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From the top
Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health Week
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Graphic showing the following emotions: happy, afraid, sad, angry
Get ready to #GetReal
CMHA Mental Health Week
May 3 to May 9, 2021
Visit mentalhealthweek.ca for info and tools!
This year's Mental Health Week is focused on naming, expressing and dealing with your emotions, not numbing them. Recognizing your emotions and naming the feeling is incredibly important to your mental health. Join the conversation on social media by naming your emotions with #GetReal.
Mental Health resources:
Options for conflict resolution
View the infographic here!
POLAR's people
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. The Employee Profile questions are available for download, once completed please send it back to the communications inbox.
Meghan Provost
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Surname: Provost
Given name: Meghan
Works here: Ottawa
On staff since: 2021
Date of issue: 2021-05-03
Passport number: 6136975091
Department: Corporate Services
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | Meghan Provost |
| Job title | Executive Director, Corporate Services |
| Your department | Corporate Services |
| What year did you start working for POLAR? | 2021 |
| Where are you based? | My cold and dark basement (in Ottawa) |
| What inspired you to join POLAR? | As a scientist by training, and as someone who loves working in Corporate Service enabling an organization to deliver on its mandate, joining POLAR as ED, CS seemed like a perfect fit. |
| Before joining POLAR, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve held? | I’m so grateful that each job I’ve had, whether as a public servant, in academia, or as a student, has taught me so much. However, I would say my most interesting job was working at photo processing plant, back when people used cameras with film (yes, I have dated myself). I got to live vicariously through other people’s photos… like social media, before social media was a thing. |
| What hobbies do you have? | I compete in (complete?) triathlons, so when I’m not working, or parenting, I’m training. I think/hope that my regular physical activity moderates my energy level to a level tolerable to my family and colleagues. Paradoxically, I also enjoy sitting on my couch and reading mindless books. |
| Share something interesting and unexpected about yourself. | There are so many fun facts to share, but I will provide one to keep some items for if we ever do the “two truths, one lie” team building game. How about this tidbit? In 2007, I was contacted by Cosmopolitan because they wanted to do a little blurb on some of my research. |
Clara Young
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Surname: Young
Given name: Clara
Works here: Virtual
On staff since: 2019
Date of issue: 2021-05-03
Passport number: 3435427091
Department: Communications
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | Clara Young |
| Job title | Communications Support Officer |
| Your department | Communications, President’s Office |
| What year did you start working for POLAR? | 2019 |
| Where are you based? | Coming to you virtually from the Ottawa Valley! I’m based out of the Ottawa office though. |
| What are you most proud of at POLAR? What do you feel is your strongest accomplishment? | Bringing POLAR’s social media channels to life. |
| What was your favourite POLAR project? | Creating and implementing the Northern Scientific Training Program’s Instagram campaign. I am so proud to see the beautiful photos being shared with the public. |
| Share something interesting and unexpected about yourself. | During my summer break from college, I lived in Northern Italy where I worked as an au pair. While the children were in school, I attended Italian language classes at a local high school. During my off time, I had the opportunity to travel all around Italy with two amazing girls who were also working as au pairs. |
| If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? | Sushi. Or French fries. But sushi offers more variety so... Sushi, definitely. Especially with avocado. |
Learning and performance
Human Resources tip of the week!
Combating stigma related to mental illness, suicide, and substance use starts with how we use language — something that continuously evolves. This is why it’s important to be aware of outdated language used in the media and in our day-to-day.
For example, instead of saying “It drives me crazy,” more respectful language would be, “It bothers/annoys/frustrates me.” Instead of saying, “This individual suffers from depression,” consider saying “They live with/are experiencing depression.” Everyone can be a champion against stigma when advocating the use of accurate and respectful language. So, as you communicate with others, be mindful of the impact of your language.
Inuktut word of the week
The Inuktuk word of the week is: takuniaqquguk | ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᑯᒍᒃ. It means, see you in a bit.
Pronounce it like this: ta-koo-nyaq-qoo-gook
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 button, a sewing needle, and a string
One thing led to another
In context: I bumped into a friend at the mall and we started talking. Before I knew it, one thing led to another and she'd shared all the juicy details of her story.
Workplace notices
Winter–Spring 2021 POLAR Update
POLAR’s latest newsletter has been released highlighting a wide range of topics! If you haven’t already, be sure to check it out.
- POLAR’s Northern Science Award presented to Wayne Pollard
- POLAR and the National Research Council test clean energy technology for the North
- POLAR co-developing a knowledge sharing forum focused on Indigenous knowledge and science
- POLAR biologist Ian Hogg co-authors new paper calling for inclusion of Antarctic data in global biodiversity assessments
Generic Teams Background
A generic POLAR background has been created for staff to use during teams or zoom meetings.
- Before joining a meeting, a page will appear "choosing your video and audio options."
- Under the video preview, select "background filters." This will open your background settings.
- Click the "+ add new" button at the top.
- Follow the file path to the stored photos, click "open."
- The uploaded photo swill appear at the bottom of the "background settings" page.
- You can now select any background you wish and preview it before joining the meeting.
** Note: In the video preview, the background will appear to be mirrored; however, viewers will see the image correctly.