facts t - Government of the Northwest Territories

THE
Fall 2009
FACTS
A Newsletter for Employees of the
Government of the Northwest Territories
End of an Era – Bear Facts is Going Online!
This month marks the end of an era
as The Bear Facts newsletter rolled off
the presses for one last time. “We’ll be
putting the printed publication to bed,”
says Leslie Straker, Editor. “Our goal
now is to move The Bear Facts to an
online e-newsletter, reducing paper and
providing our readership with the same
stories, but with a more dynamic and upto-date
content.
We’ve come a long way since the
GNWT produced the “Bulletin”, which
long-time employees may remember
was published weekly in the early ‘70s
to the early ‘90s by the departments
of Information and, later, Culture and
Communications. The Bulletin was known
for its widely popular Swap ‘n Shop
section, which is still just as popular some
20 years later. Eventually, the Bulletin’s
run came to an end as a result of budget
cuts.
Prior to the creation of Nunavut, it
was important for the GNWT to find a
means to communicate with staff. So
in the fall of 1997, the Press Secretary’s
Office introduced a bimonthly newsletter
for employees titled “The Bear Facts”.
Interestingly, one of our own employees,
Greg Krysko, with the Department of
Justice, submitted the winning name,
which was chosen by the Managing
Editor Val Mellesmoen and Editor Sue
Enge for its fun play on words.
While the main goal was to inform
employees about important changes and
developments taking place within the
NWT and the public service, feedback
from employees eventually indicated
they wanted a smaller, easier to read
newsletter. At the time, The Bear Facts
was a much lengthier publication and was
translated in both English and Inuktitut.
Employees also asked for a newsletter
that focussed on the people they worked
with, who’s been hired, retired or been
promoted, and a place to recognize coworker’s
achievements.
A new and improved version of The
Bear Facts was launched under the
direction of the Judy Langford and Drew
Williams. Since its debut in 1998, our
readership has had the opportunity to
get to know more than 100 employees
through the One of Our Own section.
Important government initiatives have
been highlighted from the Northern
Student and Graduate Employment
Program to the opening of the Services
TNO office. The Scratch on the Back
provided an opportunity to recognize
staff who worked hard or contributed
in their communities. The Bear Facts
has welcomed new employees and said
goodbye to those who retired or moved
on to new adventures. Marriages, births
and anniversaries were also celebrated.
Swap Shop’s popularity continued, with
employees selling and buying items.
Employees enjoyed guessing the identity
of staff from old high school or baby
photos. During its 12-year run, The Bear
Facts has also seen a number of different
Editors – April Taylor, Saundra Arberry
and Sue Glowach, all who contributed to
its success.
Being environmentally
friendly is the way
forward and we too
want to do our part
and be environmentally
Continued inside...
...continued from cover
responsible and, in turn,
reduce the cost of producing
and distributing a newsletter.
In November, The Bear Facts
e-newsletter will be e-mailed
to employees each week.
Instructions on how to subscribe
will be provided by e-mail
in coming weeks. The same
familiar articles will rotate
over the four issues, with the
exception of the Keeping
Tracks and Swap Shop sections,
which will run in each issue.
While each issue will be
notably smaller than the
previous monthly newsletter,
the weekly distribution
will allow us to provide
employees with more up-todate
information.
The Bear Facts publication
had a good run and
we thank you for your
patronage over the years.
As we move to the online
environment, we look forward to
continuing to provide our readership
with a relevant and interesting
e-newsletter!
Leslie Straker,
Editor
A look back over the years…

Elsie DeRoose is the
Territorial Nutritionist for
Prevention Services in the Department of
Health and Social Services. Elsie was the
recipient of the 2009 Dieticians of Canada
Volunteer Recognition Program award,
which was based on her contribution to
Dieticians of Canada and to the profession.
She was honoured for providing
leadership, expertise and strategic counsel
in the development of a three-year action
plan for public health nutrition work force
enhancement and the “Strengthening
Public Health Nutrition Practice in Canada”
discussion document. With the permission
from Dietitians of Canada, below is an
excerpt from their web site recognizing
Elsie for her dedication and commitment
to her profession.
Over the past three decades, Elsie
DeRoose has worked in a broad range of
diverse roles in the health promotion and
nutrition field. Always open to new ideas,
opportunities and challenges, she has
established an excellent reputation in all
areas of practice, from team leader, clinical
dietitian and director of dietetics to project
coordinator. As a volunteer, she has been
a board member for several organizations,
including Dietitians of Canada (DC) and
the NWT/Nunavut Canadian Public Health
Association, and continually exemplifies
teamwork, collaboration and creativity.
An inclusive and dynamic leader, Elsie
is sensitive to the needs of communities
through her unique community
development approaches. She has
redefined the role of the dietitian to
meet the emerging needs of diverse
populations. “Elsie has a great mix of a
strong academic base, creative ideas and
good community development skills,” says
of oUr owN
Elsie DeRoose
NWT Health
Promotion
Specialist
Miriam
Wideman.
Through her
innovative
style of
project
development,
as well as her
commitment to meaningful collaboration,
Elsie continually exhibits a deep
understanding of northern food security
issues. These experiences are used to
create a variety of multi-institutional
partnerships in the north.
Dedicated to her field, Elsie is a tireless
champion of health education and
professional development. Her passion
for lifelong learning is demonstrated in
the mentorship she provides to young
professionals and community workers,
not to mention in her own continued
education at the Master’s level.
Lindsay Beck, a new university graduate
originally from Yellowknife, had this to say
about Elsie’s example: “Never have I seen
somebody put as much ‘sweat, blood and
tears’ into a project. (She has) invested
hours and hours into a project because
it is based on concepts in which she
truly believes: community-based, highlyevaluated,
research-based, multi-sectoral,
sustainable.” This project, Healthy Foods
North, is currently taking place in a
small number of NWT communities, but
Elsie hopes to see the expansion of the
program to many other communities.
Congratulations, Elsie!
Dietitians as Leaders profiles
www.dietitians.ca © 2009
Keeping Tracks Keeping Tracks Keeping Tra
Aurora College
Welcome to Sarah Wright-Cardinal, the
new President of the College.
DOT
Congratulations to Charlene Lloyd,
Contracts Administrator, and Nigel
Moorhouse, Manager, Financial Business
Affairs, on their recent promotions.
ECE
Congratulations to Lesley Bragg,
Employment Standards Inspector, and
Ron Cleary, Coordinator, Post-secondary
Education, on their promotions.
ENR
Congratulations to Erika Nyyssonen,
who is promoted to Industrial Specialist
(Mining).
Executive
Welcome to Deanna Sartor, Cabinet
Registrar.
HR
Welcome to Oscar Perez, Technical
Systems Analyst, and Tania Larsson, Data
Management Clerk. Congratulations to
Teresa Long on her promotion to Human
Resource Officer. Congratulations to Blair
Chapman, who is promoted to Director,
Management and Recruitment Services.
MACA
Welcome back to Debbie Baert-Reid,
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister.
NWTHC
Curtis Coleman transfers to NWTHC as
Senior Lands/Technical Advisor. Welcome
to Dane Gibson, Communications Advisor.
PWS
Hay River’s Curt Snook transfers to the
position of Regional Manager.
Stanton
Congratulations to Kathie Pender on
her promotion to Director, Patient Care
Services, and Kimberely Greenwood,
Registered Nurse, Surgical Daycare.
Welcome to: Dave Phypers, Registered
Nurse, Emergency; Cathy Chinna,
Registered Nurse, Emergency; and Alisha
Thelin, Registered Nurse, Surgery. Best
wishes to Kim Olsen, who leaves to pursue
other endeavours.
YHSSA
Congratulations to Rachel Abel, on her
promotion to Community Development
Coordinator. Welcome to Alanna
Sorenson, Administrative Assistant, and
Violet Mandeville, Assistant Cook.
WSCC
Welcome to Tina Korycki,
Communications Coordinator.
Goodbye and all the best in your new
adventures to: Amy Doerksen, who
leaves communications for a two-year
developmental assignment with ECE;
Amanda Clarke, who leaves the policy unit
for the south; Kelly Hessian, who leaves
the claims unit for an adventure in Hay
River; and Mike Triggs, who departs as
the Director of Legal Services to become
the Director of Legal Services with the
Manitoba Insurance Board.
To promote
the Online
Manager’s
Toolkit, the
Department
of Human
Resources has
created a series
of promotional
coffee mugs and
travel mugs with
cartoons or quotes
on leadership, along with information
on where to find the toolkit. Managers
who have yet to receive a free mug are
encouraged to contact their department’s
Client Service Manager for more
information on how they can get one.
HR
BeAr
iN miND
Champions Lead the Way for
20/20: A Brilliant North, NWT Public
Service Strategic Plan!
Since the release of the “20/20:
A Brilliant North, NWT Public
Service Strategic Plan” in June 2009,
implementation of the three-year Action
Plan has been well underway. “DM/
ADM Champions” have been selected
to lead each of the five Strategic Goals,
in partnership with the Department of
Human Resources.
Goal 1 – Fixing the Foundation –
Tom R. Williams, DM/HR
Supporting Objectives:
• Creative and Dedicated People
• Having and Using the Right Tools
Goal 2 – Engage: Magnetic Attraction –
Sheila Bassi-Kellett, ADM/MACA
Supporting Objectives:
• Affirmative Action and Diversity
• Marketing Public Service
• Compensation and Benefits
Goal 3 – Dazzle: Diverse Opportunities –
Gary Bohnet, DM/ENR
Supporting Objectives:
• Healthy and Respectful Workplace
• Positive Relations with Bargaining
Representatives
• Greening the Workplace
Goal 4 – Inspire: Expanding Horizons –
Dan Daniels, DM/ECE
Supporting Objectives:
• Leadership
• Lifelong Learning
• Feedback and Rewards
Goal 5 – Renew: Charting a Path for
Tomorrow – Brownyn Watters, DM/Justice
Supporting Objectives:
• Succession Planning and Knowledge
Management
• Talent Management
• Workforce Planning
The five champions will lead their
respective teams to put in place, over a
three-year period, the specific actions
identified in the three-year Action Plan.
http://www.hr.gov.nt.ca/strategic%20
Plan/default.htm
The Bear Facts – It’s your newsletter! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a fax @ (867) 873-0629 or drop us a line at bearfacts@gov.nt.ca

Grin and Bear it
Reveal!
Congratulations to Hay River’s Christine Gyapay
(ECE), who correctly guessed our mystery gal – none
other than Sabrina Broadhead, who is with MACA’s
School of Community Government in Hay River.
Congratulations to Sabrina and her husband, Curtis,
who celebrated
their 23 wedding
anniversary on July
12, 2009. They are
shown here with
their children,
Carisa and Gavin.
A
Scratch on the back
to Geela Qaqqasiq,
Human Resource Officer,
Department of Human
Resources, who ran her first
half marathon in August
with an impressive time of 1:55:15!
With one run under her belt, Geela
plans to run another 21 km at the
Okanagan Marathon in Kelowna,
BC on October 11, 2009. Good luck,
Geela!
on the Back
Geela Qaqqasiq