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From the top
Celebrating National Indigenous History Month
National Indigenous History Month begins on June 1 to celebrate and learn more about the rich, diverse history and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. It is also the 25th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.
Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and their partners have launched learning resources, including podcasts, visuals and movies, as well as multimedia activities for all ages. You can follow the #IndigenousReads summer campaign for all ages to discover new books by Indigenous authors.
Stay tuned for more information on this month’s virtual events and learning opportunities.
GBA+ and Budget 2021
By Brittany Dale, Planning Analyst, Planning and Reporting
Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) was first introduced into Canadian legislation in 1995 and has become an increasingly important tool in government policy-making and budgeting processes. Budget 2021 is the first federal budget to include the GBA+ status of each commitment. As shown in the ‘Opportunities for Businesses and Youth Workers Through Mitacs’ example below, Budget 2021’s new Impact Report section paints a clear picture of who commitments are meant to target and the nature of the impact.
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Opportunities for Businesses and Young Workers Through Mitacs
This program directly benefits youth since it will expand the number of work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students. It will also directly benefit businesses that get access to highlyqualified individuals. As Mitacs’ internships tend to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, in which men are overrepresented, it is likely that men would benefit more than women from these opportunities. Relative to their share of the labour force, visible minorities are also more likely to work in STEM fields. Women make up only 34 per cent of STEM bachelor degree holders and men account for 53 per cent of college enrolments in STEM programs. Men are also more highly-represented among Canadian business owners.
Data Sources: Statistics Canada
Quality of Life Impacts: Prosperity – Employment; Future outlook; Productivity
Target Population: Students, Businesses
Expected Benefits
Gender: Will benefit men slightly more than women
Income Distribution: Middle income
Inter-generational: Youth
Additional Characteristics: Students, businesses
GBA+ Timing: Early, existing
Gender Results Framework: Economic Participation and Prosperity
GBA+ Responsive Approach: Mitacs is committed to improving diversity as an organization and among program participants. It has a strategy in place to improve equity and diversity, particularly among four underrepresented groups: women, visible minorities, people with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples.
Each Budget Impact Report documents the status of GBA+ analysis, and the expected benefits for different gender, income, and age groups. These “report cards” also demonstrate how Budget 2021 commitments are advancing work under themes of Canada’s Gender Results Framework with the ‘Quality of Life’ indicators.
It is exciting to see Budget 2021 include GBA+ in this way as it provides additional transparency into the GBA+ processes of program development. GBA+ analysis also allows us to identify gaps in service for underrepresented Canadians. However, there is room for improvement. While Budget 2021 committed $2 billion towards Indigenous peoples, it lacked specific, distinctions-based information about how funding will be allocated between Inuit, Métis, and First Nations communities. Distinction-based approaches recognizes the unique interests, priorities and circumstances of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, and strive to work in partnership with each People to make progress in these areas. Distinctions-based approaches will be an important tool for the Government of Canada to continue to apply and strengthen GBA+.
POLAR’s Antarctic web pages
Learn more about how we’re expanding Canadian Antarctic research. POLAR’s Canada and the Antarctic page has been updated with new content. POLAR is working with Canadian and international partners to establish a formal Canadian Antarctic Research Program that will strengthen Canadian leadership in polar science and technology.
Reminder: National AccessAbility Week began May 30
Creating a Culture of Inclusion: Building Accessibility into our Everyday Work
To mark the week, Shared Services Canada (SSC) will be hosting a virtual event, “Creating a Culture of Inclusion: Building Accessibility into our Everyday Work” comprised of a panel discussion and presentations by three of the Government of Canada (GC)’s vendors, Microsoft, Apple and Samsung.
Microsoft, Apple and Samsung were selected for this event as they are industry leaders who provide the most widely available workplace tools that Public Servants across the GC use today and are recognized for having implemented cultures of accessibility within their organizations.
Date and time: June 2, 2021 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm (ET)
Language: Bilingual. The session will have simultaneous translation and closed captioning in both official languages, as well as American Sign Language (ASL) and la langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) interpretation.
Location: This event will be delivered virtually
Audience: All public servants at all levels
Registration: Not required
Event link
Please note, prior to registering for an event, you must request permission from your supervisor.
Publishing for all – Document accessibility
Every document created must be accessible by default. This workshop will teach participants how to implement accessibility requirements through a combination of presentations, demonstrations, exercises and facilitated discussion. Participants will be able to explain the importance of accessibility. Participants will learn how to apply the basic principles of accessibility to produce and remediate accessible content in various formats (for example, Word documents, PDF, PowerPoint). Participants will learn how to perform preliminary accessibility checks. Participants will also understand how accessible documents increase efficiencies pertaining to material conversion into other formats and to respond to multiple format requests.
Date and time: June 3, 2021 | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (ET)
Language: English
Location: This event will be delivered virtually on Microsoft Teams
Audience: All public servants at all levels
Registration: Not required
Link to Teams event
Please note, prior to registering for an event, you must request permission from your supervisor.
POLAR's people
Cambridge Bay’s snowmobile races
During Cambridge Bay’s annual snowmobile races, POLAR’s very own Jasmine Tiktalek took home third place in the Women’s Open Class snow drag race. Congratulations Jasmine!
Employee profiles
Still haven’t submitted your profile? Don’t worry, you’ve still got time! The Employee Profile questions are available for download, once completed please send it back with your photo attached to the communications inbox. You can also ask to be interviewed by a member of the Communications team.
Tehjae Tsukada
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Surname: Tsukada
Given name: Tehjae
Works here: Ottawa
On staff since: 2020
Date of issue: 2021-05-31
Passport number: 3435487418
Department: Knowledge Management and Engagement
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | Tehjae Tsukada |
| Job title | Policy Analyst |
| Your department | Knowledge Management & Engagement |
| What year did you start working for POLAR? | 2020 |
| Where are you based? | Ottawa |
| What inspired you to join POLAR? | Coming out of university, I knew I wanted to work somewhere my work would have an impact. POLAR is a small agency, but we do such important work, and I have accomplished that goal since joining. |
| Before joining POLAR, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve held? | Before working at POLAR I worked at three different bakeries. So, for many years of my life, I essentially smelled like brioche and cake all the time. |
| What hobbies do you have? | I am an avid baker and relish any opportunity to share my baked goods. I also do a crossword every single day |
| What is your favourite book? | That’s a hard one but probably Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov or Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace |
Gloria Song
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Surname: Song
Given name: Gloria
Works here: Ottawa
On staff since: 2017
Date of issue: 2021-05-31
Passport number: 6132925814
Department: Knowledge Management and Engagement
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | Gloria Song |
| Policy Analyst | Policy Analyst |
| Your department | Knowledge Management and Engagement |
| What year did you start working for POLAR? | 2017 |
| Where are you based? | Ottawa |
| How is your work contributing to POLAR’s priorities? | I lead POLAR’s international and Antarctic engagement, so my work contributes most to POLAR’s mandate to “promote the development and dissemination of knowledge of the other circumpolar regions, including the Antarctic” and “strengthen Canada’s leadership on Arctic issue”. |
| What inspired you to join POLAR? | I had moved back to Ottawa from Cambridge Bay and I was interested in an opportunity to continue working on Arctic issues and stay connected to Cambridge Bay, one of my favourite communities in the world. |
| Before joining POLAR, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve held? | Prior to POLAR, I worked as a poverty lawyer in Cambridge Bay at the Kitikmeot Law Centre for the Legal Services Board of Nunavut. |
| What hobbies do you have? | I’m obsessed with roller skating! Specifically, playing roller derby (when there isn’t a pandemic) and doing fun tricks at the skatepark on roller skates. |
| Share something interesting and unexpected about yourself. | I’m a musician in a band called Scary Bear Soundtrack, and we played at Bluesfest in 2019. |
| What is your favourite book? | I read Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search For Meaning when I was younger, and it really influenced my outlook on life. He wrote about how he found purpose in life, while he was a prisoner at a Nazi concentration camp! I also love Douglas Adams’ Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy! My most recent favourite read is N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy – she’s an amazing Black science fiction writer who is really making waves in the science fiction world. |
| If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? | My spouse’s Thai chicken curry. |
| Are you a dog person or a cat person? What is your favourite breed? | I am definitely a cat person. My naughty cats sometimes make an appearance during my work meetings while we’re videoconferencing… |
Learning and performance
Human Resources tip of the week!
Disconnecting from work from time to time is good for your mental health! With summer almost here, make sure to speak to your manager as early as possible about requesting any time off. Planning your vacation, including having a proper back-up and advising your colleagues of your anticipated time away from work will make your leave more enjoyable!
Inuktut word of the week
The Inuktuk word of the week is: Kalaalit Nunaat | ᑲᓛᖠᑦ ᓄᓈᑦ. It means, "Greenland".
Pronounce it like this: kuh-luh-shleet noo-nut
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?
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Talk the Talk
Graphic shows a person eating pie
Eat humble pie
In context: I made a mistake. Excuse me! I am going to eat humble pie.
Workplace notices
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: June 3, 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.
A new word search puzzle!
Did you enjoy last weeks puzzle? Here are your answers if you got stuck on any words. Keep an eye out for a new puzzle in a future POLAR XPRESS edition!
