POLAR XPRESS – Friday, May 10, 2019

FROM THE TOP:

POLAR’s Draft Science and Technology (S&T) Plan

On May 2, POLAR launched the Public Review Process for its Draft 2020-25 Science and Technology (S&T) Plan, which will help guide POLAR’s future funding, programs and activities.

The Draft 2020-2025 Science and Technology Plan was developed based on input from key northern and Indigenous groups and organizations, as well as on other priority-setting documents. POLAR is currently seeking a Public Review of this draft plan via a Survey Monkey questionnaire until May 14, 2019.

The next steps include the development of the S&T Plan’s communications products (news release, infographics, and social media elements) as well as the integration of the comments received from the public review of the Plan. POLAR will release its final 2020-25 Science and Technology Plan in June 2019.

A big thank you to the many POLAR staff who helped support the development of this Draft Plan!

Severe Impact of Spring Flooding

As we acknowledge the severe impact of flooding on many employees and their families, it is vital to remember that these difficult events can take a toll on our mental health. A critical incident such as natural disasters, including flooding, sometimes causes people to experience unusually strong reactions that may interfere with their ability to function both during and after the incident. It is common and quite normal for people to experience acute stress reactions when they have been through such an event. These are normal reactions to an abnormal event.

Sometimes the stress reaction may last days, weeks, or months, and occasionally longer. With the understanding and support of family, friends, co-workers, and supervisors, acute stress reactions to critical incidents tend to pass more quickly. Occasionally the critical incident is so overwhelming that additional assistance from a mental health professional may be necessary.

If you or your immediate family members have experienced any psychological distress, you may call the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-268-7708 (and 1-800-567-5803 for persons that are deaf and hard of hearing). Trained counsellors are available 24/7 to provide confidential crisis counselling and to refer you to counsellors for in-person consultations. You can also speak to your family doctor about mental health concerns at any time.

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day on May 11

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) celebrates a migratory bird’s spectacular migration between winter and summer grounds. Every year, WMBD presents an annual theme aiming to raise awareness of issues affecting migratory birds and to inspire people and organizations around the world to take measures for their conservation. This year’s theme − “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!” − will put the spotlight on the negative impact of plastic pollution on migratory birds and their habitats.

Did you know that microplastic is found in stomachs of 90% of seabirds globally, compared to only 5% in 1960? World Migratory Bird Day 2019 is a unique chance to unite efforts in addressing this rapidly growing environmental problem.

Learn more about events you can attend to celebrate this day with our feathered friends around the world. Check out the Global Event Map here.

POLAR’S PEOPLE:

ARCBIO: Bridging Biodiversity Science, DNA Technology and Local Knowledge

Over decades, the Inuit have observed environmental changes in the Arctic, such as differences in sea ice thaw and migratory patterns of different species. Integrated with data collected by researchers, these observations form an important source of knowledge about the state of the Arctic. ARCTIC BIOSCAN (ARCBIO) aims to reinforce this knowledge by improving capacity to monitor changes in biological communities in the Canadian Arctic with local expert input.

POLAR is providing financial support to ARCBIO via its Northern Science and Technology Program. An ARCBIO team from the University of Guelph, Ontario, was at the CHARS campus earlier this year to meet with our colleagues Ian, Lynda, Ann and Matilde to shape the goals of the ARCBIO project. You can read more about their visit to the CHARS campus in ARCBIO’s blog and check out Ian’s interview: CHARS – Research in the Canadian Arctic.

In the summer of 2019, the team will undertake a field survey expedition in Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk to seek input on study design of a new system for real-time monitoring of the diversity of organisms in the Arctic.

Data collected through ARCBIO will help to inform public policy and to address the impacts of ecological and climatic change, such as the spread of invasive species, wildlife diseases, or changes in the availability of country foods and other natural resources. For more information in ARCBIO, please visit their website here.

POLAR’s Social Committees

Cambridge Bay:
On a beautiful sunny April evening, the CB Social Committee organized a staff/family BBQ in the Field and Maintenance Building on the CHARS campus to celebrate the year end. Grant mastered the grill as others enjoyed a yummy BBQ dinner. What a great way to end Fiscal Year 2018-2019!

Ottawa:
Reminder – The Ottawa Social Committee is organising a winter clothing drive to raise items for the less fortunate in the Kitikmeot Region. Bring in gently used winter clothing or accessories at the end of the month, including:

• knitted articles
• hats
• mitts
• winter outerwear
• boots of all sizes

Monetary donations are also welcome and will be used to purchase any missing/needed items ahead of the next winter season.

Items collected will be sent this summer in POLAR’s sea cans and will be delivered to Cambridge Bay’s Wellness Centre. For more information, please contact Marie-Eve at marie-eve.larocque@polar.gc.ca.

LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE

Free Access to Mental Health Programming and Activities

The Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace (the Centre) offers a variety of learning events and activities to all levels of employees of the Community of Federal Agencies via WebEx or in person.

The events held at the Centre, located at 235 Queen Street in Ottawa, promote the importance of mental health, wellness, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. You can now advance your knowledge on mental health related topics!

The Centre strives to build capacity and empower federal public servants with practical tools that are innovative, timely and responsive. Events such as seminars and workshops provide an opportunity to share knowledge and best practices on mental health in the workplace.

Upcoming events and activities are posted in the Centre’s GCconnex group:
https://gcconnex.gc.ca/groups/profile/30446025?language=en

You can also subscribe to this site and receive e-mail notification of new and upcoming events.

Inuktitut/Inuinnaqtun Word of the Week - Tikittut - ᑎᑭᑦᑐᑦ

The Inuinnaqtun word of the week is tikittut. It means “they (three people or more) have arrived”. It is pronounced: tee-keet-toot.

Listen to the pronunciation here.

Are you ready to Talk the Talk?

WORKPLACE NOTICES:

2019-2020 Performance Agreements

A reminder that all year-end Performance Review discussions for 2018-2019 should now be complete. Signed year-end Performance Agreements should be sent to the HR inbox at HR_RH@polar.gc.ca to be kept on each employee’s personnel file.

The new performance cycle for 2019-2020 has now started. Performance Agreements and Learning Plans for each employee for the 2019-2020 fiscal year will need to be completed and submitted by June 14, 2019. The templates for the Performance Agreement and Learning Plan can be found on the forms section of the POLAR intranet. Additional information will be forthcoming about corporate commitments and how to prepare SMART goals and objectives.

For more information, please contact the HR team.

Information Management Tip of the Week

Good Information Management (IM) goes beyond collecting data in a table format or spreadsheet. Sound IM also includes the more qualitative information that tells the POLAR story.

Listed here are 5 keys to good Information Management that POLAR will apply as we move towards the development of a solid IM Strategy.

• Leadership: Leadership is critical to good IM. When leadership is engaged, setting the vision and strategy, as well as making key decisions, projects go much more smoothly.
• Operations: People, efficient project management and communications contribute to good project planning, time management and delivery.
• Processes: Design, document, execute! It’s important to have everyone follow the same processes within an organization; otherwise data loses its integrity.
• Data: Collect, organize, maintain, use! Data must be consistently collected, well organized and maintained over time, but above all, it needs to be used (usable).
• Technology: Getting technology aligned to the 4 prior keys is critical for successful IM with the organization. Information management is much more than just technology.

Improving information management practices is a priority for POLAR. Over the next month there will be an IM Survey to help us understand current information management practices and needs at POLAR. Your input is essential to ensuring that we establish programs and practices to help you do your work and manage the ever-growing amount of information you work with.

For more information on the next steps to develop the POLAR IM Strategy, please contact Renée at renee.bergeron@polar.gc.ca.

UPDATES:

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 and cc Amber McMachen at amber.mcmachen@polar.gc.ca.

POLAR events calendar: May 8, 2019

Key Outcomes from Senior Management Committee

Here are the key outcomes and decisions deriving from the April 24 Senior Management Committee meeting:

• The date for SMC’s 2-day planning meeting will be finalized soon. Target dates are June 11-12. Draft agenda to be provided to SMC members this week, followed by activity worksheets to complete by the end of May.
• The Inuit Employment Plan (IEP) is progressing well. Feedback from Inuit organizations has been received and the plan will be adjusted accordingly. It is expected that the draft plan will be presented for SMC approval at the June planning meeting.

POLAR Priorities Update

The latest Priorities Update document is here! Take a look at the priorities and activities of your colleagues between May 6 to May 31.