Connections Newsletter Spring 2017_final

SPRING 2017 EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER Region play volleyball The United Way for United Way Committee hosted a volleyball fundraiser on Innovative service March 3 which raised $150. delivery pilot in Congratulations to the Service First Call Centre team who is this year’s Community Services recipient of the prestigious “Giller Prize”. From left to right, Matt Congratulations to our Pearson, John Backewich, RAVE winners! Tracey Verhoeve, and Zaman Alkhafagi. Girls CAN Fly!: A celebration of women in aviation From left to right; Lisa Evans, Tim Cloutier and Joanne MarkovicA story of success and innovation in ProcurementTreasury Services (Procurement) plays an using the online site which resulted in all fourimportant role for the Region by managing the generators being sold for a total of $87,000 orprocurement process, including the disposal of $67,000 more than anticipated.surplus goods. Since July 2013, Procurementstaff have successfully sold $400,000 worth of Thanks to Joanne Markovic for her excellentsurplus goods through the online auction site working relationship with Water Services, and TimGovDeals.com. Cloutier who trusted us to do what was best forJoanne Markovic encouraged Tim Cloutier from the Region!Water Services to auction four surplus generators Lisa Evans, Manager, Procurement/CPO [email protected]

Non-Stop Innovative service delivery pilot in NoDw ias ialgyreat Community Services time to plan In September 2016, Community Services approved a unique approach your winter to providing services by forming a team made up of representative from Employment and Income Support (E&IS), Housing, and Children’sCalgarygetaway! Services. Team members are co-located within a new collaborative environment that encourages creative problem solving, knowledgeCalgary+ One-Nsoton-pStcoopnDnaeilyctions sharing and individual growth. Located at 235 King Street in Kitchener, the pilot team is close to a to ot(hYeear-rRougndr)eat sizable segment of the Region’s client base. The team worked with CanaNdoina-nStodpeWsteinekaltyions Facilities to design a “Pod” room with open concept cubicles arranged around a common working/meeting area where Team members can Orlando & see and talk to other in the Pod simply by turning around in their Punta Cana chairs. The result is an innovative working arrangement where members from all three areas can collaborate on creative and timely (Seasonal Service) solutions for clients where before they worked across silos. “The goal of the integrated team pilot is to increase our knowledge about programs and services offered by the different areas and integrate the information into our work with participants in our various programs. We anticipate better service by coordinating our approach with shared participants, thus improving access to programming that can lead to improved quality of life,” said Stephanie Mestanick, Supervisor, Community Services and also the supervisor of the team. In March, representatives from the Ministry of Community and Social Services visited with the Integrated Pilot Team. Ministry staff were impressed with the impact the pilot is having on client service and will continue to monitor the results. Read the whole story on the Portal under “Innovation.”The Airport is owned and operated by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada). Members of the Integrated Team Pilot include, Stephanie Mestancik, Paula Ronson, Paula Stuhlmacher, Rhonda Guzik, Deb Smith , Cindy Beasley, Danielle Kraftchick and Robert Tansley.2 Email story ideas to: [email protected]

Region collaborates with tenants to build 3better homes and neighbourhoodsWaterloo Region Housing (WRH) is teaming up with its tenants to createbetter homes and neighbourhoods.It’s part of an engagement strategy underway in WRH where tenantshave the opportunity to provide their feedback and build a sense ofcommunity where they live.Tenants will choose the décor for their kitchens through a ‘dotmocracy’vote when WRH renovates 500 units later this year. They will also helpdesign community spaces and courtyards on WRH properties.“A newly formed advisory committee will have tenants at the table togive input on policies,” said WRH Manager Mina Fayez-Bahgat, “WRHis also enhancing community safety by providing better lighting, virtualconcierge kiosks, and electronic access will soon be in place on someproperties.”WRH is community housing owned and operated by the Region. About12,000 people live in 62 WRH communities. Have you seen the RENTER’S TOOLKIT? Be sure to check out this one stop resource to help Regional clients find and keep a home. Help spread the good news about this great new resource and consider sharing this link on social media: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/ RentersToolkit Email story ideas to: [email protected]

Congratulations to our winners! The Region of Waterloo held our Sixth Employee Awards for Values Excellence on April 5 at Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. The Region recognizes employees who have been nominated by their peers for their commitment to our Values in the categories of Service, Innovation, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration. A selection committee chooses winners from each of the five categories for special mention. A full list of winners is available on the Portal under RAVE. Jennifer Moss, co-founder of Plasticity Labs was this year’s keynote speaker. The awards were presented by CAO Mike Murray and Regional Chair Ken Seiling.Celebrate andbe aware ofmulticultural daysCheck out the list of multiculturaldays in 2017 on the home pageof the portal on the rotating Adsection above the Twitter feed.This list includes religious andcultural observances as well ashuman rights days.You can be supportive of yourcolleagues and customers andhelp create a more inclusive space.Be aware that people may needaccommodations as a result ofreligious obligations. Considerthese dates when bookingmeetings and events or wishsomebody well on a special day.Visit the Diversity and Inclusionsection of the portal to view the fulllist of multicultural days.4 Email story ideas to: [email protected]

Your Corporate Communications TeamCorporate Communications can help your team work through your communication objectives and developinspiring material that moves people to action. We provide support for:• Strategic communications planning • Social media stats corporate accounts: Successfully communicate your key messages. ‚‚ 4,180 Facebook followers, ‚‚ 6,760 LinkedIN followers,• Connections Newsletter and the Portal ‚‚ 56,500 Twitter followers, Make use of the Region’s Communications ‚‚ 465 Instagram followers. platforms to promote the good work you do every day. ‚‚ Grand total of 67,905 followers.• Communications Toolkit Reference the Communicators’ Toolkit for tools and resources.• Media Monitoring Media monitoring services for all local, regional, provincial and national coverage.• Media Relations Media releases, advisories, training for media interviews, PLUS consulting on how to get the most from your media exposure.• Issues Management Take a proactive approach to managing emerging issue.• Radio, print, digital and television advertising We have competitive pricing agreements and established relationships with all local media organizations.Contact your Corporate Communications representative or visit the Communications section of the Portal fordetails on these services and others.Reaching for the Clouds in PDL!Commissioner of Planning, Development and Legislative Services, RodRegier and friend Mark Dowsett at Quest Air hang gliding competitionin Groveland Florida this April. “The great thing about hang glidingcompetitions is that you get a lot of flying time in across consecutivedays with some of the best pilots in the sport. So it’s a great way tolearn,” said Rod of the event. You can see Rod’s process, including all hisstatistics, during the competition at bit.ly/quest-air.Email story ideas to: [email protected] 5

Girls CAN Fly!: A celebration of women in aviationOn Saturday, May 13 the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC) celebrated Women in Aviation with theirannual free event, Girls CAN Fly! Hundreds of people toured the Flight Centre, met women with careers inaviation and learned about the industry. More than 200 girls experienced the freedom of flight for free thanksto the WWFC and members of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association who volunteered their time andaircraft. Thanks to everyone for making the event a success.People line up to sit in the Waterloo Warbirds Canadair T-33 Mako Shark at the ‘Girls can Fly’ event on May 13.Contessa Bishop, Pilot – First Officer at Jazz Aviation and Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre Graduate tests out our“Fly From Home” photo booth with Sandra McAuley, Region of Waterloo International Airport.Corporate Publishing is re-branding to Creative Multimedia ServicesIn an effort to reflect our expanded service provision, Stay tuned to the portal for furtherCorporate Publishing will be re-branding to Creative announcements on our upcoming re-brandingMultimedia Services (CMMS).CMMS will continue to play an important role in the launch date of Wednesday, June 21.communication process for the client groups weserve. Multimedia incorporates a combination or“layering” of media options such as video, animation,interactivity into your graphic design or into yourindividual communication platforms.Existing Corporate Publishing services such aspromotional products, printing, mail/courier willremain business as usual.6 Email story ideas to: [email protected]

Be the link Early RecognitionActions save lives Early Access Early CPR• Hosting a large Community Event? Early Defibrillation• Is your team having an offsite meeting? Continued Care• Large family gathering?Did you know the Paramedic Services offers a FREE Public AccessDefibrillator (PAD) loaner program? Ensure your group is protectedand strengthen the chain of survival. Consider learning CPR so youcan better respond in an emergency and borrow a PAD for yournext event or gathering!Visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca/PAD for more information.Paramedic Services Region celebrates open house Administrative Professionals DayParamedic Services hosted April 26 was Administrative Professionals Day.their annual open house on May Celebrations at 99 Regina Street in Waterloo13th, where they welcomed a were attended by staff in both PHE and CSDfew hundred people from the departments. Seen above (Left to right) arecommunity. Visitors were able Sherry Morley (CSD), Vicki Ulman (PHE) andto tour Paramedic Services Kerri Hutchinson (PHE).Headquarters, talk to paramedicsand staff, tour ambulancesand learn about the life-savingequipment that is used each dayon the job. Thank you to all whoattended and made this event ahuge success!Email story ideas to: [email protected] 7

It’s hard to believe that it has been The results of the 2017 Employee Survey will help usfive years since our last employee understand the current state of employee engagement,survey. That survey helped inform employee satisfaction and organizational culture herea number of actions that were at the Region. It will also help us identify what actionsdesigned to make the Region an we can take to make the Region an even better placeeven better place to work. to work.Now it’s time to hear from you again. I strongly encourage all of you to participate. On May 29, you received an email If you have questions or concerns about the survey,from Nielsen with instructions and a unique link to the visit the portal page or contact Nielsen directly at RoW.survey. You can also take the survey by going to www. [email protected] or 1-866-532-2290.NielsenCanada.ca/ROWsurvey from any computerwith Internet access. If you prefer, you can requesta hard copy from your departmental survey rep. Thesurvey will take about 20 minutes to complete. Now playing:2017 Employee Survey.Check your email for a HAVE YOUR SAY! survey linkfrom Nielsen, or take the survey fromany computer with Internet access:www.NielsenCanada.ca/ROWsurveyFind details on the portal or talk to your survey rep.Now playing until June 23, 2017 [email protected]