The TRANsmissions Podcast: Recent Episodes
Russel Lolacher
Welcome to the TRANsmissions Podcast, broadcasting knowledge across the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
As part of our succession planning and knowledge management in this ministry, Host Russel Lolacher, Web and Social Media Services, will interview ministry staff across our province and at every level to hear about their experiences and best practices. Our focus is to share and learn more about our ministry, the work we do and why we do it.
From emergencies to major projects, from highway maintenance to policy, from transit to stakeholder relations, we'll dig into what makes this ministry tick.
Description: In this episode, we dig into the diversity, inclusion, and belonging of LGBTQIA2+ Pride Month. Including what that looks and feels like far beyond those 30 days.
In this episode, host Russel Lolacher sits down with National Safety Code Manager in the Highway & Regional Services Division Karen Coverett to discuss Pride Month - what it represents, how we as individuals and as a ministry can show our support, and what that support looks and feels like all year long.
How well do you know the Declaration Act and the 10 Draft Principles that Guide the Province of British Columbia’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples?
In this episode, host Russel Lolacher joins members of our ministry's Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation team to discuss how these documents impact and inform our work, the role their team plays in integrating the act and principles into our organization, how they work with business areas and much more.
Our guests today:
- Rhiana Hamilton, Senior Manager Reconciliation Projects
- Brianne Sleivert, Indigenous Relations Advisor
Russel Lolacher, in partnership with the People and Workplace Initiatives (PWI) branch presents the “Our People Podcast” which centres around our culture, leadership and our employee experiences through insights, experiences and lessons learned. We hope these discussions will better connect you with this ministry, the work we do and those we work with, regardless of how far away they are across British Columbia.
Enjoy!
The man, the myth, the legend. In this episode, host Russel Lolacher welcomes former Associate Deputy Minister Kevin Richter for a conversation about his lasting impact on leadership, culture, and progress over the past few decades. A long-standing pillar of this ministry, Kevin shares what has mattered most to him, as well as valuable insights and experiences that can benefit new leaders.
The ministry's podcast has returned! Introducing the Our People Podcast - new name, new focus, same great conversations.
In this episode, host Russel Lolacher joins the People and Workplace Initiatives (PWI) branch leadership to talk about what they do, how their work has changed since the pandemic, and how we as a ministry can help drive changes that will improve the health of our organization. Our guests today:
- Kim Kennedy, Executive Director of the People and Workplace Initiatives Branch
- Heather Langton, Director of Organizational Health and Effectiveness
- Kim Struthers, Director of Workforce Development
Russel Lolacher, in partnership with the People and Workplace Initiatives (PWI) branch present the “Our People Podcast” which now centre around our culture, leadership and our employee experiences through insights, experiences and lessons learned. We hope these discussions will better connect you with this ministry, the work we do and those we work with, regardless of how far away they are across British Columbia.
Enjoy!
Today, we’re getting into emergencies. We’ve gotten into them a few times on this show and we should, we seem to be getting into them more and more, every year. We’re either in an emergency, preparing for an emergency or recovering from an emergency. It’s almost like our ministry needs an Emergency Program. Oh wait, we do. And we’re digging into their work today.
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Acting Deputy Director Kaylee Tower on the what, why and how of our Ministry's Emergency Programs.
LISTEN to this episode to learn:
- What our emergency program is and what it is responsible for.
- Our working relationships and responsibilities in co-ordination with other agencies.
- The alignment with the Emergency Disaster Management Act.
- How we can get more aware and involved in emergency work.
What do we have 28 of, across our province, that ensures our roads are well maintained through our many seasons? Maintenance Contracts! We work with various maintenance contractors across our province to keep our roads in working condition and travel ready. But what does that even mean?
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Manager of Maintenance Programs Jason Templeton and Director of Rehabilitation and Maintenance Rodrigo Disegni on what our maintenance contracts cover and the responsibility of contractors.
LISTEN to this episode to learn:
- What is a maintenance contract.
- How we make sure contractors are fulfilling their contracts.
- The highway classification system that contractors must follow.
- Why contracts have changed in length.
- How changing technology is impacting maintenance contracts.
Change. It’s probably the biggest constant in what we do. And nothing changes faster than technology. Not only in the tools we use but also in the public’s expectations in how we serve them.
One of the biggest changes I’ve seen in my time in government is this tectonic shift around digital transformation. And the need for the public service to modernize its role in delivering digital services. And we’re working to be a big part of that change – business areas and our Information Management Branch (IMB).
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Chief Information Officer and Executive Director Alex Ritchie, about IMB’s transformation to improve its digital delivery and services, while aligning with the digital service plans of the greater BC Public Service.
LISTEN to this episode to learn:
- What is digital transformation?
- How public and public service staff expectations have changed around digital tools.
- The new ways of working to meeting these changes.
- What is included in BC’s Digital Plan.
- The benefits of adopting this approach for employees and the public.
Sponsor: TRANnet
When disasters strike our province, big/small, floods, fires, etc. we’re there to work to reopen our highways. But what happens after those events? What’s our role in recovery and financial assistance. Quite a bit actually and today we’re going to talk about it… Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Senior Manager of Business Services and responsible for our DFAA Program Danielle Soloducha and DFAA Program Manager Jayson Chaplin, about our role in disaster financial assistance, what it involves, who it involves and how important it is to the communities we serve.
Sponsor: Leader in You
I’m not trying to scare you or anything but we’re being invaded. By land, by water… we are being invaded by… invasive species. What does that even mean, what’s our role and how afraid should we be? Our guests on the latest TRANsmissions podcast episode will get into all of that.
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with Environmental Roadside Manager Grahame Gielens, Protected Areas Ecologist for BC Parks Jeanine Bond and Senior Invasive Plant Specialist for the Forestry Ministry (previously from MoTI) Crystal Chadburn to about what an invasive species is, how it can impact our roadways and what we’re doing about it
More info on Invasive Species.
Sponsor: Health and Well being Resources from PSA
“POLICY” - a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual.
Is that what it is in the world of Transportation and Infrastructure? Is it a simple process or a complicated one? What’s involved? Who’s involved?
Great questions our guests today have answers.
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with Executive Director of the Policy and Planning Branch Jeremy Wood and
Senior Legislative Director Bradley Gerhart to how policy works within our ministry, how our ministry is a
little different than others, the process towards legislation and some ways to avoid missteps you should be aware of.
Sponsor: Supervisor Virtual Learning Series
Our number one priority is safety. You know it. I know it. But what does that MEAN?! Sure we prioritize safety but what are the behaviours? What does that look like as an organization?
In this episode, we get into the corporate safety world to understand its influence and impact.
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with our Acting Manager of Corporate Safety Tracy Wynnick to discuss the importance of safety, the many facets of it in our multi-disciplinary work and the resources you need to keep you, your coworkers and the public safe.
Sponsor: New Employee Health and Safety Orientation Checklist
Natural disasters, big emergencies… flooding, wildfire… are becoming more and more common. The “new normal” as they call it. But here’s the thing when we start saying “new normal”… there’s a “new abnormal”. And we got a big slice of that in November of 2021 when we got hit with one of the biggest flooding events in Canadian history.
Host Russel Lolacher discusses our role in this epic emergency event with a few of those in the thick of it.
From the South Coast Region:
- Dawn Hinze, Regional Manager of Business Management Services
- Phu Bui, Operations Manager for the Fraser Valley, LMD
From the Southern Interior Region:
- John Babineau, Deputy Director of the Cariboo Program
- Brad Bushill, Operations Manager, Thompson Nicola District
We discuss the scope of the event, our guests' first hand accounts and experiences from the initial day to the many weeks after, the collaboration with other agencies, the recovery and the mental health impacts.
Sponsor: TRANnet
There are a LOT of what this ministry does that you don’t see. That you might not even consider. Driving along, checking out our beautiful scenery with no idea the work that goes into making it all… work. I’m talking about utilities.
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Utilities Project Analyst Ryan Pinches and Senior Project Manager in Major Projects Alycia Traas on the importance in managing provincial utilities, how they impact our projects and roadways, their role in major emergencies, how relationships are everything and how changing technology impacts their work.
Sponsor: Territorial Acknowledgements
Every once in a while we get an email reminding us about our records management. We look at, we know we gotta do it, we think about it, we wonder what “transitory” means… and go on with our day. Sound familiar? Well, records ARE a big deal. Prepare to learn! Host Russel Lolacher chats with Records Officer with the Information Management Branch Deb Hoyon the work of her group does, why it’s vitally important to the ministry and what you can do right now to improve your records management.
Sponsor: Records Management Courses at the Learning Centre
Our beautiful province is hugely populated by various wildlife, who make their way around the land. And they don’t often travel by highways.
But we still need to ensure they travel safely when they get to them, which is what we’re talking about today.
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Manager of the Wildlife Program Leonard Sielecki and Regional Manager for Environmental Services in the Southern Interior Region Duane Wellson the work of their programs, how they keep drivers and wildlife safe and how they connect with the rest of the ministry.
Sponsor: The FAQs of IGBA+ Resource
Some of the most amazing photos/videos and coolest stories come from this program. From weather stations, to backcountry adventures, avalanche control to safety preparation. Hello Avalanche Program!
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Senior Manager of the Avalanche and Weather Program Robb Anderson, and District Avalanche Supervisors Mark Talbot and Michael Blancheron their careers, their responsibilities and things that make you go "Boom!" (avalanche control joke)
Sponsor: TranBC Blog
We talk a lot of highways on this podcast. Which makes sense as they cover a large part of our province, BUT there are some bodies of water that highways have to stop at and allow for other modes of transportation to step up. Inland Ferries! And all about them, is the topic today. Host Russel Lolacher chats with Inland Ferries Manager Layle Lintern and Director of Inland Ferries Callum Campbell. They also each reveal their personal favourite inland ferry. (don’t tell anyone)
Sponsor: Organizational Charts
Today on the show we’ll be discussing GBA+ and IGBA+, Gender-Based Analysis Plus and Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis Plus. You’ll hear personal and passionate stories of how important this learning and understanding is to how we can build better relationships, both with the public and with our coworkers. It’s something we really need to incorporate into how we think about our business and our guests are going to dig into that with us today.
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Director of Emergency Programs and cochair of IGBA+ and on the team for our ministry Journey to Reconciliation Peter Prendergast and former ADM of Transportation Policy and Programs and GBA+ Executive Champion Deborah Bowman.
This Week's Sponsor: PECSF
DriveBC. You know it. You love it. It’s one of the key products we use to communicate to the public on travel advisories, incident information, closures and construction impacts while also providing highwaycams, weather info and so much more to help you know before you go. And we’re digging into it today!
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with Web Services Manager and DriveBC Business Lead Gavin McLeod and Supervisor at the Transportation Management Centre Porya Khorsandi, to discuss what DriveBC is and the services it provides. You might be surprised.
This Week's Sponsor: The Corporate Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and Resource Centre
According to Wikipedia, procurement is “the process of finding and agreeing to terms, and acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process. Procurement generally involves making buying decisions under conditions of scarcity.” Is that how the BC government and our ministry see it? Today we find out!
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with Executive Director for Procurement, Contracts and Risk Management Vicki Willow and Director of Corporate Procurement and Risk Management Jenny Pleice to discuss the different levels procurement, risk managing it all and what happens if things don’t go according to plan.
This Week's Sponsor: The Road Runner Employee Magazine
They are one of the most popular things we do. They are one of the many ways we help the public know before they go and they have a very happy home on our DriveBC web properties. They’ve also been an amazing source of fun in highlighting our province – sunsets, sunrises, winter maintenance, cone zone construction and giant spiders cover up the lenses.
They are BC Highwaycams!
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with Deputy Director, Transportation Systems and Road Safety Engineering Brigid Canil and Acting Camera Program Manager and UX Design Web Content Strategist Pete Taylor to understand the many types of highwaycams, what we use them for and some of the challenges in keeping them going.
This Week’s Sponsor: The Learning Centre
There are so many modes of transportation, and there really needs to be a more holistic look at how they compliment and work with each other. Including the use of technology in those relationships. And that’s why we’re talking about Integrated Transportation Development planning today!
Podcast host Russel Lolacher sits down with Executive Lead David Greer to understand the ministry’s approach to integrated planning, its challenges, what it all means and where we could be going.
This Week’s Sponsor: Territorial Acknowledgement Guidelines
Ethics - “moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.” That’s what dictionary.com tells us.
And in this episode, we’re going to hear from our ministry’s Ethics advisor on how that pertains to us.
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with David Greer to understand what this role is responsible for, how he can help members of our ministry and why it's so important.
This Week’s Sponsor: The Knowledge Library
PTB. Do you mean the Branch or the Board? What’s the difference?! Quite a bit actually and we’re here to get into those details and so much more of what the Passenger Transportation Branch does.
Host Russel Lolacher chats with Perry Dennis, Deputy Registrar and Director of Operations and Steve Haywood, Registrar and Executive Lead for Taxi Modernization and Ride Hailing to better understand their work and what they are responsible for (and what they aren’t responsible for).
This Week’s Sponsor: Supervisor Virtual Learning Series
It's always a great time to get to know our engineers. We have many types that work within our ministry and in this episode, we give Structural Engineering the spotlight.
Podcast host Russel Lolacher talks with Director of Structural Engineering Carl Lutz, Hydrotechnical Engineer Alysha Piccini, and Senior Bridge Seismic Engineer Alireza Ahmadnia for an overview of their work and responsibilities, examples of their expertise and the projects they get to work on around our province.
This week's sponsor: Onboarding and Orientation website on TRANnet
Data, data, data. It’s a big part of how we are informed to make the decisions we do.
Host Russel Lolacher sits down with returning guest Director of Transportation Systems and Road Safety Engineering Kenedee Ludwar and Traffic Data Program Coordinator John Mazuruk to talk about traffic data – what do we collect, how do we collect it, who uses it and what do we use it for.
This week's sponsor: the TranBC blog (for onboarding and knowledge transfer)
What do you call a team that is in charge of the roll out of our highway projects? Highway roll outers? Sorry, not very catchy.
What we DO call them however is our Provincial Field Services team and in this episode, host Russel Lolacher speaks with Shawn Grant, Director of Provincial Field Services and Wayne Fraser, Deputy Director of Provincial Field Services on the scope of their work, how their role differs from others in the field and the types of projects they help move forward.
This week's sponsor: EAF (Employee Advisory Forum)
For this episode, host Russel Lolacher talks with those behind the Moose Hide Campaign, a grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys who are standing up against violence towards women and children. Campaign day is Feb.11.
We’re joined by campaign co-founder Raven Lacerte, campaign CEO David Stevensen, and Associate Deputy Minister Kevin Richter to talk about the importance of this movement, how the campaign has grown from its early days until now, and how our ministry is involved.
You'll learn..
- The origins of the Moose Hide Campaign.
- Why public servants are such a focus for the campaign and how government is involved.
- How to start conversations about abuse with children and adults.
- How COVID-19 has impacted getting the campaign message out.
For more information, visit: www.moosehidecampaign.ca
This week's sponsor: The Learning Centre's House of Indigenous Learning
It’s a very special episode. Very soon, a member of the MoTI community will be retiring and leaving a lasting legacy behind. That person, is Cariboo District Manager, Todd Hubner.
Having been a part of our organization for decades, Todd has amassed an exceptional career: navigating numerous emergency events, mentoring so many of our fellow coworkers and leading his amazing district staff.
Podcast host Russel Lolacher sits down to talk to Mr. Hubner to learn more about his journey, what he’s learned and what knowledge he can pass on to all of us.
This week's sponsor: EAF (Employee Advisory Forum)
When the public looks for information, they search the internet. Project details, tenders for bidding, forms to fill out, blogs to read, latest CVSE news… that content is all available. But it doesn’t happen magically.
There’s a lot of work that goes into making sure it’s up to date, it’s easy to read, it makes sense, it’s consistent, it’s findable… all the things.
And helping make that happen is the ministry’s web services team.
In this episode, host Russel Lolacher talks to User Experience Design Lead and Content Strategist for our ministry Wendy Grant and Web Services Manager and DriveBC Business Lead Gavin McLeod to learn more.
This week's sponsor: the Phases of MyPerformance
Breaker Breaker One Niner.
Maybe your experience with radio is mainly from television shows? Maybe you had a radio when you played as kids? I’m not talking transit radios either.
Today it gets a lot more serious because radios in our ministry are really vital to our work.
In this episode, we meet up with the Radio Program.
Host Russel Lolacher welcomes to the show the Manager of Radio and Telecommunications Jason Wood, and Senior Radio Electronic Technologist Brad Hannah. Where they will talk about how radios work for us, who should know how to use them and how they keep up with changing technologies.
This week's sponsor: the Road Runner Newsletter and its amazing archive covering five decades of ministry work.
The environment in which we work, the resources we have available, how we are supported, from the day we come into our “office” to the day we leave, are all vital to the quality of our employee experience. There is a group in our ministry that has a very important hand in supporting the health of this ministry. For staff, supervisors and executive.
In this episode, we meet up with Strategic Human Resources (or SHR to their friends). Host Russel Lolacher talks to the Executive Director of Strategic Human Resources Sheila Allen and reoccurring guest and previous guest host, Director of Corporate Communications and Innovation Nick Nixon.
This week's sponsor: Onboarding and Orientation Handbook for Employees and Supervisors
Communication is so vital to what we do. And it takes on so many different forms. Whether it’s our Dynamic Message Signs, Social Media, Drive BC, News Releases…One of the traditional ways we inform the travelling public is through our road signage. And there is a shop in Kamloops that makes that happen.
Host Russel Lolacher talks to the Manager of the Provincial Sign Program Ross Mcleanto understand how this program works, the history of highway signage and the relationship this program has with our ministry and beyond.
This week's sponsor: Onboarding and Orientation Handbooks: Employee Handbook and Supervisor Handbook
How are you doing? How are you feeling? Really.
It's vital to understand that our mental health is an important part of our lives.
Though it's been a part of who we are for as long as time, awareness around mental health and wellness has become a growing topic of discussion over the years, at home and at work.
On the show today, host Russel Lolacher talks to Mental Health and Wellness Training Specialist Amy Baskin, and from the BC Public Service Agency, Health Planning and Programs Manager Lyz Gilgunnto understand mental health in the workplace, its importance and what you can do if you're looking for help.
You'll learn:
- What is mental health and is it as simple as good or bad?
- Mental health stigmas and where they can come from.
- Mental health in the workplace
- What resources are available and where they are
This week's sponsor: Supervisor Virtual Learning Series
The public's expectations around how, what and when we communicate continues to change and grow. One of the ways our ministry meets those expectations is through the Social Media Services Team, who use various platforms, social strategies and content creation to provide social customer care.
Guest host Nick Nixon, Director of Corporate Communication and Innovation talks to Russel Lolacher, Director of Web and Social Media Services and Kristen Reimer, Information Officer and "history nerd" for the Social Media Services Team about what they do, why they do it and its value to the ministry and public.
This week's sponsor: Learning Centre Course - Building Capacity in Indigenous Relations: We are all here to stay
Technology is vital to our work. We really can’t do much without it. Applications, data recording, DriveBC, highway webcams, digital storage, computers, map imaging and so much more we probably don’t even know about. It’s the Information Management Branch that has a hand in making this work for us. Chief Information Officer and Executive Director Debbie Fritz joins us to discuss the role her branch has in our ministry’s work, how they fit within the larger BC government and what you need to be aware of to work best with them.
This week's sponsor: Virtual Welcome Sessions
It’s Cold. It’s Rainy. It’s Hot and Dry. Weather has a huge, HUGE impact on what we do and how we do it. From floods, to avalanches, to wildfire and all the in between. Wouldn’t it be helpful if we monitored the weather so we could make more strategic decisions? Spoiler: we do. Climate and Weather Specialist Simon Walker and Avalanche Systems Tech Adam Todd join us to walk us through the weather station network, why it’s vital to our decision making, what we do with the data and what it means to our ministry and the public.
This week's sponsor: 10 Tips for Growing Employees
Weather has a huge impact on our roads. Which is why it’s more important than ever to raise your awareness in how you can be a better driver and be prepared to head out in winter driving conditions. Our ministry is a big part in highlighting the importance of this safety with the Shift into Winter campaign. Director of Traffic and Highway Safety Engineering Kenedee Ludwar, District Manager for the Thomson-Nicola region Trent Folk, and Information Officer from the Web and Social Media Services Group Neil Judson join me to help us all get winter ready.
This week's sponsor: MyPerformance Profiles and Phases
Communications. Public relations. Media Relations. Public Engagement. Our ministry works very hard to connect with so many of our stakeholders.
There's actually an entire BC government organization that helps us get the word out about what we do: GCPE. Government Communications and Public Engagement.
In this episode we learn more about the work they do and how it's connected to our ministry when we talk with Dave Crebo, Director of Communications for our ministry's GCPE shop.
This week's sponsor: Student Recruitment Guide
Not a lot of people like doing it or are comfortable doing it or want to do it. But, if you have an idea, a project or a program you want to get across to people, it's very important to be a strong public speaker.
In this BONUS episode of the podcast, we sit down with Ari Hershberg Senior Program Analyst with the BC Government’s Exchange Lab, who also happens to have an extensive background as a speaker coach for TEDx and public service staff, as well as a successful speaker agent for comedians, athletes and authors.
You'll learn:
- What to do before, during and after a presentation
- Examples of speakers that will inspire you
- That practicing really does make (almost) perfect
This week's sponsor: TransAction from the EAF
You've heard of the Coquihalla Highway? Port Mann bridge replacement? Evergreen Line?
We are heavily involved in making these a reality. We even have a department dedicated to it.
In this episode, we chat with Jody Deane, Executive Project Director of the Highway 91/17 and Deltaport Way Upgrade Project and Thomas Chhun, her Associate Director on the project. We'll learn a little bit more about them, what defines a major project and the moving parts in their world
This week's sponsor: Supervisory Virtual Learning Series
Money, money, money. The work of finance impacts everything we do. What we can, what we can’t and where we need to be smarter about how we use our funds to go a little farther.
It fuels our projects and programs while also letting us eat and pay our mortgages or rent. But how does it all work?
In this episode, we travel the world of Corporate Finance with our ministry’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Finance Pat Marsh.
This week's sponsor: Employee Handbook and Virtual Welcomes
The work we do impacts so many communities across our province. Their history, their cultures and our relationship with them need to be considered whenever we put together a project. Our indigenous communities and our relationships with them is vital to our success. In this episode, we dig into our Journey towards Reconciliation with Director of Corporate Communications and Innovation Nick Nixon, Director of Indigenous Relations Sarah Duggan and Branch Coordinator for SHR Rakiya Larkin.
Sponsor: Knowledge Management Library
Located on the Knowledge Management website, you’ll not only have access to all these podcast episodes, but also amazing articles on leadership, knowledge management, mentoring and more, videos, worksheets. It’s probably one of the most useful and helpful places to go for your career. Check out the Knowledge Library on TranNet!
What’s 50 plus years old, the only one of its kind in all the BC Public Service and is driven by employees? Spoiler Alert: The Road Runner Newsletter.
In this episode, we talk with long serving editor Nancy McLeod to get behind the scenes on this internal publication that has been a staple of our ministry for decades and decades. You'll hear about the history of Road Runner, what Nancy looks for in new submissions, how you can be a part of this culturally historic publication, some of Nancy's favourite stories and what a goat observer has to do with MoTI.
Sponsor: Leader in You
A two-day workshop designed to foster a culture of leadership in the ministry by providing leadership focused learning and development opportunities to employees throughout the organization. The workshop will provide information and tools to employees at all levels who want to learn more about leadership, themselves and developing their skills. Go to the SHR website to learn more.
So you want to do some development along BC highways do you? Well that’s where Development Services kick in. Formerly known as Development Approvals, it's one of those business areas that has bigger impacts that you may think. In this episode, we talk with Rajeeta Bains, West Kootenay District Technician and DAEI lead in the Highways Department, on a development approvals 101 overview and what the Development Approvals Enhancement Initiative even is.
Sponsor: Where We Work
Are you a new employee? Have you recently changed positions? Are you curious about where to go for resources and tools?
Good news! The ministry orientation program - Where We Work - provides resources, tools and connections to help guide you through these questions.
Go to ORIENTATION in the Strategic HR portion of TRANnet to learn more!
46 years. 46 YEARS! In 1973, the Vietnam War was ending, a dozen eggs were 45 cents, and Elton John released “Crocodile Rock” AND our ministry’s chief engineer Dirk Nyland joined MoTI. His history, his lessons learned, his missteps and the advice he'd provide new, mid-career and retiring staff is all in this episode.
Sponsor: The Employee Advisory Forum
The Employee Advisory Forum is made up of around three dozen members from around the province that establish, recommend and implement strategies to improve the work environment, partnering with our ministry executive to continuously improve our workplace. If you want to know more, listen to the 2nd episode of this podcast or go to their webpage on TRANnet.
There are so many areas and industries that our ministry covers. One of which is transit. From the island to Vancouver to Kamloops and beyond, transit touches so many of our communities. Host Russel Lolacher is joined by Andrea Mercer, Executive Director of our ministry's Transit Branch in the Transportation Policy and Programs Department to give us an overview of her role, how transit fits into the ministry, the position we hold with BC Transit and Translink and where the future may lie.
This week's sponsor: 10 Tips for Growing Employees.
Investing in the development of employees is the most important and rewarding thing a manager can do. As part of our MoTI Succession Planning Committee’s Attracting and Growing Talent Priority Team, we have created a Tips Sheet for Growing Employees to help you and your team move forward in the right direction.
DMTs. District Managers, Transportation. There’s 11 roles around our province, each overseeing one of the 11 transportation districts that make up BC. Today, we’re going to find out a bit more about what they do, why it matters and maybe pique your interest as a career path. In this episode we discuss these topics with former Thompson-Nicola District Manager and current Assistant Regional Director Paula, Rocky Mountain District Manager Ron Sharp, Vancouver Island District Manager Mike Pearson and former Skeena District Manager and current SIR Regional Director Project Delivery and Planning Services Darrell Gunn.
This week’s sponsor: Supervisor Virtual Learning Series.
Hosted by Strategic HR, these sessions provide insight and learning around subjects you need to know to better serve your team. Conducted by subject matter experts, the topics include performance management, diversity and inclusion; interpreting collective agreements; WES reports; stress management and more and more
You don’t work for an organization for decades without gathering tons of wisdom. In the last part of our 4-part series with our former Executive Director of Highway Operations Norm Parkes, he chats with our Deputy Director of the Southern Interior Region Paula Cousins who was eager to pull some of that “Norm Knowledge” and “true-isms” before he retired.
This week’s sponsor: Own Your Posting Essentials, a one-pager resource to help you post a position. This great tool walks you through the basics, the necessary steps, tips for long-term/short-term postings, and so much more.
Communicating in a way that’s meaningful to your audience is vital. Informing Executive is no different. Norm Parkes, our former Executive Director of Highway Operations speaks with our Lower Mainland District Manager Elena Farmer to share best practices in communicating with Executive, and the most impactful ways to get your message across.
This week’s sponsor: Supervisor Driving Engagement Guide, helping supervisors with engagement ideas, resources and best practices from across the government, all tied to our Work Environment Survey (WES).
We could all be a little more strategic in how we communicate. Our former Executive Director of Highway Operations Norm Parkes sits down with our Director of the Trans-Canada Highway Program Jenn Fraser to drop some of his vast knowledge about the importance of strategic communications and some tips and tricks around it.
This week’s sponsor: MyPerformance Guide and Workbooks, a tool to help with conversations about your job: expectations, goals, learning and development, including a guide to provide ideas and prep material to get you ready to go at each stage of the process and a workbook to document it all.
We have so much knowledge in this ministry and it’s so important to capture it. Norm Parkes, our former Executive Director of Highway Operations sits down with our Director of Provincial Field Services Shawn Grant to share his years history with our organization and some advice for new employees. This is the first in a four part series with Norm.
This week’s sponsor: TranBC.ca, our ministry’s online blog. Collecting what we do and why we do it, this is not only a great resource for the public and but has also to grown to be a fantastic hub of information for our own ministry.
From accidents to major events, incident response management is a big part of our ministry's responsibility. Guests Emergency Programs Director Jack Bennetto and Okanagan Area Manager Erik Lachmuth join host Russel Lolacher to explain our ministry's role in incident response, the many levels of emergency and why everyone needs to be prepared.
This week's sponsor: Supervisor Virtual Learning Series
Hosted by Strategic HR and delivered by subject matter experts from across government, learn everything from stress management to employee relations, hiring to Lync best practices. A great way to expand your brain and get some great tips/tricks you need without leaving your desk.
In this episode, we learn more about the Employee Advisory Forum (EAF). Host Russel Lolacher talks with Environmental Management Branch and EAF Lead Mark Traverso, Manager of Workforce Programs in Strategic HR Brittany Speed and District Development Technician in the Lower Mainland District Nikki Schneider to discuss the role of the group, its impact on our ministry and the benefits of being a member.
This week's sponsor: Read of the Week, every week the Knowledge Library as part of the Knowledge Management website, highlights something you really should check out.
In this episode, host Russel Lolacher talks to Deborah Newby, our Senior Project Manager in charge of Knowledge Management and Darren Lincoln, Manager Property Services in the Southern Interior Region, on explain why you should be interested and walk us through a roadmapping exercise. transferring knowledge and the road you can take to capture and share what you know. And really, why that matters.
This week's sponsor: ICS100, Incident Command System Training courtesy of the Justice Institute of BC.