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A publication for employees and retirees of the
City of Saint John
Vol. 4 N
o 1 Aug
ust 2
013
2.0
Welcome! It’s been over a year since the last edition of Engage - we’re back by popular demand, with a slight
twist. We’ve gone digital! Engage has now been designed as an electronic publication that can be easily shared and
the stories you’re interested in are just a click away.
With summer here, our people and programs are in full swing. In this issue, Engage introduces new hires, bids
farewell to retirees and provides updates on staff and service area achievements, and community activities.
This issue will kick start a succession of more editions. As we develop a regular distribution schedule,
we invite you to take on an active role in submitting content for consideration. If there is something you would like to see, contribute, or not see, let us know by emailing [email protected]. The submission deadline for the next issue is September 16, 2013.
2.0EngageA publication for employees and retirees
of the City of Saint John
Vol. 4 No 1 Augus
t 201
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What’s Inside?
Recognition Pages 2 – 4
Good Works Page 4
Hires & RetiresPage 5
In the headlinesPage 6 – 7
To doPage 8
Good WorksPage 8
Engage in the Community
Page 9 – 10
Summer SafetyPage 11
Healthy HabitPage 11
Congratulationsare extended to Peter Morgan, Manager of Safety and Policy with the City of Saint John, for his recent appointment as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Safety Services New Brunswick, the province’s leading not-for-profit safety service provider.
Peter began his career with the City in 1977 as a casual labourer in Municipal Operations.
Acts of courage
Retired Captain Wayne McGrath, left, and firefighter Al McLeod
Hats off to retired Captain Wayne McGrath and Firefighter Al McLeod. Both men were recently presented with Certificates of Courage by the New Brunswick Association of Fire Chiefs. The honour recognizes their act of bravery in rescuing a young man from the upper floor of a burning house in Millidgeville two years ago.
RECOGNITION
Published by City of Saint JohnCommunications
EditorLisa CaissieCommunications Officer
Next issue Fall 2013Deadline for submissions: September 16
Pictured from left: Tanya LeBlanc, Mike King, Cy Thompson, Chuck Edison, Glen McCloskey, Bill Edwards, Samir Yammine, Councillor Gerry Lowe, Mayor Mel Norton, Bernard Cormier, Sarah Black
Staff honoured with Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal
Recipients:Constable Sarah Black Deputy Police Chief Bruce ConnellChuck Edison, Leisure Services Coordinator Bill Edwards, Commissioner, Transportation & Environment Services Staff Sergeant Jim FlemingStaff Sergeant Mike KingInspector Glen McCloskey Inspector David ParksInspector Cy Thompson Staff Sergeant Tanya LeBlancPolice Chief Bill ReidSamir Yammine, Energy ManagerBobby Hayes, Skilled WorkerBernard Cormier, Cultural Affairs Officer
City wins two energy efficiency awards
RECOGNITION
The City of Saint John proudly took home two of the 13 Premier’s Awards for Energy Efficiency. The awards were developed by Efficiency NB to recognize innovation and leadership in energy efficiency in New Brunswick and were presented by Premier David Alward in Fredericton.
“This year’s award recipients are great champions of energy efficiency who play a leadership role in helping our province achieve our climate change goals,” said Alward. “Their efforts also
contribute to our plan for rebuilding New Brunswick’s economy and adding jobs in our communities.”
The City of Saint John won two awards: Outstanding Energy Efficiency Project Award, Commercial New Construction for One Peel Plaza and Energy Efficiency Champion, Individual, Samir Yammine, Energy Manager, City of Saint John.
To find out more about the awards, click here.
Most people don’t know what to expect when they get the call, but are humbled when they hear that they’ve been chosen to receive a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. This year, a number of City staff received the call and were honoured with the Queen’s medal at a ceremony held in June.
Created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne as Queen of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal serves to recognize the Queen’s service to Canada and the significant contributions and achievements by Canadians from every field of activity.
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Source: gg.ca
RECOGNITION
Thanks to a $5,000 community recognition award presented to the City of Saint John by the Department of Environment and Local Government, Queen Square is now ‘plugged in’. The award was invested in the community and used to install electrical outlets in the south end’s Queen Square, which is home to the increasingly popular outdoor farmers’ market.
Electricity in the square will attract more vendors to the market, says Queen Square Farmers’ Market organizer and City Planner, Jody Kliffer. “Some vendors at the market use gas generators to heat food while others simply opt not to set up because there’s no source of electricity. With electricity available, other vendors and events can set up in the market.”
The provincial award serves to recognize community programs and promote best practices and leadership in the municipal sector. It was awarded to the City for our Municipal Energy Efficiency Program, which falls under the direction of the City’s Energy Manager, Samir Yammine.
Queen Square Market gets plugged in
Visitors and merchants at the outdoor Queen Square Farmers’ Market, founded by Jody Kliffer and co-organized by Kliffer and Brian
Irving(Senior Manager, Real Estate).
Environment and Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch presents the 2012 Community Recognition Award to Mayor Mel Norton and Samir Yammine at a ceremony held in January. Photo credit: gnb.ca
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The City of Saint John is a proud sponsor of Canada Day activities. Thanks to the Saint John Canada Day Planning Committee, this year proved to be a fun-filled occasion for all ages to celebrate in Canada’s original city!
The committee is made up of volunteers from the City and other organizations across Saint John. The full list of committee members is available at www.sjcanadaday.ca
Canada Day
HIRES AND RETIRES
Maureen Smith – 41 Years Customer Service
Daniel Campbell – 38 Years Parks
Stephen Ough – 37 Years Carpentry
Brian Jacquart – 37 Years Stores
Wayne Connell – 36 Years Fire Department
Wayne Welton – 36 Years Parks
Mary Fitzpatrick – 36 Years Finance
Jackie Henneberry – 35 Years Neighbourhood Improvement
Kathy Naves – 35 Years Payroll Department
Richard Hachey – 35 Years Wastewater Treatment
Gary Hopey – 35 Years Public Works Construction
Raymond Eatman – 34 Years Parks
Peter Kierstead – 34 Years Water Treatment
John Melanson – 34 Years Fire Department
J. Francis MacKinnon – 34 Years Fire Department
Paul McDade – 34 Years Fire Department
Wayne McGrath – 34 Years Fire Department
Frederick Ramsay – 34 Years Fire Department
Stephen Breen – 33 Years Water Treatment
William Melanson – 33 years Water and Sanitary
Charles Reid – 32 Years Fire Department
Alan Powell – 32 Years Fire Department
Ronald Hache – 32 Years Public Works Streets and Traffic
James Maher – 32 Years Parks
John McIntyre – 31 Years Human Resources
James Duke – 30 Years Water Treatment
Jeffrey Lavigne – 29 Years Public Works Transportation
Randall Abric – 29 Years Public Works Transportation
Florent Gray – 29 Years Public Works Construction
Lynda Farrell – 28 Years City Solicitor
Donna Fisher – 24 Years Finance
Sherry Cunningham – 24 Years Customer Service
Aurele Morin – 24 Years Carpentry
William Whittaker – 21 Years Fire Department
Terry Matheson – 21 Years Utility Services
Elizabeth Gormley – 9 Years Common Clerk
Welcome to the City! Thank you for your years of service!Allan Gauvin
Holiday Relief Fire Fighter
Joshua Hennessy Holiday Relief Fire Fighter
Lucas Roderick Holiday Relief Fire Fighter
Scott Chamberlain Holiday Relief Fire Fighter
Shawn Elliott Holiday Relief Fire Fighter
Adam Flewelling Holiday Relief Fire Fighter
Sherry O’Conner Administrative Assistant
Alice Fudge Heritage Architect/Analyst
S. Lorraine Gibson Web Specialist
Troy McGraw Web Specialist
Jeffrey Cyr Planner
Christopher McKiel Technical Services Engineer
Lisa Caissie Communications Officer
P. Joel Landers Municipal Engineer
Robert McGinnis Skilled Worker
Niki Schoenberger Skilled Worker
Andrew Sullivan Journeyman Carpenter
Joseph Estey Journeyman Carpenter
James D’Entremount Journeyman T & T Mechanic
Jeffrey McSorley Journeyman Welder
Kevin Desaulniers Instrumentation Technician
Craig McHardy Skilled Worker
Jody Savoie Skilled Worker
Mark Madden Skilled Worker
Saleem Kaleem Skilled Worker
Jacqueline Kelly Skilled Worker
Kevin J. Kincade Skilled Worker
Bryan Gartside Skilled Worker
David MacGillivary Skilled Worker
Joseph Pilmer Skilled Worker
Ryan Woodman Skilled Worker
Craig Taylor Skilled Worker
Thomas Owens Skilled Worker
Shawn McKiel Skilled Worker
Luc Bard Skilled Worker
Robert Brown Skilled Worker
Brad Taylor Skilled Worker
Steven Edgar Skilled Worker
Jeremy McFawn Skilled Worker
Joseph Bursey Skilled Worker
Gordon McKenzie Skilled Worker
Terry Lavigne Skilled Worker
Christopher Lanigan Skilled Worker
Warren Somers Skilled Worker
Jonathan Westfield Skilled Worker
Stephen Blanchard Skilled Worker
John Phillips Skilled Worker
Matthew Clifford Skilled Worker
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Athletes and children from Saint John Playground Programs parade around the Canada Games
Stadium at UNB Saint John with the ofcial Summer
Games ag.
IN THE HEADLINES
It is with great excitement that the City announced the opening of Saint John’s first comprehensive bike route, connecting UNB Saint John to the Uptown Saint John area.
“The emphasis on active transportation started with Plan SJ,” Said Tim O’Reilly, the City’s Manager of Pedestrian and Traffic Services. “When they did a lot of the public consultation in the transportation section people were focusing on other modes of transportation.”
The Campus Harbour Connection provides cyclists with a route linking the UNB Saint John campus, Tucker Park Collaborative, and the Saint John Regional Hospital area with Uptown Saint John and points in between. It
is a 4.5 km long arterial of dedicated bike lanes and shared-use lanes using existing streets such as Millidge Avenue, Somerset Street, Adelaide Street and Metcalf Street and connects to Harbour Passage, a popular off-street trail.
The Saint John Cycling Club was among the first group of cyclists to use the route during an inaugural group ride on Thursday, July 18.
Crowds of people came out to celebrate the reopening of Mispec Beach on July 20
Tim O’Reilly stands next to the bike route on
Metcalf Street
Mispec Beach is now open!The City and Canaport LNG recently hosted a beach party and BBQ to celebrate the refurbishment of Mispec Beach, a project that began as a result of significant weather-related damage that rendered the shoreline and staircase unsafe for public use. Click here for details on the refurbishments.
Got Bike?
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As part of the Neighbourhood Support and Development Service, the City opened its free Summer Playground Program in June. The eight-week program is designed to promote recreation and healthy neighbourhoods – community priorities.
Beat the heat at one of Saint John’s City Beaches. Lifeguard service began Saturday, June 22. Click here for hours and supervised beaches.
Rainbow Park and Flemming Court Splash Pads are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.! Click here for more information.
TO DO
Flemming Court Splash Pad, located in the North
End’s Crescent Valley
Saint John Water crews praised for their quick response The Atlantic Coastal Action Program recently commended City crews for their quick action in identifying and reporting a large volume of petroleum that entered a wastewater lift station on the City’s west side. Thanks to the dedicated
efforts of Saint John Water crews, affected wastewater wet wells and other infrastructure at the Lancaster Wastewater Treatment Lagoon were cleaned and the petroleum was properly disposed of without discharge to the environment.
Thanks to staff and volunteers, the City is ready for Summer.
Freedom to ReadDavid Burke, Information Management Officer with the City of Saint John, co-authored an article with fellow researcher Carol Perry that was published in the Freedom to Read Magazine. The article, titled Access to Government Information in Canada’s Public Libraries, focuses on following the legislative trail for government policy on public access to information.
GOOD WORKS
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Staff support students engaged in service-based learning project Over 75 students from across North and South America worked alongside twenty-five Parks and City Landscape and Neighbourhood Development staff to complete four projects across the City on May 15. They were joined by the PALS program at Lorne Middle School. The day was part of a Community Service Day organized by an international youth conference held at Rothesay Netherwood School in coordination with City staff.
Projects included work on playground space beautification and the creation of an outdoor classroom at Glen Falls School; a beautification project at Forest Hills Sports Complex; a PALS school garden launch at Lorne Middle School; and trail maintenance and Corduroy Bridge build at the Rockwood Park bike trails.
Clockwise from top left:
Forest Hills Sports Complex; PALSurban school garden, Lorne Middle School;outdoor classroom, Glen Falls School; and
Corduroy Bridge, Rockwood Park
POWER UP!, a successful 10-week leadership training program designed to break the cycle of poverty for low-income women in priority neighborhoods, is receiving a lot of national attention, and the program organizers are very pleased with the City’s response.
Representatives from partner organizations and low income women from Toronto and Winnipeg were in Saint John last month to witness the success of POWER UP! and exchange best practices.
A warm welcome
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY 9
“I have always been proud of our community but this was definitely a time when I was so aware of why,” said
Murphy.
In a letter to the City, Brenda Murphy, coordinator of the Urban Core Support Network, expressed her gratitude and pride in the City and thanked City staff and the community for their support and generosity during the visit. Barry Freeze, Leisure Services Coordinator, was thanked for his support in arranging a tally ho ride, and staff at Rockwood Park were thanked for providing a barbeque to the group. Lori Lambert was thanked for assisting with the development of a news release about the visit and offering City swag to the guests and Deputy Mayor Rinehart was thanked for publically welcoming the guests during a Council meeting.
Add fitness to your workday!Did you know that the City offers staff and their immediate family members a subsidy on gym memberships through the Aquatic Centre? Memberships include unlimited lap swimming, pool access, fitness classes, and the use of the fitness centre. For pricing details and membership forms, please contact Human Resources.
And remember, when you’re looking to get outdoors, Rockwood Park has over 55 footpaths and trails – Check out the comprehensive trail map for ideas on where to go.
HEALTHY HABIT
Work under summer conditions poses an added risk of heat stress and heat-induced illnesses that can be very serious and even life threatening. In addition to wearing required personal protective equipment, here are some things you can do to prepare for the heat:
Stay hydrated - Good hydration is absolutely essential to the prevention of heat-induced illness.
Wear proper clothing - A light, breathable long-sleeved shirt will keep your core body temperature lower than a short sleeved shirt.
Apply, and reapply, sunscreen - Exposed skin should be covered to protect you from UV rays.
Pace yourself - Short minute or two breaks for water and rest will help prevent overexertion.
Watch for signs - Pay close attention to how you, and those around you, feel and watch for the following signs:
• Headache, dizziness• Incoherent speech • Nausea• Excessive sweating• Cold, clammy skin appearance or
rash
Get help - Call 911 immediately if you notice signs of heat-related illness. Move affected employees out of the sun and provide water. Apply first aid, and monitor the employee’s condition until help arrives.
SUMMER SAFETY 11
Life is full of challenges - Help is available all day, all week, all yearThrough Manulife’s Resilience Program, the City of Saint John offers a full-service Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to all City employees and their immediate family members.
The service offers assistance from a team of experienced coun-sellors who will listen, offer sound advice and help create an action plan to address the issue.
Counselling is offered for, but not limited to, the following:
Backyard bonfires with family and friends can be a great way to wind down lazy summer evenings. Whether you’re relaxing around the fire with family or entertaining friends, it’s important to keep safety top of mind. For guidelines to follow when having a recreational backyard fire, click here.
Stay safe
•Maritalandfamilyproblems
•Stress
•Psychologicaldisorders
•Drugandalcoholproblems
•Bereavement
•Lifestyleproblems
•ReferralforFinancial and legal problems
If you wish to contact an EAP counsellor to discuss a personal situation you may be experiencing, you can do so 24 hours/day by calling (toll-free) 1-866-644-0326. All contact between you and your counsellor is completely confidential.