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Hello Parks Canada!

As we approach the dawn of a new year, I reflect upon all that we have achieved together in 2020 and all that awaits us in 2021. It is in this spirit that I would like to thank each of you for your many contributions to the Parks Canada team these past months, while also adjusting to the unique realities that we have all faced, both personally and professionally.

Each of you has played an important role in honouring the cultural and natural mandate that has been entrusted to us and I am immensely proud of you all. Through your collective expertise, enthusiasm and dedication, the Parks Canada team continues to embody the history, pride and leadership demonstrated by J.B. Harkin and the Dominion Parks Branch, established back in 1911 in the early days of our nation. Today, nearly 110 years later, your achievements continue to inspire millions of Canadians and to exemplify all that can be achieved when we work together and in common cause.

For my family, the holidays promise a smaller, more intimate gathering as we welcome Mairi home from her university studies. It will be just the four of us this year: Carolyn, Mairi, Emily and me. And we will embrace it as an opportunity to reconnect with each other and to consider the many blessings that we enjoy.  So, too, will we look ahead with renewed optimism to a point on the not too distant horizon when we will gather with family, friends, and colleagues again.

However you celebrate the season, my wish for each of remains one of good health, abundant happiness, and all the very best for a happy and prosperous new year.

 

Happy holidays!

 

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer

#ParksProud  #StrongerTogether

 

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 21, 2020.

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank you for your sustained hard work, dedication, and ability to adapt in these challenging times over the past year. This year has not been easy, yet we have been able to keep the conversations on the environment and climate change at the forefront.

We accomplished some really big things: We proposed a ban on certain harmful single-use plastics and other measures to move toward a more circular economy; we tabled legislation to hold the government to its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050; and we launched our plan to exceed Canada’s current 2030 Paris Agreement target. And now, for the first time in Canadian history, we are on track to meet a climate target. The strengthened climate plan was a great way to round out the year. A huge congratulations to all of you who made it happen.

I am also very proud of the work undertaken at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to put in place new regulatory measures for exploratory drilling projects offshore of Newfoundland and Labrador and, more broadly, grateful for the tremendous support and important advice that you have provided to me on project assessments and major developments across the country.

I would like to thank Parks Canada, who, despite the many challenges presented by the pandemic, completely reshaped its operations, collaborating with local and national occupational health and safety committees to reopen as many sites as possible in a way that ensured staff and visitors felt safe visiting national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas.

Each and every one of you plays a vital role in these big accomplishments, and—together—we are building a cleaner, healthier future for our kids and grandkids.

During this holiday season, I hope you will all be able to take time to recharge and spend time with loved ones while respecting the health measures in place.

Happy holidays!

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Dear Colleagues,

It is with mixed feelings that I inform you that Kalvin Mercer, Executive Director, Asset Management and Project Delivery, is retiring after 28 years of service with the Public Service, including over 10 years of service with the Parks Canada Agency. Kalvin’s last day of work with the Agency is December 18, 2020, following a wonderful farewell tribute that saw him celebrated by well over one hundred current and former colleagues.

Kalvin spent 18 years working in the information management (IM) and information technology (IT) sectors at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, in which he served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for both organizations in the last eight years.

In 2012, Kalvin joined the Agency as Chief Information Officer. In April 2012, he took on the position of Chief Information and Real Property Officer, a position in which he assumed a leadership role for Asset Management, Realty, Environmental Management, Corporate Administrative Support Services and Departmental Security, along with his ongoing CIO accountabilities. He additionally took on the role of Director of Water Power for the Agency. In November 2014, Kalvin was assigned to the position of Executive Director responsible for establishing the Agency’s capacity to support and deliver the Federal Infrastructure Program. He was directly accountable for the Waterways and Highway asset rehabilitation programs as well as the provision of Project Management and Architectural and Engineering, in support to field units.

Some of his most notable accomplishments while at the Agency have been the provision of continuity of IM/IT services and supporting OCIO staff following the creation of Shared Services Canada in 2012. Overseeing the establishment of evidence pertaining to the condition of the Agency’s built asset holdings and conveying this information to Central Agencies, Kalvin ultimately contributed to the infusion of B-Base funding commencing in Budget 2014 followed by the Federal Infrastructure Investment in 2015, equating to approximately $3 billion to rehabilitate Parks Canada infrastructures. He also established national teams (Highway Engineering Services, Project Delivery Services, Waterway Project Delivery Services) to enable the successful delivery of the Agency’s investment program over the last six years. Kalvin’s list of successes also includes the expansion of Parks Canada’s national Environmental and Asset Management functions along with Architectural and Engineering Services to meet the needs of field units, and effectively serving as the Director of Water Power for eight years, maximizing annual revenue (approx. $1.7M) received from hydro developers along the Agency Waterways.

In retirement, Kalvin is looking forward to investing more time pursuing some of his leisure interests such as skiing, golfing, cycling and playing hockey as well as getting to the lengthy “to do” list that has been forever accumulating over his public service career.

I would like to thank Kalvin for his passion for Parks Canada's mandate, his ability to provide constructive criticism and his innate sense of operations; characteristics that have been evident in all aspects of his work.

I would also like to inform you that Kerry Buckley has kindly agreed to assume Kalvin's duties, on an interim basis, until a permanent successor is identified. She can be contacted at: kerry.buckley@canada.ca

Please join me in congratulating Kalvin and wishing him every success in his retirement plans.

 

Ron Hallman

President & Chief Executive Officer

Dear Colleagues,

After several years of leadership in the Mauricie and Western Quebec Field Unit, I would like to inform you that Nadine Blackburn will be leaving her position at the end of January 2021 to take on new personal challenges. We will have the opportunity to mark her departure at the beginning of 2021.

To replace her, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Geneviève Caron to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Mauricie and Western Québec Field Unit, effective December 21, 2020.

During the first ten years of her career, Geneviève held several positions, including Forest Planning Engineer at Commonwealth Plywood Company of Canada in Mont-Laurier and Director of Procurement and Plants for Stella-Jones in Mauricie. In 2004, she became Superintendent of Integrated Resource Management for Abitibi Consolidated of Canada, for which she developed and implemented the first Sustainable Forest Management certification on public lands in the Mauricie region. In 2007, she accepted a new challenge as Plant Manager for Cascades.

Passionate about seeing regions develop, Geneviève shifted to federal public service in 2010 by joining Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) as Director, Quality and Operational Coherence in the head office. In 2016, she became Regional Director of the Centre-du-Québec Business Office, where she used her talents as a unifying force to develop partnerships for regional development.

Geneviève was quickly recognized by CED for her deep interest in innovation and continuous improvement. She was given the mandate of Blueprint 2020 Champion from 2017 to 2019. Also recognized for her commitment to developing a healthy workplace, she has been a member of the Clerk's Advisory Committee for Mental Health since 2016 and has also fulfilled the mandate of Public Service Employee Survey Co-Champion. She is deeply involved in the development of managers by leading an interdepartmental co-development group for first-level managers.

Geneviève holds a certificate in ecology from the Université du Québec à Montréal as well as a bachelor's degree in forest engineering and an MBA from Université Laval.

Geneviève lived in Shawinigan for over seven years, and is thrilled to be able to live there again with her husband Jocelyn and her three children, Robin, Abigail and Ethan. In her spare time, Geneviève enjoys endurance sports such as triathlons, running and cross-country skiing.

Please join me in congratulating Geneviève on her appointment to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Mauricie and Western Québec Field Unit and welcoming her to the Parks Canada team. In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nadine for her years of dedication to Parks Canada.

 

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 15, 2020.

Last January, our President and Chief Executive Officer shared with you the launch of an innovation competition funded under the Nature Legacy initiative, as a new approach to engage all Parks Canada staff in generating ideas to improve conservation and to test tools to drive innovation. Today I am pleased to announce the results of the competition.

Thanks to the active participation of staff in this initiative, eight new natural resource conservation projects will be brought to fruition in 2021‑2022. These projects were selected through a crowdfunding process where more than 80 selected staff in different directorates were allocated a total of $100 000 virtual dollars to invest in the projects they felt would bring the greatest conservation benefit to Parks Canada.

I am particularly impressed by the participation from across the Agency and the variety of projects submitted. I would like to thank everybody who contributed in one way or another to making this initiative succeed, and to acknowledge the efforts of the working group who ensured the competition integrated perspectives from all functions.

I look forward to learning more about projects, other outcomes of the competition and lessons learned from this initiative in the coming year.

You can find the list of winning projects and additional information on the ParksNet page for the Innovation Competition.

Darlene Upton

Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation

Daphne Porter, who is a member of the Legal Services Unit providing legal services to Parks Canada Agency, will be leaving the federal Department of Justice at the end of December to embark on a new adventure with the Ministry of the Attorney General for British Columbia in January.

Over the last 20 years, she has contributed, among other things, to the advancement and completion of major initiatives of the Parks Canada Agency including the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement, the IIBA with the Nunatsiavut Government prior to the establishment of the Torngat Mountains National Park, an agreement with the Province of British Columbia to establish Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and an agreement with the Haida Nation to establish Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage site.

She was counsel in charge of the new Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, an area in which her expertise will be missed.

Her passion for providing legal services to the Parks Canada Agency came from her time spent as a Park Warden (1988 – 1993) in Yoho National Park and Gros Morne National Park, as well as a Policy Advisor for the Legislation and Parks Establishment Branches (1993 – 1999).

We would like to thank Daphne for the great legal and policy support provided to the Agency over the years. We wish her good luck in this new chapter of her career!

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

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Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 8, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Rima Hamoui to the position of Vice President, Strategic Policy and Planning effective January 4, 2021.

Rima comes to Parks Canada from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, where she held the position of Director General, Strategic Policy and Priorities for the past eighteen months, and was responsible for overseeing critical functions of the department, including: Cabinet, regulatory and parliamentary affairs, the development and prioritization of key policy files, and leading the development of the Blue Economy Strategy on behalf of the Minister, as well as the GBA+ Centre of Expertise.

Prior to her current role, Rima held the position of Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs, at the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) and was responsible for supporting Treasury Board Ministers in the decision-making process for regulations and Orders in Council.

From 2009 to 2016, Rima held the position of Senior Privy Council Officer, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office, where she was responsible for providing strategic analysis and advice on various governance and machinery issues affecting the ministerial portfolios of Public Safety, Global Affairs, National Defence, and Veterans Affairs. Between 2006 and 2009, Rima held the position of Senior Analyst, Priorities and Planning, TBS, where she developed a number of policy and consultation initiatives with the public and stakeholders which included the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyist Registration Regulations. Rima has also worked in the office of a federal Cabinet minister where she held various positions, including Director of Policy.

Rima brings a wealth of experience and leadership on policy formulation and development within the federal government, and her background in central agencies will be important as we continue to produce results on key priorities for the Government of Canada.

Rima earned a Bachelor of Social Sciences with a concentration in Economics from the University of Ottawa.

I also wish to take this opportunity to inform you that the Strategic Policy and Investment Directorate has been renamed, effective the same date, and will now be referred to as the Strategic Policy and Planning Directorate.

Please join me in congratulating Rima on her appointment to the position of Vice President, Strategic Policy and Planning and welcoming her to the Parks Canada team.

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer

The people voted and donated! After Round One of the Parks Charitable, these 10 teams rose to the top for Round Two. Now it’s time for you to choose who tackled the challenge the best.

Go to Confluence* to see what your colleagues produced for Round Two’s Google Meet Screenshot exploring the theme of connection! Like and engage with your favourites to help the teams earn points to move onto Round Three. Voting is open until Tuesday, December 8.

*New to Confluence? No problem. Your name and password is the same as that to login to your computer.

Teams also earn points for each donor (regardless of amount) contributing to their team. To donate:

• Send an e-transfer to pca.gcwcc@pcext.ca
• Please enter Parks Charitable Cup and the name of the team you wish to support in the “reason” section of the e-transfer
• If required, please use GCWCC2020 as the password

 

Go vote and keep your eyes on Confluence for news on which teams move onto Round Two!

The Government of Canada Charitable Campaign Team

To bid on items you will need to register with Auctria. The register button can be found in the upper-right hand corner of the auction webpage.

After you have submitted your registration, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address you have used on the form.

Remember, you must confirm your e-mail address to be able to begin bidding!

While the bidding will take place on the website, the winners will be notified during our Gala on the 10th of December, after which they will be asked to send payments via Interac e-Transfer to pca.gcwcc@pcext.ca. We ask that winners specify the item they are paying for in the comments section.

Now that you know how to register, go check out the catalogue and start bidding! There are some amazing items and unique experiences being offered that you won’t want to miss!

The Environment Portfolio presents:

GCWCC Executive Auction

December 1 – 11, 2020

The Executive Auction is an opportunity for youth, young professionals and employees at all levels to engage with senior management across government departments and agencies. Here are a few available executives:

T. Christine Hogan
Deputy Minister
Environment and Climate Change Canada

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency

Terry Hubbard
Vice-President, Operations Sector, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

and many more….

Executives agree to donate 60 minutes of their time to the highest bidding individual. Employees will bid on mentoring sessions with the executive(s) of their choice. The winning bidder will be placed in direct contact with the Executive to determine date of mentoring session.

The Auction will run from December 1 to December 11.

All proceeds will go to the GCWCC.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 3, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

The Environment Portfolio has a proud history of giving and generosity. We are truly fortunate that our employees are such dedicated and kind-hearted people who give their time and donate generously to the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign year after year.

We are proud to announce that together, ECCC, IAAC and PCA, have raised, over $1 million to date from coast to coast to coast. This truly is an incredible accomplishment. We want to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all those involved in making this campaign so successful and for your continued support.

It’s not over yet! We may have reached over $1 million, but fundraising efforts are still underway. Every dollar makes a difference.

The Campaign is about making a real and tangible difference in our communities by supporting services that positively impact the lives of our friends, family, neighbours, co-workers and, of course, so many people we may never meet. As we have said, more than ever, our communities need our support. This pandemic has had devastating impacts on so many families, organizations, and individuals across Canada. Many organizations across Canada are working tirelessly to respond to the unique challenges of 2020 and to the needs of those less fortunate.

As a portfolio, we are proud to see that you, our colleagues, our “work family” have shown an extraordinary level of generosity to answer the extraordinary needs in 2020. Thanks to your donations and generosity, organizations that are supported through the Campaign can continue to respond and adapt themselves to the context of the pandemic and the new needs that it has created.

We wanted to thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for being the people that you are, kind, hard working, dedicated and generous.

Sincerely,

 

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency

T. Christine Hogan
Deputy Minister, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Martine Dubuc
Associate Deputy Minister, Environment and Climate Change Canada

David McGovern
President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 3, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Today, December 3, marks the 28^th annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Observing this day reminds us not only of the importance of inclusion but also helps us begin to understand the barriers faced by people with disabilities every day of the year. For details on events and activities marking this important day, please visit ParksNet.

Inclusion requires dialogue and understanding. In some ways, Parks Canada is at the beginning of an important conversation with Canadians and our own team on becoming the welcoming and accessible destinations and workplaces that we want to be. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities offers an opportunity to advance understanding. In this spirit, two Parks Canada employees have generously shared their stories on ParksNet and two others have kindly allowed us to republish a powerful video on their experiences and achievements. Please take a moment or two over the coming days to look at what our colleagues have shared.

I am pleased to inform you today that Parks Canada will be adopting the Government of Canada Workplace Accessibility Passport, developed by the Office of Public Service Accessibility. The Passport is a tool to create a more inclusive and accessible workplace by facilitating conversations between employees and their managers about the support employees need to succeed in their jobs. The Passport will facilitate employee mobility and career development by ensuring the portability of adaptive tools and support measures between federal organizations.

As part of marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Government of Canada is participating in #PurpleLightUp2020. Federal buildings across the country, including Parks Canada’s national office in Gatineau, will be illuminated in purple this evening to draw attention to the contributions of the 386 million employees with disabilities around the world. I encourage you to follow and use the hashtag to participate in the campaign.

Parks Canada employees are some of the most creative, caring and innovative professionals in the public service. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities offers all of us the opportunity to reflect on how we can apply our energy and ingenuity to break down barriers and make Parks Canada a more inclusive place to work, visit and enjoy.

 

Michael Nadler
Parks Canada Champion for People with Disabilities

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 3, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the deployment of David Brannan to the position of Director, National Asset Management Services, effective November 30, 2020.

David brings to Parks Canada 21 years of experience in real property. Through his work at Health Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada, David has developed experience and provided leadership in portfolio planning and management, asset management, project governance, and workplace modernization.

David is a father of two teenage boys, and he enjoys working on home improvement projects and spending time outdoors with his dog Atticus. As a boy, David and his family travelled across Canada over two summers in 1980 and 1982. This experience fostered in David a passion for and appreciation of Canada's vast natural and cultural heritage which he is excited to bring to his work at Parks Canada.

Please join me in congratulating David on his deployment to the position of Director, National Asset Management Services.

 

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 2, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Leanne Cooper to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Riding Mountain National Park, effective December 1, 2020.

Leanne has been Acting Field Unit Superintendent of Riding Mountain since May 2020 and has already begun to discover what makes this area so special. She joined Parks Canada in June 2016 as Manager, Grants & Contributions in the Chief Financial Officer Directorate. Under her leadership, the Grants & Contributions team revamped the General Class Contribution Program and redesigned all of the associated processes and tools, making it easier and faster to support projects through contribution agreements, while ensuring the appropriate accountabilities are in place. In 2017, she did a 3-month assignment at the Georgian Bay and Ontario East Field Unit.

Prior to joining Parks Canada, Leanne spent 16 years at the Canadian International Development Agency (now part of Global Affairs Canada), where she managed projects and programs in Education, Skills for Employment, Agriculture and Rural Development in developing countries, primarily throughout Africa, and worked with a variety of Canadian and international partners. Her work took her to 18 countries and gave her the opportunity to visit National Parks in Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Jordan, among others. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University, with a major in Finance and a minor in International Business.

Leanne grew up in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and her fondest childhood memories are canoeing the back country at Kejimkujik National Park. She is gradually making her way west, having spent 12 years in Montreal and 20 years in Ottawa, before moving to rural Manitoba with her husband and two cats. She’s happiest walking in the woods or along the shores of a lake or river (in the absence of an ocean nearby) or curled up with a good book. Leanne is an avid amateur genealogist and family historian, and is an accomplished knitter, which will be a handy skill for a long Manitoba winter.

Please join me in congratulating Leanne on her appointment to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Riding Mountain National Park.

 

Ron Hallman
President & Chief Executive Officer

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on December 1, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Due to an unexpected Parliamentary obligation affecting the members of Parks Canada’s Senior Management Committee, including our President & CEO, Ron Hallman, the Parks Canada Virtual Town Hall scheduled to take place this afternoon will be re-scheduled to occur on December 7, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EST).

Please note that the link to the event will not be created nor shared with Parks Canada team members and participants until the day of the Town Hall. This helps to ensure that the event will not be interrupted.

I encourage everyone to keep thinking about questions you would like to ask to our panels and send them ahead of time to pc.infointranet-intranetinfo.pc@canada.ca. To learn more about the Parks Canada Virtual Town Hall, and to check for regular updates, please visit ParksNet or Parks(EXTRA)Net.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Michael

 

Michael Nadler
Vice President, External Relations and Visitor Experience
Parks Canada

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 27, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Parks Canada has made extraordinary progress in improving the condition of our assets in recent years.  This has been primarily thanks to the determined leadership of many colleagues in field units and in the Strategic Policy and Investment and Chief Financial Officer Directorates. We have also had the support of several governments over the past decade, whose decisions have seen our funding rise and consistently exceed $1B, particularly towards our infrastructure investments.

These investments have helped us address the deteriorating condition of some of our more than 18,000 assets, and while the progress has been remarkable, we need to develop and implement more permanent, long-term, sustainable investment plans. Today, the Senior Management Committee is pleased to announce a plan to move towards the sustainability we seek, a plan for Strengthening Investment Readiness. 

The plan will ensure that we have the right mix of assets, in the appropriate condition to support the delivery of our mandate to protect and present Canada’s natural and cultural heritage now and in the future.

It will also support our desire to seek stable, long-term funding for our asset management team which has, for too long, relied on temporary funding and faced the planning and staffing-related challenges that come with that uncertainty.

At the root of the Plan is the intent to move to accrual budgeting and accounting for our assets, a move that would mean the Agency will no longer need to seek capital funding every few years. 

The Senior Management Committee is committed to doing the work necessary for this to happen. It will take time and it will take a concerted effort and a willingness to do things differently. But we are convinced that it will be worth it in the long run.

Key components of the Strengthening Investment Readiness Plan include:

1. Reviewing current investment-related roles and responsibilities.  These resources have grown in an ad-hoc way over several years in response to emerging and shifting opportunities, and we want to ensure that responsibilities are distributed strategically to better empower and support leadership roles across functions and field units.
2. Developing a Real Property Portfolio Strategy and a Long-Term Investment Plan—documents that set out long-term goals and approaches for the management of our asset base.
3. Putting in place the IM/IT systems and financial management approaches needed to support effective financial oversight and data-sharing required to support a move to accrual budgeting and accounting for our assets.

Elements of this are already underway thanks to the work of many colleagues.  This initiative will progress in the coming months through continued collaboration with staff across the Agency and through our governance committees.

As a first step, we will be moving a number of teams responsible for capital project delivery that currently report to the Strategic Planning and Investment Directorate to the Operation Directorate, effective November 30, 2020. This will ensure that employees working on delivery of infrastructure projects across the country are part of a common organizational structure. At the same time, it will allow the Strategic Planning and Investment Directorate to focus its efforts on developing the forward-looking plans, tools, standards and policies needed to support well-structured, long-term investment in our assets.

As we continue to move forward on our path to Strengthening Investment Readiness, we will be looking at how other parts of our organization can be strengthened to better support investment. We will also be looking at how we plan and set priorities for the future, for our infrastructure and for the Agency more broadly.

I wish to make the following point very clear to all employees: this initiative is not an exercise in finding savings—it is an exercise that draws from lessons learned delivering our comprehensive Investment Program over the years to ensure we are truly ready for ongoing, sustained investment.

The Senior Management Committee is excited by the potential to move to accrual budgeting and accounting in the future. This would represent a once in a career opportunity for all of us to make transformational change that will support the health and success of our exceptional Agency into the future. We know that much work remains to be completed before that transformation can be realized.  But we are determined to succeed on behalf of those who will follow us in the future, and we believe the plans and actions announced today put us firmly on a path to success.

I look forward to communicating further updates to you as this initiative unfolds.

 

Ron Hallman
President & CEO
#ParksProud  #StrongerTogether

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 25, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

As we move into the holiday season and look forward to a new calendar year, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to recognize our colleagues who have been nominated for the 2019 CEO Awards of Excellence.   

This year, we received an impressive 70 nominations (43 groups and 27 individuals). This demonstrates that even in an unprecedented year of change and challenge, recognizing the outstanding contributions of our colleagues remains important.

The format for the Awards will be a little different this year and I am looking forward to the opportunity to come together, virtually, with team members from across the country.  Starting today, and over the next two weeks, please join me and other members of the Agency’s senior management team as we announce the nominations through a series of 4 video presentations that will be posted on ParksNet.

All of this will be followed by a LIVE streamed awards ceremony, coming to you from our very own Parks Canada Place on Monday, December 14^th, 2020 at 13:15 (EST); please mark your calendars. More details about the awards ceremony will follow.

I look forward to your attendance in great numbers to share in this distinguished event!

 

Ron Hallman
President and CEO
#ParksProud #StrongerTogether

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 23, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Today marks the launch of the 2020 Public Service Employees Survey (PSES) at Parks Canada, which takes place from November 23, 2020 to January 22, 2021.

Over the next few days, you will receive an email from the survey administrator, Advanis, inviting you to complete the 2020 PSES. The survey takes no more than 30 minutes to complete, and all employees are authorized, and encouraged, to take the necessary time to complete it during their workday. Your responses will, as always, be confidential and used for statistical purposes only. Overall departmental results will be available in spring 2021.

The PSES is an opportunity for Parks Canada team members to voice concerns and to identify areas for improvement. It is also an opportunity to shine a light on positive aspects of your workplace.

The management team is committed to taking action to respond to the feedback that is received. As I noted in my email message on November 18, significant steps have been taken since the last survey and I look forward to hearing your feedback in this year’s PSES.

Let us know what works and what can be improved. As the eyes and the ears of this organization, your input is key to our continued success.

Please take time to “Have Your Say”, we are listening!

Thank you,

 

Ron Hallman
President & CEO
#ParksProud  #StrongerTogether

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 19, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Marcia Morash to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Southwestern Ontario, effective December 14, 2020.

Marcia joined Parks Canada in 2000, leaving Alberta and a successful career in television (news director, producer, assignment editor and reporter) to pursue a passion for the environment with a communications role in the marine establishment project in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. Since then, she has taken assignments in 4 different field units, two vice presidents’ offices and the CEO’s office, building leadership and management experience as a project manager, external relations manager, communications manager and senior advisor. For the past seven years, she has been the site superintendent at Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

Marcia is passionate about and committed to collaborating with Indigenous partners and has had the honour of working with Indigenous colleagues and communities in British Columbia and Ontario. Her career highlights include partnering with Coast Salish First Nations to facilitate the reburial of more than 150 ancient human remains in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and seeing the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve formally established.

Marcia grew up in Northwestern Ontario on that great freshwater sea known as Lake Superior.  She attended both the Universities of Western Ontario and Manitoba, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English. Always up for a great beach walk, Marcia also loves experiencing new places and people, gardening and photography and is never without a good book.

She is looking forward to returning to Ontario where she is keen to learn more about the birds of Point Pelee National Park with her teenaged son, Kai, an avid bird watcher.

Please join me in congratulating Marcia on her appointment to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Southwestern Ontario.
Ron Hallman #ParksProud  #StrongerTogether

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 19, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Kellow to the position of Director, Accommodations and Facilities, effective October 20, 2020.

Sarah began her career in the public service as a student at Parks Canada. As a Parks student and subsequently, a Parks employee, she worked on several projects including researching land titles along the Trent-Severn canal and Ordnance properties in Ontario and Nova Scotia. During her early time at Parks, she also had the good fortune to see the Canadian Rockies for the first time and attend a ceremony in the Railroad Room on Parliament Hill to celebrate the introduction of the Canada National Parks Act. Working at Parks made an impression. As such, she was very happy to return to Parks in 2019 to lead the renewal of the office space program in Investment Management almost 20 years later.

Prior to her return to Parks, Sarah was Accommodations Portfolio Manager at the Canada Border Services Agency and Manager of Real Estate Services at Environment Canada.  

Sarah holds a B.A. Hons in History from Western University and a Law Clerk Diploma from Fanshawe College.

Sarah lives in Ottawa with her partner Michael and their children. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, cooking and spending time with her family.  

Please join me in congratulating Sarah on her appointment to the position of Director, Accommodations and Facilities.

 

Ron Hallman

#ParksProud  #StrongerTogether

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 18, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

It will soon be time to “Have Your Say” again.

The next Public Service Employees Survey (PSES) will take place from November 23, 2020, to January 22, 2021. It is my sincere hope that each of you will take time to express your views on your workplace by completing the survey when it launches. It normally takes no more than 30 minutes to “Have Your Say,” and to have your voice heard, as we continue the important work of making Parks Canada the best possible place to work.

It goes without saying that we need to know what is on the minds of all Parks Canada team members if we are to make positive changes. In advance of the next survey, and in the hopes of inspiring your active participation regarding topics of interest to you, I am pleased to provide a summary of some of the actions taken to improve the workplace.

The results of previous surveys led to the launch of the Parks Canada Agency’s three-year PSES strategy. In order to develop a plan that would be relevant over the next three years, we looked not only at the PSES results, but also considered input received in other forums. The result is a strategy that supports a healthy, engaging and respectful workplace and focusses on four concrete, Agency-level objectives under the following themes:

• Respectful and Inclusive Workplace
• Psychologically Healthy Workplace
• Pay and Compensation
• Performance Management

The general themes emerging from the survey are being translated into concrete actions, such as the development of a 2021-2024 Action Plan on Diversity and Inclusion, and a revised Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy, to support implementation of Bill C-65 that included amendments to the Canada Labour Code with respect to harassment and violence.

Parks Canada has also renewed the Employee and Family Assistance Program and now offers The Working Mind mental health awareness workshops for interested managers and employees.

In terms of pay administration, we introduced an innovative pay initiative called a “pod” to drive better outcomes and reduce the backlog of outstanding issues. We also launched a new approach for an Agency-wide timekeeping function to support better tracking and payment of overtime.

To support greater consistency and support performance feedback, career advancement and professional development activities, the Agency has adopted the online Public Service Performance Management (PSPM) application.

We have initiated the foundational work needed to support a broad engagement across the Agency to bring life to our principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

We have implemented a new Agency-wide governance structure that provides opportunities for all employees to have a line of sight on decision-making processes within Parks Canada, including formal mechanisms for all executives, both in functional areas and field units, to shape and inform decisions early and throughout the process, right through to communicating those decisions and reporting on implementation.

Finally, we have made a concerted effort within the context of the pandemic and, I would argue, for the longer term, to create flexibilities in the ways that employees work and in the manner and frequency with which we communicate as Team Parks. This includes periodic messages from me, the emphasis on ParksNet as the definitive source of Agency information, and significant investments in the vastly expanded use of technology such as webinars, Google meetings and virtual townhalls to stay connected over the months and the miles.

The feedback that you and many others have provided through previous Public Service Employee Surveys and other forums has been key to these actions, and we can all be proud of the progress that is being made.

But we also know that our work is not yet done. Your feedback on how things are going, where we are succeeding, and where more effort is needed, will be valuable to continuing our search for excellence.

From November 23, 2020, through January 22, 2021, you will have an opportunity to once again “Have Your Say”. I hope you will take advantage of that opportunity to help build a better workplace. In fact, I am counting on it.

Stay safe,

 

Ron Hallman
#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 17, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Last year Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) introduced the MyGCPay web application and made it accessible to all employees working in federal departments and agencies. It gives employees a simple, detailed and centralized view of their pay and benefits information.

Based on feedback provided by public servants, a new and improved pay stub was developed to help employees better understand their pay. On November 16, the new pay stub will be available on MyGCPay to employees in all Government of Canada departments and agencies.

The new pay stub includes more detailed information and features, such as:

• Three tabs to separate information on earnings, taxes, and deductions;
• The department or agency that is issuing the pay;
• A deductions tab with three sections that identify the employer deduction contributions, voluntary deductions, and other deductions;
• Capability of a printable PDF version of the pay stub;
• Definitions of terms and acronyms; and
• Only the last 3 PRI digits will be visible on the printable version of the pay stub.

Thank you

Line Lamothe
Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness
Human Resources Directorate

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 12, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

As an unprecedented operational season comes to an end at many of our national parks, national historical sites and national marine conservation areas, I would like to recognize the exceptional efforts of the Parks Canada team members to prevent the spread of COVID‑19, thereby protecting the health and safety of their colleagues and our visitors.

Last July, I invited you to take a step back andto rest by taking a vacation. We continue to experience difficult times and I would like to remind you of the importance of stopping and recharging your batteries. I encourage you to have a plan for using your vacation time earned during this year, and to discuss it with your supervisor if you have not already done so.

Although Parks Canada has once again this year agreed with the core public administration to continue the moratorium on automatic payouts of excess vacation and compensatory leave accumulated during previous fiscal years, it is still important that employees use their vacation leave in the year in which it is earned. This approach aims to promote a healthy balance between personal and professional life, while having a positive impact on our mental health.

I therefore encourage you to submit your vacation requests as soon as possible for greater flexibility in making your vacation plans. In addition, although excess vacation and compensatory leave will not be automatically paid out in fiscal year 2021, employees can still request it.

Once again, my sincere thanks to all of you for your continued cooperation. I recognize that this continues to be a challenging time for everyone, and I would like to remind you of the wide range of services and support available, including the Employee Assistance Program and the Mental Health Online Resource Centre.

 

Line Lamothe
Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness
Human Resources Directorate

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 10, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Each year, on November 11^th, Canadians pause to honour those who have served our country, past and present, in times of war, military conflict, and in peace, to protect the values and freedoms that we hold dear.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, in which more than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served, and over 45,000 died. This milestone also allows us to reflect on the courage and valour of the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who continue to follow in their footsteps.

 

We can all be proud of the manner in which Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes initiative commemorates and celebrates individuals from the First and Second World Wars by telling the incredible stories of civilians and those in the armed forces who have a link to Parks Canada places and nearby communities. I participated in a Hometown Heroes event in September of this year, paying tribute to Staff Sergeant Harry Lovelace of the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and was impressed by the determination of military leaders, elected officials, and SSgt Lovelace’s family to ensure that his remarkable contributions are remembered.

I encourage each of you to take a moment to reflect on the freedoms that we enjoy and to show what it means to remember those who have helped shape Canada into the country it is today.

Here are some examples of the many ways we can all show that #CanadaRemembers:

1. Wear a poppy with pride;
2. Join the conversation on social media! You can share what remembrance means to you, and include the Veterans’ Week hashtag #CanadaRemembers;
3. Tune-in to the Faces of Freedom podcast which tells the stories of those who have served in a variety of battles during the Second World War, or those who remember them;
4. You can also explore stories of those who served and sacrificed for our country by reading Faces of Freedom profiles;
5. Check out the collection of Veterans’ Week learning resources for youth of all ages and share them with your children and any teachers you know;
6. Explore the Home Learning Corner, where you and your children can learn more about the brave Canadians who served during the Second World War; and
7. Learn more about those who have served our country through Heroes Remember videos of Veterans sharing their experiences.

You can also check out the Veterans’ Week 2020 web feature to learn about other ways to get involved with remembrance.

Together, let’s show that #CanadaRemembers, and inspire our colleagues, friends and families to do the same.

Lest we forget.

 

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 9, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to notify you that following the ratification process held from October 5 to November 4, 2020, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has informed us that members of the Parks Canada bargaining unit have voted in favour of ratifying the tentative agreement.

In the coming weeks, Parks Canada and PSAC will proceed with the official signing of the collective agreement.

Parks Canada respects the role of PSAC and recognizes the importance of the negotiation process. We encourage you to contact your union representatives if you have comments or questions regarding your collective agreement and its ratification.

On behalf of Parks Canada, I would like to thank both negotiating teams for their efforts and commitment that led to the ratification of this tentative agreement.

 

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on November 9, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

We recognize the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic and we wish to thank our employees for their efforts to help prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 and ensure the health and safety of federal employees. In addition to maximizing employees’ capacity to work remotely, “Other Leave with Pay (Code 699)” has been a tool available for employees and managers to use.

The Treasury Board of Canada has provided updated guidance on the use of “Other Leave With Pay (Code 699)” that will come into effect on November 9, 2020.

This updated guidance emphasizes that 699 leave is to be granted on a case-by-case basis, and only after remote work, alternate work or flexible work hours have been considered, and generally only after all other relevant paid leave available through the collective agreement and terms and conditions of employment has first been used by the employee.

Once all available options have been considered, and Managers / HR Managers have consulted with their Labour Relations Advisors, “Other Leave With Pay (699)” could be available for employees who:

• have work or technology limitations;
• cannot work remotely and have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms and/or are required to self-isolate;
• have caregiving responsibilities as a result of such things as school or daycare closures, or COVID-19 illness or isolation requirements, or
• cannot work remotely and are at high risk or have someone in their care who is at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Details of the guidance can be found on ParksNet under Leave with pay for other reasons "code (699)". 

As a reminder, as per the instrument of human resources delegation, "Other Leave With Pay (Code 699)" must be approved by a manager or director (level 3b or higher). The approval of sick leave with pay and family-related responsibilities leave must be approved by a supervisor (level 5 or higher). While students, casual employees and term employees of less than three months are not eligible for leave code 699, they may be eligible for the  Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit or Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

We encourage managers and employees to discuss if and how this change in guidance affects their current situation. Managers must consult their Labour Relations Advisor before granting “Other Leave with Pay (Code 699)”

With the resurgence of COVID-19 infections in many parts of the country, the health and safety of employees remains paramount and we continue to adapt to changing regional and local circumstances, as required.

Recognizing that this is a challenging time for everyone, please remember that there are a wide range of services and supports available for yourself and your employees, including the Employee Assistance Program and the online Mental Health Resource Hub.

Thank you,

Line Lamothe
Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness
Human Resources Directorate

Date: Monday, December 7, 2020

This event will include ASL/LSQ sign language interpretation, simultaneous translation, and closed captioning!

Our second virtual town hall of 2020 with all Parks Canada team members from coast to coast will be held on Monday, December 7, 2020, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EST), 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (NST), 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (AST), 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (CST), 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (MST and PDT), 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (PST).

Video

Watch the video

Transcript

Read the transcript (PDF, 193 kb)

Here is the agenda for the virtual meeting:

1. Introduction and welcome by Master of Ceremonies, Melanie Kwong
2. Remarks by President and Chief Executive Officer, Ron Hallman
3. Panel with Coastal BC Field Unit Public Outreach and Education Team on virtual programming
4. Panel with the Fire Management Team on their accomplishments in the past year
5. Question Period with President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Presidents through moderated chat
6. Closing remarks by President and Chief Executive Officer

I look forward to interacting with all of you and invite you to join the livestream broadcast (detailed instructions are listed below).

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

TO PARTICIPATE:

English: https://collaboratevideo.net/parks-parcs/en.php
French : https://collaboratevideo.net/parks-parcs/fr.php

Canada Toll Free: 1-855-288-0982
Access code for English: 953 516 35
Access code for French: 952 863 64

Having trouble dialing in? Try these backup numbers:
+1-416-915-6530 (Toronto)
+1-604-449-3026 (Vancouver)
+1-581-319-7414 (Québec)

1. In order to protect the Parks Canada network from security threats, and to avoid network overload, please do not use the Parks Canada network (VPN) to watch the live broadcast. Use a personal device or disconnect from the VPN before clicking on the link to join the meeting on a work device.
2. Team members are strongly encouraged to send in questions for all panelists ahead of time to pc.infointranet-intranetinfo.pc@canada.ca.
3. During the event you will also be able to ask questions to the PCEO and VPs through the chat feature.
4. If your Internet connection is slow and you prefer listening by phone, please follow the instructions shown below.

Do you want to ask a question during the Town Hall?

Questions can be sent to pc.infointranet-intranetinfo.pc@canada.ca.

In order to use the chat to ask questions, please follow the instructions below.

• The chat feature should only be used to ask questions during the Q&A period.
• Refrain from using the chat feature for generic comments.

Do you want to listen by phone?

A dial-in phone number will be provided soon for those wishing to listen to the virtual meeting. Please note that if you are on the phone, you will not be able to ask questions during the town hall.

If you’re unable to join us, don’t worry. The live broadcast will be recorded and the video with bilingual subtitles will be shared on ParksNet and Parks(EXTRA)Net at a later date.

Panels

Panel 1: Coastal BC Public Outreach and Education Team

Panel 2: Parks Canada Fire Management Team

Panel 3: Senior Management Committee (PCEO and VPs)

1. Ron Hallman – President & Chief Executive Officer
2. Andrew Campbell – Senior Vice President, OPS
3. Catherine Blanchard – Vice President, Finance
4. Christine Loth-Bown – Vice President, IACH
5. Line Lamothe – Vice President, HR
6. David Millar – Vice President, SPI
7. Michael Nadler – Vice President, ERVE
8. Darlene Upton – Vice President, PAEC

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on October 27, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

With the reported increases in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country, I would like to commend Team Parks and our union colleagues for your collective, ongoing efforts to ensure that the health and safety of our colleagues and visitors remains our top priority and the cornerstone of all planning and operations.

We can be very proud of our successful operating season in terms of maintaining critical services and welcoming Canadians to our places. I note, too, the progress made with respect to natural and cultural conservation objectives, and the managed resumption of work at our various laboratories, and the efforts made respecting key planning and reporting requirements in areas such as capital planning, staffing, pay and compensation, financial management, ATIP management, correspondence and briefing management, OHS collaboration, and so much more.

I am also pleased to advise you that our research vessel, RV David Thompson, successfully completed a two week ecological and archaeological mission in Saguenay – St. Lawrence Marine Park, where the captain and crew worked to obtain imaging of the area, including of several shipwrecks. This was done while respecting COVID-19 safety protocols developed by the archaeology staff in concert with OHS committees and the Canadian Coast Guard and I would like to thank all those involved in finding a safe way for this work to proceed.

I would like to acknowledge and honour the work of our fire management team members from across the Agency who volunteered to join the Canadian response team, while respecting COVID-19 protocols, in assisting our American friends in fighting the devastating wildfires in Oregon. I am immensely proud of these amazing colleagues and am sincerely grateful that they have all returned home safely. As the only federal-level organization with the expertise and capacity to perform this type of fire fighting work, Parks Canada team members have once again represented Canada exceptionally.

When we last touched base in September, I offered an update on the status of the return to worksites for our larger, leased office buildings. I indicated that although there is no set date for a return to those locations and that, for the foreseeable future, those of us working remotely will continue to do so. This is still the case, and planning for the day when we can return to our larger office environments in greater numbers continues. To that end, we are preparing site-specific plans tailored to reflect local realities and a number of products are being drafted to inform and guide related activities:

• The Human Resources Directorate, in consultation with the bargaining agent and management representatives, is preparing a Guide on Remote Work that provides key considerations and tools while keeping in mind the evolving situation, work-life balance, and the continuity of operations and service to Canadians.
• We are updating the Remote Work Equipment Guidelines to reflect the evolving nature of the pandemic and to ensure that employee equipment needs are supported.
• A Parks Canada employee handbook is being developed that will provide information on how to prepare for the eventual return and what changes to expect. In the meantime, those of you at your normal worksites should continue to refer to the Guidebook issued by the Treasury Board Secretariat, Health Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada as needed.

I also want to assure you that we are continuing to monitor the incidents of positive COVID-19 cases and that we have response protocols in place that are based on guidance from local health officials. With the tightening of some restrictions in some jurisdictions, please be reminded of the many services available to support you and your families, including the 24/7 Employee Assistance Program, the Public Service Health Care Plan, and the mental health resource hub.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the obvious in that each of us continues to face our own realities and challenges, both professional and personal. For our family, the loss of Emily’s hockey season, the adjusted and ever evolving approach to schooling, and the fluctuating restrictions on family and other social interactions remain a challenge, as I’m sure they do for you. But we are grateful that we remain healthy as a result of the efforts of so many leaders, first responders, front-line workers and neighbours and I wish you and yours the same.

Thank you for your continued patience, perseverance, and support as we continue to navigate the pandemic, together, in the service of Canadians.

Stay safe,
Ron Hallman
President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

>Reminder to managers: In keeping with Parks Canada's procedures for communications with employees, managers are responsible for ensuring all employees under their responsibility receive the information intended for them. It is important that you find a means to transmit this message and, if any, the attachment(s) to employees without access to Parks Canada e-mail or the intranet, e.g. by posting it, circulating a paper copy or by any other appropriate means.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on October 8, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Our Agency's ability to achieve its organizational objectives depends largely on the performance of its employees. Performance management is one of the four themes of the Parks Canada Agency's Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) strategy, and is an important element in supporting the health and well-being of all staff. In order to equip our workforce with the skills and tools to remain engaged and effective, we need to strengthen and standardize our performance and talent management practices. 

I am pleased to announce that Parks Canada will now use the Public Service Performance Management Application (PSPM application) as its formal performance review tool and process. This application has been in place since 2014 and has proven itself in more than 68 different federal departments over the past few years, and Parks Canada will benefit from access to the many related resources already developed for its 230,000 users.

On a personal level, performance management is a critical and ongoing process that allows managers and employees to work together, set goals, assess progress, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback to ensure that employees can develop their skills and talents.

I am therefore asking all of you, employees, managers, supervisors and executives, to register for the PSPM application. Communication and participation from all team members will be important in building a stronger performance culture that is well anchored in the values of mutual respect and a shared commitment to success.

The ParksNet page of the Performance and Talent Management Program has a wealth of tools and resources to help you better understand your role. You will also find the steps to follow and a link to the PSPM application. If you have any questions about our program, please do not hesitate to write to Talent (PC).

Since the performance evaluation exercise helps guide plans for the future, I encourage you to take the time to review your accomplishments and experiences in order to continue to make Parks shine. You are at the heart of this organization - let's continue to work together to achieve excellence, guided by the values of competence, respect and fairness.

Thank you again and again for your dedication and commitment during this exceptional year.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on October 2, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Maintaining good mental health and being aware of the realities of mental illness are important at the best of times, and critical during tough periods. I think we would all agree that this year has been challenging on our mental health. With the winding down of the operational season and the days getting shorter, it is useful, and healthy, to renew our commitment to our personal and collective wellness.

The week of October 4, 2020 is Mental Illness Awareness Week, culminating in World Mental Health Day on October 10. This annual national campaign is designed to educate Canadians on the reality of mental illness. On October 5, to kick off the week,, the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace and the Canada School of Public Service will host a special online learning event where members of the Federal Speakers’ Bureau on Healthy Workplaces will share their stories of courage, hope, and resilience about living in recovery from mental illness. I encourage you all to register and take part.

The month of October is also Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month (CHWM). A healthy workplace is one where physical health and safety is as important as psychological health and safety. We can always do more to strengthen physical and mental wellness in our communities, and the workplace is no exception. Take the time to browse the Healthy Activity Ideas on the CHWM website and make positive changes to your team’s workplace, whether in person or virtually.

One of the best ways to build a healthy community and workplace is to take the time to educate ourselves on how to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Sadly, this topic can still be a taboo because people have preconceived notions about mental illness. The truth is, it’s ok to feel lost sometimes. It’s ok to feel like you need support. And it’s ok to ask for help. We can all make more of an effort to show compassion and understanding to ourselves, our families, our friends, and our colleagues and, simply put, to be kind to ourselves and each other. Because, as we know, there is no health without mental health. If you are looking for resources to help you, a loved one, or a colleague, please take a moment to visit our Workplace Health and Wellness page.

Whatever the future holds, taking care of our psychological and physical wellness is key to enjoying a healthy life.

Stay well everyone!

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments). 

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 30, 2020.

Colleagues,

After two years with the Parks Canada Agency as Vice President, Strategic Planning & Investment, Stephen Van Dine has accepted a new role as Senior Vice President, Public Governance, with the Institute on Governance (IOG), effective November 2, 2020. The IOG is advancing better governance in the public interest by exploring, developing and promoting the principles, standards and practices of good governance in the public sphere. In his new role, Stephen will lead the development of a strategy for the IOG public governance portfolio, drive related research, events and advisory services, as well as seek new partnership opportunities.

I would like to acknowledge Stephen’s leadership within his team and with his executive management committee colleagues, which has contributed to many important initiatives, such as the Federal Infrastructure Initiative and the overall advancement of Parks Canada’s mandate and priorities. Over the years, Stephen has acquired valuable experience through his roles at various levels within the public service. He will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the IOG where he will be able to continue his public sector contribution.

Please join me in thanking Stephen for his significant contributions to the Agency over the past two years.

David Millar, Executive Director, Atlantic, has kindly accepted to serve as Vice President, Strategic Planning & Investment Directorate on an acting basis effective October 26, 2020, pending completion of a staffing process to identify a permanent successor to Stephen.

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 28, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Orange Shirt Day honours Survivors and families of the Residential School System. It acknowledges the ongoing inter-generational healing of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and provides an opportunity for Indigenous peoples, along with governments, schools, and community members to share the difficult truths of the Residential School System. These stories support work towards reconciliation. 

Orange Shirt Day originated from the story of Phyllis Webstad (nee Jack) and her experience of attending Joseph Mission Residential School by Williams Lake, BC. When she turned the age of six, she had the opportunity to go to school. Prior to her start of school, she bought her beloved orange shirt with her grandmother. Little did her family know that the school would be a cause for so much cultural and personal harms - all due to being who she was: Indigenous. When she arrived at the residential school, the nuns took the shirt away from her. She felt as though she did not matter. Later in life, she reflected upon her experience and shared it.

Timed with the beginning of the school year, this day has become an opportunity to continue the discussion of the lasting impacts of the Residential School System. In the spirit of reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day is a chance for Survivors and their families to share their stories and be honoured for their courage, strength, and resilience.

Recent events have highlighted the importance of inclusion and anti-racism. Earlier this month marked the commemoration of the Residential School System as an event of national historic significance, coordinated by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and colleagues at Parks Canada. In addition, two former residential school sites were designated as national historic sites: the former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School in Manitoba; and the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School in Nova Scotia. By recognizing the national historic significance of the Residential School System, the Government of Canada is acknowledging the past, and, with Indigenous peoples and communities, is committed to sharing the experiences of Indigenous children in these schools to ensure that this history is never forgotten.

Parks Canada staff who are not in uniform on Wednesday, September 30^th are encouraged to wear an orange shirt to recognize and reflect on the meaning of this day. For more details and a list of this year’s events, please see: http://www.orangeshirtday.org/ (English only).

Miigwetch, thank you.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 24, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we do business. The public service has responded with remarkable professionalism and strength. The Government’s top priorities remain keeping Canadians safe and supporting families and businesses through this extraordinary time. This requires hard work from all departments and agencies. I have been incredibly impressed with the agility and responsiveness of all of you who work on portfolio files, as the Government has adapted its focus to the new reality.

In yesterday’s Speech from the Throne, our government renewed its commitment to helping Canadians get through this pandemic and get back to work. This includes securing access to a vaccine when it becomes available and helping provinces increase their testing capacities. On the economic front, we will launch a campaign to create more than a million jobs to restore employment to previous levels. We will also support those who have lost work by extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy through to next summer and build an employment insurance system that will deliver benefits to those who did not previously qualify and for self-employed Canadians.

Other crucial commitments are to preserve the environment and continue the urgent fight against climate change. We can address the climate crisis in a way that supports our short-term economic recovery and initiates the economic transformation needed to ensure a robust and clean economy in the long-term. Canadians know a business-as-usual approach will not work. Strong action is required—from us today—for our own benefit and for future generations.

Climate action will be a cornerstone of our plan to create more than a million jobs across the country and achieve significant environmental goals: exceeding our 2030 targets and introducing legislation to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Net zero in particular will mean incorporating innovative nature-based solutions, protecting threatened species and preserving biodiversity. The vision we are bringing to Canadians is of a greener way of life, as we push towards zero-emission vehicles, cleaner water and air, more energy-efficient homes and buildings, and banning harmful single-use plastics where warranted.

Canada’s future will be clean, green, and carbon neutral. The price on pollution will continue, with the money from its proceeds going back to Canadians. Support for clean energy and clean technology will create long-lasting, well-paying jobs in Canada. Funds for transportation, affordable zero-energy vehicles, and more charging stations across the country will modernize how we move around.

We have committed to creating more urban parks while advancing reconciliation and conservation objectives. Along with planting two billion trees, supporting the blue economy, and protecting 25 percent of Canada’s land and 25 percent of Canada’s oceans by 2025, these actions will mean more Canadians are able to enjoy our natural and cultural heritage. We will also modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Importantly, the Government also pledged to address systemic racism, and committed to do so in a way informed by the lived experiences of racialized communities and Indigenous Peoples.

You can read yesterday’s Speech from the Throne in full here.

We have a great deal of work ahead of us. Together, we will be building back better. I thank each and every one of you for your part in Canada’s environmental success, and for continuing to step up during these difficult times.

 

Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada Agency

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 22, 2020.

If you missed the opening ceremony, you can still watch our PCEO and Champion’s messages.

Our brand new E-pledge has launched and you can make your donations now.  The re-designed E-pledge site is a quick and easy experience similar to online shopping.

We are already at $11,371.00 of our $86,000.00 target! 

Keep going Parks! Together, we will go further.

Christine Loth-Bown

GCWCC Champion and Vice President

Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Parks Canada Agency

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 21, 2020.

Let’s recognize those of us who have been on the front lines in our National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites, those of us who have juggled working from home and raising children, those of us who have struggled with the isolation of working remotely, and everyone in between!

The Wall of Stars sale starts today until October 2.

Purchase your stars here!

Christine Loth-Bown

GCWCC Champion and Vice President

Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Parks Canada Agency

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 18, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Fall is upon us and students are back to their studies, yet, this does not feel like a normal September. For the past six months, we have been living through a pandemic that has changed the way we live and the way we work. We all had to adapt to a new reality; however, one thing that has not changed: the arrival of September means that it is time to launch the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and Parks Canada Agency (PCA).

This year, our Environment Portfolio is working very closely together to create the biggest impact we can, virtually. We want to thank our Portfolio Champion, Helen Ryan, as well as Terry Hubbard and Christine Loth-Bown for their leadership on this year’s Campaign. We would also like to extend our thanks to our returning Portfolio Campaign Leader, Ana Maria Monterroza, who is working very closely with Cindy Lee Scott (PCA), Audrey Rooney and Audra White (IAAC). Their experience, commitment, enthusiasm and perspective will benefit the Campaign tremendously to make it a success.

More than ever, our portfolio’s support remains vital to the success of the GCWCC. The pandemic has created many needs in our communities. Our health care is being stretched to a maximum capacity. Our seniors are facing more isolation because of physical distancing measures. Our food banks are responding to the increase needs of those less fortunate. Therefore, many organizations needs our help and support. It’s very easy to give, whether to the United Way/Centraide, HealthPartner, or any of over 86,000 Canadian registered charities. By giving through the GCWCC, you can support causes that are important to you, and make a real difference in the lives of the most vulnerable Canadians.

This afternoon, we invite you to join in the virtual “Wellness Retreat” launch event. We will be launching the festivities with an opening ceremony followed by an afternoon of activities. You can find the complete schedule on our GCWCC intranet page. I want to apologize that this note did not find you sooner as we encountered technical difficulties during our broadcast.

As is the case every year, we will mix generosity with a little fun. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about events being organized to raise funds. We encourage you to take part, have fun and, most of all, make a difference.

As public servants, we are so fortunate. In our daily work activities, we strive to serve every Canadian with dignity and purpose. Through the GCWCC, we continue that mandate and serve our communities through our generosity and compassion, which demonstrates, year after year, how much we care.

Let’s make this year’s campaign the best that it can be in support of our communities. Please join us as we come together to officially launch our 2020 Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign.

T. Christine Hogan

Deputy Minister, Environment and Climate Change Canada

 

Martine Dubuc

Associate Deputy Minister, Environment and Climate Change Canada

 

David McGovern

President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

 

Ron Hallman

President and Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 17, 2020.

Join us tomorrow afternoon, as we launch our Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign, this Friday, September 18. In the table below you will find the schedule of events along with the links for participating in the workshops that are being offered. You can also find the links here (you must be connected to the VPN to access this page).

Opening Ceremony
12:00 to 12:30 p.m. (EDT)
Webex Link

Mental Health Workshop (PCA Staff)
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Tools available for staff
English: meet.google.com/idv-zbsc-upx (max 250 participants) .

Zumba with Diane Gibson
1:30 – 2:00 p.m
Come move to a combination of Latin and international music to help improve cardiovascular fitness (maximum 250 participants)
meet.google.com/ofc-hfuo-agy (max 250 participants)

Yoga with Ellen Bertrand
2:00 – 2:45 p.m
Full-body relaxation and balance awaits.
meet.google.com/mun-huij-ura (max 250 participants)


Chair yoga with David Sullivan
2:00 – 2:45PM
Webex Link
Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga that can be done while sitting. As such, it is accessible to most and can be done at any time during the work day.

Meditation with Carolyn Seburn
2:00 – 2:30 p.m
Webex Link
Have you been feeling anxious lately? Stressed? Meditation is a discipline for concentrating and clarifying the mind to have a more intimate experience of existence and reduce stress. Carolyn will offer a simple practice of sitting meditation based on attending to and counting the breath.

Workshop on essential oils with Castle of Alchemy
2:45 – 3:30 pm
Webex Link
Do you enjoy essential oils? Want to learn about the benefits of essential oils and how to use them? This workshop will guide us in the exciting world of essential oils!

Paint-along session with Fallon Carrier
2:45 – 3:30 pm
Webex Link
Are you a budding artist or do you love the idea of creating your own work of art? Join Fallon Carrier, who will walk you through the creating your very own masterpiece from the comfort of your home.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 10, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

We are getting ready to launch the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and Parks Canada Agency (PCA). This year, in light of COVID-19 and the physical distancing measures in place across the country, the 2020 GCWCC will be unlike any other previous campaigns – we are going 100% virtual!

We are lucky to have a dedicated group of campaign teams and volunteers to support us. Together, our Portfolio Campaign leader, Ana Maria Monterroza (ECCC) with Campaign Leaders Cindy Lee Scott (PCA), and Audrey Rooney and Audra White (IAAC), will move our campaign forward. Over the past years, our portfolio has shown tremendous generosity in support of the Charitable Campaign and we are confident that this trend will continue. We are proud to be your Champions and we are positive we will have another successful campaign.

We invite you to join us as we launch the Environment Portfolio Campaign. We encourage you to save the date for the campaign launch, which this year will be a “Wellness Retreat”. Please add this event to your calendars.

The “Wellness Retreat” will be held on Friday, September 18 from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. (EDT).

The afternoon will start with an opening ceremony followed by a number of activities that we have planned for you such as Zumba, Yoga, meditation, “paint-along” and others.

More details will be shared through our Portfolio GCWCC Intranet page. Be sure to bookmark the page and to visit it regularly to obtain more information on the campaign.

Through this campaign, you can support any one of over 86,000 Canadian registered charities, including United Way/Centraide Canada and HealthPartners. By giving through the Campaign, whether by donating, volunteering or taking part in events and activities, you can make a difference in your community in a way that matters to you.

We all know a friend or a loved one who has needed support from a charitable organization. This year, the demand on charities has been very high given the impacts that the pandemic has had on individuals and our communities. Our donations have a real impact on the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We want to share your stories and we are calling out to each of you to tell us:

• Why do you give?
• Why is the Campaign important to you?
• What cause is important to you?

Send your story to:

• Horizontal and Corporate Communications (ECCC)
• Atrium (IAAC)
• Parks Communications

We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and generosity.

Your 2020 GCWCC Champions,

Helen Ryan

GCWCC Portfolio Champion and Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Shanu Bhandari

GCWCC Portfolio Youth Champion and Innovation Officer, Environmental Protection Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Christine Loth-Bown

GCWCC Champion and Vice President, Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Parks Canada Agency

Terry Hubbard

GCWCC Champion and Vice-President, Operations Sector, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 9, 2020.

Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Lesia Manchulenko to the role of Director, National Communications in the External Relations and Visitor Experience Directorate, effective October 8, 2020.

Lesia brings to Parks Canada an impressive background in communications and policy having served in a number of leadership roles with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Health Canada. A graduate of McMaster and Carleton Universities, Lesia has served under several governments and eight Ministers. She played a key role in supporting historic initiatives, such as the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the Prime Minister’s acceptance of and commitment to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and the transformation of the former Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada into two new departments with distinct mandates to better serve Indigenous People. Having traveled throughout Canada, including in the North, Lesia also brings a passion for Canada’s cultural and natural heritage and great enthusiasm for the work of Parks Canada from coast to coast to coast.

Please join me in congratulating Lesia and welcoming her to the Parks Canada team.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 9, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

Temperatures are cooling, leaves are beginning to present their autumn colours, and students are preparing to resume their studies. Fall is arriving and Team Parks will soon mark the conclusion of one of our most unusual and challenging operational seasons. These inevitable annual transitions are, perhaps this year more than ever, rather reassuring in their "normalcy." They also provide an opportunity to pause, to acknowledge, and to celebrate all that we have achieved together and eventually look ahead to what the Fall may hold.

Together with all members of the Executive Management Committee, I extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for your continued dedication and support throughout these last few months. Tremendous efforts were made to prepare worksites and visitor facilities for the return of staff and visitors to our national historic sites and national parks.

Despite the many challenges presented by the pandemic, management teams, procurement staff, maintenance employees, trades teams, and programming staff worked in collaboration with local and national occupational health and safety committees to ensure that expert health advice was central to all planning and decision making activities. Essential services such as building maintenance, law enforcement, search and rescue, avalanche control, highway maintenance, and associated support functions like human resources and pay and finance continued largely uninterrupted. Consequently, as a direct result of the hard work of other operational and functional staff across Parks Canada, we were one of the first federal organizations to resume operations following the suspension of visitor services in March. We sustained operations, maintained the confidence of our Minister and Canadians, and established a solid platform from which we could open our places, welcome visitors, and resume critical conservation activities.

Credit is also due to each of you for adapting to the personal challenges that each of us faced over this period. We heard directly from many of you, for example, about the challenges and the opportunities of working remotely. We also heard about and acknowledge the sacrifice of those who, because of the essential nature of their jobs, could not work remotely and were required to perform their jobs while also taking unprecedented steps to remain safe. Thank you for all of this.

I should note, too, my deep appreciation for the work of the Parks Canada and Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) bargaining teams in achieving a tentative agreement for the renewal of our Collective Agreement. Those of you who know me well know how much I value the collaboration between the Agency and PSAC in serving the best interests of our employees. Achieving an agreement in the context and complexities of COVID-19 exemplifies, for me, the strength of our partnership and I encourage all PSAC members in the Agency to participate in the ratification vote that will be scheduled by PSAC.

Looking ahead to the Fall, the senior management team will be focused on winding down the operational season and preparing for next year by, for example, identifying lessons learned. We will also undertake several initiatives intended to further support our goal of working together as "one team, with one vision and one voice." Here are a few highlights of what we have been up to and what you can expect:

• We have been reviewing the agency’s executive-level committees, with the goal of ensuring that all executives, and through them, all management teams and staff, have an enhanced role to play in shaping, communicating and implementing the decisions related to finance, policy, program investment, and human resources. This initiative will not change management or reporting structures within the agency. Rather, it will open up the decision-making process to a more inclusive and diverse range of considerations that we believe will strengthen timely decision-making and support successful implementation through enhanced staff engagement and clearer communication with colleagues across the agency.

 

• In the service of Canadians, the substance of what we achieve is always important and equally important is the manner in which we do our work as a team. Further to my previous all-staff messages, I confirm that we will engage staff, beginning this Fall, in considering how we are doing in terms of being the inclusive and diverse organization that we strive to be. This work will be focussed particularly on equity groups where data about diversity and staff representations about inclusion tell us that we can and must do better.

 

• In terms of planning, the elephant in the room continues to be the question of when employees who normally work in large office environments will return to those work locations. While most operational staff and some staff performing essential support functions in the National Capital Region have either remained at their worksites throughout the pandemic or have subsequently returned to them, many of us continue to work remotely. A return date has not yet been identified, largely due to the potential for a second wave of the pandemic and also because large office locations with multiple lodger departments, escalators, elevators, and unobstructed public areas present health and safety-related challenges that federal organizations, including Parks Canada, continue to work through. As frustrating as this is for many of us, the fact remains that we need to get it right and we will not compromise safety for speed. I can tell you, however, that it is likely that each of the large office environments will have their own site-specific work plans and return dates may vary across these locations as circumstances warrant, in the same way that access to field locations was tailored to reflect local realities. I can also tell you that, for the medium-term at least, larger locations will likely see a return of only a specified percentage of staff due to physical distancing requirements. This means that a majority of staff at those locations will remain working remotely or adopt a hybrid approach that includes some mix of remote/office presence. We know that some roles need to be performed in the workplace and that, among those roles that can be performed in either the office or remotely, staff preferences will be varied based on personal circumstances. For this reason, we are currently working, through managers, to gather information on the needs and preferences of staff for access and use of workplaces where we are rental tenants. If you have specific circumstances that need to be considered, please discuss them with your supervisor. In either case, no big announcements are imminent and any future changes are likely to be incremental, gradual, and communicated well in advance to support your own personal planning requirements.

I often find that words of thanks, particularly when communicated via email to so many colleagues, seem inadequate. Honestly, this is the case with this message. Please know that your collective efforts, your shared achievements, and the personal and team victories that you have shared with us in terms of maintaining your physical and mental wellness, are indeed acknowledged and appreciated. Know, too, that our commitment to your ongoing safety and wellness remains our number one priority.

August 28, 2020 was my 1-year anniversary as Parks Canada’s President & CEO. It has certainly not been the year that I imagined it would be, but it has been deeply gratifying and I cannot imagine having a better team to work with throughout all that we experienced together.

In terms of what lies ahead, I'd like to conclude with a personal reflection.

While I love the autumn season, I confess that I often lament the end of summer as a precursor to the inevitable harsh winter winds that await. This year, though, the Fall season offers a welcome opportunity for my family to turn our minds to some of the more "normal" things in life, even as we settle into the so-called new normal that COVID-19 has imposed on us. Our eldest daughter, Mairi, turned 18 this summer and looks forward to living in residence at the University of Ottawa and commencing her studies in biochemistry. Last week, Emily turned 16 and is preparing for grade 11, getting her driver's license, and a new part time job. In addition, Carolyn and I look forward to marking our 20th wedding anniversary later this month. For my own part, I look forward to hitting the road again, when circumstances permit, to connect with many of you and learn more about the important work that you do as members of Team Parks.

Stay well, and I hope to see you soon!

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 9, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

You are invited to join the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) National Launch Event. This year, in light of COVID-19 and the physical distancing measures in place across the country, the 2020 GCWCC will be unlike any other previous campaigns; it will be completely virtual.

Thursday, September 10, 2020

1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. (E.D.T)

Now more than ever, the GCWCC remains important as we support our communities across the country. This year’s launch event will be live webcast where employees can watch and learn how contributions to this year’s campaign will make a difference in the lives of Canadians. This event will feature:

• Opening ceremony from the GCWCC Elder in-residence
• Opening remarks from special guests including:
  • Ian Shugart, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
  • Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada
  • The Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette
• A short video vignette showcasing how public servants have demonstrated their resiliency and continued commitment to Canadians in response to the COVID-19
• Short videos from United Way Centraide Canada and HealthPartners to show how they have mobilized to support those most impacted by COVID-19
• A bilingual series of creative performances to showcase the diverse talents of public servants
• Please pre-register and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #GCWCC2020.
.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on September 4, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

It has been a year of rapid change and rapid action by the Parks Canada team to rise to the challenge of limiting the spread of COVID-19. Together, we are doing things that have never been done before and I couldn’t be more proud of how you are handling this challenging time. Our most recent round of collective bargaining is no exception to that.

I am very pleased to announce that Parks Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada have reached a tentative agreement for the renewal of our collective agreement.　

More information will be communicated to you over the coming weeks.

It is anticipated the Alliance will post the full text of the tentative agreement on its website.

Parks Canada employees who are represented by the Alliance will be invited to ratify the tentative agreement and we encourage you to take part in that exercise. Additional details will soon be available on ParksNet to respond to a number of frequently asked questions.　

Parks Canada recognizes the importance of employees being informed and respects the role of the Alliance as your exclusive bargaining agent representative. As such, we encourage you to direct any comments or questions regarding the tentative agreement or the collective bargaining process to your union representatives.　

On behalf of Parks Canada, I thank both bargaining teams for their efforts and commitment leading to this tentative agreement.　

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

FAQ: Parks Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada reach a tentative collective agreement

A tentative agreement has been signed. What’s next?

Now that we have reached a tentative agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), it has to be ratified by the Parks Canada team members. As the employer, we allow the voting to occur on our premises during working hours.

If team members reject the tentative agreement, we resume bargaining.

If team members vote in support of the tentative agreement, there will be a formal signing session. Once the new collective agreement is signed, the Agency has up to 180 days to implement the monetary provisions.

Parks Canada recognizes the importance of team members being informed and respects the role of the PSAC as your exclusive bargaining agent. As such, we encourage you to direct any comments or questions regarding the tentative agreement or the collective bargaining process to your union representatives.

Where can I find a copy of the tentative agreement?

The PSAC posts the full text of the tentative agreement on their website at PSAC - Parks Canada Agency

To whom do I address my questions about the tentative agreement ahead of the ratification vote?

Parks Canada recognizes the importance of team members being informed and respects the role of the PSAC as their exclusive bargaining agent. As such, during the ratification period, any comments or questions regarding the tentative agreement or the collective bargaining process should be directed to your union representatives.

What if I am unrepresented or excluded team member?

As an unrepresented or excluded team member, you receive the same salaries and benefits as unionized team members. Consequently, once the new collective agreement comes into force, you will receive the same salary increases and other monetary incentives as represented team members and will continue to be managed in the same way as unionized team members subject to the provisions of the collective agreement.

Will Parks Canada be able to implement the collective agreement on time?

Parks Canada has every intention of meeting its legal obligations concerning the implementation of the new collective agreement. Exact timelines will depend on when ratification votes are held and the agreement can be signed. The union has agreed to a 180-day timeline for implementation. The Agency is working closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), to make sure the collective agreement is implemented properly and on time.

When will the new collective agreement be implemented?

If the new collective agreement is ratified and signed, the Agency has up to 180 days to implement its monetary provisions.

Other provisions not related to salary take effect on the date the agreement is signed, unless otherwise specified in the collective agreement.

I am working as a term less than three months, a casual or on an as and when required basis. Will the agreement impact me?

Yes. While not unionized, you are entitled to the new revised salary rates. You will receive retroactive payments for periods worked for which salary revisions apply following the signing of the collective agreement. For more information, please consult your manager.

I am a student. Will this agreement financially impact me?

No. The signing of the collective agreement does not financially impact students as their rates of pay are revised through a different process. As a student, you are notified of the changes to your rate of pay when those rates are revised.

Where can I get more information?

During the ratification period, Parks Canada continues to respect the PSAC as our team members’ exclusive bargaining agent. As such, we encourage you to direct any comments or questions regarding collective bargaining to your union or, if you are unrepresented or excluded, to your manager.

If team members vote to support the tentative agreement, we will provide you more information on its implementation.

What are the next steps?

Once ratification is completed, if team members vote in favour, there will be an official signing session between Parks Canada and the PSAC. The new collective agreement will officially be in force at that time.

Then, the Agency has up to 180 days to implement the monetary provisions of the agreement. All other non-monetary provisions take effect at the time of signature, unless otherwise specified in the collective agreement.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on August 31, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

Tomorrow, on September 1, 2020, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, in partnership with the Government of Canada, will be making a virtual announcement regarding Residential Schools. In accordance with pandemic safety precautions, and in order to facilitate the safe participation of Elders, Survivors and Canadians across the country, the event will take place virtually.

You are invited to watch the virtual announcement from 11:00 a.m. CT* to 12:30 p.m. CT by clicking on the following link: https://encore.streamme.ca/NCTR2020. Please ensure that you disconnect from the Parks Canada Network (VPN).

* 1:30 p.m. NT | 1:00 p.m. AT | 12:00 p.m. ET | 10:00 a.m. MT | 9:00 a.m. PT

Please join us for this important announcement and join us in acknowledging the Survivors across Canada who have contributed to making this announcement and virtual event possible.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

NB - Residential Schools is a topic that may cause trauma invoked by memories of past abuse for some individuals. The Government of Canada recognizes the need for safety measures to mitigate the risk associated with potential triggering. A National Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former residential school students. You can access information on the website or access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-Hour National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419. You may also contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on August 27, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Terrie Dionne to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Manitoba, which was effective August 10, 2020.

Terri lived in Toronto for 15 years and enjoyed a diverse career in the private sector (advertising, tourism, non-profit and insurance) before moving to Haida Gwaii, BC with her family. Soon after arriving in BC, she learned of Parks Canada’s efforts to establish Canada’s first National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. Terri leapt at the chance to be part of this historic venture and, in 2007, joined the Park Establishment team.

In 2009, Terrie became the External Relations Manager for Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. Moreover, in the last five years, she has supported the Agency through various acting assignments including Senior Advisor, Site Superintendent and Field Unit Superintendent.

At Gwaii Haanas, Terrie has had the privilege of working with many colleagues and partners who are members of the Haida Nation. One of her proudest moments was watching the Legacy Pole rise into its standing position at Windy Bay in Gwaii Haanas. This Haida totem pole was the first pole raised in Gwaii Haanas in over 100 years. As lead for this high profile project to celebrate the 20th anniversary of cooperative management at Gwaii Haanas, she learned the true value of the “one team, one vision one voice” mantra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT4Yc9ask58

In her spare time, Terrie enjoys gardening, fishing and foraging. She practices yoga daily and attempts to keep up with her teenagers as a fellow karate student. Terrie intends to return to travelling the world once the pandemic is under control. In the meantime, Terrie, her husband Len and their son Noah are looking forward to their next adventure in Manitoba, while daughter Meaghan continues her studies at the University of Northern BC.

Please join me in congratulating Terrie on her appointment to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Manitoba.

Ron Hallman

President & Chief Executive Officer

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on August 26, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

It is with mixed feelings that I wish to inform you that Stéphane Marchand, Superintendent of the Gaspésie Field Unit, will soon be retiring after more than 35 years of service with the Parks Canada Agency. Stephane will be on vacation leave from August 31, 2020 and his retirement date will be effective January 9, 2021.

Under Stéphane’s leadership, a number of initiatives have been launched in the Gaspésie and Mingan field units. I wish to thank him for his important and noteworthy contribution to the Agency, and underscore some of his many accomplishments.

A highlight of Stéphane’s career came in the early 2000’s, when he was instrumental in creating a renewed relationship between the Minganie community and Parks Canada. Because of his leadership, acceptance of Parks Canada’s presence by the community improved greatly.

Before leaving Mingan for the Gaspé Peninsula in 2004, Stéphane assembled a development budget that, later on, would solidify important partnerships with the Innu community of Ekuanitshit. During his more than 15 years in the Gaspé Peninsula, Stéphane also worked to have the place of the expropriated community in Forillon recognized and initiated structuring collaborations with the Micmac Nation. Moreover, it is under his leadership that the innovative project to restore the Cap-des-Rosiers beach was born, a first in the country.

Stéphane's operational expertise is, without question, exemplary in the Parks Canada network. With nearly 20 years in the role of Field Unit Superintendent, Stéphane will have marked the past and defined the future of Parks Canada in the province of Quebec.

I would like to thank Stéphane for his passion for Parks Canada's mandate, his ability to provide constructive criticism and his innate sense of operations; characteristics that have been evident in all aspects of his work.

Please join me in congratulating him and wishing him every success in his retirement plans.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on August 24, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to join us in celebrating the Public Service Pride Week 2020, August 24-28, held virtually across the country. This initiative, which started only two years ago at the grassroots of the public service, is part of the government’s approach to promote inclusivity in the workplace. Over 50 departments and agencies in the federal public service are taking part in the events this year, which is more than double the number of last year’s participants.

This year’s Public Service Pride Week will focus on mental health and well-being. It is always an important subject, but it is even more so during these times of increased uncertainty and physical distancing, which can affect more acutely members of the LGBTQ2 communities.

There will be many activities this year open to all public servants, whether you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or two-spirit (LGBTQ2+) or an ally of these diverse communities.

We know this summer may be difficult for many as COVID-19 made our operational season much more complicated and prevented communities from most in-person gatherings and celebrations. We encourage all Parks Canada team members to support their LGBTQ2 loved ones, neighbours, friends and colleagues while learning more about the history and achievements of the LGBTQ2 community. Let us be clear: Parks Canada supports all of its team members and their well-being by fostering a diverse, safe, respectful, healthy and inclusive workplace.

We would like to invite you all to embark on the journey of alliance with the LGBTQ2 community by participating in the Public Service Pride Week 2020. Be sure to visit the LGBTQ2 ParksNet page (only available on ParksNet) for more information.

Thank you.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman – President & CEO Darlene Upton – LGBTQ2 Network Champion

Pronouns: He/Him Pronouns: She/Her

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on July 20, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

We are all saddened by the tragic events and loss of life that occurred at Parks Canada places in Alberta over the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, three lives were lost and many people were injured when a tour coach, specially designed for glacier travel and operated by a private enterprise, rolled over at the Columbia Icefield near the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. Our visitor safety team members were crucial in coordinating the response to the accident as well as in providing initial care and help for the injured and in facilitating their transfer, and the transfer of the deceased, to waiting first responders, ambulances, and air ambulances.

Also on Saturday, in another tragedy, a backcountry skier was involved in a fatal accident near Moraine Lake in Banff National Park.

Like you, my thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and those who were injured in these incidents. The RCMP is leading the investigation of the accident at the Columbia Icefield and Parks Canada will cooperate fully with the investigation.

Thank you to our team members and also to first responders and healthcare workers for their quick actions and dedication. Parks Canada is working diligently to ensure the health and safety of visitors and team members as we continue to work in these areas.

Alberta is my home province and hosts some of the most beautiful and historically significant natural and cultural heritage places in the world. These places attract millions of visitors from Canada and abroad each year. The manner in which our team members came together during such challenging situations reminds me of the exceptional people that work with Parks Canada in Alberta and across the country and the dedication and care we apply to everything we do.

I know these are already trying times and I understand all Parks Canada staff are adapting to changing circumstances. As we work through these events, or the many stresses that can face us each day, you may experience stress, anxiety, or other unexpected emotions that impact your mental health. If that is the case, I encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on July 20, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

Following the uncertain and stressful period of the last few months, it is time to take a step back to give ourselves the opportunity to rest and recharge away from work. Operationally permitting, we encourage all Parks Canada employees to take annual leave.

Even if your vacation is not yet finalized, you are encouraged to submit your leave requests as soon as possible to allow yourself a greater opportunity to fulfill your plans. As a reminder, employees are expected to use their annual leave in the year in which it is earned.

In light of current travel restrictions and physical distancing requirements due to COVID-19, many of us are considering taking our holidays at home this year. Setting aside a rest period, even if you plan to stay home, can have a positive impact on mental health, which can improve sleep and reduce stress. Without the competing priorities of work and personal life, you can establish a sense of balance and devote time to other activities, such as spending time with loved ones.

If you are planning to travel to other provinces or abroad, you must take into account current travel health advisories and any restrictions set by provincial and local authorities. It is important to note that a mandatory 14-day isolation period may be required upon your return. As a result, if maximizing working remotely is not possible, you may need to use additional leave to cover this self-isolation period. We also ask that you continue to exercise caution and take safe physical distancing measures while travelling to ensure your own safety and the safety of others during this time.

We would like to remind you that mental health support resources are available, including the Treasury Board Secretariat’s online resources and the Employee and Family Assistance Program.

Line Lamothe

Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness

Human Resources Directorate

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on July 17, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

Tomorrow, we will celebrate a great day in Canada’s annual calendar: Parks Day!

Like you, Parks Canada is my home away from home and the Parks Canada team is like an extended family for many of us. The work that we do to support our mandate is something we can all be proud of and, as we continue to safely and gradually reopen our places, I thank you all for what you are doing to protect and present Canada’s most iconic destinations.

I hope you have an opportunity to celebrate Parks Day in your own way, whether by visiting a national historic site, NMCA, or national park. And I encourage you to reflect on our rich history, which sees Kootenay National Park celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, among many other Parks Canada places recognizing special milestones in 2020. Keep an eye on the CEO corner on ParksNet as we commemorate these milestones together in the coming months.

I’d also like to share a story that exemplifies the spirit and dedication of the amazing people that we are privileged to work with at Parks Canada. This story was recently shared with me by one of our Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors, Blake Correia.

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But the story doesn’t end there; some of the turtles had eggs that were at risk of becoming inviable. Blake had previously volunteered with the Ecosystems Scientist at RNUP, Jory Mullen, who is also an Ontario Wildlife Rehabilitator outside of work. Jory takes in injured wildlife, including animals found in RNUP, and cares for them using her own supplies and time. In this particular case, Jory was able to coach Blake through the steps to ensure the turtles had the best chance of survival. In the end, as is so often the case, one person’s determination to take action and the support of colleagues and partners led to another positive outcome.

I appreciate stories like Blake’s because they highlight the unique and varied interests, passions, and talents of our Parks Canada team members. I trust that many more of you have stories to share too?

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Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud #ParksDay

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Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on July 13, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

With the summer season well underway, I would like to once again express my appreciation for our team members who, whether in the field or from home, continue to work hard toward a safe reopening, allowing visitors to experience our national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas across the country.

Though this is a summer unlike any other, I would like to invite Parks Canada team members to see first hand the results of their hard work by discovering the treasured places we protect and promote on behalf of Canadians. To this end, the Employee Learning and Discovery Passes (ELDP) are available. However, due to this year’s exceptional circumstances, these will need to be distributed at a later time and entry to our places will be done as follows in the interim:

1. Upon arrival, show your Parks Canada employee ID card for free entry to our places; or
2. Should you not have an employee ID card, then simply show this email, either printed or on your Smart phone. You will also need to show an ID card with your name which must match your name on this email.

The ELDP grants access to national parks, national historic sites that are administered by Parks Canada and national marine conservation areas. Team members may bring along their families (up to two adults and their dependent children). Please consult the ELDP ParksNet page for more information.

The safety and wellness of all visitors and staff members remains our utmost priority, and as such, I invite you to visit the Parks Canada website dedicated to camping during Covid-19 in order to help in preparing a safe trip.

In closing, I ask that you please remain vigilant in your efforts to flatten the curve and to ensure your safety and that of your family, our colleagues, and our visitors.

Thank you and stay well,

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on July 7, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

Our gradual resumption of Parks Canada operations continues, including activities related to ecological and cultural heritage conservation, maintenance, asset management, visitor services and so much more.

This week marks another important milestone as we prepare to gradually implement Stages 3 and 4 of the Visitor Services Resumption Strategy. Tools and materials to support this next step in visitor services have been developed after broad consultation within Parks Canada and will be the subject of discussion with Bargaining Agents later this week.

,p>The tools and materials will help a number of Parks Canada places begin to gradually make some interior spaces and interpretation programming available to visitors – where local circumstances permit – including at some national historic sites. This wonderfully coincides with Canada Historic Places Day which, for the first time, is being celebrated throughout the entire month of July.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on July 6, 2020.

Colleagues,

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat recently posted two information notices on their website: one concerning the Public Service Pension Plan and the other concerning the Public Service Dental Plan.

The messages and associated links are below.

1. Public Service Pension Plan

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat maintains comprehensive pension information online at Canada.ca/pension-benefits, including useful information on Preparing for Retirement.

At this time, it is important to reassure employees who are planning to retire that the Government of Canada continues to make every effort to ensure members receive accurate and timely pension benefits. Despite the impacts of COVID-19, pensions continue to be issued and paid as usual.

Pension plan members considering retirement should notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre in writing six months prior to their intended retirement date, by sending their accepted resignation letter to:

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Government of Canada Pension Centre—Mail Facility

PO Box 8000

Matane QC G4W 4T6.

Parks Canada employees are asked to submit their accepted resignation letter to their Human Resources Manager.

The Pension Centre is available Monday to Friday at 1-800-561-7930 to assist employees with questions related to their pension.

2. Public Service Dental Care Plan

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has posted an Information Notice entitled COVID-19 temporary administrative measures: Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) and Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP).

Should you wish to obtain additional information, do not hesitate to communicate with your human resources advisor.

Line Lamothe

Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 30, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

It’s hard to believe that Canada Day 2020 is almost upon us! This year's celebrations will, of course, be modified to limit the spread of COVID-19 while also welcoming visitors to our special places, reflecting upon Canada’s history, and looking forward to a better future, together.

I encourage all of you to check out the online Canada Day Celebration Kit for fun virtual, creative, and educational activities for the whole family. And please remind your friends and families that all Parks Canada places will once again offer free admission on Canada Day, as we have done since 1998.

This July 1st also marks a special day for a park across the Atlantic Ocean – the 40th anniversary of Connemara National Park in Ireland, the official twin to our own Terra Nova National Park. If you have an opportunity, reach out to our partners "across the pond" to congratulate them on 40 years of successful park stewardship.

Thank you for your continued hard work, colleagues. And let's all celebrate our immense pride in all that we do in the service of Canadians - as one team, with one vision, and one voice.

Happy Canada Day!

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 30, 2020.

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Corinne Steed has accepted a deployment to the Director, Business and Finance Services position within the Senior Vice President Operations unit effective July 6, 2020.

Corinne started her career with Parks Canada Agency as the Finance & Administration Manager for the Southwest Northwest Territories Field Unit. She has held numerous positions within the Agency since then, including Corporate Development Manager, Financial Management Advisor, Director, Investment Planning & Portfolio Management, and most recently as Special Advisor to the Office of the Executive Director of Alberta.

She has worked as a trusted business and financial advisor for over twenty years and has supported a number of complex initiatives, including the drafting of a request for proposal for a significant commercial operation, advancing the Federal Infrastructure program, developing options for a strategic prioritization exercise, and supporting financial management transformation.

Corinne is a chartered professional accountant and has a master’s degree in business administration.

Please join me in wishing Corinne all the best.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 25, 2020.

The health and safety of our team members and visitors is a top priority for the Agency. The National Occupational Health and Safety Policy Committee (NOHSPC) has been working hard at developing guidance tools to support all employees.

These tools are available on ParksNet and ExtraNet.

We would like to highlight the following documents:

• Infectious Disease Protocol
• Operational Guidance Toolkit
• Teleworking
• Ergonomics

We encourage you to discuss with your manager for further information or any question related to your health and safety at work.

Thank you

Employee Co-Chair

Chris Kenney

Employer Co-Chair

Ernie Gladstone

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 23, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

Let me begin by saying that I hope everyone had a great Father’s Day weekend. To those of you who are fathers or grandfathers, or who fill an important father-like role in someone's life, I hope you were appropriately honoured. For my part, I enjoyed the day with Carolyn, Mairi, and Emily at our home in Kemptville and I was (almost) successful at relinquishing the barbeque duties to Carolyn.

We have now officially welcomed summer and the Parks Canada team continues to work together in serving Canadians so well. I would like to once again commend all those team members who have been on the ground and performing critical services throughout the pandemic while most of us have been working remotely from home. As one hard-working colleague in the West noted in a recent e-mail: "...boilers were still needing regular checking, highways needed plowing, and enforcement was still doing its shifts...". They also noted, when we spoke, that some of these individuals had not been able to get much of a break due to operational requirements, a situation that I hope has been remedied as we all need time off as a requirement for safety and for our physical and mental wellness. Please join me in acknowledging and thanking these colleagues for their many ongoing contributions.

Yesterday we hosted our first campers in what is finally starting to feel a bit more like an operating season in terms of our ecological and cultural heritage conservation activities and welcoming visitors. This is truly a summer unlike any other and I appreciate all that employees in the field are doing as we continue to gradually resume operations in accordance with local circumstances and expert health advice. I also appreciate everything that National Office staff are achieving, in spite of working remotely, to ensure that hiring can still happen, that pay is processed, that safe work practices are developed in collaboration with occupational health and safety committees, that financial and materiel resources are acquired, that ministerial and parliamentary requirements are met, that correspondence is replied to, that key policy, planning and legislative initiatives continue and that all of this is done within our broader business continuity and business resumption efforts. Your efforts are seen and appreciated and I am proud of you all.

Yesterday, the President of the Treasury Board, Jean-Yves Duclos, shared the government’s approach to easing of COVID-19 restrictions for federal employees. In line with this, Parks Canada will continue our preparations to gradually bring employees back to their worksites and provide team members reasonable notice before their return. We will integrate the guidance provided into our current business resumption framework. I encourage you to review the government’s plan in the Guidebook for Easing Restrictions: A guide to support a gradual, safe and sustainable easing of COVID-19 restrictions at federal worksites. Please know that the safety and wellness of our team members remains the first priority for myself and my colleagues on the Executive Management Committee and we will continue to engage bargaining agent representatives in the planning stages of a return to our worksites.

Tomorrow, team members whose normal workplaces are located in Québec will be off for Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. I encourage these colleagues to take this opportunity to celebrate Francophone culture wherever you are and in whatever way is most relevant to you and your families or friends. And I know that colleagues outside of Québec look forward the August holiday, so hang in there!

In closing, I ask that you please remain vigilant in your efforts to flatten the curve and to ensure your safety and that of your family, our colleagues, and our visitors.

Thank you and stay well.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 19, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

I wish to begin his message to you by acknowledging that the lands and waters on which we all live, work and care for are the ancestral territories and homelands of First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples. The work we do aims to honour Indigenous relationships, connections and histories with these places every day.

Each year on June 21, Canadians celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) in honour of the heritage, cultures and contributions of our nation’s Indigenous peoples. Across the country, Indigenous partners and Parks Canada team members work together every day to continue our journey towards reconciliation. We can be very proud of the Agency’s initiatives and achievements in this regard over the past year:

• We celebrated the International Year of Indigenous Languages in 2019 from coast to coast to coast. Over 160 initiatives have been undertaken on Indigenous languages, bringing languages back to lands and waters in protected heritage areas. We look forward to continuing support for Indigenous languages and the expression of Indigenous cultures through language during the upcoming Decade of International Languages.
• We made progress on establishing and cooperatively managing heritage places including: the creation of Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve where healthy ecosystems sustain the cultures and livelihoods of the Łutsël K’e Dene First Nation, Akaitcho First Nations, Northwest Territories Métis Nation and other Indigenous peoples; and the signing of the collaborative management agreement at Obadjiwan–Fort Témiscamingue National Historic Site with the Anishnabe community of Timiskaming First Nation.
• We continued to honour Indigenous connections and traditionally used lands and waters by working with Indigenous peoples to continue or renew practices on the lands and waters which Indigenous peoples have been stewarding since time immemorial.
• We worked to better recognize Indigenous reciprocal relationships with lands and waters and to support them through increased emphasis on shared decision-making as well as through programs such as the seven Indigenous Guardians programs that were either underway or in development in 2019.
• We strengthened our work with Indigenous peoples to weave together Indigenous and scientific knowledge systems to care for heritage places in conservation projects such as Bring Back the Boreal in collaboration with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and Chiixuu Tll iinasdll: Nurturing Seafood to Grow in the kelp forests of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site in collaboration with the Council of the Haida Nation and other partners.
• We maintained our work with Indigenous partners through the Stories of Canada Program. Some examples of this include work with Pays Plat First Nation (Pawgwasheemg) who share their stories, teachings and language in the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area region. We’ve also supported the building of an authentic Sahtú Dene cultural camp in collaboration with the community of Délı̨nę, creating opportunities for elders, knowledge keepers, youth and community to come together to celebrate their culture.

Other initiatives can be found in the Indigenous Relations newsletter, VOICES, which is launching today as a Confluence blog. VOICES is an important way for teams across the country to share best practices, updates and lessons learned on a range of Indigenous relations topics.

And finally, the National Celebrations and Commemorations team has made a variety of tools and articles available on ParksNet to commemorate the important contributions of Indigenous peoples. There, you will also find other initiatives to support NIPD celebrations across the country, such as a future Indigenous Day Live celebration with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), and previous major events commemorating Indigenous Veterans.

As we continue this work, I’d like to acknowledge that there are still many ways we can further build our work with Indigenous peoples. As we move towards a renewed approach for shared stewardship, I encourage you to be thoughtful of actions that you can take in your own work to support shared governance, increase economic benefits for Indigenous peoples, support practices on the land, and uphold Indigenous knowledge systems. We can all do our part in growing our awareness and amplifying Indigenous perspectives.

Thank you, Miigwetch.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud #NIPDCanada

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 15, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Every day we take actions which positively affect the lives of Canadians. Fundamentally, this is because we have all chosen to work in the public service, which has at its core the betterment of Canadian society.

This last short period has really tested all of us.

We have those on our team who have come in to their “regular” job every day and performed it, sometimes in a new way, as a critical service to Canadians. Thank you for this commitment and your public service.

We have had on our team those who have continued to do their “regular” job from home, many times in a very new way, to provide their services either directly to Canadians or in support of those providing those services. Thank you for your commitment to public service.

We have team members who have because of circumstances beyond their control stay home and support Canadians by slowing the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for what you have done.

Some of us have lost people we love during this pandemic or been prevented from being with loved ones. For none of us has this circumstance been easy.

As public servants at Parks Canada in the Operations Group, you have shown why we celebrate public service week each year. This year will be harder to celebrate as a group in the ways we usually do. Please though, take the time to thank each other and show pride in each other.

I am proud to be in the public service with you!

Thank you,

Andrew Campbell

Senior Vice-President, Operations

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 15, 2020.

I would like to wish each and every one of you a happy National Public Service Week (NPSW) and thank you for all that you do for Canadians.

We’re living through extraordinary times. Many have suffered significant personal losses, and all of us have had to make enormous changes in our day-to-day lives. The annual barbecue and other festivities associated with National Public Service Week that we all look forward to, have been replaced with virtual events.

Despite the challenges of our current circumstances, we press on, continuing to provide services on which Canadians depend. I have been very much impressed by the agility, adaptability, and commitment of those who work at Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, and Parks Canada during these uncertain times.

Make no mistake, whether you are going into the office and respecting physical distancing restrictions to forecast the weather or working from your kitchen table on climate change policy or impact assessments, the work you do every day protects and enhances our quality of life in Canada.

COVID-19 has been and continues to be a crisis—one that has created significant costs for Canadians. But Canadians know thought that we are collectively facing two additional slower-moving crises on the horizon: climate change and the global decline in biodiversity. If we do not act decisively now, we all know that the costs of these crises will be enormous.

As current restrictions begin to be relaxed and we move into a new normal, the work that we do will become increasingly important. Your energy, ideas, problem-solving skills, and creativity will be in high demand as we work to fulfill our international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), to protect species and biodiversity, ensure resource projects are undertaken sustainably, and to ensure that our national parks and historic sites connect Canadians with nature.

Canadians are very clear that—despite COVID-19—their commitment to environmental protection and environmental sustainability remains as strong as ever. I have been encouraged by recent public-opinion polling that has shown the public strongly supports an economic recovery that includes measures that will enhance environmental protection, such as green infrastructure and the deployment of green technologies. I believe we are at a point in time when we can and must move forward boldly, with conviction. I know you are up for it.

National Public Service Week is a time for us to pause and reflect on the accomplishments of you and your colleagues over this past year. It is also a time when we should all begin to look forward to the important challenges and opportunities in front of us.

Thank you again for all that you do. Happy National Public Service Week!

Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Watch the video message

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 15, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

This is National Public Service Week (NPSW), a week when we would normally gather to celebrate the individual and collective achievements of team members. While this is not possible in the current circumstances I do, nonetheless, very much want to thank each of you for your many contributions to Parks Canada and invite you to reflect upon your own achievements and those of your team.

In the face of the challenges presented by COVID-19, you continue to play an important role in our service to Canadians and I am proud of each of you. I echo the perspective that Minister Wilkinson shared in his NPSW video: “You can be proud of your achievements and the amazing work you have done.”

Many things bring people to the public service. During NPSW, I encourage each of you to take some time and reflect on your own career as a professional public servant. What brought you to join? What accomplishments are you proudest of? What does public service mean to you?

For me, the ability to make a lasting difference remains very compelling. The establishment of iconic protected areas that support critical biodiversity and connect visitors to nature and the commemoration of so many historically significant Canadian people, places and events provides each of us an opportunity to help record, and in many cases contribute to, the story of Canada. And seeing that story reflected in the faces of those we serve as they experience our places will inspire me well beyond my career as a public servant.

This week, I am pleased to share with you a wonderful Facebook video that was created by staff in the Gwaii Haanas Field Unit. In the weeks leading up to World Oceans Day on June 8, 2020, they ventured outdoors to their local beaches to wax poetic on their love of the ocean. The resulting video is stunning and I invite you to take a look.

And finally, a word about working remotely and about returning to office work environments. First, I want to once again underscore to each of you the importance of health and safety, regardless of whether you are in the workplace or working remotely, and remind you that all workplace accidents and incidents must still be reported through normal protocols. You will find relevant information on incident reporting, tools and resources on the intranet and Parks(EXTRA)Net pertaining to remote work and wellness.

With regard to returning to office workplaces, it is important to remember that the way that we perform our work has changed considerably, virtually overnight, and that we are having to re-think many aspects of how we work together while ensuring the safety of all employees. Even with the gradual resumption of some operational activities and the need for some of our staff to be in workplaces, work continues within the Agency and with other federal departments in planning for the general return to office environments. The timeline for this work is not yet clear and remote work, where feasible, remains the recommended approach for the time being. I know that each of you have different personal circumstances and I want to assure you that these realities will be taken into consideration as our planning continues, including communicating whatever information we can in a timely way and providing you with sufficient time to adjust and plan for a return to the workplace when that time comes. I also recognize that the ongoing lack of face-to-face social interaction and feelings of isolation remain a challenge for some among us and I encourage colleagues to continue your acts of kindness in checking in with team members.

I wish you a Happy National Public Service Week, colleagues, and I ask that you continue to take care of yourselves, your families, and each other.

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 10, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Please be advised that the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has posted an updated public service Disability Insurance (DI) Plan premium rate, effective July 8, 2020.

The DI Plan costs are shared between plan members and the Government of Canada. The Government of Canada pays 85% of the premium and the plan member the remaining 15%.

Effective July 8, 2020, the total premium rate for the DI Plan will be $2.32 for every $1,000 of a plan member’s insured salary. This is a 20% increase from the previous DI Plan premium rate.

Monthly premiums:

	Monthly premium rate effective July 8, 2020	Previous monthly premium rate effective February 1, 2013
DI Plan premium rate	$2.32 for every $1,000 of a plan member’s insured salary	$1.93 for every $1,000 of a plan member’s insured salary
DI Employee portion (15%)	$0.35 for every $1,000 of insured salary	$0.29 for every $1,000 of insured salary
Employer portion (85%)	$1.97 for every $1,000 of insured salary	$1.64 for every $1,000 of insured salary

For an employee earning a salary of $75,000, this rate change would translate into an increase of $4.50 per month.

The premium rate has increased in order to ensure the Plan remains reasonable and affordable for both the Government of Canada and members.

I recommend that you take a moment to review the changes by visiting the Disability Insurance plan premium rates webpage.

Should you have any questions regarding this email, please contact the Client Contact Centre.

Thank you,

Line Lamothe

Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 9, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

I continue to be impressed by the way that Parks Canada team members are delivering on our mandate to protect and present Canada’s cultural and natural heritage and doing so while working from home or within adjusted frameworks that reflect the current realities of working in the field. This includes getting back to our important cultural and natural heritage conservation work and once again welcoming visitors to Parks Canada places.

We have successfully navigated our first operational weekend with enhanced protocols for cleaning washrooms and providing visitor information and I would like to congratulate all staff for achieving this important milestone. I know that Field Unit Superintendents and their management teams are keeping a close eye to ensure that employee and visitor safety remain our first priority in all operations, including the effective implementation of safety guidelines and the distribution and use of appropriate personal protective equipment.

I would like to share a creative initiative employed by the Rideau Canal National Historic Site and World Heritage Site as they prepared to welcome visitors. Don Mackay is a blacksmith at the Rideau Canal NHS and he hand-forged steel stakes used to create a safe-distance boundary between Parks Canada team members and visitors along the lock walls at the lock stations. The stakes fit in with the history of the canal, they tell a story, and they serve a very practical and important role in helping visitors to practice physical distance while viewing the boat-locking process. The photo below shows Don hard at work at the forge.

As part of the resumption of operations, staff at Mount Revelstoke and Glacier Field Unit sent a poignant yet humorous reminder to team members to practice physical distancing from bears (100 metres if outside a vehicle), in contrast to the human-to-human COVID-19 recommendation of two metres. Team members are also reminded to carry bear spray in the field— and know how to use it—and in the time of COVID-19, to wash their hands regularly. The message was accompanied by a great photo (attached) of the newest additions to Glacier’s grizzly population, underscoring the important natural conservation work that we do and why we do it.

And finally, I was pleased to learn that 433 Parks Canada team members participated in the 2020 Green Challenge as part of Canadian Environment Week. This impressive turn out powered us to the top spot for the most points recorded among 59 participating federal departments and agencies. Thank you to all who participated and I hope you enjoyed this year's biodiversity theme. Thanks, also, to Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Centre for Greening Government team for the interactive and educational content used in this year’s online challenge.

Have a great day, colleagues, and please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.

Stay well,

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Don Mackay, Blacksmith at Rideau Canal National Historic Site forging stakes.

Glacier National Park’s newest residents.

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on June 4, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

I write today on a critically important issue; one which is not new and which speaks to our shared values as public servants and as employees of Parks Canada. 

Colleagues among us who are members of black communities, Indigenous communities, and other equity groups are raising their voices in light of the various recent events in Canada and elsewhere, and are sharing their experiences and concerns. To all team members who may be facing discrimination or racism, or who are concerned about recent events reported in the media, I commend you for the discussions that you are initiating within the Agency. It is important to me that you know that we hear you, even as we acknowledge that different life experiences make it difficult for many of us to fully comprehend the challenges that you face.  

The values of equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our work at Parks Canada. For me, these three simple words mean that we are a community, that we are willing to learn from our shared history, and that we are committed to the promise of a better tomorrow, together. Parks Canada is charged with protecting and presenting some of our country’s greatest cultural and natural heritage places. This provides us with a unique opportunity to give life to these values by sharing the enjoyment and the management of these places with others and by demonstrating every day that our work with colleagues, visitors, and partners is guided by a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.  

We can and will do more as a team to make sure that every employee at Parks Canada feels welcomed and that each of us can contribute meaningfully to a workplace that celebrates diversity.  Please expect to hear more about this in the coming weeks. 

This is a journey that we will continue together, colleagues. In doing so, let us remain vigilant in upholding our values and be guided by an enduring commitment to overcome our own conscious and unconscious biases. And let us make it clear through our words and our actions that disrespect, intimidation, bullying and racism have no place at Parks Canada. 

If you or someone you know are subject to discrimination or racism, please raise up your voice and be heard. Talk to your manager, speak to any Parks Canada executive, or contact the Centre for Values and Ethics at 1866-787-6780 or at pc.cve.pc@canada.ca. 

The promise of a better tomorrow is premised upon all of us working together. And coming together as one team, with one vision, and with one voice means that the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion are part of everything we do as members of the Parks Canada team.

 

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members June 1, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

As you may know, Environment Week will take place from June 1st to 5th 2020. This week is all about appreciating the environment and reducing human impact on our planet. Environment Week includes Clean Air Day on June 3rd and World Environment Day on June 5th.

This year, we are pleased to offer voluntary participation in the TBS Centre for Greening Government (CGG) Green Challenge: Telework Edition. A number of departments and agencies across government are participating, and the organization who collects the most points at the end of the week will be recognized as the green champion!

This friendly interdepartmental challenge will be an opportunity for you and your loved ones to take on a different challenge each day of the week to reduce your impact on the environment in the comfort of your own home. Perhaps this Green Challenge along with the other Environment Week activities and resources will serve as inspiration for all kinds of actions you can take throughout the year to fight climate change and pollution. It is important to consider the impacts of our actions and work together to make sustainable changes to our lifestyle to improve the state of our planet and ensure its wellbeing for future generations.

I encourage you to visit Environment Week on ParksNet for additional information, resources and activities!

Here is the Parks Canada Environment Week Program and some important dates:

Monday, June 1st – Friday, June 5th
Green Challenge 2020: Telework Edition
Participants will be given a set of green challenges each day and awarded points based on actions taken. This year, it has been adapted for the work at home reality and includes links to activities that could be of interest for the whole family.
Click here to register for the challenge! You will be asked for your name and department, and then each day of the challenge (June 1-5) you will receive an email with questions and information. At the end of the week we will share how many participants we had from each department, and for the public service as a whole!
Questions? Email: Melanie Ferland (Parks Canada Coordinator) or Maggie Julian (TBS CGG Organiser).

Monday, June 1st – Friday, June 5th
Additional activities and resources
Activities and resources including an ecoDriving online course, Climate Action themed word search, videos on conservation and more are available on ParksNet.

Friday, June 5th (1:30-2:30 pm EST)
ECCC Talk: Connecting with Nature
Parks Canada team members from PAEC and ERVE will be presenting on #NatureForAll via WebEx as part of a series of talks hosted by ECCC.
Please consult ParksNet for the WebEx information.

Wednesday, June 3rd
Clean Air Day
Clean Air Day is an opportunity to recognize how important good air quality is to our health, our environment, and the economy.

Friday, June 5th
World Environment Day
Colombia, in partnership with Germany, is the host country for World Environment Day 2020 and the of this year's World Environment Day: 'Biodiversity’.

If you have any questions about Environment Week, please contact your local Green Team or Melanie Ferland, Environmental Program Officer.

I wish you a fun, informative, and inspiring Environment Week!

Stephen Van Dine,
Vice President, Strategic Policy and Investment

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members June 2, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Yesterday, we began gradually resuming operations at some Parks Canada places and we once again have “boots on the ground” performing resource conservation activities and welcoming Canadians to visit our national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas. While visitor-related access and services remain limited, I want to thank each of you for your contributions and commitment to achieving this important milestone. Given our current situation, it has been no small feat. We can all be proud of what we have accomplished together on behalf of Canadians and I remain optimistic for continued progress if we keep working together. As I said in my note to all of you last Friday, May 29, whatever your personal circumstances, all team members are valued, and all work is valuable.

As we continue to support the government’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, much will have changed in the way we greet visitors to Parks Canada places. Some of us will use PPE, we’ll be implementing physical distancing measures, as well as new disinfection and cleaning protocols. I know that this will pose some challenges, but these are also opportunities to continue presenting Canadians with the best of our country’s cultural and natural treasures. I also know that our dedicated team members are up to the task and will continue to demonstrate the professionalism and service excellence that Parks Canada is known for.

I’m attaching a photo of some of our team members at Fort McNab National Historic Site, in Nova Scotia. You’ll see they are sporting PPE and physically distancing while cutting the pathways out, cutting all vegetation around the building foundations, and conducting the seasonal asset and safety inspection. This space is also important for the protection of the Barn Swallow, a species at risk. Thank you to our team members there and all over the country who have worked hard – and continue to do so - to ensure Canadians a safe return to our special places while ensuring the protection of both our cultural assets and our ecosystems.

Notably, this week (June 1-5) is also Canadian Environment Week. It’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on Canada’s environment, to connect with nature, and to take actions to reduce our environmental footprints. I encourage you to visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for more information, including activities and resources on this important week.

As part of Canadian Environment Week, I would also like to draw your attention to the Green Challenge. Participants are given a set of challenges each day and awarded points based on actions taken. The challenges have been adapted for the realities of working from home and includes activities that the whole family can participate in. The accumulated points are tallied up against other Government of Canada departments and agencies and I encourage you to consider participating.

Please continue to take care of yourselves, your families and your colleagues.

Stay well,

Ron

#ParksProud #StrongerTogether

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members May 29, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

This note is a little longer than what I normally try to send because I have thoughts that I would like to share following our recent virtual town hall meeting and feedback that I continue to receive about how some Parks Canada team members are doing.

As June 1 approaches, I am looking forward to the gradual resumption of key ecological and cultural protection activities, as well as the gradual resumption of visitor access and services at some Parks Canada locations. Thank you to so many people who have helped prepare for this day, and to all those who will be working to support these activities directly and indirectly.

This work builds, of course, on the contributions of some 1,300 team members who have been delivering critical services throughout the pandemic and who richly deserve our acknowledgment and our thanks. I was recently reminded by Field Unit Superintendents during one of our daily PCX calls that, while I often speak about the Agency as a collective, we are all at different points along a continuum in terms of our business continuity and business resumption.

For those who have been performing their normal roles and the additional 1,200 who will soon resume their work, some sense of certainty and control seems likely. For those of us who are being asked to continue working from home, or who are on Paid Leave because they cannot perform their duties from home, or for other reasons, I would like to acknowledge the stress that comes from not knowing when we can get back to normal. Most of us want and need to feel in control of our professional and personal lives. The pandemic interrupts our sense of stability and control and it is easy to feel like we are doing a bad job at work and at home some days, isn’t it?

You know from my e-mail messages over the past few weeks that I enjoy sharing the inspiring stories that colleagues share with me about individual colleagues, teams, and families who are finding ways to cope and stay physically and mentally well despite restrictions intended to help flatten the curve. And spoiler alert: I will continue sharing them in the hopes that others find them inspiring too. I would like you to know, however, that I also receive notes from staff who are struggling due to the pressures of child care, home schooling, elder care, loneliness, or feeling that their work may not be important or valued because it does not meet the definition of “critical.”

I do not share these deeply personal notes due to privacy, of course, but it reminds me that not everything is sunshine and light for colleagues. We feel privileged to have steady work, pay and benefits at a time when others do not – of course we do, that goes without saying. But it is also important to create space to acknowledge and give voice to the struggles that some among us are facing, if only to know that we are not alone and to further appreciate the silver linings that we do find.

Many of you have questions about when we will be able to go back to the office. Others would like to know if they can keep working from home even when the office re-opens. Still others want to know about the alternate work arrangements that may be considered if your children are not in school or daycare in September. These are legitimate questions that deserve timely answers. The truthful answer is that I do not yet know, but we are working on them with colleagues across the federal government. And, of course, our Executive Management Committee members are all committed to sharing any updates on these and other topics as soon as they become available.

We are also committed to supporting each of you in the current circumstances and making sure that our expectations are clear. So here is what we expect: whether you are performing your normal duties at full productivity because you can, or you are doing what you can from home at something less than full productivity for any number of reasons, what we are looking for is your sincere best effort in accordance with your own unique circumstances and in discussion with your supervisor. Simply put, all team members are valued, and all work is valuable.

In keeping with the spirit of this e-mail message, I will close by building upon a few points from my town hall remarks, in which I acknowledged that so many of you – so many of us – are dealing with COVID-19 as patients, as parents, as family members, and as friends, in addition to our professional roles. It is in this context that we have been fortunate, as public servants, to have benefitted throughout the pandemic in terms of our job security, our ongoing and enhanced benefits, and the flexibility to adapt our work to our personal circumstances. For this, I am grateful to the leaders of government for their compassion and their commitment to each of us in our roles. It is also in this context that some among us are struggling and I want to acknowledge those struggles:

• For those struggling with so much uncertainty, we will keep working to get the answers you need and we will communicate openly and regularly;
• For those of you who are homeschooling your kids, hang in there;
• For those who live alone and may feel more isolated and lonelier than others at this time, we are thinking of you;
• For those who, like me, have not discovered your inner baker, artist, screenplay writer or inventor as a result of being home all the time and who are, frankly, feeling mediocre both professionally and personally some days, you are actually awesome and you are appreciated;
• For those of you who are caring for, or worrying about a friend, a parent, or another loved one who has the virus or other medical challenge, I wish you continued strength and a positive outcome;
• For those who, like my family, have lost loved ones during this time and who ache at not being able to gather to comfort each other and say goodbye, we mourn with you; and
• For the seven Parks Canada team members who personally contracted the virus and are now recovered, or are still recovering, I am sorry for what you have experienced and I am grateful for your progress towards renewed health.

Thank you colleagues, sincerely, for all that you are doing. Please know that you are valued no matter where in the Agency you work, no matter your years of service, and no matter where you or your team are on the business continuity and business resumption continuum. We are stronger together and we are getting through this together -- as one team, with one vision, and with one voice.

Stay well,

Ron

#ParksProud #StrongerTogether

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

 

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members May 27, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Véronique Gauthier to the position of Director, Human Resources Strategic Planning and Executive Group Services Management, effective June 8, 2020.

Véronique joined the Public Service in 2000 after spending two years with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, working in accounting. She has occupied various administrative and project management positions prior to entering the Human Resources community with Public Safety Canada in 2005. She spent 13 years with that organization, where she acquired experience in most human resources (HR) disciplines, leading Executive Group programs, operational staffing, learning, performance management, and official languages.

She is currently the Head of HR at Infrastructure Canada where she advanced the HR agenda to help position the organization. Along with a renewed team that was built in the last year, her leadership resulted in improvements across all Infrastructure Canada's Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) results, a net increase of over 15% of indeterminate employees and a reduction of the turnover rate by more than 10%.

Her work has been recognized through nominations for two government-wide awards, namely the Michelle C. Comeau Award for Head of Human Resources as well as the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX) award of excellence for healthy workplace.

Véronique graduated from Université du Québec en Outaouais in 2005 with a degree in business administration.

Véronique has two children; a 13-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. They live in the Pontiac region where they can all enjoy the outdoors.

Please join me in congratulating Véronique and wishing her much success in her career with Parks Canada.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members May 26, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Like many of you, I continue to work from home in support of Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19. That said, starting next week, Parks Canada will begin to resume some Agency operations, including key ecological and cultural resource management work and offering Canadians limited access to some Parks Canada places. This means more of you will return to your regular workplace. It is an encouraging sign of progress and I want you to know that our top priority will continue to be your health and safety and that of our visitors. We will continue to follow the emerging advice of public health experts and will continue to work with national and local OHS committees to ensure that team members have the appropriate equipment and training to perform their duties safely. I also want to thank those of you who continue to work from home for your support in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19.

On May 14, 2020, we held our first-ever Parks Canada Virtual Town Hall meeting, with more than 2,300 team members participating. Thank you for having taken the time to connect and I hope you found it useful. The Executive Management Committee welcomed the opportunity to respond to your questions and I can tell you that your feedback will be valuable in terms of planning future sessions.

If you were unable to join the Town Hall meeting, you will soon be able to watch the video, read the transcript and get the answers to all of the questions on Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet.

Following the meeting, I received some comments and questions regarding my collection of mugs that I used during the session. It was my way of participating in the #TGMC (The Great Mug Challenge) issued to members of the "Parcs Canada - Bureau National" Facebook page. I wondered how many people would notice the six different mugs and how many would make the connection to the Challenge. It appears that many of you did and, despite the challenging circumstances and serious messages that were being shared, I hope it provided a bit of levity for team members. I was, of course, very pleased to subsequently be proclaimed the winner of that week’s particular Challenge!

In the spirit of levity and with thanks to Jennifer Hooper, Volunteer and Event Coordinator in the Manitoba Field Unit, I’d like to share with you some great initiatives from their dedicated Wellness Committee. Fun activities that they have developed include a Manitoba Bingo Card to see how many things they’ve done or seen in the province, a fun online quiz with odd Manitoba facts, and a Virtual Happy Hour at 4:30pm each Friday afternoon, during which participants can relax together, enjoy a beverage, and de-stress (see photo attached). I raise one of my many mugs to you, Manitoba Field Unit, and encourage all of our team members across the country to continue finding ways to connect socially with friends, family and colleagues even as we continue to practice physical distancing. Finally, I would like to reiterate the importance of taking care of ourselves and each other. Many of you will have noticed that a link to the Employee and Family Assistance Program continues to be included at the end of each of my weekly e-mail messages. It is important to me that you are aware of, and have access to, the tools and resources available to help you maintain your physical and mental well-being. And don’t forget – the program is available not just for you, but also your family members.

We are in this together.

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

 

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

 

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members May 26, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the deployment of Louis Lavoie to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Québec effective November 2, 2020.

Louis began his career in the public service in 1997 as a student at Industry Canada and joined the Parks Canada team in 2003. During his first 10 years at the National Office, Louis held the positions of Manager of Internet Policy and Operations, Senior Business Analyst at the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Senior Advisor to the Agency's Chief Executive Officer, and Manager of the Office of the Vice President of External Relations and Visitor Experience.

In 2012, Louis agreed to take on his first operational challenge as Senior Advisor for Private Sector and Community Engagement at Rouge National Urban Park. In that position, he played a pivotal role in all the activities that led to the establishment of Canada's first national urban park.

Since 2016, he has been the Field Unit Superintendent, Southwestern Ontario.

Louis has a Bachelor's degree in consumer sciences from Laval University and a certificate in computer programming from Algonquin College.

He and his wife, Geneviève, both grew up in the Quebec City area. His professional experiences in Ontario have given him the opportunity to rediscover Niagara wines and renew his passion for Indigenous and Canadian history. Louis would especially like to thank the members of the Southwestern Ontario team for the four exceptional years he worked with them.

Please join me in congratulating Louis on his deployment to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Québec.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

 

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members May 19, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Today marks the first day of Indigenous Awareness Week (IAW), which takes place May 19-22. IAW is marked by the federal public service to encourage employees to learn about the rich diversity of Indigenous cultures throughout Canada.

Due to COVID-19, many of us continue to work from home and engage in physical distancing to flatten the curve, so the Indigenous Affairs Branch (IAB) has prepared an online program for 2020 to ensure that everyone can participate. The full program is attached, and available on ParksNet and Parks(EXTRA)Net.

I invite you to make time to participate in learning activities that are meaningful to you. As public service employees, we have a terrific opportunity – and responsibility – to learn about the cultures and histories of Indigenous peoples and actively contribute to reconciliation.

In the program, you will find a selection of Indigenous short films by Indigenous directors and links to the Indigenous Learning Series courses available from the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS). The online “Indigenous Awareness Week Toolkit” also has a number of resources for further learning – both for this week, and in the future.

Although Parks Canada has enjoyed much success in working with Indigenous partners to date, there is more that we can do. You are an important part of this work. It is up to all Parks Canada team members to take the time to develop the understanding, knowledge, and skills to advance reconciliation, and gain appreciation for the incredibly rich diversity of Indigenous cultures in Canada – both during Indigenous Awareness Week, and throughout the year.

I look forward to continuing our work to advance meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples including shared decision-making, renewing Indigenous practices on lands and waters, the weaving of Indigenous and western scientific knowledge systems, and increased economic opportunities.

Thank you for dedicating some of your time to this important week and for your continued hard work during these unprecedented times.

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

#IndigenousAwarenessWeek #StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

 

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2020

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT 

Parks Canada Virtual Town Hall

Click here to watch Town Hall video

The Executive Management Committee (EMC) hosted an interactive all-staff meeting with team members from across the country.  

Ron Hallman, the President & Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada provided opening remarks and there was a moderated question and answer (Q&A) session between team members and EMC.

Team members sent questions in ahead of time to pc.infointranet-intranetinfo.pc@canada.ca and asked questions via live chat. This was the first-ever Parks Canada virtual Town Hall using the YouTube Live platform..  

The live broadcast was recorded and the video and transcript will be shared on Parks(EXTRA)Net soon. Stay tuned! 

Transcript

Read the transcript (PDF, 346 kb)

Meet the participants

 

Ron's address to team members (PDF, 200 kb) 2020-05-21

Questions posed by team members

• Questions addressed at Town Hall

  Question 1 - Nicole Leblanc, Jasper Field Unit

  I work out of a satellite office. Should we expect direction as to the resumption plans specific to each of the satellite offices given the various impacts the pandemic has had deepening on which province you reside?

  Response - Steven Van Dine, VP, Strategic Policy and Investment

  As both Ron and the Prime Minister earlier today have said, we are looking at a resumption plan that takes into account the local circumstances across the country and the advice and guidance from local health officials.

  With that as our guiding light we will be undertaking a gradual approach across the country that will be staged according to local circumstances. The time and the guidance with which we will operate as an office or as an agency, we will be providing that guidance as it becomes available. But in terms of timing that will be coordinated with local circumstances.

  Question 2 - Anne Marie Morin, Quebec Waterways, Carillon Canal National Historic Site

  I am at risk of complications, and consequently very concerned about my health, and so decided to keep my children at home. They are not going to school. They are isolated in our family unit. What are the provisions for at-risk employees as well as for parents responsible for educating and taking care of their children?

  Response - Line Lamothe, VP, Human Resources and Employee Wellness

  First of all, I would like to stress that it is important for managers and employees to discuss the particulars of their situation and to show good faith and flexibility in applying the provisions available to us.

  With respect to the first part of your question, which refers to provisions for at-risk employees, there is leave with pay, so what is referred to in code 699 may apply if you are at risk of serious illness or if you come in contact with COVID‑19 as described by the Public Health Agency of Canada and you additionally cannot work remotely.

  As for the second part of your question, which refers to reopening schools and daycare centres, the leave with pay provisions under code 699 may apply if we have a sick child, if a family member is ill or even at high risk for a family member to become seriously ill, or if there is no space available at the daycare centre or school.

  So I am leaving you with two guiding principles in answer to this question. If you try to make other arrangements and discuss the other possibilities of working remotely with your (manager*). Thank you very much for the question.

  *"manager" is implied. Actual word used was muffled.

  Question 3 - Karen Pink, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

  When and if Covid restrictions lift to the point of visitors accessing our sites will there be increased safety measures such as plexiglass sneeze guards installed at our sales counters, hand sanitizer stations installed throughout our sites or any other measures to keep both staff and visitors safe? The second question related if the staff feels it is unsafe to work and even if not at high risk, will they be expected to report to work or will they be able to stay at home?

  Response - Andrew Campbell, Senior VP, Operations

  To respond to the first question, we are in a time where we are doing all of that preparatory work and all of the occupational health and safety considerations and all of the personal protective equipment that we need will be in place, as Ron said, before people are coming back into the workplace.

  Yes, in cases like national historic sites as we look to further resumption that would be some of the pieces we would look at. I think the thing to keep in mind right now is, for national historic sites, what we are looking to open as Ron also mentioned, is the green spaces surrounding those.

  Take that as the first step in a multi-step process that we are going to move along. Your other question about people who are nervous and looking for ways to deal with that and one of them being to stay at home during this period, one of the things to remember is there are lots of supports out there. The number one support is your personal supervisor and the people they work with.

  Having conversations with them around your nervousness and looking at some of the other elements that we have all available to us whether it’s the employee assistance plan or some of the other health measures that are in place right now, and I hope people have been keeping up with those as we have had some new ones that have come out through Sun Life. There are lots of supports out there and again the number one being the supervisor you are reporting to and having that great conversation with them.

  Question 4 - Steven Lecanet, scientist, Arctic Science

  With a quarter of our funding coming from visitor revenue, will Parks Canada need a new fiscal plan to get us through this period of low visitation?

  Response - Catherine Blanchard, VP, Finance

  This is an important question and one that EMC has been discussing since the announcement of the initial closure. For sure we need a new fiscal plan. What I can tell you is we’ve been working really hard to develop various scenarios to take a look at what the revenue hit would be for the Agency.

  As you point out in your question, revenue is an important part of our funding profile and our approach to dealing with it I would encapsulate it in three prongs. First of all we have put in a request to the Department of Finance for revenue replacement. Based on our analysis we have a pretty good idea of what the revenue hit could look like.

  We’ve submitted something signed off by our Minister to the Minister of Finance requesting for revenue to be added to our reference level. The revenue lost we are hoping to get a source of funds for. That’s pillar one. Those discussions are ongoing. We’re hoping to get a decision fairly soon on that front.

  We’re also looking at in terms of pillar two, looking at our spending profile. We are resuming business but as Ron laid out, we’re resuming gradually. We’re going to collect fees but it will be a gradual resumption to fee collection when and is it’s safe to do so. We know we’re going to have some slowdown in activities.

  We’re going to be taking a look at our spending profile. Perhaps we will spend less on certain cost categories. Perhaps some spending won’t continue on certain projects. We’re going to look at that bucket and see what we can reallocate to revenue as well. The third prong is around forecasting. We are going to need to do some more robust forecasting this year so we have a better visibility on what we’re spending in terms of our salaries and goods and services.

  So throughout the year we can keep better tabs on it and understand how much do we have to reallocate towards revenue loss. We are adjusting our fiscal plan and our fiscal approach in primarily those three ways. We’ll be working closely with EMC to make sure all the information on our fiscal situation is brought forward and decisions are made in a timely manner.

  Question 5 - Kristina Vander Wielen, Nahanni National Park Reserve

  What are the parameters for allowing field work to happen this season? Is it being limited to time sensitive projects? Is it allowable for all projects where health guidelines can be respected?

  Response - Christine Loth Brown, VP, Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage

  As Ron mentioned in his speech, throughout the COVID period critical services have been taking place across all of our field units including fire protection, law enforcement and things like avalanche and water management. As we move forward in our resumption planning phase we’ll begin to look at adding additional field work.

  There are a number of principles that are going to guide this work. Recently we released conservation guidance for all field units. This guidance looks at conservation from a natural and a cultural perspective and principles to determine what types of activities we’re going to undertake include first and foremost the health and safety of our employees.

  We will also look at the significance of the conservation measure both natural or ecological or cultural. We’ll also look at what methods we need to employ in order to undertake the work. We may continue to do those methods in the ways in which we’re accustomed and we may choose to use alternative methods to undertake that work.

  As indicated, today marks the first step in a journey towards resumption. We will take those steps going forward together and continually assessing the priorities from a natural and cultural perspective but first and foremost the health and safety of our employees.

  Question 6 - Karine La Flèche and her team: Hélène D’Amour, Stéphanie Larivée and Edith Bourgeon from Coteau-du-Lac, Battle of the Châteauguay and Manoir Papineau national historic sites, La Mauricie and Western Quebec Field Unit

  Will the Learn‑to Camp program take place this summer? Our second question: Will details about maintenance and safety standards be forthcoming? For example, how often will toilets be cleaned and what personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required?

  Response - Andrew Campbell, Senior VP, Operations

  It seems I keep getting two questions thrown my way, so I will try to answer both. The first was about campgrounds. Do we want to offer camping activities this year? The answer is that, right now, we are looking at how this service and activity could be run by all the different sites, by all the regions.

  Because of that, it is difficult to say right now exactly how and when we will start offering camping services again, but with this it was also another opportunity to underscore the fact that we will be following guidelines from all over the country. That is for the first question.

  For the second question, I think that it is also [that] we have a wide variety of equipment that will be available everywhere, at our various sites, which will create a situation where we have ensured the health and safety of all employees, which is paramount before we start offering services. I hope that answers all the parts of your question.

  (Re. Learn-to Camp) We are still seeing if this activity is going to begin. They have different ways of doing things, and maybe they have something virtual, and for many activities there are opportunities to see if things can be done virtually.

  Because of that, Michael Nadler’s group will see if it is possible to do it differently than normal, and now, because it involved really close proximity between us and the visitors, it is too difficult now to do things like that with all the activities requiring close proximity. It is not something we have the capacity to do right now.

  Question 7 - Edwin Knox, Resource Conservation, Waterton Lakes National Park

  With the country going into a debt some say will be trillions of dollars, how will this affect operation in our parks in the near and distant future? What will the impacts be on staff?

  Response - Ron Hallman, President and Chief Executive Officer

  I know it’s one that’s on the minds of a lot of people. What I can tell you is I don’t have a crystal ball and in all honesty I don’t know the nature of the discussions that may be going on right now at the highest levels of government.

  What I can tell you is that Parks continues to do a great job in the service of Canadians. We have the confidence of the government. We are the first who are beginning to resume our operations and I expect we will continue to perform as well as we always do.

  For my part, I am seized with the work of supporting our staff, welcoming Canadians and we will sort out those other things later when the government gets its head around that. For right now we’ve come through containment, going into recovery, resumption and I am excited to begin working with you to invite Canadians back to our places. We will have a discussion about those other factors when the time comes

  Question 8 - Heather Parker, Policy, Legislative and Cabinet Affairs, National Office

  When things get back to normal or the new normal could all the employees who are currently working from home have the option of teleworking at least part of the time? Could Parks Canada permanently increase and refine its capacity to conduct part of its business remotely?

  Response - Steven Van Dine, VP, Strategic Policy and Investment

  We are observing lots of reports from across the country and various industries where banks and other companies are looking at this as the new normal, to be able to provide telework arrangements on a more regular basis.

  Certainly from a Parks Canada perspective I’ll give a bit of background. We work closely with Shared Services Canada (technical problem with audio recording) of this pandemic to have more access to (technical problem with audio recording) and up to this point right now we’re in really decent shape in comparison to other departments with respect to our connectivity and with respect to our ability to serve the employees that are gaining access to the network today.

  Looking forward, we are turning our attention to what that new normal looks like. We’re working with PSPC as well as OCRO, the Office of the Chief Human Resource Officer and we’ll be looking very closely as to what our new normal will look like and making sure we have the tools necessary to continue to do our good work.

  Stay tuned. We’ll see how this progresses but it’s safe to say we’ve become more accustomed to this work arrangement than previously and we’ll see how we can continue to ensure we’re able to serve Canadians and serve one another in a more decentralized way.

  Question 9 - Ginette Paquet, Mingan Field Unit

  Has a decision been made regarding employees aged 60‑69 returning to work? Will Parks Canada, in an effort to protect its employees and the public, implement measures to check their body temperature? Will we have to have our temperature checked before each shift?

  Response - Line Lamothe, VP, Human Resources and Employee Wellness

  We are following guidelines from central agencies, like the Public Health Agency, among others, in terms of guidelines. Currently, we have no guidelines for employees between age 60 and 69.

  However, if we have employees who are sick or have precarious health conditions, we have leave provisions available for this purpose. One thing that I recommend is to have that conversation with your manager.

  It is important that we consider each situation individually, that we consider what flexibilities are available and the employee and managers in terms of considering each situation individually.

  (Re. temperature checks)

  As I mentioned initially, we are following Public Health Agency guidelines in terms of what safeguards will be required for our employees. We will know what those are as soon as we receive that information. At that point, we will be able to share details about when and how employees will be returning to work. So, more to come in terms of answering that part of the question.

  Question 10 - Scott Murphy, Natural Resource Management Branch, Active Management & Ecological Restoration

  The Covid-19 pandemic has presented us with a silver lining in many forms. How has the pandemic allowed the Agency to foster new and existing interdepartmental and intergovernmental relationships?

  Response - Christine Loth Brown, VP, Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage

  As Stephen mentioned this challenging time has pushed us all out of our traditional comfort zone and required us to take on new technologies and new ways of communicating with people. During a crisis as Ron mentioned we’ve tried hard to make sure we have active communication with our staff and with our partners.

  That’s a lesson that we need to take going forward. We were always good communicators as an organization but we’ve upped our game and we’ve received positive feedback for that. We’ve got good partners and good connections we’ve been communicating with throughout this period and we’ll continue to do that.

  I’ve even heard interesting examples of people participating virtually at international conferences taking place in Scotland but from the comfort of their home. That’s not something we would have considered before. I’ve also heard many employees as folks know we have many staff that work virtually from their team across this country.

  I’ve had many employees indicate they feel more connected to their collègues now more than ever because what this crisis has required us to do is to all take a step back and focus about how we are communicating and sharing information and that’s a great silver lining.

  (Re. future) As part of our response to this time we’ve created a business continuity working group as well as a business resumption planning working group. We appreciate so much the leadership of many across the organization participating in these groups.

  What these groups are doing and what will be important going forward is they’re documenting the actions we took, the lessons learned, providing a challenge function and saying did we do that right, could we have done it differently so we can take these learnings moving forward and be able to use them – hopefully not use them in a future situation but should something occur again.

  Question 11 - Noémie Bessette, Quebec Waterways Field Unit

  If an employee contracts COVID‑19 at work, is there a guide or guidelines available that we can follow to respond appropriately to the situation?

  Response - Line Lamothe, VP, Human Resources and Employee Wellness

  We do in fact have a very specific protocol on the procedure to follow both for employees and for the organization. We have implemented this protocol. We have had employees within the organization who have contracted COVID‑19, and our procedure is very effective in terms of reacting very quickly and informing people of the situation and the procedures to be followed.

  Question 12 - François Duclos, Visitor Experience Infrastructures Team

  Could you clarify Parks Canada’s approach to collecting entry fees during the gradual re‑opening period starting on June 1, 2020?

  Response - Catherine Blanchard, VP, Finance

  The approach for fee collection is as follows. We will be collecting fees this year. The challenge will be as of June 1^st not all places will be able to do so in a way that allows for the safety and security of staff and visitors.

  It will be a gradual approach to resuming the collection of fees as we go through and figure out what are the protocols for all of our staff in terms of the ability to collect fees.

  Again, we will collect fees. There is no discussion at this time of free admittance. We are moving down the path of collecting fees.

  Question 13 - Cindy Rawluk, Riding Mountain National Park

  As a cleaner are we to be wearing proper PPE during our duties at work?

  Response - Andrew Campbell, Senior VP, Operations

  Absolutely, there is a protocol right now and a safe work practice available on our extranet around cleaning. If you go onto there and you’re a supervisor and you’re talking to others within your workplace you will have both what the PPE is and what the workplace standard is for the cleaning.

  In all cases it’s clear that we want people using the appropriate work standard and safe work standard which in many cases will involve PPE. As well, we have an overarching working during the period of Covid guidelines that as well are already up on the extranet or the intranet. One of the things you will see is we will continue to add to that collection.

  We will continue to work to ensure we have the best practices that are following the health and safety standards that have been set by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Chief Public Health Officer as well as those protocols coming in from the provincial health officers. I want to keep underlining the fact that we may have different things going on in different areas of the country.

  One of the things we will not have that is different is our protection of employees and the safety we will have around each of our team members and making sure people are following the best safe work practices we can have based on the best health advice out there.

• Questions not addressed at Town Hall due to time constraints - coming soon

Email sent to all Parks Canada staff on May 14, 2020

Dear colleagues,

Earlier today, Minister Wilkinson announced that as of June 1, 2020, Parks Canada will begin to resume Agency operations, including offering Canadians limited access to some Parks Canada places and resuming key ecological and cultural activities.

I know that you will join me in welcoming this news. As the weather warms, Canadians are looking for places to safely spend time outdoors, including day use areas, trails and green spaces. I don’t need to tell you that the places we manage on behalf of all Canadians are among the most beautiful in the country, and they are looking forward to enjoying them.

The health and safety of our team members and our visitors continues to be the top priority of the Agency. We continue to follow the advice of public health experts in support of Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19. This is why our business resumption will be gradual and only take place when we are able to ensure the safety of employees and guests by implementing appropriate cleaning and maintenance measures.

I would also like to note that while this announcement addresses field operations and those functions that support them, Treasury Board is continuing to develop guidance on the safe return of office workers to their normal places of work. In the meantime, most office workers will continue to work from home in accordance with current guidance and arrangements.

I know that you have many questions about the gradual resumption of our operations. I continue to work closely with all my colleagues on the Executive Management Committee to provide the information you need as quickly and accurate as possible.

With this in mind, we invite all team members to the first-ever Parks Canada Virtual Town Hall today at 2 p.m. (ET) so that you can ask your questions directly to the Executive Management Committee. Additional information is available on Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet.

Our diverse network of places spans all provinces and territories, each with its own public health measures in place. As restrictions begin to be relaxed, we will adjust to the local realities, meaning visitor access and services will come sooner in some places than in others.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our team members who, throughout this pandemic, have continued to do all that is asked of them. This includes those who work in critical operations such as visitor safety, law enforcement, construction, highway operations and waterway operations. It also includes those who are performing their normal duties from home and those who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to perform their normal duties and are on Leave Code 699. The role that each of you is playing, regardless of which category you are in, is essential to flattening the curve and it is important to me that this is understood by all team members.

I wish you all a wonderful long weekend and for those of you who, like me, have been tasked with a long list of yard-related chores, I hope you also find time to relax and have a break.

Stay well,

Ron Hallman
#StrongerTogether #ParksProud #SeeYouSoon

Email sent to all Parks Canada staff on May 14, 2020

Dear colleagues,

Thank you all for your hard work, dedication and professionalism over the past few months. We are working through an unprecedented time, and each of you have helped keep Parks Canada moving forward. .

I was pleased to announce, earlier today, the gradual resumption of Parks Canada operations beginning on June 1, 2020. This includes a careful, staged approach to re-opening visitor access to day use areas and trails, as well as the resumption of key ecological and cultural activities. The health and safety of visitors and employees continues to be our top priority and we will continue to follow the advice of health authorities. We will also continue to ensure that staff have the necessary training and personal protective equipment to safely perform their duties.

For more information, please watch my video regarding today’s announcement.

Thank you for exemplifying public service excellence in everything you do. Let’s continue to do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

Message sent to all Parks Canada May 5, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

As public health and operational conditions have evolved with the coming of spring, several modifications have been made to Parks Canada's list of critical services. This includes the addition of services under the visitor safety and search and rescue functions, including: on-water activities, mandatory inspections and maintenance of assets, monitoring and public compliance activities, and animal welfare activities, among others. Functions critical to our conservation activities have also been added to the list, so that we can ensure the monitoring and necessary interventions to help protect ecological integrity, cultural integrity and biodiversity. All of these additions help us to meet our mandate, and serve Canadians. Thank you all for your hard work.

I also want to continue to share good news stories from across Parks Canada with you. I receive so many stories each week, that our Internal Communications team is launching a new ParksNet project called “Silver linings”, so you can see them all.

The first story that I would like to highlight today is the great work of Amy Micks’ son, Tristan. Amy is a team member from Ontario Waterways, and Tristan, who is 10-years-old, has been using some of his time in isolation to make others smile through an online "good news channel" that he created. He was even featured in The Peterborough Examiner. What a great story of resilience and positivity!

Another great story exemplifying the talent, resilience and positivity of our colleagues is an original song, entitled “Scared”, by Parks Canada's very own George Woodhouse. George is a Sable Island NPR Visitor Experience Coordinator by day and a singer/songwriter/performer by night. The song addresses mental health challenges along with the anxiety and fear people may be experiencing as a result of the pandemic, and is wrapped up in a touching and catchy tune. As my girls would put it: this is a “bop” (and yes, I did confirm with them that they really would say that!). The video also captures the challenges and charms of working and performing from home: with cute kids, a bouncing baby, and even a cameo appearance by the dog. I hope you’ll take a moment to have a listen. You can read both Amy and George’s stories in Silver linings.

And finally, I would like to share with you a very special farewell. Last week, Andrée Gaulin, known as the heart and soul of the Whitehorse office, officially retired from her Parks Canada career after an impressive 28 years. She sent an email to her field unit team members that said: “Work shouldn’t be everything, but it occupied a big space in my life. I always considered myself lucky to have had the job I had–talking with people from all over the world and representing Parks. It brought the best in me. I consider myself lucky also to have worked with you. There are all kinds of great people at Parks, doing some incredible work and the office was an inspiring place for me to be. Thank you for the help, for the conversations, for the friendship.”

I had an opportunity to connect with Andrée by telephone on her last day of work and was inspired by the passion and dedication of this amazing, life-long “parkie." I know that the Yukon Field Unit – and the Agency at large – will miss her greatly. Please join me in wishing Andrée nothing but the best in her retirement.

If you, your team, or your family is doing something to brighten up the day for your colleagues, or to encourage your communities, keep it up! And, please continue to share your stories, photos and anecdotes with me if you don't mind them being shared with others.

This coming weekend is Mother’s Day and I encourage you all to find ways to show appreciation to the moms, the grandmothers and those who fill mom-like roles in various ways in your lives. I know that Mairi, Emily and I will be honouring Carolyn for all she does for each of us. And, to all of our team members who are mothers, grandmothers or surrogate moms, enjoy some down time with your loved ones over the weekend.

Thank you all for continuing to do your part during this pandemic and stay well.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada May 1, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

The impact of COVID-19 on our work and in our personal lives has been challenging. It’s more important now than ever to take care of yourselves, your colleagues and your families. I can’t think of another time when focussing on occupational health and safety and our mental health has been more important or timely.

May 3 to 9 is North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The NAOSH website has many activities and tools to recognize occupational health and safety while respecting physical distancing best practices. I encourage you to check them out or go to ParksNet for more information. Let’s take time this week to strengthen our commitment to health and safety in the workplace. I would like to thank the team members who continue to work in critical services such as visitor safety, law enforcement, construction, highway operations and waterway operations.

May 4 to 10 is Mental Health Week, hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association. It’s time to #GetReal about how we really feel. Social inclusion and integration are important protective factors for good mental health. Take stock of how you connect to friends, colleagues and loved ones during this time of physical distancing.

Explore the online resources and activities available during Mental Health Week – they can really help. You don’t have to be in physical proximity with someone to nurture a sense of closeness and connection. Phone calls, video calls and other digital technologies recommended by ParksIT offer excellent opportunities for connecting, even when we can’t be in the same room. Many of you are already using these tools with great results!

I encourage you take photos and share them on social media using #GetReal to raise awareness for mental health while staying connected with your colleagues and friends. You can also participate in the LifeSpeak Mental Health Marathon “Ask the Expert” web chats in English on May 6 and in French on May 7. Log on using the Group ID / Password: canada.

I have already shared several stories with you of creative projects initiated by team members and their families that bring a ray of sunshine into these days, and I plan to share more in the hopes that these stories help keep life positive.

One such example is from our own Indigenous Affairs Branch (IAB) which came up with a creative way to keep their team members connected. The IAB scavenger hunt encourages the team members to create a collage of the things that bring them joy throughout their week. I’m attaching some of those photos to this email. If your branch is doing something similar, keep it up! And please continue to share these initiatives with me.

Look after your health, your colleagues’ and that of your family’s and invest in positive activities that raise everyone’s spirits.

Thank you for having physical and mental health at heart and making a difference. Together we can create safe workplaces and communities.

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

#GetReal #StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada April 29th, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

During this unprecedented time, one of our priorities is to ensure that our executive positions are fully staffed in order to provide leadership and stability to our teams. It is with pleasure that I wish to inform you of certain movements within the Parks Canada Agency:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Nathalie Leblanc to the position of Executive Director, Corporate HR effective, May 11, 2020.

Nathalie joins Parks Canada with 30 years of experience in the labour market, including 20 years in the federal public service. She joined the federal public service in 2000. She has held several positions in human resources.

She served as Recourse Specialist from June 2001 to January 2005 and as Legal Quality Assurance Advisor from January 2005 to October 2006 with the Public Service Commission. She then held various management positions in various human resources disciplines, including labour relations, wellness, values and ethics, compensation, performance management and systems, among others. She has worked for Correctional Services Canada (October 2006 to June 2008), Natural Resources Canada (June 2008 to September 2017), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (September 2017 to November 2018) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (November 2018 to present).

Nathalie holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Université Laval in Quebec City.

Please join me in congratulating Nathalie and wishing her much success in her career with Parks Canada.

***

After a 35+ year career with Parks Canada and having occupied a wide variety of roles which have provided a sound understanding of the Agency's mandate and operations, I am pleased to announce that Brenda Demone has accepted a position of Special Advisor to the Senior Vice-President, Operations, effective April 1, 2020.

Brenda’s dedication and contribution to the Agency’s priorities and mandate have been remarkable. Located in Revelstoke, British Columbia since 1994, she has lead the team responsible for the maintenance of a large network of roads and highways, including the Trans-Canada Highway, through Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks, as well as the Visitor Safety & Avalanche Control Program in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier.

Brenda’s new role will involve supporting the Operations Directorate in Occupational Health and Safety, participating as a member of the Employer's team in Collective Bargaining, participating in Operational Committees, specifically Infrastructure and Assets Committee and Taking Care of Our People committee.

Please join me in thanking Brenda for her many contributions and leadership as the Director, Highway Operations Unit and in congratulating her on this exciting transition to her new and important role of Special Advisor to the Senior Vice-President, Operations.

***

I am pleased to announce that effective April 6, 2020, Ifan has accepted the position of Director of the Wood Buffalo Action Plan. Having occupied a wide variety of roles over the past 35 years with Parks Canada, Ifan has acquired a sound understanding of the Agency's mandate and operations.

As a matter of fact, Ifan began his career with the Agency as a highways labourer in Jasper National Park. He also worked as a firefighter and also in a multitude of visitor experience roles during the summers, while attending university.

After his studies, Ifan continued his journey as a manager responsible for a series of high-profile planning, communication and consultation files. Since 2008, Ifan has been a superintendent in multiple national parks and national historic sites.

Ifan’s first superintendent posting was in the Western Arctic. One high point of his four years in the north was leading the Field Unit in work with the Inuvialuit and Parks Canada underwater archeologists that resulted in the successful discovery of HMS Investigator and a number of related archeological sites at Mercy Bay in Aulavik National Park.

In 2012, Ifan became Superintendent for Waterton Lakes National Park and Bar U Ranch National Historic Site. During his time in Waterton, the field unit managed a 50% increase in visitation, implemented over $100 million in asset improvements, navigated the impacts of the historic floods of 2013, and co-ordinated the unprecedented response to the Kenow Wildfire.

In a career of many rich opportunities and experiences, Ifan received the traditional Blackfoot name of Api Stamiik (or White Buffalo) from Kainai elders during a Blessing Ceremony held in Waterton in the spring of 2018. This was a landmark event for Ifan.

Ifan holds two degrees in Political Science: A Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta and a Master of Arts from the University of Western Ontario.

Please join me in wishing Ifan all the best.

***

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Omar McDadi to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Rouge National Urban Park, effective April 24, 2020.

Omar began his career with Parks Canada in 2004 as a student biologist in Kootenay, Yoho and Banff national parks, where he tracked bighorn sheep and delivered many school programs. Over the next 11 years, Omar worked in the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit in several roles, including as a park interpreter, hiking guide, and in communications.

In 2014, Omar returned home in the Toronto area to work on the establishment of the Rouge National Urban Park Field Unit, where every day he is grateful to work with such a dedicated and talented team.

Outside of his work for Parks Canada, Omar has also worked as a biologist for the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria and the Royal British Columbia Museum, as well as an educator at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island.

Omar graduated with an Honours BSc. in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria, and also has a diploma in French as a Second Language from Université Laval.

Omar lives in Toronto with his wife, Christina, seven month-old daughter, Maya, and 12-year-old golden retriever, Orca. His hobbies include learning about other cultures, Canadiana, music, playing hockey, canning food, and cheering on his favourite English football club, Arsenal.

Please join me in congratulating Omar on his appointment to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Rouge National Urban Park.

***

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Kubian to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay.

Rick began his career with Parks Canada in 1986 as a student working summers in the Visitor Services of Kootenay National Park. He brings over 30 years of park management experience through the varied roles that he has occupied ranging from fire and vegetation management to acting Field Unit Superintendent.

Rick has a strong background in fire and emergency management that has been acquired over the past 20 years on Incident Management teams. He has led multi-functional teams to reach integrated objectives such as the ongoing development of the Lake Louise area traffic management program.

Rick completed a Bachelor's degree (BA) in Geography and History at the University of Victoria (UVIC 1988) as well as a Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Studies (UVIC 2013). He completed his MSc through a project studying fire history in Kootenay National Park.

Rick lives with his wife and two teenage boys in the Invermere area. He keeps busy trying to keep up with them in their various activities. During his free time, he likes to explore the local trails on running shoes, bicycle, skis or snowshoes and enjoys paddling across the water in his canoe or paddleboard.

I would like to thank Melanie Kwong who has graciously accepted to continue her acting appointment in the position of Executive Director, Transformation.

Please join me in congratulating Rick on his appointment to the position of Field Unit Superintendent, Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay.

***

In addition, you will find below the staffing actions for executive positions that have taken place since March 1, 2020:

• Helene Davies has accepted an acting appointment to Executive Director, British Columbia and Yukon, while Nadine Spence is on language training from March 23 to May 1, 2020.
• Ernie Gladstone has accepted an acting appointment to Field Unit Superintendent, Coastal British Columbia, from March 23 to May 1, 2020.
• Robert Tyler Peet has accepted an acting appointment to Field Unit Superintendent, Gwaii Haanas, from March 23 to May 1, 2020.
• Jonathan Arnold has accepted an acting appointment to Executive Director, Prairies and Northwest Territories, from March 27 to May 29, 2020.
• David Elias has accepted an acting appointment to Field Unit Superintendent, Manitoba, from March 27 to May 29, 2020.
• Corinne Steed has accepted an assignment as Field Unit Superintendent, Riding Mountain, from April 1 to April 30, 2020.
• Leanne Cooper has accepted an acting appointment to Field Unit Superintendent, Riding Mountain., from May 1 to October 15, 2020.

Ontario and Waterways / Quebec and Nunavut / Atlantic

• Ed Jager has accepted an acting appointment as National Director, Corporate Communications, effective March 9 to September 30, 2020.
• Manuela Charette accepted an assignment as Director, Visitor Experience, effective March 9 to September 30, 2020.

• Julie Tompa has accepted an assignment as Director, Natural Resources, effective April 20, 2020, to April 20, 2022.

Please join me in congratulating this great group of people and the entire executive cadre for their commitment to serving Canadians to the best of their abilities.

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada April 28th, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

April 28, is the National Day of Mourning; a day to remember those who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness, on the job or due to a work-related incident.

This year, this day takes on extra meaning as we continue to ensure that Parks Canada colleagues performing critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic are provided with all relevant training and personal protective equipment. This includes team members in law enforcement, visitor safety, construction, waterway operations and highway operations whose hard work and dedication is sincerely appreciated. 

The Agency takes safety seriously, today and everyday. Visit the Hazard Prevention Program's ParksNet page (accessible on the Parks Canada network only) for tools, resources and guidelines for hazard prevention. Let’s strengthen our collective commitment to a culture of continuous improvement to the health and safety of our employees and prevention of incidents in our workplaces.

For more information on the National Day of Mourning, please visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Today, I plan to take a few minutes to pause and reflect on those impacted by a work-related incident. I invite you to do the same.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Stay safe,

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments). 

Message sent to all Parks Canada April 28th, 2020.

Colleagues,

It is with mixed feelings that I inform you that Daniel Langlois, Field Unit Superintendent of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Field Unit, retired on March 27 after more than 35 years of service with the Parks Canada Agency.

Under his leadership, a number of initiatives were launched at the marine park. Allow me to highlight some of these multiple achievements that I believe are particularly noteworthy.

As you know, partnership is the cornerstone of the success of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, and Daniel has played a key role in this regard.

In fact, as a member of the coordinating committee and commercial partners, Daniel skillfully co-managed the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in collaboration with the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SEPAQ), thereby stabilizing partner relationships.

In addition, the expertise acquired by Daniel and his team in the management of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park has contributed positively to the creation and management of several National Marine Conservation Areas in Canada and around the world.

For example, under his leadership, his team promoted the adoption of significant conservation measures. These included the closure of Baie Sainte-Marguerite to navigation, the exclusion of the middle estuary sector of the marine park to marine observation activities, and the revision of the regulations on marine observations.

I would like to highlight Daniel’s wisdom and analytical skills that were visible in all aspects of his work. I congratulate him and wish him every success in his future endeavours.

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada April 27th, 2020.

Hello,

Please note that  additional temporary changes has been introduced to the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP). These measures will help plan members and eligible dependants access health care benefits while minimizing social interaction with health care professionals.

These temporary measures will remain in effect until non-critical business is authorized to resume or as indicated otherwise.

You will find below a description of the five temporary measures :

1. Temporary extension of emergency travel benefits

The temporary extension to the emergency travel limit is extended for members and their eligible dependants who left Canada between January 17, 2020, and March 16, 2020. This extension will be in effect until non-critical business is authorized to resume or as indicated otherwise. Members and their eligible dependants who left their home province before January 17, 2020, or on or after March 17, 2020, are not covered by this extension.

The following are not reimbursed under the PSHCP:

• travel expenses as a result of trip cancellations or changes
• expenses incurred as a result of a quarantine if the member or eligible dependant does not contract COVID-19
• transportation expenses arranged by Canada back to a quarantine location

For assistance with travel‑related medical emergencies, PSHCP members travelling in Canada or the United States can call Allianz toll‑free at 1-800-667-2883. Plan members in all other countries should call Allianz collect at 519-742-1342.

2. Temporary relaxing of early prescription refills at the professional discretion of the pharmacist and provincial and territorial regulations

On March 24, 2020, the PSHCP’s normal administrative practice of restricting the dispensing of maintenance medication to a 100-day supply was temporarily relaxed. Since March 24, 2020, provincial and territorial governments, and professional associations have restricted the dispensing of prescription medication to a maximum of 30 days. As such, the PSHCP will no longer reimburse maintenance prescription drugs beyond the 100‑day limit.

The PSHCP continues to cover members and their eligible dependants for up to a 100-day supply of prescription medication. Members are encouraged to speak with their pharmacist to discuss the amount of medication that can be dispensed.

Note: The provincial and territorial restrictions take precedent over the PSHCP rules.

In order to continue to support the recommendations of public health authorities and minimize social interaction with health care professionals, if a member has multiple prescriptions, they are encouraged to speak with their pharmacist to discuss:

• the possibility of coordinating prescription refill dates
• whether prescriptions can be delivered to reduce the number of visits to the pharmacy

3. Temporary changes to accepted mental health practitioners

Social workers in all areas across the country and psychotherapists working directly with plan participants are temporarily accepted as mental health practitioners under the PSHCP.

4. Temporary changes to prescription requirements

The requirement to have a prescription for mental health or physiotherapy services under the PSHCP is temporarily suspended until non-critical business is authorized to resume or as indicated otherwise.

In addition, existing prescriptions for paramedical services that expired on or after March 20, 2020, will continue to be honoured during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This means that when a member makes a claim for a paramedical service during this period, they will not be asked by Sun Life for a new prescription, even if their previous prescription has expired.

5. Coverage for virtual paramedical services

The PSHCP continues to cover members and their eligible dependants when they receive virtual services provided by the following types of paramedical practitioners. The practitioner must be registered in the province or territory where the member resides.

Paramedical service providers covered under the PSHCP virtually are:

• Chiropodists
• Chiropractors
• Naturopaths
• Osteopaths
• Podiatrists
• Psychologists
• Physiotherapists
• Social Workers or Psychotherapists
• Speech Therapists

Claims for services received virtually must be sent to Sun Life according to the normal process. Members are encouraged to keep copies of receipts, completed claim forms and any other documentation.

Before consulting any service provider, refer to Sun Life's list of delisted providers.

For additional information, consult the Public Service Health Care Plan page on Canada.ca/pension-benefits.

Thank you,

Line Lamothe
Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness
Human Resources Directorate

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 24, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

As we continue our efforts to help Canada flatten the COVID-19 curve, many people in our communities are facing tremendous hardships. For example, we’ve seen reports of food banks across the country experiencing a significant increase in demand. Many industries, like retail and restaurants, have been forced to suspend their operations entirely, resulting in little or no income for some.

In response to these events and to requests from public servants asking how they can help, the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) is working with United Way Canada and HealthPartners to help those who are affected in our communities. While this is outside of the normal GCWCC period, funds raised will be included in the Agency’s final 2020 total.

If you would like to help, you can now make a donation to the GCWCC COVID-19 Emergency Campaign.

To donate to emergency funds through the GCWCC, please follow these steps:

1. Visit United Way Canada or HealthPartners' Emergency campaign websites
2. If donating to United Way Canada, ensure the box “My donation is part of a workplace campaign” is checked and indicate department/agency
3. If donating to HealthPartners, be sure to identify the name of your department/agency
4. Follow next steps to complete your donation

For more information on the GCWCC COVID-19 Emergency Campaign, check out the FAQs or send them an email at gcwcc.ccmtgc@canada.ca.

I hope you will all have an opportunity over the weekend to reflect further on your silver linings and contemplate how you can help those in your community – be it through the GCWCC COVID-19 Emergency Campaign, or in other ways. And as always, please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 22, 2020.

Dear colleagues:

We are now more than a month into our efforts to help Canada flatten the COVID-19 curve. I am aware of the sacrifices that Parks Canada team members are making in order to juggle family responsibilities, complete work tasks, and adapt to unprecedented changes that are impacting our daily lives. This is a lot for each of us to manage, and it is a burden made even more onerous for individuals and families who are experiencing health related effects of the virus.

With this in mind, I would like to ensure that you are aware of provisions that the Government of Canada has put in place for the benefit of public servants who are unable to work due to COVID-related illnesses. Specifically, you may be granted “Other Leave With Pay (699)” in cases if you are:

• diagnosed with COVID-19
• experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, as described by the Public Health Agency of Canada and cannot work remotely
• living with someone that is at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, as described by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and cannot work remotely

In addition, if you are a parent whose child or children cannot attend school or daycare due to closures or because of attendance restrictions, you should:

• attempt to make alternative care arrangements
• if that is not possible, discuss with your manager the option to telework

If these options are not possible, you may be granted “Other Leave With Pay (699)”.

No two households are facing the same challenges, so I encourage each of you to discuss your own situation with your supervisor to identify the best solution for your circumstances. And please know that the Executive Management Committee will continue to do everything we can to make sure that you receive the support you need during these challenging times.

The safety and health of your loved ones should continue to be your priority and the leave provisions described above have been implemented to assist you in taking the time you need to stay well. Thank you for continuing to look after yourselves, and each other, and for doing your part to practice physical distancing while we all work to help flatten the curve.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 20, 2020.

We wish to inform you that the year-end leave process is now complete. Annual leave credits for the 2020/2021 fiscal year have been advanced in the HR Self-Service system, so leave requests may once again be processed. Sick leave credits are earned on a monthly basis and will continue to be added progressively through the year.

If assistance is required, please contact: • your manager/supervisor or your human resources office for any questions related to your leave balances; • The HR Systems Help Desk or by telephone at 1-866-645-4040 for questions related to using the HR Self-Service system.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 20, 2020.

Dear Colleagues:

I join all Canadians in grieving the recent, tragic occurrences in Portapique Nova Scotia. Like you, my thoughts are of the fallen and of those who are recovering at this time. I am thinking too, of the families, friends and neighbours of all involved. And I am thinking of Parks Canada colleagues working in Nova Scotia who have family and friends in the province who will be struggling to make sense of these unspeakable acts.

Some of you know that my wife, Carolyn, was born and raised in Antigonish. These events strike home for her family and friends in a deeply personal way and I know that it’s the same for many of our team members and their families. We are all affected by these horrific acts, made even more unbearable by the pandemic situation that prevents people and communities from gathering in person to comfort each other and to honour the victims.

For our part, Carolyn and I will seek to learn more about the innocent lives lost: their names, their vocations, their communities. And, like each of you, we will hold our families close in our hearts.

Ron

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 17, 2020.

Dear Colleagues: In previous e-mail messages and conference calls, I have had an opportunity to thank executives, managers and staff across all functions for your contributions to Parks Canada and to Canadians during this time.

Today, I would like to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of colleagues on our Executive Management Committee, framing the Agency's COVID-19 response with respect to keeping our staff and visitors safe throughout the various phases of the pandemic. I would also like to acknowledge and thank representatives of our bargaining agents for their commitment and contributions. The Executive Management Committee and representatives of bargaining units, with the support of Agency human resources experts, have had two Labour-Management Coordinating Committee meetings since our COVID-19 response was initiated and we have agreed to hold subsequent meetings every two weeks until further notice. At times like this, more than ever, we come together in the best interests of all Parks Canada employees across the country and I deeply appreciate the strong working relationship and collaborative spirit that we have between management and labour representatives.

Many of you have questions about the upcoming operating season and, in particular, what our monitoring, restoration and visitor service related activities will look like. The most honest answer to this is that we don't yet know what the coming weeks and months may look like. We will continue to be guided by the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Teresa Tam, and her provincial counterparts. Our recent announcement regarding the suspension of camping and other visitor-related activities until at least the end of May reflects our understanding of the current outlook, and was intended to provide some measure of clarity to business operators and the public.

But while we are constrained with respect to resuming normal operations at this time, I would like you to know that the Agency's management team, including Field Unit Superintendents and their teams, are developing potential approaches for a gradual resumption of business that can be implemented when circumstances permit. For example, when the advice of health agencies supports doing so, we will consider the resumption of low risk activities and services that permit physical distancing and that reflect local realities, staff availability, and overall readiness. As government directives and the advice from health authorities evolve, we will be further exploring services and activities that maintain a priority on the health and safety of our colleagues and our visitors.

In the meantime, I continue to be greatly encouraged by the positive messages shared by colleagues from across the country. Every day, new stories come my way about how team members are stepping up and taking on different duties to make things work in these uncertain times -- and these stories show that it is often the little things that can make a big difference in our day-to-day lives.

For example, I received a message from Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve commending a team made up of young families for balancing their work and family life. This team has been exceptional at completing their daily tasks while caring for their families at the same time.

Similarly, team members in the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Field Unit made a mutual commitment to maintain a positive spirit and look for opportunities to keep each other smiling. The attached picture is an example of this – a surprise, virtual birthday party for A/Superintendent Carmen Hancock. Happy belated birthday, Carmen!

One team member in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, shared her own situation with #LoveMyResort, describing all the amazing activities available at her home such as a library with tons of unread books, a greenhouse to grow delicious food, an observation deck for stargazing, quiet hiking trails and interesting wildlife. It makes her reflect upon, and be grateful for, her own “resort” - with good food, family games and indoor exercise.

And for those who are inspired by music, I have two stories to share. The first comes from Yumi Webster, a Public Outreach and Education Coordinator in ERVE. It is a video of her son “Moe” and his friend, Joanne, performing their own rendition of “The Twelve Days of COVID.” The video was recorded in a community park early in March, prior to the restrictions and closures that are now in place.

The second musical offering comes from Jackie Zinger, External Relations Manager for the Yukon Field Unit. She shared with me the story of Daniel Ashley, a Public Outreach Education Officer in the field unit, who also happens to be the well-known DJ Dash. Daniel recently wrote a song to help him process his feelings regarding the pandemic, the lyrics of which were inspired by a friend of his who lives near Wuhan China and is writing a book titled “Invisible War”. Through today’s technology, Daniel took his lyrics and worked with other musicians virtually to compose a beautiful song also called “Invisible War” that mixes in words from Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brendan Hanley. The art work for the song cover was created by Blake Lepine who is a local First Nation artist. Daniel's song was released publicly earlier this week and he has kindly agreed that I share it with you.

Please enjoy this creative content off-network.

Shared stories and shared music have the power to bring us together even when we are apart. Many thanks to so many of you for allowing me to share your experiences with others and for your hard work and adaptability during these evolving circumstances.

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#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 14, 2020.

Dear Colleagues: Welcome back from the long weekend. I hope you were able to unplug and spend some quality time with your loved ones.

Like many of you, Carolyn, the girls and I were able to reach out to our extended family and friends virtually. And while it wasn’t the same as gathering around a table to share a meal and honour traditions, we are grateful for the silver lining of those technologies that allow us to connect in other ways during this time of physical distancing.

I was recently reminded by colleagues across the country of many other silver linings to our present situation. I received the following anecdotes from Helen Davies on behalf of staff in British Columbia and Yukon that I appreciate being able to share:

• One employee confides that they do not love working from home; they prefer the routine of going to the office and keeping work/home separated as their home is their relaxing sanctuary. Nonetheless, they note that the zero commute is a big silver lining for them as it means that 20-25 minutes of the day are freed up for whatever they wish to do rather than driving to/from work. I think many of us can relate to this one.
• Another colleague shares that their family now holds a gratitude and mindfulness circle each evening before story hour and bed time, as a means to reflect, to express gratitude for all they have, and to connect with each other.
• Other colleagues highlight the pleasure of more stretch breaks throughout the day, of sharing lunches with their family, and of having easy access to fresh, home-brewed coffee throughout their work day.
• With the arrival of spring, another team member reports enjoying the opportunity to step outside to see what’s blooming in their yard, to breath fresh air, and to tend to their garden in between business calls.

There are also silver linings in how staff are responding, collectively, across the Agency to help each other. Colleagues in the Rouge National Urban Park Field Unit, for example, have developed a confidential online “Kindness Offers” platform where staff can voluntarily offer services such as delivering food or household supplies to colleagues. To date, there have been more than 24 kindness offers accepted across the field unit, ranging from grocery pick-ups, offers to talk on the phone, and even real estate advice. .

Staff at the Rouge also report having adopted a practice recently implemented in the Southwestern Ontario Field Unit, in which they set aside time each day to reach out and call colleagues across the Field Unit, just to check-in, say hello and see how things are going. I have heard similar accounts of these types of calls, with some colleagues saying they feel closer than ever to their teams and that these calls are often the highlight of their day.

And then there is the example of the Northern Ontario Field Unit, which has initiated weekly French study sessions over Google: a full half-hour of peer-to-peer study to support employees in enhancing their French language ability through guided discussion and new vocabulary. Not only does this help our colleagues to stay connected, but it supports their ongoing professional development and encourages the use of both official languages in the workplace.

It is true, colleagues, that we don't yet know when we may be in a position to transition back to some sense of normalcy and this uncertainty wears on us all. But the kinds of silver linings shared above give me every confidence that we will continue to get through this together - with our families, our friends, and our colleagues.

And finally, a follow up note for those of you who have inquired about a situation that I referenced in an earlier message. I can report that the two dogs and I continue to shelter in place and successfully avoid Carolyn's clipping shears and her offers of "just a little trim"!

Thank you for sharing your stories and thank you for all you are doing to serve Canadians while also taking care of yourselves and each other.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 10, 2020.

Colleagues: While these times are unusual and uncertain, I did want to take a moment to wish all of you a Happy Easter and Happy Passover! Though our various celebrations will likely be somewhat different than normal this year, I do hope that you and you families will be able to celebrate the holidays – even if that may be through online video conferencing rather than in person gatherings.

As we near the end of the fourth week since we began working from home, I also wanted to check in and to say thank you. I am very proud of the way we as a portfolio have come together to continue with our important work and to support each other during these uncertain times.

We are all learning to work in ways that are somewhat different from those we are used to. This is true whether one works in Human Resources, IT, Programs, Security, Facilities or Communications. It is true whether you are working from home or providing critical services in the field.

Beyond carrying on with the critical tasks performed by our organizations each and every day, we have made significant donations of PPE to support frontline workers and we have had several employees accept short term assignments to assist other agencies and departments with COVID-19 response. .

In these exceptional circumstances, Canadians are counting on governments and public servants more than ever. Thank you for your resilience, your professionalism, your innovation, your empathy, your compassion and your hard work.

During this long weekend it will be important that we all take time to relax and recharge. It will also be extremely important that we each do all we can to ensure we are keeping our communities safe and are doing our part to flatten the curve.

On a personal level I have been very fortunate. My eldest daughter is now back home from university and we have had a chance to spend more time than usual with two teenagers. As those of you with teenagers will know, spending a lot of time home with parents would not normally be at the top of the list of things of fun things to do! It has been very nice to have them both home.

I certainly know some of you are facing more difficult challenges – being separated from family and friends, homeschooling young kids, worrying about elderly parents, or looking after a loved one who is sick. Please know that whatever challenges you may be facing, we are here to support you.

We will get through this together.

Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday weekend.

All the best,

Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 9, 2020.

Dear colleagues: I have indicated in previous messages that I would be sharing stories with you that I receive from across the country of team members working hard to serve Canadians while also taking care of themselves and their families.

This is highlighted very well in the story of one of our colleagues in Québec who paused during a teleconference to retrieve one of her children who was stuck in a tree in their backyard. Without missing a beat, she helped her young child down from the tree and promptly resumed her call. Talk about adaptability and resilience!.

The spirit of resilience is also being demonstrated by team members in the Northern Ontario Field Unit who are benefitting from daily, 10-minute guided meditation sessions through the magic of Google Meets technology. The sessions are organized by a colleague who is a certified yoga and meditation teacher; another inspiring and innovative example of staff taking care of themselves and each other.

The upcoming long weekend is an opportunity for each of us to connect with loved ones and I hope you can enjoy the break. If you have a chance, you can virtually visit amazing Parks Canada places across the country with Google Street View or Parks Canada 360 (YouTube). If you have children, there are also fun activities with Club Parka.

Or, some of us may wish to follow the example of our Executive Director for the Atlantic, David Millar. In response to being at home and having limited opportunities to be active, David and his 12-year old daughter determined that it was "Millar Time" and established what they dubbed the "Millar Olympics." Competing in a series of backyard sporting events, they demonstrate their prowess in hula hooping, skipping, slack lining, frisbee, lacrosse, and a number of other activities. Currently, David alleges that he and his son are narrowly in the lead with three events left to go next weekend (please note that these standings have not been independently corroborated by David's wife and daughter). Attached are a few photos that David generously shared to illustrate the competition. Note that David is wearing Parks Canada wrist bands, which he thinks is giving him an edge.

I hope these stories from our colleagues help to underscore how we are all adapting to the unusual circumstances that we are facing. I continue to be impressed by the commitment and collaboration that each of you are demonstrating and commend your ability to focus on what is most important in your personal circumstances.

Enjoy the long weekend and stay well.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Visit Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet for the latest information. If you are feeling nervous or distressed about this situation, we encourage you to speak with your manager or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program available at 1-800-268-7708, or 1-800-567-5803 (TTY - for people with hearing impairments).

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 7, 2020.

Dear colleagues: Thank you for the important work adjustments you have made so far in our collective effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. I would like to share with you a couple points to help ensure that our response activities continue to occur in a secure manner that allow you to stay engaged and connected..

Some team members have seen an increase in phishing and other cyber-related threats. I would like to remind you of the importance of digital security and privacy and I ask you to be vigilant. Guidance with respect to recommended productivity tools and best practices are available on Parks(EXTRA)Net and ParksNet, and are updated regularly..

Some among us are feeling challenged to keep busy in circumstances where it is not possible to fully perform our normal functions remotely. In these cases, you might consider continued learning as part of your solution for self-care. Parks Canada has many tools available to team members to facilitate your learning and career goals including a list of training activities developed by our Learning Team. You can also consult the Canada School of Public Service’s online course catalogue as many training options are available – including mandatory training – through GCcampus, and can be accessed outside of Parks Canada’s network.

I have been pleased to learn the lengths to which field units and directorates are going to help keep team members connected. Online coffee chats, online cinq-a-sept events and Google Meet sessions are all effective ways to maintain valuable human connections with colleagues. At Gulf Island National Park Reserve, staff have initiated their own “Coffee News - #StayAtHome edition” publication. This creative newsletter is emailed out to team members and includes general updates on local operations, links to a shared Slack page, tips for staying healthy, and fun things to lift spirits. It also has a “Gratitude” section that features photographs of special places in the national park reserve that team members are missing during this period as a reminder of what awaits. Local initiatives like this are great ways to help us all get through this uncertain time. Well done Gulf Islands team! I look forward to hearing about, and sharing, more examples such as this in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, here at Chez Hallman, Mairi and Emily have resumed their high school studies following the recent posting of online materials by the local school board. Genny, Jordie and Piper, our two dogs and the cat, are being good sports and pretending to enjoy our constant presence. Carolyn is doing well with her teleworking and I continue to resist her desire to wield her shears against my lengthening hair (wish me luck!).

Like many of you, I’m looking forward to the upcoming long weekend. Please continue to do your part to support physical distancing so that we can get through this challenging period together without unnecessary delay. Stay home, avoid travel, and look after yourselves and your loved ones.

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 3, 2020.

Dear colleagues: Another week under our evolving circumstances is coming to an end and I continue to be inspired by the way team members are going above and beyond to serve Canadians.

Today, I would like to acknowledge the amazing contributions of our highway crews. Team members in Cape Breton recently had to close roads due to heavy snow and, when equipment failures experienced by both the park and the province prevented them from being able to re-open those roads, staff worked around the clock to source replacement equipment. As a result of their efforts, the highway was reopened and several remote communities along the Cabot Trail remained accessible.

In Glacier National Park, Parks Canada team members continue to deliver critical highway maintenance and avalanche control for the Trans-Canada Highway. Their efforts are key to keeping this vital national transportation corridor open, ensuring that goods and services continue to reach Canadians. The exceptional work of our highway crews across the country, and the staff who support them, is a source of pride for us all.

I am extremely appreciative of everyone’s professionalism and on-going contributions and I look forward to acknowledging the efforts of other colleagues in upcoming messages. I am also mindful that these times are stressful in many ways, personally and professionally, and I encourage each of you to do what is needed to look after yourself and your family. Take health breaks during the day if you are working from home, contact the 24-7 Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), access care through the Public Service Healthcare Plan (PSHP), use the nationwide Specialized Organizational Services (SOS), or consult the Workplace Health and Wellness ParksNet page or Parks(EXTRA)Net page for available resources and tools.

Like many of you, I am working from home and I don't mind saying that it is not easy. Personally, I find it more tiring than being at the office where my normal routine allows me to walk the floors, talk with people and enjoy the company of colleagues. To keep myself motivated and well, I am engaging my love of reading. I have rediscovered my home gym to burn off some excess energy. I am also connecting directly with team members across the country to learn what more we can do to support them.

And finally, I have developed an odd nostalgia for my daily 1-hour commute (each way), a moment when the natural introvert in me enjoyed some personal time. Now, I am taking advantage of some additional time with my family: I have more opportunities for board games, shared meals, and debating the world's problems with Carolyn and our two bright teenaged daughters, Mairi and Emily. It is a welcome benefit of what is otherwise a surreal situation.

I am counting on each of you to find ways to keep yourself motivated and well too. I hope you are finding your own personal benefits amidst this temporary, physical distancing reality. As I have said before: we are all stronger together and your wellness matters to us all.

Here’s a little image of hope being shared from our team members at the Lachine Canal:

#WeWillBeOk #ParksProud

Stay well,

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 2, 2020.

Dear colleagues: As the Coronavirus situation continues to evolve, provinces, territories, cities and indigenous communities are limiting travel or access to borders. Central Agencies have engaged partners in other jurisdictions to underscore the need for certain of our employees, performing critical functions, to have freedom of movement. Parks Canada team members carrying out critical functions will be provided with a letter that clearly identifies them as a critical service employee with a requirement for inter-provincial border crossing in line with their duties. Employees are expected to use this letter, along with their provincially issued government identification, to validate their requirement for inter-provincial crossing.

These letters will be delivered shortly by e-mail to Parks Canada employees with this requirement.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on April 1, 2020.

Dear colleagues: Thank you, once again, for your adaptability and professionalism in adjusting to evolving circumstances, as we continue to serve Canadians to the best of our abilities.

Following the recommendations of public health experts to help limit the spread of COVID-19 means that many of us cannot follow our normal work routines or be at our normal work location. I know how passionate each of you is about your job and I understand how challenging it can be to feel productive and connected to the work we love while practicing physical distancing.

During this uncertain time, your first priority should remain your personal wellbeing and that of your family. There are many resources to draw upon for support, including the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), the Public Service Healthcare Plan (PSHP), and the nationwide Specialized Organizational Services (SOS). All available resources can also be found on Parks(EXTRA)Net.

To help keep safe team members who are performing critical services and to support those of us who have been asked to stay home, Parks(EXTRA)Net has information and tips to help employees stay informed and connected. I encourage you to make use of these tools and to let your colleagues or supervisor know if there is more that we can do to support you.

This is a difficult time; we all feel it. I have every confidence that we will continue to support each other as a team. Thank you for facing these challenges together and for your important contribution to Canada’s ongoing efforts to flatten the curve. #StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Stay safe,

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 27, 2020.

It has been a week of rapid change and rapid action by the Parks Canada team to rise to the challenge of limiting the spread of COVID-19. Together, we are doing things that have never been done before and I couldn’t be more proud of how you are handling this challenging time.

Parks Canada is doing its part to support the government’s efforts to flatten the curve. And we are guided by our single-minded determination to keep our employees and the users of Parks Canada places healthy and safe.

As you know, over the past two weeks we have taken unprecedented actions across the Parks Canada network. We have temporarily suspended visitor services, closed our visitor-related facilities and now we have also suspended motor vehicle access by visitors.

This work is new, complex, and challenging, but we are succeeding thanks to everyone’s hard work and thanks to working together as one team. I want to thank you all for your dedication and your professionalism.

I have heard and been inspired by stories from across the country of Parks Canada employees stepping up and helping one another and also helping in their communities. I have also heard from team members benefitting from decisions of the government. For example, I have heard from a colleague of ours whose child is benefitting from streamlined access to mental health services as a result of temporary changes to our Public Service Health Care Plan. I am also aware of colleagues who feel empowered to help their extended family with COVID-19-related challenges.

I appreciate hearing directly from you regarding how our decisions are affecting you and I encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts, including if there is more we can be doing to support you. Thank you to those of you who have shared your thoughts to date and thank you to all colleagues for sharing your energy, your efforts, and your gifts so generously.

I know that this is a stressful time for us all. That makes it doubly important that we take care of ourselves and each other. Let’s all make sure we are getting rest and prioritizing our health and our families. Let’s all make sure that, even if we are outside of the workplace, that we are checking in on our colleagues. And let’s take those moments to thank our colleagues for their contributions.

A note about self care. When the demands of our work lead to fatigue, as they inevitably will, we owe it to ourselves, our teams, and our families to take a break. I encourage all of you to keep a close eye on your own personal circumstances and to step back when you need to. Actions like these will help to keep us all healthy, well and safe.

Please continue to follow public health recommendations for preventing Coronavirus, seek help if you need it by contacting the 24-7 Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), access care through the Public Service Healthcare Plan (PSHP), use the nationwide Specialized Organizational Services (SOS), or consult the Workplace Health and Wellness ParksNet page.

And finally, thank you for all that you are doing to help #FlattenTheCurve. Whether you are doing so as you perform critical services or as one of our many employees who have been asked to stay home, you are playing an important and valued part in helping Canada get through this challenging time together. For those of you dividing your time between working on whatever you are able to accomplish in these circumstances while also assisting parents, children, extended family or neighbours, please know that I support you in doing what you can to make things better for others and I wish you continued strength in doing so. If you are struggling personally and could benefit from some assistance, please reach out to EFAP, to a colleague, to your supervisor or to any member of the executive team, including me. We are all stronger together and your wellness matters to us all.

#StrongerTogether #ParksProud

Stay well,

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 26, 2020.

Due to the extraordinary circumstances we are currently facing, the nomination period has been extended to June 1, 2020. We encourage you to use this additional time to submit nominations and recognize your colleagues for these prestigious awards.

Due to these delays, the ceremony is postponed until September, after Labour Day.

For more information on the CEO Awards of Excellence 2020, please visit ParksNet.

Thank you

Awards & Recognition team

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 26, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Yesterday, the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Government of Canada, Nancy Chahwan, shared some information regarding support to employees regarding health care needs during this pandemic.

The Government of Canada has implemented temporary changes to the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP). These new measures are designed to help plan members and their eligible dependents access healthcare benefits, while at the same time, minimizing their social interaction with healthcare professionals as well as supporting the social distancing directive.

In summary, these measures include:

• Extending travel emergency benefits
• Relaxing the dispensing limit for maintenance medications and allow the pharmacist to exercise professional discretion whether to dispense the medication sooner
• Accepting claims for social workers as mental health professionals
• Removing the requirement for a prescription for mental health and physiotherapy services

These temporary changes will be in effect until April 24, 2020, with the possibility of extension.

More information on these changes is available on canada.ca.

Thank you for your continued support. Please take care of yourselves.

Ron Hallman
President et CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 24, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

On Wednesday of last week, Parks Canada implemented a series of measures to support the government’s efforts to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Parks Canada’s employees and our visitors are of the utmost importance to the Agency and I want to thank all of you for your efforts to implement these new measures.

With this message, I am providing you with updates on how the Agency is working to support all staff while we respond collectively to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Additional measures at Parks Canada places

Despite the suspension of visitor services on March 19, 2020, continued high visitation has led to public safety and public health concerns as well as increased risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. As a result, we’re implementing additional measures to support the Government of Canada’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 and reduce risks to all users of Parks Canada places. We are temporarily suspending all motor vehicle access by visitors at all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas effective 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. This means that all visitor parking facilities and associated services at Parks Canada places will be closed until further notice. Tools and resources for the implementation of this announcement will be available on ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net.

Our workplaces

Staff who are in good health and who are not involved in the delivery of critical operations functions must work from home and limit their access to the workplace to incidental use of specialized equipment or the retrieval of materials required for their work. If their duties cannot be conducted by telework or if home-based activities, such as professional development or support for critical operations appropriate to the employee’s work description, cannot be found, these employees will be granted “other leave with pay (699 code)”.

While working from home, please be respectful of the telework burden on the telephone and computer networks. Connect to the network only when required and then disconnect again. Also, try to connect to the network at non-peak times if possible. Please limit all non-essential use of teleconferencing services, as many staff have experienced challenges with teleconferencing in recent days. Guidance on teleworking can be found on ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net.

Our people

Guidance has been provided by the Human Resources Directorate regarding working from home and the use of leave provisions at this time. Details can be found on found on ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net. We are doing everything possible to minimize the impact of the current situation on employees. I want to assure you that no team members will be laid off because of COVID-19. I also want to remind you that if you or your loved ones are feeling stressed or anxious there are resources available at Canada.ca/coronavirus on ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net, and the GCIntranet website.

Financial management

While the fiscal year end across the federal government remains March 31, 2020, the dates for all requirements to close the 2019-2020 fiscal year have been extended by three weeks. Note also that GCcampus is no longer in service and the deadline for required training for the financial delegation is postponed to a future date. Existing financial authorities for all individuals will continue to apply until further notice.

Procurement

Guidance has been developed to help Parks Canada staff to conduct procurement activities at this time. Also, specific measures are being taken to support the procurement of cleaning products, cleaning services, and personal protective equipment. This information will be posted to on ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net very soon. Please watch for updates.

Communications

Staff involved in external relations and visitor experience functions across the country have been provided with resources and materials to help them provide clear and consistent information and messages to the public, our partners, and our stakeholders. These materials and resources are available on ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net and are updated regularly. We must all work to use them in all of our communications to avoid confusion and provide clear and consistent information to Canadians.

Taking care of ourselves and each other

This is a difficult time. It is important that we make every effort to support one another and lend a hand where we can.

Please do not hesitate to seek help if you need it by contacting the 24-7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP), accessing care through the Public Service Healthcare Plan (PSHP) or using the nationwide Specialized Organizational Services (SOS).

Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your face. Cough or sneeze into your arm and disinfect surfaces. You should also avoid crowded places and all non-essential travel outside of Canada. And if you are sick stay home.

Finally, please continue to stay up to date through the Canada.ca/Coronavirus, ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net, and the GCIntranet website.

Ron Hallman
President et CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 24, 2020.

This is a challenging time for all Canadians and it is even more important now that we redouble our efforts to change our behaviours and work together to flatten the curve and limit the spread of COVID-19.

Last week, Parks Canada took action by suspending all visitor services at national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas. I am truly grateful to the Parks Canada team for their dedication and professionalism in implementing these measures intended to help keep Canadians safe.

In response to high visitation and crowding that occurred in a number of Parks Canada locations over the weekend, and following consultation with Ron Hallman, Parks Canada’s President & CEO, I today called upon all Canadians to follow the advice of public health experts to stay home.

This means that anyone planning to visit a Parks Canada place should cancel their plans. I also announced that Parks Canada will take further measures that support this direction and build on last week’s actions. Effective 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, the Agency will temporarily suspend all motor vehicle access by visitors in order to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

I know that this is an unprecedented action, but I am confident that the measures we are taking will help support the government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the burden on our country’s healthcare services.

Now is the time to act and I am thankful for all of your hard work. Together, we can #FlattenTheCurve and help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 20, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for the important contributions you have made over the past week to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our exceptional effort to implement the temporary suspension of visitor services is one of the most important actions we could have taken to protect our fellow Canadians, including our visitors and our Parks Canada colleagues. I am proud of how we are working together and helping one another as one team. And I am encouraged that we have been able to so effectively communicate our decisions and our efforts consistently and with one shared voice to the public, our partners, our stakeholders, and our visitors.

Staff across the Agency are working to make sure that we can continue to perform critical services while supporting the government’s efforts to contain COVID-19 and minimize the impacts on Canadians. For your information, our Executive Management Committee is meeting daily via teleconference from wherever members are on any given day, and serves as a steering committee to provide timely direction to, and seek feedback from, a hard working Business Continuity Working Group that has been established and is being led by Stephen Braham with membership from across the Agency. In addition, we are convening daily calls of all Agency PCXs in order to share relevant direction, hear feedback, respond to questions and share experiences and best practices across field units and directorates. These enhanced communications will continue and I encourage all Parks Canada team members to share any suggestions, questions and observations that you may have with your supervisor so that they can be addressed in one of these forums. I also encourage you to check regularly on our internal ParksNet and Parks(EXTRA)Net sites for the latest, definitive updates regarding Parks Canada's COVID-19 response activities. Up to date information from expert departments is also available at Canada.ca/Coronavirus and the GCIntranet website.

I understand how challenging this has been. COVID-19 is requiring all of us to make significant changes. Our work and family lives have been disrupted and we are all supporting children, partners, extended families, friends and neighbours in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, this past week the novel coronavirus pandemic hit close to home with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the Parks Canada team. I know that our colleague is in all of our thoughts and that we are all wishing them a speedy recovery. Please be assured that following this diagnosis, anyone who may have had direct or indirect interactions with the person has been informed and is taking the necessary precautions in accordance with established protocols. I would like to remind everyone of the importance of following the advice of health authorities: work from home, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, follow recommended hygiene practices and stay at home if you are sick. We can all do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19.

We all need to do our part to take care of each other too. With this in mind, please remember that there are several resources available to help you and your loved ones manage the stress, anxiety and uncertainty of this situation. I encourage you and your family members to draw on those resources as necessary.

I have learned over my career to never underestimate the ability of a strong, cohesive team to achieve great things together. I have immense confidence in Team Parks and I am proud of the contribution that each of you are making in this effort. These are extraordinary times and, as Minister Wilkinson wrote to us in his message, we are all helping to #FlattenTheCurve and to keep Canadians safe.

Thank you for all you are doing – and stay well.

Ron

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 19, 2020.

Dear colleagues,

The week of January 27, 2020, the bargaining teams for Parks Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents unionized Parks Canada employees, participated in a process known as a public interest commission.

The results of this process are contained in a non-binding report prepared by the Chair of the Commission.

The intent of the non-binding report is to assist the parties in moving forward in their negotiations toward a new collective agreement by providing recommendations. It is at the negotiation team’s discretion to implement the recommendations or not.

In his report, the Chair of the Commission emphasized the efforts on the part of both parties and hoped that negotiations could resume in the same positive vein.

Please visit the Justice Laws Website for more information on the role of a public interest commission.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank both negotiating teams for the time and effort they devote to the negotiations process, above and beyond their regular duties.

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 19, 2020.

At this challenging time, the government’s priority remains the health and safety of Canadians. We are doing everything we can to contain the spread of COVID-19. It is important that all Canadians work together and follow the advice of public health experts, stay home if you are feeling ill, work from home where possible and avoid settings where there may be a greater risk of transmission.

We all look forward to resuming normal operations at Canada’s national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas, but for now we must focus on the health of Canadians who visit these treasured places, of our Parks Canada colleagues, and of our families. This means we must temporarily suspend many Parks Canada services and operations. Essential services will continue to be provided. It also means we are asking team members to work from home wherever possible.

I want to be very clear no Parks Canada employees will be laid off because of the actions being taken to combat COVID-19. Please take care of your health and the heath of your loved ones. Please follow the guidance of public health officials. These are the best ways to contribute to the global effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Parks Canada’s CEO, Ron Hallman, and I are remaining in close contact and are working together closely during this difficult time. I have great confidence in Ron, in Parks Canada’s senior management team and in all Parks’ employees. I very much appreciate your ongoing dedication to serving the citizens of Canada and I am sure you have been and will be acting very much to support the government's efforts to #FlattenTheCurve.

For more on the virus, prevention and Canada’s response, go to the Public Health Agency of Canada website: www.canada.ca/coronavirus.

Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 17, 2020.

Bonjour,

The Government of Canada is doing everything it can to protect the health and safety of all Canadians as the country responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that includes its own workforce.

On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat provided additional guidance to departments and agencies to help them reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. This guidance encourages managers to consider telework whenever possible for all employees at all work sites who can fulfill their duties from home, while ensuring critical government operations and services to Canadians continue to be provided.

For Parks Canada, the health and safety of employees and visitors is of the utmost importance. That is why the Agency will implement new measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 at Parks Canada places across the country.

Focusing on basic critical operations

The Government of Canada has recommended that Canadians take additional steps to limit the spread of COVID-19. Canadians are being encouraged to stay home and avoid settings where there may be a greater risk of transmission. Parks Canada is asking all staff who are in good health and who can perform their duties from home by telework to stay home.

In the interest of protecting the health and safety of visitors and employees, effective midnight on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Parks Canada will focus on basic critical operations and temporarily suspend visitor services at all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas until further notice.

Visitors may use front country and backcountry areas as well as accessible green spaces. Should Canadians decide to visit, they should remember that they are always responsible for their own safety. They should consult Parks Canada’s website to be prepared for their visit and be aware of any area closures. Search and rescue services may be limited. Visitors should exercise additional caution at this time and avoid activities with safety risks.

Parks Canada will also temporarily reduce, suspend or postpone some resource conservation activities, including those supporting visiting researchers. We will still be accepting applications for research projects but they will not be granted until after this period of reduced activities has concluded.

Some capital projects as well as non-critical maintenance and technical service activities may be temporarily suspended or delayed. Employees in the technical services areas and those working on minor recapitalization projects should contact their supervisors and managers to determine whether these operations are continuing, being modified or being suspended.

Employees working directly in the following critical areas, and those working to support critical services, are being asked to report to work while following healthy workplace precautions, or where possible and appropriate, telework or work from the home.

• Waterways dam operations, water level monitoring, and water level management;
• Highways operations and snow removal;
• Avalanche forecasting and avalanche control;
• Visitor safety and search and rescue;
• Town sites management;
• Water and waste water treatment;
• Fire response and management;
• Emergency dispatch;
• Law enforcement;
• Call centres; and
• Construction project implementation support.

Employees not involved in the delivery of critical operations such as those identified above or otherwise identified by their Field Unit Superintendent or Vice-President to support those critical services such as timekeepers, facility maintenance etc. will be directed to work from home.

If an employee’s normal duties are not considered critical services and cannot be conducted by telework they may undertake professional development activities or perform other duties related to their work description.

Employees not engaged in the provision of critical services and who otherwise do not have work that they can reasonably perform at home will be granted “other leave with pay (699 code)”.

Teleworking

Staff should take every measure possible to reduce the burden on government networks and help maintain productivity for critical operations. For details on how to reduce your impact on the networks, please visit ParksNet or the Parks(Extra)Net.

Taking care of ourselves and each other 

Parks Canada is doing its part to limit the spread of COVID-19. We are all part of this effort and it is important that we make every effort to support one another and lend a hand where we can.

Please do not hesitate to seek help if you need it by contacting the 24-7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP), accessing care through the Public Service Healthcare Plan (PSHP) or using the nationwide Specialized Organizational Services (SOS).

Finally, please continue to stay up to date through the Canada.ca/Coronavirus, ParksNet and the Parks(EXTRA)Net, and the GCIntranet website.

Merci,

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

March 15, 2020 – 10:40 p.m.

The health and safety of employees and visitors is of the utmost importance to Parks Canada. Updates and information are being provided to staff as frequently as possible. This update relates to the workplace, travel, flexible work arrangements and employee leave.

Workplace:

 

The novel coronavirus is most commonly spread if you are in close contact with an infected person through:

• respiratory droplets generated when someone coughs or sneezes. Droplets generated by coughing or sneezing among those not practicing respiratory etiquette can travel up to two metres and potentially can infect others within that distance.
• close, prolonged personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands

To help reduce transmission between ill persons and those who are healthy, prompt recognition of symptoms and early self-isolation of symptomatic individuals are key. 

What does this mean for Parks Canada employees?

Self-Isolate means limiting your contact with others. You self-isolate if:

• you have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• local public health has identified you as a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19

If you have NOT been diagnosed with COVID-19 or identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you are asked to self-monitor.

Self-monitor means monitor yourself for symptoms of respiratory illness such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing

If symptoms develop:

• stay home
• limit contact with others
• contact local public health, and follow their instructions

Travel

The Government of Canada has advised Canadians to avoid international travel. In light of this, Parks Canada employees are asked to take into consideration public health travel advisories as per the active travel health notices and inform your manager of any plans to travel outside of Canada for personal reasons.

In accordance with the Public Health Agency’s recommended protocol, Parks Canada is asking employees who have recently returned from travel outside of Canada within the last 14 days to do the following upon their return:

• Self-isolate for 14 days after your return from travel outside of Canada. Some provinces and territories may have specific recommendations
• Monitor your health for fever, cough or difficulty breathing
• Wash your hands often for 20 seconds and cover your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing or sneezing

If you develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing within 14 days:

• Continue to isolate yourself from others
• Immediately call a health care professional or public health authority and describe your symptoms and travel history and follow their instructions carefully

In addition, if you return from Italy, Iran, or Hubei province (China) you will be asked to contact the public health authority in the province or territory where you live or are staying within 24 hours of arriving in Canada and to provide your contact information.

Flexible work arrangements 

At Parks Canada, there are a number of employees whose regular duties can be reasonably performed via an alternate work arrangement and who have the tools and technology already in place to do so effectively. There are a number of other employees whose duties cannot be easily performed outside the regular place of work.

Managers are expected to consider telework for all their employees, at all work sites, and should work with them to identify an approach that is as flexible as possible while ensuring continued critical government operations and services to Canadians. Managers are asked to identify and determine how best to manage through exceptional situations (critical services requiring on-site presence; security limitations; or other operational imperatives for which no reasonable alternative to working on-site can be considered) that do not lend themselves to telework. 

Shared Services Canada is working to maximize internet bandwidth to support remote work. Note that Shared Services Canada will prioritize network access tied to critical federal government operations. To reduce the burden on government networks and help maintain productivity, Parks Canada staff who are working remotely should:

• Use mobile devices whenever possible to send and receive emails;

• Connect to VPN/SRA briefly and only to get what you need from the corporate network and then disconnect, which allows for others to do the same;
• Limit the use of video conferencing, particularly when work can be done by telephone or teleconference;
• Store files safely on your laptop computer or tablet before leaving the workplace rather than downloading them through the VPN; and
• Download large files or documents outside of normal business hours.

Further, tips to maximize collaboration within and across teams, include:

• For work that is not classified, please use public cloud services to collaborate with colleagues (examples: Facetime, MS Teams, Google HangOuts, Slack, etc.); and
• Use the BBMe application to communicate with colleagues for classified work up to Protected B.

Leave

The advice on leave provisions contained in the Frequently Asked Questions document has now been amended as follows:

Employees that are required by public health officials to self-isolate: If in good health and able to work, please discuss with your manager the option of telework. If that is not possible, you can be granted “other leave with pay (699 code)”.

Employees who’s managers have determined that they are unable to telework because their duties do not permit telework or they do not have the tools to telework:
You can be granted “other leave with pay (699 code)”

Employees whose children cannot attend school due to a school closure or because of attendance restrictions in place in relation to the coronavirus situation.  You will be asked to:

• Attempt to make alternative care arrangements.
• Discuss with your manager the option to telework.
• If that is not possible, you can be granted “other leave with pay” (699 code).

The above provisions for disruption of school and daycare operations related to the coronavirus will remain available to employees and managers for the duration of the disruption in the respective jurisdictions but will be reassessed on April 10, 2020.

The items above take into consideration the collective agreement, continuity of service to Canadians, and the importance of following public health advice as Canada continues its containment efforts. As the situation evolves, changes in public health advice could lead to a different approach.

Taking care of ourselves and each other

We must all support each other while we are working through this rapidly changing environment. The government is currently preparing information for employees to outline key resources and tips for continuing to take care of mental health in our workplaces. 

Please do not hesitate to seek help if you need it by contacting the 24-7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP), accessing care through the Public Service Healthcare Plan (PSHP) or using the nationwide Specialized Organizational Services (SOS).

Finally, please continue to stay up to date through the Canada.ca/Coronavirus, ParksNet and the ParksExtraNet, and the GCIntranet website.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 13, 2020.

Like many of you, I have been following the latest developments related to COVID-19 very closely. I share your concerns about the health and well-being of our families and loved ones.

COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving global challenge. The health and safety of Canadians is the Government of Canada’s priority. I want to reassure all employees that our Government is working closely with local, provincial, territorial, and international partners to minimize the impact of this virus on the health of Canadians and on our economy.

The Government is warning against international travel and restricting arrivals in Canada to limit the spread of the outbreak and unlocking $1 billion to help provincial and territorial health care system respond to the outbreak and support research, on top of the $10 billion announced today to help Canadian business weather the impacts of this outbreak.

Please be assured that the Government of Canada is working very hard to ensure we are responding to this situation in a thoughtful and substantive way. We will continue to work together and with countries around the world to respond.

I urge you to take all the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones. You may find more information on the virus and prevention at www.canada.ca/coronavirus.

Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 13, 2020.

March 13, 2020

The health and safety of Parks Canada employees and our visitors is of the utmost importance to me and to the Agency.

In an effort to be responsive to staff health and safety concerns related to the evolving situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19), I am communicating what the Agency is doing along with providing guidance on health and safety measures that will help to minimize the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus at Parks Canada.

Dedicated Agency Support Team

While the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has assessed the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as low for the general population in Canada, this could change rapidly. For that reason, I have established a dedicated team to ensure a coherent and consistent Agency preparedness effort for COVID-19. This team will ensure that regular updates are provided to the Executive Management Committee, that communications with staff, managers and our external stakeholders are clear and timely and that business continuity measures are in place should they be required.

Agency-Related Travel

The following guidance applies to all Agency-related business travel effective immediately until further notice.

• Travel outside of Canada, including the USA, is cancelled.
• Domestic travel is to be avoided. If the travel is considered essential, director-level approval is required to proceed. Please assess alternatives, including cancellation, postponement, teleconference or video-conference options.

Personal Travel

If you plan to travel outside of Canada for personal reasons, please check the PHAC website for more information and for a list of countries with travel health notices for COVID-19. For both international and domestic travel, please follow the general precautions described below throughout your travels and upon your return.

If you need to self-isolate

If you need to self-isolate, please contact your local public health authority for advice and speak with your manager.

Telework

The Agency recognizes that employees whose regular duties can be reasonably performed via an alternate work arrangement have the tools and technology already in place to do so effectively. Please note that contrary to some media information, telework is not generally approved at this time. Please discuss with your manager.

For those who do not have duties easily performed outside the regular place of work, other arrangements will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. We will consider each situation compassionately and fairly.

If you have self-isolated due to illness, whether you think it is related to COVID-19 or not, and in order to avoid overburdening the health care system at this time, managers will not request medical certificates, unless other extenuating circumstances apply.

Authoritative Health Information

The PHAC website is the authoritative source of information on the current situation in Canada on prevention, risks and recommendations for general precautions, such as:

• washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• coughing or sneezing into your arm or a tissue;
• avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• avoiding close contact with others and maintaining a distance of two metres;
• avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
• self-monitoring for symptoms;
• advising your manager if you are, or believe you are, sick, and;
• staying home (self-isolate) if you, or immediate family members, are sick.

Your Wellness

Under circumstances such as these, it is natural to feel anxious. If so, I encourage you to reach out to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) for support. The EFAP provides employees and their immediate families with counselling services, in person or by telephone at 1-800-268-7708, or at 1-800-567-5803 (TTY – for people with hearing impairments), 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Parks Canada shines when we are united in purpose and coordinated in our actions. I know that I can count on all employees to support the response activities identified above in order to mitigate risks and ensure the safest and healthiest environment possible for our employees and our visitors.

Thank you, sincerely, for your efforts in this regard.

Ron Hallman
President & CEO

Message sent to all Parks Canada team members on March 6, 2020.

Hello,

As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation evolves and media coverage grows, we realize that many Parks Canada staff may