Calgary Branch Report to the 75th Prairie/Northwest Territories Regional Council

June 1 and 2, 2018

In selecting Calgary Branch activities for 2017, the Branch executive continued to look to the mandate of the Director of the Prairie/Northwest Territories to guide our event choices.  The mandate is assigned, by the President, to our Director, Ms. Nancy McCune.  The branch executive recognizes that a crucial part of the mandate’s delivery system is the regional network of Branches and their members. Calgary Branch is one of the largest branches. 

The three goals of the Director’s mandate that we chose to prioritize were:

• Make a substantial contribution and take a leading role in the region in the continuing drive to (i) engage and mobilize PIPSC members and (ii) to do so utilizing the Better Together initiative
• Participate in the Institute’s efforts to reach out to and build relationships with (i) allies and stakeholders in your region and (ii) the regional component of the organization-wide government relations initiative;
• Ensure that equity issues are given serious consideration in the development of plans for regional activities and events.

The Calgary Branch executive voted to actively contribute in the following areas:

i) Service to Members:

Lunch and Learn – organizers: Samah Henein, AFS, and TJ Elabor, NEB

Tuesday, October 24, 2018 at the James Dutton Theatre on McLeod Trail and 7^th Ave.

Theme: Attitudes for Success

In this fun and engaging workshop, the workshop leader demonstrated to participants how to tap into their reserve power and release their full potential.  Participants learned practical tools for enhancing success - and enjoying the journey.ist

Specific topics covered included:

*       Understanding attitude and the role it plays in leading high performance teams

*       Establishing a positive first impression through using human relations principles

*       Developing questions that build rapport and assist in getting in stride with others

Workshop Leader: Chelsea Nespor

Chelsea Nespor is Owner, Vice President and Trainer of Dale Carnegie® Training covering the Southern Alberta, Southern Saskatchewan and Alaska regions.

Approximately 50 members attended the workshop between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m.  A wide variety of salads and wraps were sourced by Samah - including gluten-free and vegetarian options.  A, apiece of fruit and a juice box were also provided.

ii) Member Engagement

1) Branch Seasonal Social – National on 8^th - December 7, 2018

Event co-leads:  Bonnie Pratt and David Chen.

Our Social was held December 7, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the National on 8^th.  We reserved the tap room which offers a dedicated bar.  This location is in the downtown area, close to transit .  In order to provide our guests with two drinks and a selection of appetizers, the event had to be held during the facility’s Happy Hours of 3 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. when drink prices are lower.  We used Eventbrite to sign up attendees - capped at 65 members.  The event sold out in two days.  A very good cross-section of people from various groups signed up; some were drop-ins and we had room to welcome them.  The camaraderie, socializing, snacks, and conversational buzz warmed us all.  We held a PIPSC quiz and provided three prizes for the winners.   Use of electronic resourses was allowed as the point was to encourage members to become familiar with PIPSC programs and initiatives.  If we host the event next year, we will bring a whistle to get everyone’s attention.  The noise level is boisterous

2. Member Engagement - Bowling Family Event - September after return to school  

Event Co-Leads: Brian Bell, Courtney Walker, David Chen. 

Brian Bell and David Chen served as Branch Executive hosts for the family event held at Toppler Bowl, 7640 Fairmount Dr. SE.  It is a location that is easy to find and offers ample parking.

The maximum capacity for the event was 48 people (one-half were children) and for perhaps the first time at a Branch event everyone who signed up attended. The event came in under budget allowing some wriggle room for next year should we hold this event again. Based on our experience this year, we will alter plans for next year including the pizza provider and recruiting servers to distribute the food.

iii) Service to Community

1. Cleanup at Pearce Estate Park

Bonnie Pratt, the 2017 Branch President, organized a cleanup event at this centrally located but not well-known park. It was held Saturday August 19, 2017. The City provides garbage bags, hand cleaner and gloves.This event was held  to reach out to, and build relationships, with allies and stakeholders in our community while contributing to PIPSC’s media relations efforts in our region. The City of Calgary communicates our ‘community enhancing’ activity via their Facebook and Twitter Accounts.  The event illustrates that public servants in Calgary are not exclusively self-interested but contribute in various ways to our communities. The Branch received funding from Better Together for this event.

Pearce Estate Park is located on the Bow River in southeast Calgary, downriver from the Calgary Zoo, upriver from the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. The land once belonged to William Pearce, a long-time member of the public service, and important figure in the development of Western Canada. He donated the land to the City, and area is now being restored to its original wetland status.

Besides the City of Calgary-owned part of the park, there is the Government of Alberta-operated Bow Habitat Station, where you can tour the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery, see Alberta fish species in a dozen freshwater aquariums, and take kids fishing at the catch-and-release trout pond. 

There was a low turnout and most of it constituted Executive members and their families.

2. Labour Day Activities 2017  

Our iBranchTreasurer, Stuart Kidd, was PIPSC’ sole representative at the Calgary and District Council Labour Day BBQ on Monday, September 4, 2017.  The Branch accessed PIPSC regional Labour Day funds to provide the children’s bouncy castle.  We received a thank you letter from the Council for the financial support and Stuart’s contribution to the work party.  Approximately 2,000 people attended the BBQ.  The Council welcomes all comers – no tickets required.

iv) Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The Branch AGM was held on February 15, 2018 at the Delta Hotel.  Approximately one hundred members attended.  We thank the election Chair Ms. Angy Wachowicz for her efforts. The guest speakers were the PIPSC national president Debi Daviau and the Regional Director Nancy McCune.  This year, the President made site visits to CRA (Calgary and Southern Alberta Tax Services Office) and to the National Energy Board. Topics she covered in her speech to the AGM included: Phoenix pay issues and the union’s efforts to have it fixed, and the state of on-negotiations given that contract agreements are reached years after a contract expires and work on the next contract begins.  She also touch on  efforts to revise the Public Service Health Care Plan, dental coverage and sick leave.  Her speech included enhancing  the profile of both PIPSC and federal public servants.  She celebrated diversity and inclusiveness among the membership. The Regional Director talked about challenges for our region and encouraged donations to the Legacy Foundation, a registered charity that provides scholarships for members’ children via a review process.

Thank you to outgoing members (Shirley Tso, Susanna Moretta, Brian J. Bell and Mathulan Mangalamoorthy) who served during the past year. The executive extends best wishes to all outgoing members as we appreciated your past contributions. 

The current Calgary Branch Executive are: