The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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Dear Members,

I’d like to share with you our inaugural newsletter. Download the pdf version of the Newsletter here.

If you have any questions, please email me at david_young@rogers.com. 

In solidarity,

David Young
President, PIPSC NR NRCan Sub-Group

Canmet Memorial Site

Welcome to the Inaugural NR-Sub-group, NRCan Newsletter

Dear Members,

Welcome to the very first edition of the NR-Sub-group, NRCan, NCR Newsletter! My name is David A. Young, and I have the privilege of serving as your Sub-group President. Our goal is to publish this newsletter quarterly to keep you informed about important matters affecting your workplace and to encourage your participation in upcoming activities.

Why Launch a Newsletter Now?

Since our sub-group’s formation in 2011, we have been actively representing your interests. However, the workplace landscape has changed significantly. Many of us now work both from the office and home. Traditional communication methods-like word of mouth and bulletin boards-have given way to digital platforms such as Teams and Zoom.

Additionally, the government email system’s security measures sometimes block critical union communications, with important links being filtered out or lost to spam. Some of you may have recently experienced difficulties onboarding for national elections due to these issues. To address this, we are moving towards using private member email communications to ensure you receive timely and reliable updates.

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Upcoming Events

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  • Send us your feedback HERE

 

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What Has the Sub-Group Been Up To?

The past year has been exceptionally busy. Pierre Gallant, our Sub-group Treasurer, represented us at the NR National Sub-group Presidents’ Meeting in Halifax in June 2024. The NR group consists of 22 sub-groups across the country, representing about 88% of all NR members (more info). Pierre presented a report on behalf of the NRCan Sub-group, focusing on concerns such as the ongoing threat of contracting out our work.

We also sponsored several sporting events at the Bells Corners Complex (BCC), bringing members together for soccer and volleyball, thanks to the leadership of local volunteers Ben Spencer and Stephanie MacFarlane. Darius Emadi, our Sub-group VP, organized a hugely successful barbecue during the soccer event, attended by over 200 participants. This was a collaborative effort with PIPSC, PSAC, and NRCan management. We plan to expand these events this year to encourage even greater participation, with continued co-sponsorship from the PIPSC NRCan Branch, NCR.

Recognizing Important Events

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women-White Ribbon Day, observed on December 6th holds special significance for our engineering community. Please see the separate article below for more details. Additionally, the Employee Appreciation Lunch held in January 2025 at Bells Corners was warmly received and celebrated the dedication of our colleagues.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Activities

We are excited to announce upcoming “Lunch and Learn” sessions on workforce adjustment policy and retirement planning, as well as more sporting and barbecue events (learn more). We also aim to launch a new initiative: technical presentations by members during coffee breaks at the Booth Street complex. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase members’ work and discuss workplace issues.

Furthermore, we are committed to involving young professionals in union activities, with Katrin Staneva serving as our Young Professional Liaison Officer.

Get Involved!

We encourage you to share your ideas for activities by contacting us at the email link provided. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are committed to addressing your concerns and responding to future surveys.

Thank you for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Warm regards,

David A. Young
President, NR-Sub-group, NRCan, NCR

Event Updates

December 6th: A Day of Remembrance and Action  

On December 6th, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the NRCAN NR Sub-group, the PIPSC NRCAN Branch, and CanmetENERGY Ottawa management gathered at the CanmetENERGY Ottawa facility in the Bells Corners Complex to honor the victims of this tragic event.

A solemn ceremony was held, featuring a touching speech, wreath and white candles.

Placing white candles at memorial
Figure 2: Placing white candles

A moment of silence was observed to reflect on the lives lost and the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteers, the event was conducted with dignity and respect. By commemorating this day, we reaffirm our commitment to ending violence against women and creating a safer future for all.

Moment of silence
Figure 3: People observing a moment of silence

Submitted by: Gloria Yu and David Young

NRCAN, NR Sub-group Executive

Published on 23 May 2025