June 13 , 2008 - Government of the Northwest Territories

June 2008
Volume 12 • Issue 6
The transportation safety
information program of the
Department of Transportation, is
partnering with the Workers’ Safety
and Compensation Commission and the
NWT Construction Safety Association
to remind drivers to use care and
attention through all construction
zones.
A key element of the campaign is a
reminder that when you speed through
a construction zone, you are speeding
through someone’s workplace.
Al Kaylo, the Director of Road
Licensing and Safety for DOT, says
construction zone collisions are among
the most avoidable “accidents” on
roads today. “There are all kinds of
precautions that are taken, from
reduced speed limits, flag persons and
pilot cars. Nevertheless, each year in
Canada, more than 30 people lose their
lives because of drivers who do not
respect the right of these workers to a
safe workplace.”
For this reason, fines for violation of
speed limits in both construction and
school zones will soon double.
Al has a suggestion for GNWT
employees: “If all GNWT employees
committed to driving at the speed limit
at all times, it would help slow traffic
down, particularly in high risk areas
such as school and construction zones.
And it would save lives.”
NWT highways and bridges
throughout the NWT will be busy this
summer with highway and bridge work
intended to improve road surfaces,
replace aging infrastructure, improve
access and reduce the cost of living.
Highway construction and
reconstruction is planned for most of
the all-weather highways in the NWT as
A Newsletter for Employees of the
Government of the Northwest Territories
Drive Alive!
well as on the Mackenzie Winter Road.
The Kakisa Bridge will be constructed
this summer and fall, and work on the
Deh Cho Bridge has begun. All of these
projects will require the movement of
heavy equipment and material.
In addition to major construction
work, travellers may experience delays
because of highway maintenance such
as calcium and gravel resurfacing,
and culvert repairs and replacements.
Construction zones may reduce traffic
to a single lane, requiring delays while
traffic on each end of the zone waits
for a pilot vehicle. Planning ahead and
expecting delays can help minimize
disruptions to travel plans.
Over the summer months, in
addition to the construction zone safety
campaign, Drive Alive! will launch
awareness campaigns on seat belt use,
wearing your helmet, boat safety and
bison awareness. GNWT employees
can support safe transportation by
committing themselves to safe boating
and driving practices at home and at
work.
Remember, safety is no accident.
We can all do more to reduce the
risk of collisions, injuries
and fatalities on the roads,
trails and waterways of the
Northwest Territories.

TSC
BITSAND
BYTES
Microsoft Office 2007 Project Update
The Microsoft Office 2007 pilot
rollouts to PWS, DAAIR and EXEC
went well and without any major
problems. The TSC realizes Office 2007
may present some challenges: it has a
different look, familiar features may
be in a new location and there may
be a learning curve until employees
become familiar with the new program.
However, this is the most current
version of Office and the TSC wants to
ensure users have a reliable, supported
suite of desktop software to continue
to provide effective support for clients.
The goal is to have all TSC-supported
computers upgraded to Office 2007
by August 31. Information sessions
will take place in June and July. The
purpose of these sessions is not to
provide training, but to give employees
an introduction to the new program,
rollout day instructions and tips to get
users started with Office 2007.
For resources such as Microsoft
e-learning courses, product
demonstrations and schedules, please
visit the TSC web site at http://www.
tsc.gov.nt.ca/projects/Office07updates.
html.
A
Kudos to two
GNWT departments
who participated in
the North American
Occupational Safety
and Health (NAOSH)
activities – “RU the
Safest Link” team challenge.
The Justice team, “Solicitors
for Safety”, took first place.
Not far behind was the Public,
Works and Services’ team,
“Buying Buddies”, who came
in second.
Microsoft Products for Home Use
GNWT employees working in a
department or authority supported by
the TSC can use two programs to obtain
Microsoft products for their home
computers.
The Microsoft Home Use Program
enables staff to get a licensed copy
of Microsoft Office Professional 2007
to install and use on their home
computers –you only pay for shipping
and handling (save over $450!). The
Microsoft Employee Purchase Program
allows employees to purchase some of
Microsoft’s most popular hardware and
software at discount prices. Visit the
TSC web site at www.tsc.gov.nt.ca for
more information and program access
codes.
Question of the Month
I know someone at the TSC. Why do
I need to put my request through the
Service Desk
Your first point of contact if you
are experiencing technical difficulties
or have a service request should be
the TSC Service Desk. Each request is
assigned an ID number so it can be
tracked and monitored in a central
database. TSC Service Desk technicians
also have various tools and programs
at their fingertips and can often help
solve problems over the phone. And,
of course, your TSC contact may not
always be available when you are
experiencing problems. TSC Service
Desk technicians, on the other hand,
are available from 8:00 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. on workdays and an on-call
technician is available for after-hours
emergencies.
on the Back
Keeping Tracks Keeping Tracks Keeping Tr
AURORA COLLEGE
All the best to Lori Crawford, who
leaves to pursue other endeavours.
DOT
Welcome to George Patterson,
Environmental Analyst Intern. George
joined the folks with Policy, Planning
and Environment back in April, after
returning home freshly from the
hallowed halls of Fleming College. A
big welcome to Robert Billard, Regional
Manager of Highways Operations out
of Hay River, and to Reagan Mager on
her promotion to Administrative and
Program Assistant in Yellowknife.
ECE
Congratulations to Ravi Lau-a on his
appointment as Manager of Career and
Employment.
FMBS
Welcome to Brenda Lowen,
Administrative Assistant and Audit
Technician Support for the Audit
Bureau. Farewell and bon voyage to
Brenna Kelln, who leaves the Audit
Bureau to travel and explore new
opportunities.
HR
Welcome to Shad Turner, Client
Service Manager, and April Connolly,
Medical Travel Removals Administrator.
A fond farewell to Ashley Brebner and
Karin Vanonen, who leave to pursue
other endeavours.
Team Buying Buddies, L to R: Ilona Legler; Dave
Burton; Anne Clark, WSCC President; Art Durkee;
and Joan Nelson.
Team Solicitors for Safety, L to R: Sarah
McDermott; Anne Clark, WSCC President; Darren
Pickup; Charlene Doolittle; and Erin Delaney.
HSS
Best wishes to Jeannie McNaughten,
who moves on from the GNWT.
ITI
Welcome to Carol Moore and Audrey
Comeau, both as a Director’s Secretary.
Best wishes to Hendrik Falck, who is
moving on to work with the people in
DIAND, and best wishes to Ivan Landry,
who leaves to pursue other endeavours.
JUSTICE
Best of luck to Frank DiLorenzo and
Micheline DiLorenzo (Gaudet), who
leave to pursue other endeavours.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Welcome back to returning summer
students Bryn Herbert and Darlene
Barnaby. Welcome to Kristin Vician,
Summer Student, and Ella Mawdsley,
Public Affairs Intern.
PWS
Welcome to Kip Morton, Server
Infrastructure Analyst, and Dennis
Genge, Enterprise IT Risk Manager.
STANTON
Welcome to: Pamela Vander Werff,
Discharge Planner; Lucy Akoaksion,
Registration Clerk; Jinna Rivera, Relief
Registered Clerk; Bonnie-Jean MacLean
Speed, Relief Registered Nurse; Lori
Kerr, Laboratory Technologist; Kimberly
Moore-Ciesielski, Relief Registered
Nurse; and Janet Witson, Laboratory
Technologist. Best wishes to Rebecca
Ross, Wanda MacConnell, Patti Male,
Joy Temporao and Wendy Baker as they
leave to pursue new endeavours.
BDHSSA
Welcome to John Kyereme,
Community Social Services Worker, who
joins the staff in Inuvik.
YKHSS
Farewell to Corliss McCloskey and
Melanie Wiebe, who leave to pursue
other endeavours.
SHSSA
Welcome to Laurie Davidson,
Community Health Nurse.
WSCC
Welcome to Kim McCathy, Facilities
Officer, Human Resources, and Marc
Lefebvre, Safety Officer/Trainer,
Prevention Services, in Iqaluit. Best
wishes to Holly Stringer and David Iou,
who leave to pursue other endeavors,
and Justin Hwang, who is moving to
Victoria.

It was a happy
moment for Lorne Gushue
in April when he found out he was going
to receive the Governor General’s Caring
Canadian Award later this year.
April was already a time of celebration
for Gushue, as it marked 17 years since his
arrival to Yellowknife. Now, after almost
two decades of tireless volunteer work
throughout his community, Gushue is
being recognized at the national level. “I
am both humbled and grateful for this
award,” said Gushue, who works for the
Department of Health and Social Services.
When he first arrived in Yellowknife
from Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Gushue
said he felt disconnected from anything
familiar to him. Initially, his time in the
north was to be temporary, working as a
school teacher, but that changed when
he moved on to other employment. Away
from the classroom Gushue found he had
free time to pursue other activities, and it
was at that time that he found his niche
in volunteering.
Over the years Gushue has volunteered
with numerous organizations, including
OutNorth, AIDS Yellowknife, the
Yellowknife Choral Society and the
Yellowknife Coast Guard Auxiliary. He
was also one of the first Commission
Members and former deputy-chair of the
very first NWT Human Rights Commission.
Gushue describes volunteering as a
“pleasant obligation, and one into which
he puts his heart and soul. “Otherwise it
is not fun,” he said.
By giving of his time, however, Gushue
said he gets much back in return. “I get
back personal growth, and I learn from
of oUr own
Lorne Gushue
interesting, diverse people,” he said.
Citing the importance of the volunteer
experience itself, Gushue claims that if he
had to pay for the level of experience he
is surrounded by in his volunteer work,
that the cost would be undoubtedly great.
Gushue also noted that when
volunteering, one can often be unaware
of the impact he or she has in an
organization or within a community. “If
what I do impresses upon others, it makes
me very grateful for this award. It is
affirmation that volunteering is not only
good for me, but is appreciated by the
broader community.”
Created by the Right Honourable
Romeo LeBlanc in 1996, the Governor
General’s Caring Canadian Award is
presented to individuals and groups
whose unpaid, voluntary contributions
provide extraordinary help or care to
people in their community.
Gushue is one of 49 recipients of the
Governor General’s Caring Canadian
Award, who will be presented with a
framed certificate and lapel pin at a later
date. Congratulations Lorne!
ENR is Going Green!
The Department of Environment and
Natural Resources is going green and we
want you to send in your department’s
green initiatives to bearfacts@gov.nt.ca
so we’re able to share green ideas for a
more environmentally friendly GNWT!
ENR recently started a departmental
Green Team. The Green Team has
been looking into a number of green
Grin and Bear It Reveal!
Congratulations to
Dave Earle (MACA), who
correctly guessed our
mystery guy – none other
than Carl Bird, former
Director of Corporate
Services, Department of
the Executive. Best wishes
to Carl, who has moved on
to the City of Yellowknife
as their newest Director of
Corporate Services.
initiatives. So far we have been
exploring options for switching to
100% recycled paper, reducing our
energy consumption and even having a
compost bin in the staff room.
If you would like more information
on the ENR Green Team, contact Aiyana
Lajeunesse at 920-3296.
Carl Bird and
long-time
Administrative
Assistant Patsy
Arden on Carl’s last
day of work.
National Public Service Week, June 16 to 20, 2008
National Public Service Week is a
time to celebrate the importance of
public service employees. It provides
an opportunity to reflect on the many
contributions we make to our Canadian
society through our professionalism,
resourcefulness and hard work.
Territorial and municipal government
employees are invited to join federal
public servants in the various events
scheduled June 16 to 20, 2008. Highlights
of the week include a nature walk, a bear
safety session, a Myers Briggs workshop,
and French and Aboriginal activities. Team
events, such as the corporate challenge,
golf tournament and slo-pitch games,
present a chance for GNWT employees to
show their team spirit!
For more information on how to be
a part of National Public Service Week,
visit www.auroraconnect.ca. You will find
a calendar of events, descriptions of the
week’s events and registration forms for
participation. See you June 16 to 20,
2008!