Centralization of the accommodation services

Good morning / afternoon,

I am pleased to announce the centralization of accommodation services at Parks Canada. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and ensuring fair treatment for all employees.

The service centralization aligns with the Government of Canada’s principles of creating a respectful, diverse, and barrier-free environment. It underscores our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace to ensure fair treatment for all employees. By prioritizing employee well-being, diversity, and inclusion, we are taking proactive steps to meet the objectives of the Disability Management Policy, the  Workplace Accommodation Policy and the Accessible Canada Act.

Over the past year, the Center of Expertise (CoE) for Disability Management and Occupational Health Monitoring has engaged with various stakeholders, including the Employees with Disabilities Network at Parks Canada, to identify challenges and gather best practices. This collaborative effort has involved internal discussions, consultations with federal organizations, participation in interdepartmental committees, and review of relevant reports.

By consolidating service delivery and funding, we will be able to offer a unified and efficient approach to workplace accommodations. Once fully implemented, the new centralized service will offer a simple one-stop shop through Jira, where employees or managers on behalf of their employees can request accommodations directly with subject matter experts.  Additionally, it will alleviate the financial burden on field and business units by centralizing all related expenses within the CoE.

The phased implementation of the new service delivery model begins this month, with the onboarding of two field units and the National Office. As we refine our service delivery and increase the CoE’s capacity, additional field units will be engaged and progressively integrated. Regular communication with all field and business units will be maintained to ensure a smooth transition and address any concerns promptly.

Through the gradual rollout of the new service model, emphasis will also be placed on the Government of Canada Workplace Accessibility Passport. The Passport is a tool that allows employees to describe the barriers they face at work and the solutions that enable them to succeed.

We believe this change is a positive step towards enhancing accessibility for all team members.  For more information, please contact the CoE.

Best regards,

Rawan El-Komos

Vice President, Human Resources and Employee Wellness

Human Resources and Employee Wellness Directorate

Darlene Upton – Co-Champion of the Employees of Disabilities Network

Pronom: Elle

Pronouns: She/Her

Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation
Parks Canada / Government of Canada
30 Victoria Road, Gatineau QC (PC-03-A), J8X 0B3

Darlene.upton@pc.gc.ca

 **This email is written in a size Arial 14, sans serif font – just one of many things we can do in working toward a more accessible Canada!**

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.