Inspiration for a more sustainable commute / The faces behind our water treatment system

Issue 17: August 2022

"It's a great way to get ready for work"

Inspiring a more sustainable commute

Contributor: Sherry Morley

If you've ever thought about trying to commute more sustainably, you'll be inspired by these cycling enthusiasts. Three of your peers from different areas of the organization - Paul Wagler, Greg Proctor, and Judy Maan Miedema - share their experiences and offer some advice for those considering the two-wheeled commute.

Watch the video.

How often do you ride your bike to work?

Almost every day

At least once a week

Once in a while

Never. I can't make it work.

I hadn't thought about it.

Portraits of our People: The faces behind the Region's water treatment system

Contributor: Scott Cressman

Working in water treatment is a little like being a firefighter. It’s often quiet, but when issues arise staff must spring into action and safeguard the community’s important drinking water.

Alex Lee and Tony Davidson have been on the “front lines” for almost 32 years now. The pair started working for Water Services on the same day back in March 1991. They are proud contributors to the Region's water treatment and distribution.

Davidson and Lee work at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant, where a team of over 50 people operate and monitor the systems that ensure our community has reliable, clean water that meets all provincial regulations.

“The job has changed a lot since Walkerton,” Lee says, referring to the 2000 disaster when poorly-treated water led to deadly E. coli in a small Ontario community. That incident led to major changes to drinking water systems across the province.

“We have a lot of regulations, a lot of back-up systems,” Lee explains. “That was an eye-opener for everyone.”

Being a water operator requires attention to detail, Davidson says. A small misstep can have big consequences. Quick problem solving skills are crucial when staff need to coordinate a solution to any issues in the system.

“You have to be pretty resilient in this job,” Davidson says. “It’s always challenging.”

Lee still appreciates his work’s variety and ongoing training: “There’s always something different,” he says. “We’re always continually learning. It’s not boring, that’s what I like.”

The pair are the last of a group of Water Services employees who started working over three decades ago. They were the first ones in the brand-new Mannheim facility back in 1992.

When Davidson and Lee retire – it won’t be long, they hinted – the torch will pass to a new set of staff responsible to ensure a steady flow of safe water.

My interview with the Chief of Paramedic Services

Contributor: Sharon Ord

On a warm summer morning in July, I was heading to North Headquarters on Erbs Road to meet with Stephen Van Valkenburg, Chief of Paramedic Services, for an interview about his career at the Region of Waterloo. The chief recently announced he is retiring at the end of August. Joining me at the paramedic services facility was Ian Duggan, the Region’s videographer.

I met Ian in the massive, immaculate garage that houses the ambulances and other emergency services vehicles. Many were recharging their equipment from long extension cords hanging from the high ceiling where I also noticed rows of aptly named Big Ass Fans that were keeping the enormous space cool.

Ian had video cameras set up at two angles against the backdrop of the rear of an open ambulance. Not having worked with Ian before, I took the opportunity to chat with him about the way he likes to work and about what I was hoping to achieve. The goal was to produce a brief video for Around the Region, the Region’s external newsletter, to celebrate Chief Van Valkenburg’s career. We discussed what supplemental footage (often referred to as B-roll) Ian could shoot after the interview.

The chief arrived early but needed to step outside briefly to take a call. I thought to myself, I bet his phone never stops ringing. Once seated and mic’d up for the interview, he set his empty Tim Horton’s coffee cup out of sight of the video camera. Ian and I both opined about our own plans to get a morning coffee after the video shoot.

Hospitality is obviously second nature to the Chief of Paramedic Services. He indicated he could fix our not so inconspicuous coffee envy, and to our considerable appreciation he called a staff member who slipped out to pick up coffee from Tim Hortons.

In advance of the interview, I had provided Chief Van Valkenburg with five questions that I planned to use as conversation starters. For a warmup, I asked how he got into the field. Was it a calling? If you want to know Chief Van Valkenburg’s answers to all of my questions, you will have to watch the video in September's edition of Around the Region. (Subscribe to Around the Region to find more stories on how we are working with community partners to improve the lives of residents across the community.)

Getting out in the field and interviewing someone who works at the Region of Waterloo is one of the things I like most about my job. Driving back to 99 Regina, I was still thinking about the equipment that was being recharged by long extension cords and thought it was an equally fair summation that the morning had recharged my own batteries.

A perspective on culture change at Sunnyside

Contributor: Lindsay Marinovic

“Pack up all my cares and woes, here I go, singing low. Bye bye blackbird,” she sang in the fluorescent lit basement of her long-term care home.

“Do you know this song?” she asked me. I told her I did not. She sang it again slowly until I picked up the tune and we started to sing together, smiling and dancing. I was only a teenager in a part-job but I knew that something special had happened. In that moment, she wasn’t worried about where her husband was, who he was with or that the door to leave and find him was locked. We were two friends, sharing, connecting and experiencing joy together. It was in that moment, I discovered my passion.

As I learned more about caring for older adults and people with dementia, I started to wonder why more people weren’t talking about these moments? Working as a Reaction Therapist in the early years of my career, it was my job to create these moments and I tried as best I could, but there was only one of me, and nearly 50 people living there. My colleagues were working hard providing great clinical care, but the fun and the relaxed connection came after the care tasks and there was never enough time. What if there was a different way?

Your input will help the Region respond to diverse needs

Contributor: Kim Bellissimo

Starting September 19, all of you will have the opportunity to participate in a demographic survey. This survey will help us better understand the diverse representation of our staff.

We will be collecting information such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, level of responsibility, length of service and functional group, etc. Not only is this information important so we can understand the demographic makeup of the organization, but it also delivers on our commitment to ensure our programs and services are reflective and sensitive to needs of our community and our staff.

To keep your responses confidential, we are partnering with an external organization called TalentMap. Personal identifying information will not be shared with the Region nor will we have access to individual responses. We will get a copy of the summary report which will be anonymized. To prevent potentially revealing an employee’s identity, TalentMap will not provide reports on any groups with less than 50 responses.

This survey is important because representation is critical. Without it, we cannot achieve our mission nor respond to the diverse needs of our residents. Your participation really matters! Let us know about you by taking a few minutes to complete the survey when it goes live on September 19.

More information will be shared closer to the launch date. Thank you in advance for your participation.

How to clarify priorities and expectations

Contributor: Stu Gooden

Clarity on priorities and expectations help virtual teams stay aligned and productive. Whether you’re a leader or a staff member, learn how to allocate tasks and prioritize work in a hybrid way of working. Visit the Portal for tips.

Share your story here or at a town hall!

We are looking for stories that show how we serve people in different ways, and how staff are working together to achieve our vision. Email us with yours!

Our strategic focus areas

Icons representing the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus areas.

This issue is lovingly prepared by communicators across the organization.

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