Departmental Networks — The Value of Our Network

By Elizabeth Stoqua, Director, PWGSC Managers’ Network

As the Director of one of the longest standing Managers’ Networks in the Government of Canada, I am grateful to have been given this opportunity to write about the Network at Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

Brenda-Lee Swindells (Western Region) and Heather Keaveny (Atlantic Region) at a planning meeting.

Our Network is run by a director, and 23 volunteer Council members representing all PWGSC branches and regions. We are supported by an ADM level champion. With our assistant deputy ministers and regional directors general fully engaged, we have become a recognized consultative body for departmental policies and initiatives. Our Council members are invited to attend meetings of the Senior Management team and contribute upward feedback. They are also invited to participate in departmental working groups.

We have over 3,000 managers in our department, and a growing number are taking part in our community activities each day.

We support learning and development, working very closely with the Human Resources Branch, by enabling managers to connect through various sponsored events. We hold monthly dialogues with a small group of managers and a senior executive to share best practices and the lessons learned from their experiences in the public service. In the past, we have hosted two National Forums and numerous Regional Forums and workshops.

Last fall, we hosted workshops in the NCR to help our managers with managing performance. We also offered Coaching Practices sessions, which were delivered by a Council member who was one of the five regional managers recently sponsored by the NMC to receive training in Saskatoon.

We continue to work very hard to increase the visibility of the Network and demonstrate its value to our managers. With the ongoing support of our Champion, Francine Kennedy, and our Deputy Minister, François Guimont, we are making great progress.

Linda Mayne Receives 2008 – 09 PEI Federal Council Award of Excellence

Linda Mayne, NMC Governing Council member for PEI, was recently awarded the Federal Council’s Award of Excellence for her innovative approach to solving challenges in the public service. With Linda in the photo is award presenter Patrick Dorsey.