POLAR XPRESS – Friday, March 1, 2019

FROM THE TOP:

March 8 is International Women’s Day

March 8 is International Women's Day (IWD) — a day to recognize women's achievements and acknowledge the challenges they continue to face in the quest for gender equality.

This year's theme, #InnovateForChange, is a call to action to encourage equality through technology. By removing the barriers facing women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), we can unleash new ideas and solutions that will transform our society and strengthen our economy.

Do you know a woman making a difference in STEM? This International Women’s Day, celebrate her achievements using the hashtag #InnovateForChange!

Check out Status of Women Canada’s website to learn more about IWD and how to celebrate in your community.

Happy International Women’s Day!

2019 Federal Elections

In 2019, elections are being held across Canada at the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal levels. As a federal public service employee, you have the right to engage in political activities as long as they do not impair, or are not perceived as impairing, your ability to perform your duties in an impartial manner.

Before supporting or opposing a candidate or a political party, get informed! Start by watching the Public Service Commission videos and browsing through the online political activities toolkit here.

Award-Winning Nunavik Research Centre Featured in Taqralik Magazine

The presentation of the Northern Science Award to the Nunavik Research Centre is featured in an article in Taqralik magazine, from Nunavik. You can read it here: https://www.makivik.org/magazine/issue117/#16

Government of Canada Bell Let's Talk Day with Shea Emry

Due to popular demand, the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) and the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace have provided the webcast link to the Government of Canada’s Bell Let’s Talk Day with Shea Emry.

A retired Canadian Football League all-star middle linebacker and two-time Grey Cup champion, Shea shared how his personal journey ultimately led him to found Wellmen—an organization that seeks to reframe "the culture of masculinity, one that accepts a more whole and complete human. No part, tear, feeling or grunt left out."

Connect to this inspiring webcast on the CSPS website.

New PowerPoint Presentation Templates

Need to develop a PowerPoint presentation for a conference or an internal meeting? Check out the two new POLAR templates in the “Communications Tools” section on the intranet.

Interested in writing an article for POLAR XPRESS?

If you are interested in writing an article for POLAR XPRESS, please provide your content to PolarXpressPolaire@polar.gc.ca by noon on the Monday of the newsletter publication week.

Here are the upcoming deadlines to submit an article:

• - Noon on Monday, March 11 (for the March 15 issue)
• - Noon on Monday, March 25 (for the March 29 issue)
• - Noon on Monday, April 8 (for the April 12 issue)
• - Noon on Thursday, April 18 – due to the Easter long weekend (for the April 26 issue)

POLAR’S PEOPLE:

Yukon Quest Mushers: Working Together to Find Their Way

During their 1,600-kilometer sled dog race from Whitehorse, Yukon, to Fairbanks, Alaska, Yukon Quest mushers were hit by a winter storm, burying the trail with snow from raging winds.

That’s when mushers decided to cross Eagle Summit—one of the last major hurdles before reaching the finish line—as a group and help each other get through the harsh conditions.

Our Whitehorse colleague, Rob Cooke, stepped up in this difficult situation and led the way for three other teams and brought everyone to safety.

A fellow musher Andy Pace mentioned that Rob “(…) did an extraordinary job. It was hands-down one of the most commendable things I've seen” (CBC, 2019).

Congrats on this incredible demonstration of leadership and sportsmanship!

Read the full CBC article here.

POLAR Employees Hit the Ice!

As part of the Ottawa Social Committee activities, POLAR staff have been lacing up their skates every Friday during lunch for a skate on the Rideau Canal. Ice conditions have been incredible, the weather mild and the company amazing!

Meet us at noon in the reception area for some skating fun!

POLAR Chocograms are Back!

Missed the last chocogram edition? We’ve got you covered! St. Patrick’s Day chocograms are here!

Send a chocogram to your colleagues to let them know how appreciated they are. It includes a Lindt chocolate and a personal message from you.

How does it work?

• 1- Download the chocogram message template here, write a personal message to your colleague(s), and bring it to Tetra (CB) or Jihan (Ottawa).
• 2- To send a chocogram to a colleague at the other office (Ottawa or CB), send your scanned message to Tetra and Jihan. Your colleagues aren’t in the CB or Ottawa offices? No worries! We’ll send them your personal message by email!
• 3- Purchase a chocogram at $2 (or 3 for $5) starting March 4th from Tetra or Jihan.
• 4- On Friday, March 15, the Social Committees will deliver the surprise chocogram to staff.

Chocolate wrappings may not be green, but it’s still the perfect St. Patrick’s Day treat! For more information, contact Tetra or Jihan.

All proceeds go the Ottawa and Cambridge Bay social committees.

LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE

Public Service Award of Excellence 2019

Nominations for the 2019 Public Service Award of Excellence (PSAE) are now open. The PSAE provides the opportunity to recognize outstanding federal public service employees who have demonstrated excellence, professionalism, and innovation in their work.

Starting now, you can nominate and submit any of your outstanding employees and teams to be a recipient of this award, at PSAE-PEFP@tbs-sct.gc.ca.

Nominations will close on March 29, 2019.

The recipients of the PSAE represent some of the best and brightest public servants, all of whom play an important role in helping the government to offer better and more efficient programs and services.

Last year, 123 outstanding public servants were recognized for their work in a variety of areas, including for example: digital innovation, supporting wellness through mental health first aid training, protecting Canada’s freshwater, fighting climate change, and helping Canadians during natural disasters.

The PSAE is divided into the five following categories:

1. Exemplary Contribution under Extraordinary Circumstances
2. Exceptional Young Public Servants
3. Excellence in Profession
4. Joan Atkinson Award for Public Sector Values in the Workplace
5. Outstanding Career

Additional information on the categories can be found on the GCintranet. You may also refer to GCpedia for the nomination form and additional information on the selection criteria.

For information on the selection committee or award process, please contact Jean-François Fleury by phone at 613-907-5180 or by email at Jean-François.Fleury@tbs-sct.gc.ca.

Exploring Distinct Indigenous Knowledge Systems

On March 12, connect to the Canada School of Public Service’s webcast to hear the findings of a seven-year pan-Canadian research partnership between the Assembly of First Nations and Dalhousie University, focusing on how distinct Indigenous Knowledge Systems can be used to better inform efforts aimed at sustaining fisheries on Canada's three coasts and the Inland region.

Panelists include representatives from:

• Dalhousie University – Marine Affairs Program, Halifax, NS
• Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, Cape Breton, NS
• Government of Nunavut – Department of Environment, Iqaluit, NU
• Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Tla-o-qui-aht, BC
• Assembly of First Nations, Ottawa, ON

For more information or to register: Canada School of Public Service

POLAR’s Inuit Employment Plan (IEP)

Pilimmaksaivik, the Federal Centre of Excellence for Inuit Employment in Nunavut, developed a whole-of-government Inuit Employment Plan (IEP) for 2017/18 to 2022/23 to support the Government of Canada in building a representative public service in Nunavut.

The whole-of-government IEP responds directly to the commitment made in the May 2015 out-of-court Settlement Agreement reached with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut to create a ‘master’ IEP for the Government of Canada. It identifies Inuit employment commitments to support federal government organizations in collectively meeting their Inuit employment obligations, focusing on opportunities to support multiple government departments and agencies and facilitate the achievement of shared goals and an integrated government response.

POLAR’s IEP is intended to supplement and build on commitments identified in the whole-of-government IEP, by addressing Inuit employment barriers and opportunities that are more specific to POLAR. This IEP also provides further details on how POLAR will operationalize key whole-of-government commitments where applicable. POLAR’s Inuit Employment Plan (IEP) outlines how POLAR will work towards increasing participation of Nunavut Inuit in its Nunavut-based positions to a representative level across job groups and levels.

You can find POLAR’s IEP, as well as the Whole-of-Government IEP, on Pilimmaksaivik’s GCPedia page under “Resources/Tools”: http://www.gcpedia.gc.ca/wiki/Pilimmaksaivik_Resources/Tools

Inuinnaqtun Word of the Week - Aullaqtuq

The Inuinnaqtun word of the week is aullaqtuq. It means “he/she is leaving” (on a trip, hunting, etc.). It is pronounced: owl-laq-tuq.

Are you ready to Talk the Talk?

WORKPLACE NOTICES:

Phishing Basics – Protect Yourself!

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of attack that uses email or a messaging service to fool you into taking an action you should not take, such as clicking on a malicious link, sharing your password, or opening an infected email attachment. Attackers work hard to make these messages convincing and tap your emotional triggers, such as urgency or curiosity. These messages can look like they came from someone or something you know, such as a friend or a trusted company you frequently use. They could even add logos of your bank or forge the email address so the message appears more legitimate. Attackers then send these messages to millions of people. They do not know who will take the bait, all they know is the more they send, the more people will fall victim.

Protect Yourself!

In almost all cases, opening and reading an email or message is fine. For a phishing attack to work, the bad guys need to trick you into doing something. Fortunately, there are clues that a message is an attack. Learn more about these clues here.

How to report phishing?

Click here to learn how to report phishing at Polar Knowledge Canada.

Want to test your abilities to spot phishing attempts? Take the quiz!

Keeping the Workplace Kitchen Clean

With the exception of the personal cellphone, it is common knowledge the kitchen is the “dirtiest” place at work, housing germs and bacteria that can cause illness.

Please help us in ensuring that the kitchen and fridges stay clean. We are all accountable for how our kitchen looks and smells and how usable it is.

Do…

• ✓ Wash, dry and put away your dishes, cutlery – anything that you have used
• ✓ Clean up splatters in the microwave
• ✓ Wipe up spills and messes right away
• ✓ Keep track of what’s yours in the fridge – label your items clearly with your name
• ✓ Remove your food before it spoils

Don’t…

• ✓ Leave your dishes in the sink
• ✓ Move or take items that are not yours
• ✓ Let your dishes soak in the sink
• ✓ Overcrowd the fridge; only refrigerate what needs to be kept cold.

By working together, everyone can ensure that the kitchen at work is a safe, clean place to eat.

Need IT/Computer Support?

ALT Consulting provides ongoing IT and computer support to employees in Cambridge Bay and Ottawa. If you require any support, please send your question to the IT help desk at helpdesk@alt-consulting.ca. The ALT Consulting team can provide support remotely or in person in Ottawa.

UPDATES:

Key Outcomes from Senior Management Committee (SMC) Meeting

Here are the key outcomes and decisions deriving from the February 20 Senior Management Committee meeting:

• Senior Management received an update on next steps to continue the development of POLAR’s 2020-25 Strategic Plan.
• Senior Management had an initial discussion regarding a proposed approach intended to support POLAR in managing, in a fair and transparent manner, unsolicited requests for travel support that align with POLAR’s mandate.
• With respect to third-party use of public space at the CHARS campus, a procedure and supporting request form is complete, and a waiver form for non-federal government users is being translated. In the meantime, Senior Management decided that POLAR will offer the CHARS campus as a venue for a Fisheries and Oceans Canada-hosted meeting in March of the international Arctic Council-affiliated Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group, given that an alternate venue in the community is no longer available.

POLAR Events Calendar

You will find below the latest version of the POLAR events calendar, including upcoming events and conferences for your information.

Note: The calendar is subject to change. Any travel has to be pre-approved by Directors (and above for international destinations).

Please send any calendar updates or additions to Regienna by email at regienna.baggayan@polar.gc.ca.

POLAR events calendar: February 27, 2019

REMINDERS:

Naming or Substitution of a Beneficiary for your Supplementary Death Benefit

HR would like to remind you to complete the Naming or Substitution of a Beneficiary form for your Supplementary Death Benefit and return it to them to HR-RH@Polar.gc.ca before March 15, 2019.

This form allows employees to identify a beneficiary for their Supplementary Death Benefit.

* Please ensure you read the Notes and Instructions on the form before filling it out. *

HR will keep a copy on each employee’s personnel file and will provide a copy to Compensation and the Pension Center in order to ensure that their files are also up to date.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the HR team.