Employment.

Inuinnaqtun word of the week

The Inuinnaqtun word of the week is: havaktariyara | Hᐊᕙᒃᑕᕆᔭᕋ. It means, I’m working on it.

Pronounce it like this: huh-vuk-tuh-ree-yuh-ruh

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?

Updates

Key outcomes from Executive Team Meeting (ETM)

Here are the key outcomes from the March 30, 2021, ETM:

• The Leadership Team reviewed the engagement with the Board of Directors from March 19, 2021, where the President briefed them on the budget performance and the POLAR 21-22 Workplan. The engagement went very well. It provided additional clarity on priorities and there is consensus and excitement for the POLAR Workplan.
• The executive team also discussed and initiated a plan to develop a new strategic performance dashboard that will provide a regular assessment and indicators on how we are doing in delivering on our program.

Workplace notices

Upcoming all-staff meeting

There is a POLAR All-Staff meeting on Thursday, April 29, 2021

The meeting will focus on respect in the workplace, and will provide employees with an update and information on Bill C-65.