POLAR XPRESS – May 4, 2020

FROM THE TOP

Mental Health Week 2020

With physical distancing measures in place due to COVID-19, it’s the perfect time to focus on how important social connection is to our mental health.

On May 5, GC Mental Health will host two virtual Power Chats on COVID-19 and Mental Health in the Workplace through the Canada School of Public Service. The English webcast will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EDT) and the French webcast will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT). During these sessions, expert panelists will answer your questions on how to maintain social connections while juggling personal responsibilities with professional duties, in atypical working conditions.

5-Day Challenge

From May 4-8, the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace will be hosting a virtual 5-day #GetReal for #GCMentalHealth challenge on Twitter. The Centre will be offering great tips and ideas for staying connected while being apart. Every day over the 5 days, they will be encouraging you to connect in a different way, and asking you to share how you are staying connected:

  • Day 1 (May 4): Connect with yourself
  • Day 2 (May 5): Connect with loved ones
  • Day 3 (May 6): Connect with nature
  • Day 4 (May 7): Connect with colleagues
  • Day 5 (May 8): Connect with your community

Join the conversation on Twitter with #GetReal and #GCMentalHealth for #MentalHealthWeek!

POLAR’S PEOPLE

Newly recognized muskox pathogen linked to declining populations in Alaska and Nunavut

POLAR’s Matilde Tomaselli is among the authors of this paper on a study of E. rhusiopathiae, a newly recognised pathogen that occurs in muskoxen. The scientists tested over 800 blood samples taken from muskoxen in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic between 1976 and 2017, and found the pathogen in about a quarter of them. Their research showed that, while E. rhusiopathiae is not new to the Arctic, it has become more common in several areas where muskox populations have declined. Understanding the reasons for this increase, and the effects on muskoxen, is critical to evaluating the future of the animals and the implications for the arctic communities that depend on them.

LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE

Reminder: Performance agreements

Year-end performance reviews for 2019-2020 and beginning of year performance agreements for 2020-2021 will both be due on May 29. This is to encourage continuity of performance discussions and objectives from year to year, and to ensure that objectives for 2020-2021 are set at the beginning of the fiscal year.

If you have any questions about the year-end performance review process, please send them to the Human Resources inbox at HR_RH@polar.gc.ca.

Inuinnaqtun/Inuktitut word of the week

The Inuinnaqtun/Inuktitut word of the week is: kanuhak. It means: copper-bearing rock

It is pronounced: kuh-noo-huk

Listen to the pronunciation here:

Are you ready to Talk the Talk?

Talk the Talk

UPDATES

Key outcomes from Senior Management Committee

Here are the key outcomes and decisions from the April 29, 2020, Senior Management Committee meeting:

  • SMC reviewed the POLAR XPRESS survey results and recommendations. Members commented on the quality of the current product and were generally supportive of the recommendations. It was suggested that the POLAR XPRESS could be explored as a vehicle for messages from the President, as well for managers to announce new POLAR staff. Communications will suggest an approach to Executive Directors on how Communications could solicit more contributions from POLAR staff.
  • SMC discussed POLAR’s upcoming five-year anniversary and reviewed suggestions from Communications on promotional activities and events. SMC members agreed that this could be an opportunity to market POLAR’s Strategic Plan and S&T Framework. COVID-19 will be one of the considerations in how POLAR can mark this milestone. As a next step, Communications will draft a proposed communications plan for the five-year anniversary and come back to SMC for a further discussion.

POLAR Updates surrounding COVID-19

As an organization, POLAR has committed to provide regular messaging and updates to staff regarding COVID-19. To ensure that the most accurate information is being shared, an Emergency Management Committee (EMC) has been formed. This committee is comprised of POLAR’s senior management team, plus our Manager of HR, and our Chief Security Officer. Members of the EMC are actively participating in a range of Government of Canada COVID-19 briefings that provide information, guidance and direction to departments and agencies.

During these times of “new-normal,” steps are being taken to organize a virtual all-staff meeting to provide additional updates and allow staff the opportunity to raise questions. As well, the 2020-21 Work Plan which has been approved by the Board on April 17 will be discussed.

As a reminder, the Employee Assistance Program is available to you and your family members at any time by phone 1-800-268-7708. The Government of Canada web page on COVID-19 also contains important and useful information, including ways to maintain and support our mental health. Employees wanting to learn about the supports available to them, should visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/government/publicservice/covid-19.html.

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 the appropriate delegated manager.

Please send any calendar updates or additions to Janine Angohiatok at janine.angohiatok@polar.gc.ca.

POLAR events calendar: May 1, 2020

UPDATES

Cyber safety during COVID-19

In addition to staying home and staying safe, be proactive by learning what you can do to stay safe online. It is important to stay informed about cyber security during times of heightened levels of technology use. Below are helpful blogs published by the Canadian Center for Cyber Security:

Visit GetCyberSafe.gc.ca and Cyber.gc.ca for more on how to stay cyber secure.

Learn about Information Technology (IT) Security

Gain a foundational understanding of IT security that can be adapted to organizational contexts across the public service through the following courses offered by the Canada School of Public Service. Equip yourself to better support IT security in the Government of Canada.

Note: These courses are hosted externally by the Cyber Centre Learning Hub at the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. When you launch the course, you will be redirected to its Learning Management System login page.