Monthly Archives: June 2021

Newsletter #10

Webinar: Indigenous Exclusion in the Workplace

Join Anne-Marie Pham of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion as she sits down with Kelly Lendsay, a dynamic and inspiring thought leader, to discuss Indigenous inclusion at work. In this fireside chat, Kelly will share his vision for moving forward from a history of Indigenous exclusion to the path of workplace inclusion for the next seven generations. Join us to also learn about CCDI’s new and exciting partnership with Indigenous Works and engage with us through our live Q&A session.  This PD event is free.

Event Date: June 21, 2021 @2:30 pm.

Register here by June 18 at noon.

Beyond Two Spirit: Varied Indigenous Perspectives

Pride Week meets Indigenous History Month! Indigenous Perspectives faculty members present a panel discussion about gender identity from diverse Indigenous perspectives. Organized by the Indigenous Perspectives Designation, in partnership with the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Council.

Join June 22 at 1:00 – 2:30pm here.

 

Celebrate Pride 2021! Watch Creating Online Inclusion with anya gwynne, Education Coordinator, PARN

In 2011, Fleming College established the Positive Space Education Program for Fleming students to learn about marginalized sexual orientations and gender identities, and since then thousands of students have participated in building a safer campus life for LGBT2SQ+ students. How do you include and support your students in an online learning environment that respects their diverse identities? Listen to this youth outreach and education worker as they share expertise in language usage, understanding barriers, and tips for inclusive classroom management.

Watch the recording here today!

Morneau Shepell Name Change

The College’s EFAP provider Morneau Shepell have changed their name to LifeWorks. While their name has changed, their business has not. To find out more about Fleming’s EFAP program visit this link.

Congratulations to the 2021 Spotlight Award Recipients

Liz Stone – Diversity and Inclusion Award

Nominated by Sandra Dupret, this award recognizes an individual or team who goes above and beyond to meet the needs of our diverse populations and enrich our communities.

Liz has demonstrated this through her leadership, taking great strides in connecting with Indigenous communities beyond Peterborough’s First Nations communities. She has worked with communities in Northern Ontario to establish Fleming diploma programs that can be delivered onsite within the community.

“I think that the College is doing a ton of work, and there are so many people working towards Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, that this is an award for everybody.” – Liz Stone

 

Photo of Liz Stone

Angela Pind – Employee Success Award

Angela received multiple nominations from Barbara Bond, Sara Slater, Andrew West, Shelley Schell, Samantha Pihlainen-Bleeker and Joan Connolly. This award recognizes an individual or team for their contributions to an inclusive and energized workplace culture that provides the best education, leadership and research practices.

Angela has demonstrated this by keeping employee and student success at the forefront of her decision-making and leadership activities, including supporting creativity and innovation in the workplace.

“It is about the team, they make it super easy.” – Angela Pind

Photo of Angela Pind

 

Paula Anderson and Rick Cornelissen – Strengthening Communities Award

Nominated by Brett Goodwin, this award recognizes an individual or team who demonstrates a commitment to strengthening our communities through collaboration with community partners to boost innovation within our campus regions and beyond.

Paula and Rick have shown this through their work on the Edwin Binney community garden, a collaboration with Crayola and the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes to help address food insecurity and provide educational opportunities around agriculture and food to local school children.

“Especially with these trying times, you can feel good at the end of the day.” -Rick Cornelissen

“Thank you so much, I really appreciate the recognition. We could not have done it without our wonderful team and community partners”-Paula Anderson

 

Photo of PaulaPhoto of Rick

Katrina Van Osch-Saxon – Student & Employer Success Award

Nominated by Nicole Vanderschaaf, this award recognizes an individual or team who encourages collaboration between students and employers to establish hands-on opportunities that ensure graduates are job-ready.

Katrina has demonstrated this through fostering and maintaining a comprehensive professional network and introducing students to people in that network. This includes Women in Wood, International Society of Arboriculture Ontario, and Ministry of Natural Resources and countless alum and industry professionals that she has a personal relationship and report with.

“Well thank you! I have to say, I do have a great group of people I get to work with.” – Katrina Van Osch-Saxon

Photo of Katrina

The Physical Resources Team – Technology Champion Award

Nominated by Jason Dulmage, this award recognizes an individual or team who:

-Embraces the latest technology and digital tools to prepare students for the future workplace.

-Responds to technological changes that provide new learning opportunities for students.

-Demonstrates accountability and delivers current updates on the latest technology in the workplace.

Fleming’s Physical Resources Department has shown this by implementing technological changes critical to Fleming’s functioning in the current COVID-19 environment, including HVAC upgrades and filters, enhanced cleaning tools, Thermal Screening and more.

“This is a great award for us to win, and I am super proud of the team. Everybody has worked hard and pulled together.” – Terry Williams

Photo of President Adamson Notifying Members of the PRD team that they won the award

Did you miss the Spotlight Awards Event?  You can watch it here.

 

 

Newsletter #9

Summer Safety Tips

Doesn’t it feel like summer just sprung overnight?  Many of us are starting to get that much needed vitamin D we were missing this winter, but staying safe and healthy should be a top priority.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe and cool this summer:

  • Protect yourself from the sun by wearing sunblock, hat, sunglasses and keeping hydrated. Did you know drinking alcohol or caffeine before outdoor activities can cause dehydration?
  • Ensure you wear the appropriate protective equipment when enjoying outdoor activities, such as a helmet, reflective wear at night, or a life jacket.
  • If you have an opportunity to enjoy one of Ontario’s beautiful lakes or hop into a pool this summer, ensure you are safe. Do you have a buddy with you? Do you know the water? The Canadian Red Cross has many water safety tips at our fingertips. Check them out here.
  • As lovely as the sun is, we all know it comes with its downfalls… like the pests. Ticks, Mosquitos, and bees, are back with a vengeance and we need to protect ourselves. The Government of Ontario has tons of information on how to protect yourself, from covering up to bug spray. More information can be seen on the CDC website.
  • Remember you can access free mental health resources and supports at AbilitiCBT.
  • Continue to follow the guidelines of public health on all healthcare related items including COVID-19.

 

#ThisisOurShot Campaign

Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Roberta Bondar has something to say, why it’s important to her and what she wants you to know.  Check out the #ThisisOurShot campaign here.

Get all the facts about COVID-19 and the vaccine from Peterborough Public Health.

Spotlight Awards

Remember to join your colleagues on June 3, 2021, to celebrate this year’s Spotlight award recipients and nominees.

We look forward to celebrating with you, here, on June 3 at 3pm.

 

EDI Council Update

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council has been meeting bi-weekly to develop an action plan to further our vision of a welcoming place for all. This month, the Council has:

  • created 5 sub-committees to advance EDI work in these areas:
    – Data Collection and Reporting
    – Policy Development
    – Training and Professional Development
    – Special Events
    – Advocacy
  • the Data Collection and Reporting Committee is currently analyzing anonymous data from the EDI Survey and will have some initial recommendations in June. A full report is expected in the Fall. The Council appreciates the enthusiastic response of employees to the EDI survey: 43% of employees participated and your feedback and enthusiasm for equity, diversity and inclusion is appreciated.

To learn more about the EDI Council, visit https://department.flemingcollege.ca/edi/ or contact us at EDICouncil@flemingcollege.ca

Virtual Interview

Preparing for a virtual interview? Here are some tips to help you rock it!  They’re also valuable for meetings.

  • Check your technology and do a dry run before the interview. Ensure you download software required and that you have bandwidth.
  • Use a laptop or desktop if you can.  Mobile phones are fine if you don’t have a choice; just make sure it’s mounted in a stable place.
  • Make sure that your background is appropriate, even if it’s a blank wall.  You do have the option of using a virtual wall on Zoom and Webex.
  • Dress as you would for an in-person interview.
  • Find a quiet area.  Make sure there are no distractions (dogs, kids, phone alerts etc.)
  • Sit in a well-lit room with the light pointing at your face; having a light behind creates a shadow effect.
  • Look into the camera.  We tend to speak to the square with the person’s face, which is very natural, but creates the illusion of looking down, or sideways. Be aware of looking into the camera particularly if you’re using two screens and referring to one at an angle – you want to simulate “eye contact” with interviewers, rather than giving them an extended view of your profile.
  • Answer the questions as you would if you were in the same room.
  • Have a backup plan with a conference call.  The meeting hosts should provide this when scheduling the interview.
  • Avoid reading prepared remarks or answers.