Photo Credit: JSpitfire
I signed the written offer over the weekend, so can now, finally, publicly discuss my new job!
The one that’s taking me from Vancouver to Yellowknife!
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I will be working for the Government of the Northwest Territories, in their Corp. HR Recruitment dept.
My role will be to create and implement strategies to attract professionals to the north, as well as enhance and create strategies to develop a northern workforce.
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The north, more than the rest of Canada, needs healthcare professionals: physicians, nurses, lab technicians, and social workers. In fact, some of the north has a suicide rate multiple times the national average, in part because we need more people in supportive roles. If I can help fill those roles and make a difference, well… that’s what I’m doing this for.
And in the immediate term, the Federal Gov’t budget included significant funding for Infrastructure/Social Housing Investment = we’ll need Engineers! any Civil, Structural, Geo-tech engineers reading this, contact me! Some of this may include alternative energy infrastructure so that may be of real interest to some readers.
And last, if any of my finance friends – accountants, eg. – from Vancity are looking for a change, find me!
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Here are a couple other areas I see on the horizon that I find extremely interesting:
1. Cdn. Sovereignty over the Arctic Ocean, with its mineral and gas deposits is increasingly fragile. By 2013 Canada needs to submit its “pitch” for extended sovereignty to the U.N. China, the US, and Russia are also more than a little interested in the area – geopolitics in action! The Cdn gov’t will be embarking on an ambitious ocean-mapping project , building a high-arctic research station, and I would imagine investing in infrastructure like ports and airstrips (I’m just surmising).
2. Another development that I’ll be monitoring closely are the pipelines: The Arctic Pipeline signed off on by Sarah Palin, and Obama (a few days ago), and the ongoing discussions re: Mackenzie Pipeline.
All of these will have significant HR implications.
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So, that’s it as I understand it. Awesome, huh? To be a part of something good, of finding the right people to join the public service, I am uncharacteristically humbled. And excited.
Oh, and my many social-media pals, you can believe social media will be a significant part of strategies I/we develop – in fact, I’m completely serious, it was the photos on Flickr and the Yellowknife Facebook Groups that ultimately convinced me to move up there.
I imagine Linked In will be a much bigger part of my life. If you’d like to connect there, simply as a contact, or because you may be up for a northern adventure yourself, please link with me!
Vancouver-based pals: the lovely MJ aka “Urbanista” is organizing a meet & greet & goodbye for me at the Irish Heather, Sunday the 15th (I leave on the 20th) at 4pm. Please contact her to RSVP (ha! almost wrote RRSP!) and drop by. Would love to say hi & bye 🙂
ps: this was my 400th post!
Let me be the first to tell you how much we’ll miss you ‘down south’ here in Vancouver. Hope you’ll have good Internet for staying in touch and listening to streaming radio!
The upside for me: having a friend in Yellowknife, a place Pam and I plan on visiting some time in the future.
David’s last blog post..25 Short Things About Me
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Nancy! This sounds like a wonderful opportunity and a great adventure 🙂 Can’t wait to read about your experience in Yellowknife!
Anya’s last blog post..I am listening to hear where you are
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So as long as there is your blog and your tweets getting updated with news from the north, I will be happy. It also seems that The North had better be added to my Bucket List of places to get to before too long. I have also added your flickr stream to the ones that I get to see updated every time I log on there.
It sounds all very worthwhile – and doing what is important to you is the best guide in any career move
Stephen Rees’s last blog post..‘Good without God’ ad finds believers in Vancouver
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We haven’t even met in person yet, and I am going to miss you. At least we will still be connected via twitter and facebook, so I can keep track of you. If there is any need for a somewhat unemployable musician/social media not so newbie/but far from expert up north-let me know ~ the idea of moving away (or at least changing jobs) is appealing to me.
Hope everything goes great for you.
Congratulations 🙂
laura’s last blog post..Close, But I Won’t Melt
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I can’t wait to hear all about it, best wishes!
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Oh and if you ever need someone for environmental/forestry consulting email me! I love the north, but am entrenched here on the island, so would enjoy any opportunities to travel and contribute for work.
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Nancy, all the best. Having been born in Whitehorse and lived in the north for a number of years there is something special about the people and the landscape. Those strange Northern Lights! So bundle up with your Eldorado parka and your beaver hat and mukuluks, enjoy the crunch of snow and the tingling of cheeks and those mosquitoes and horseflies and don’t forget us down here. You won’t be far away with all those wonderful stories I sense you will be writing. Remember you now live in a territory, not a province.
Gene Blishen’s last blog post..Is this a trend in blogging?
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Hey Nancy – you are taking on an exciting challenge. If anyone can do it, you can with your always creative approach. I think you will see a very different Yellowknife this time round. All the very best…talk soon.
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Oh, this sounds like so much fun. You’re going to have a fabulous time, I’m sure. If – no, when – I make it to Yellowknife, I’ll definitely look you up!
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Congrats on the new job, etc. I’m definitely coming to your farewell bash.
But what do you mean that the photos convinced you? There’s snow in those pictures!?! They even have special shoes for it, that’s how desperate things are up there!
Jan Karlsbjerg’s last blog post..A month of free software – 29. 7-Zip
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Nancy! Wow! Haven’t heard from you in ages and have been thinking about you. Sought out your blog and saw your note! How very exciting!! I hope your transition goes very smoothly and that you achieve great things. So thrilled for you – keep in touch!
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Congrats on the new job! I was in Yellowknife last March and it’s definitely a place I’d like to go back to (I was only there for two days, and I was working the whole time so I didn’t get a chance to explore at all).
Sorry I won’t be able to make it to your going away par-tay!
Beth’s last blog post..Taylor and Me
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Nancy, the Northwest Territories is fortunate to have you on the team. What a worthwhile use for your talents! I wish you the very best on this new challenge.
Rebecca
rjleaman’s last blog post..Top 6 Popular Site Search Widgets
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Well I’m a couple weeks late seeing this, sorry… but I wanted to add my congratulations!!!
Good luck adapting to life way up north!!
CanadianSaver’s last blog post..Dateless Valentine’s Day
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Hi Nancy,
I was just reading a Canadian Living magazine and your name jumped out at me! How are you…old friend! I’m still out in Toronto.
Let me know if you get this…it would be fun to reconnect.
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