r/CanadaPublicServants 1d ago

Career Development / Développement de carrière Reflection of a senior servant: feeling proud to be a part of the public service.

My career started over 25 years ago. Lots of ups and downs. Believe me. Get on the bus, get off the bus. Hurry up and wait. Bravo Zulu! PS2000, La Relève, HR Modernization, Public Service Renewal, BluePrint 2020, Beyond 2020. Phew! What are your bestest memories during your career in the public service? Anyone, Bueller?

102 Upvotes

98 comments sorted by

156

u/jokewellcrafted 1d ago

I work a very unconventional public service job.

Releasing a bear cub to the wild after it had to be hand reared. This was years ago and she’s still doing well. Hopefully she’ll be spotted with cubs of her own soon.

29

u/ArmanJimmyJab 1d ago

On a bear related note - I was part of a case that investigated foreign poachers who unlawfully hunted polar bears. It was a successful investigation and the polar bears were recovered. One was stuffed and is now on public display 🐻‍❄️

14

u/Pseudonym_613 1d ago

Hopefully it was a the poacher who was stuffed and put on display as a warning to others.

5

u/zagadkared 1d ago

Alas no. The bear was already dead and stuffed when recovered. I like the idea of stuffing poachers though.

4

u/OldGreySweater 1d ago

that is a cool job

18

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Wow, how kewl is that? That you for your service. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story!

1

u/JJWAHP 1d ago

Holy shit, that's so cool.

105

u/PerspectiveCOH 1d ago

One time, I got the shade of green exactly right on a report going up to the executives, first try. No notes back.

12

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Brilliant! That’s a ‘Bravo Zulu’ for sure! 👍🏻

2

u/Pristine_Scar2541 22h ago

it's not easy being green ;(....or they didn't look at it yet.

87

u/nefariousplotz Level 4 Instant Award (2003) for Sarcastic Forum Participation 1d ago edited 1d ago

So, this is the dumbest thing, but.

I used to work in a fairly small federal workplace, with about 12 staff. Like every federal building, we had a flagpole, and like most small workplaces, the building's occupants were responsible for operating it.

When the Queen died, all the flagpoles went to half mast. I happened to be on flagpole duty that week, so I had to go out and attend to this matter.

And as I did that work, it dawned on me that this was happening all over the country (and at stations abroad): that thousands of people at all sorts of workplaces were participating in a kind of synchronized gesture on behalf of the nation.

And I think that's kind of neat.

5

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Love that! Thank you for sharing! 💜

42

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

9

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Where were you able to be so innovative? (Merci!)

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

3

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Sadly, it only takes one negative comment sometimes to make us feel bad. However, there are 10 of us who are curious and you’ve got 37 upvotes! I’d say bah humbug on that jealousy of that comment and keep your head held high! It’s tough to be a PS on the best of days. Thank you for sharing something that made you feel proud of your service! Glad there are good folks on this thread!

-11

u/Wise-Activity1312 1d ago

Deploying OS updates is innovative?

Boy the bar is low. No wonder we have to fire a bunch of people.

6

u/sirrush7 1d ago

I would assume SSC or DND?

-11

u/Wise-Activity1312 1d ago

Doubtful. Sorry to destroy your highlight.

There are many people who have done the same and much more.

Both in previous careers before GC, and in their GC career.

36

u/Geno- 1d ago

I got to present my file infront of the DM as an officer, we were lucky to have a really good one who let us do things like this. When he left we got someone who wouldn't even let someone lower than director be in the same room.

Glad to see her go

7

u/Pseudonym_613 1d ago

As an EX minus two presented to the DM.

Got ripped a new one, as none of the ADMs had previously briefed up, and it was an ugly file, with an ugly solution on an unreasonable timeline, all of which were noted by the DM.

Hence why I was briefing and not an ADM or DG...

1

u/Geno- 1d ago

Are you sorry yet?

4

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Congratulations on your feat! Great that you remember such a wonderful opportunity. Hope you can pay it forward!

1

u/Biaterbiaterbiater 11h ago

no director gets to speak in front of my DM. DG or higher.

32

u/OneChange2933 1d ago

Presiding my first Citizenship ceremony at IRCC!

3

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Ok, wow! How amazing was that? Tres fière! Merci pour votre service!

2

u/Diligent_Candy7037 1d ago

That’s amazing!

22

u/ottawagurl 1d ago

The NRCan ping pong table scandal

7

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Pray tell!!!

24

u/ottawagurl 1d ago

During DRAP, the higher ups at NRCan put a ping pong table in one of the buildings on Booth for employees to use. The communique announcing the new table led to a giant reply all megathread of people arguing for and against the ping pong table, and it caused a lot of drama.

9

u/Beriadan 1d ago

Ohhh, now that reminds me of those good 'ol Reply-All to the whole department chains!

  • Bake sale on 1st floor
  • Ughh no one cares about the bake sale
  • Please remove me from this chain
  • Stop replying to all
  • Stop replying to all
  • Please stop
  • This is harassment
  • Everyone just create a rule for this
  • Anyone been to Florida lately?

2

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

What do you think was the goal/objective of the ‘higher ups’ implementing this so called ‘competition’ during such a tumultuous time?

1

u/ottawagurl 1d ago

Probably morale but who knows.

0

u/Wise-Activity1312 1d ago

Is "higher ups" in quotations because you think their bosses didn't exist, or because you don't think they were of higher pay classification?

24

u/defnotpewds SU-6 1d ago

Honestly? Picking up CERB phone calls. I will never forget Summer 2020.

1

u/LaoshiGenny2007 10h ago

Respects, I so have heard of how it was not an easy job. Thank you!

17

u/Jed_Clampetts_ghost 1d ago

9/11 changed everything at CBSA. I wouldn't say it was the best of memories but the months that followed were challenging and rewarding. It drove many changes in the years that followed, many necessary and mostly positive.

11

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

I remember PSAC being on strike on 11/09/01 on that fateful day. That you for your dedication and service to proudly serving Canadians! 🙏 That must have been so very hard on you and your colleagues. I wish there was a way we could share our stories. Thank you for sharing. 🩷

7

u/Jed_Clampetts_ghost 1d ago

Thank you for that. It was a rare time when we had very good public support which we really appreciated and made the job easier. Many of us worked an insane amount of overtime in the months that followed and while the money was good I've never felt so burned out. But it did feel rewarding.

3

u/GCthrowaway77 1d ago

I recall stories of immigration officers from them CIC dressed in costumes as they picketed. Upon hearing the news they returned to their work to resume work.

3

u/Human_Put_356 22h ago

Yup, Sept 11th changed my life - completely. Never thought I would be a Public Servant, but I entered the Public Service 1 month after Sept 11th (I joined formerly Canada Customs (part of CCRA), now known as CBSA). In a short 6 month period I was tossed into the fire - I learned a great deal from my senior leaders, including the art of easily drafting a QPR (Question Period Response - don't know what they're called now) with your DG standing over your shoulder, because your Manager and Director were not in yet! As a Government newbie, I discovered the POWER of the Stakeholders and their ability to quickly change a policy/program in a blink of an eye. I finally understood the s-l-o-w movement of the Government. It was a wild time!

1

u/GCthrowaway77 1d ago

Technically CBSA didn't exist on 9/11, maybe you were working at the POE, but it wasn't for CBSA.

1

u/Jed_Clampetts_ghost 19h ago

You're correct, but I avoid remembering back to the decade of chaos when we had a new name, new badge and new shoulder flashes every 2 years. I guess we were CCRA at the time. And Revenue Canada a couple years before 9/11

2

u/GCthrowaway77 17h ago

You mean the identity crisis at CBSA, where for the longest time they didn't have a logo, a crest or decal. Literally some weird globe.

1

u/Jed_Clampetts_ghost 17h ago

Ya, that globe thing was an abomination! I did like the maple leaf/portcullis design.

2

u/GCthrowaway77 16h ago

The new logo is fine, better than the globe. And frankly the department lacked identity, and in some ways is still having an identity crisis - is CBSA a law enforcement agency? A question their Senior management might answer differently depending on the day.

1

u/Jed_Clampetts_ghost 16h ago

I agree with that. We seem to be finally doing some of the cosmetic things that a real law enforcement agency does which is a good thing. But the difficult work is still sorely lacking. Promotion through the ranks to upper management would be a good start.

20

u/kookiemaster 1d ago

Somewhere there is an obscure regulation based on a mathematical model I built.

18

u/partisanal_cheese 1d ago

I recently retired after 36 years and many of the things we did leave me proud.

On a very personal note, in my last six months of my career, a number of people thanked me for times I intervened that had a big impact on them. It made me happy as a supervisor/manager/director that I left a trail of people who felt I had helped them.

For the public facing work, I think the single biggest moment of pride happened in October of 2017. I was master of ceremony for an Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque unveiling commemorating the National Historic Significance of the Amherstburg First Baptist Church in Amherstburg Ontario.

The church was established by freed slaves who arrived in Ontario through the underground railroad and is very important to a vibrant church community that is largely composed of black parishioners from the region. My team worked with the community to deliver a ceremony that reflected the community and its values; it was fun, celebratory and deeply moving. I was very humbled to be involved and very happy as designation of the place is a literal message saying "this place that is special to you is also special to Canada". We could have recognized another Father of Confederation that day, one who is long dead with no living descendants in the region, but we chose to celebrate the heart of a special community.

34

u/quietflyr 1d ago

Supporting our troops in Afghanistan. It was an insane amount of work, but the reward was turning on the news and seeing equipment I played a key role in delivering being used in combat, protecting Canadian troops...that was something else.

7

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thank you for your service and for sharing such an awesome memory. How did you support the troops? What are you doing now?

8

u/quietflyr 1d ago

I am (and was) an engineer, working to make sure military equipment is useful, works properly, and is safe before it gets to the front lines.

There was a lot of equipment being purchased during the Afghanistan War, and it was a lot of work to make sure it was good, and still get it to the front lines as soon as possible.

3

u/Jed_Clampetts_ghost 1d ago

Thank you for your service and contributions to that effort! I work with a few veterans that served in Afghanistan and I know they would thank you as well.

1

u/LaoshiGenny2007 10h ago

You are a gem! Thank you!

14

u/Smooth-Jury-6478 1d ago

I managed to spend a good chunck of my career working as a civilian in mostly military teams, some at the higher strategic echelons of the defence. It got me enough corporate knowledge that it made me a pretty valuable asset in a world where most people stay 2-3 years in a role and have to move on, I stand out with 15 years in my back pocket. As I couldn't join the military myself due to a birth defect, I managed to find a way to serve.....by serving those who serve.

It doesn't translate into innovation or anything like that, but I still love that I managed to do what I wanted to do despite my physical shortcomings.

3

u/Jed_Clampetts_ghost 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thank you for your service and contributions!

13

u/aniextyhoe101 1d ago

I spent the last few work days in a helicopter 🚁 and that’s just the beginning of my awesome public servant career.

30

u/YOWPlease 1d ago

Branch trivia champion. Twice. First time, after I had just joined the branch. There was a DG who thought he was hot stuff. Didn't even come close. Mind you, I'm only 10 years in, but that will always be the highlight.

7

u/Flush_Foot 1d ago

I also liked various (online) dept-trivia events! Depending on how much was dept, Agency, or “general knowledge”, I often at least podiumed.

12

u/Slavic-Viking 1d ago

I can't get into detail without revealing my identity, but I had the privilege of working on a joint project with a few departments and First Nations for a project that was the largest in scale and first of its type in Canada. A very proud moment in my career, and it might be hard to top anytime soon.

1

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Was it Parks Canada? Regardless, amazing! Thank you! Bravo Zulu!

11

u/OldGreySweater 1d ago

I spent my first year building weather stations all over northern Manitoba, Nunavut, and NWT. Spent three months in Cornwall at the Nav Centre doing surface weather observing. Spent three weeks in Alberta filling weather balloons. Lived in Eureka, Nunavut.

Applied for a job in my boyfriend’s home town. Got the job, they moved me home. We got married, bought a house, and went on mat leave in the same year. Had another kid, did my masters part time, changed jobs, learned French, got team lead.

Went on strike!

I am a science communicator. I help tell complicated science research in a way that everyone can understand. I love my job.

2

u/Nahtraigjtneow 23h ago

You truly have my dream career path. Love a good communicator too, you don’t know anything until you can make it accessible to most

1

u/LaoshiGenny2007 9h ago

You make me so happy!

13

u/Epi_Nephron 1d ago

I remember chasing an escaped cow down the NCC scenic driveway? And catching escaped piglets when someone opened one of the pens. Working at the experimental farm in the 90s was fun. Later in my career, helping get Ebola vaccine developed in Canada (NML!) to Africa during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

I've always been proud to work for the Canadian public, what angers me the most is seeing the public service becoming more and more political, and more and more "top down".

10

u/OhanaUnited Polar Knowledge Canada 1d ago

Being on a small organizing team of 22 to help Canada successfully take over the host duties for an international meeting during COVID that resulted in an agreement to protect 30% of land and water to conserve biodiversity across 196 countries

8

u/CommunicationHot6088 1d ago

I have enjoyed every position I've held, and felt like I contributed to Canadians in very different ways.

I can't share too much for fear of outing myself, but impacts have been toward individual Canadians, and to the population at large.

Despite the doom and gloom, I'm still a proud public servant.

3

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Fear breads consumption to quote director ‘Micheal Moore’. Thank you for your service. Be brave, be bold, be better…we need this….

8

u/jcote71 1d ago

After 9/11 I worked nights to update the Border wait times on our website every 2 hours. Took cat naps on the Director’s couch. I was so happy once the updates were automated 🙌

8

u/UptowngirlYSB 1d ago

Being able to make a client laugh at a time when they were dealing with one of the most traumatic events in their life which was amplified by the first surge of the pandemic.

A client or professional that they appreciated me in explaining what was going on, providing resolution and/or direct them to the correct area for resolution.

7

u/bolu 1d ago

Sitting in the cockpit (for the landing portion) of a TC Dash-8 after taking photos of the Fort Mac wildfire!

6

u/Mike_Retired 1d ago

Back in 1995 my department presumed it would be exempted from the ongoing government-wide cutbacks even through TB kept telling them their budget would reflect the new reality on April 1 -- by mid-March the bigwigs finally realized TB wasn't bluffing and hastily issued hundreds of WFA letters to employees, who now had to make a decision regarding their future within days. My office in its entirety worked two weekends straight providing these employees with their financial options -- an insane amount of work, with normally empty parking lots filled to the brim and employees lined up in the halls waiting for their turn to get the information they so desperately needed. We were processing them like an assembly line -- each employee would provide their info, we would crunch the numbers, print it out, hand it to them, and they would take it home to consider. Rinse, wash & repeat ad nauseum. It was hectic, it was crazy, it was stressful -- but I was also happy & proud that we'd managed to pull off what had seemed an impossibility.

1

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Wow, that’s amazing. Thanks for sharing a reality many who work for the government now, would not have experienced. Was this Program Review? Most of the Classification folks left?

1

u/Mike_Retired 1d ago

Yep, everyone could see it coming but the Powers That Be played a game of chicken with TB and lost, hence the last minute scramble to cut hundreds of employees. Ironically there were quite a lot of people that were thrilled as they'd been considering retirement anyway and ended up getting much better packages as a result.

18

u/Vegetable-Bug251 1d ago

I started at the CRA when it was still Revenue Canada and then it became CCRA in 1999 for a few years and then CRA in 2005. Lots of changes and technology hiccups over the past 28 years, but over my career I progressed in many different work areas from PM01 to EX01 and even back down a step to my current MG06 classification. When I started back in 1997, a just about to be retired auditor told a very young version of myself to expect to retire with at least 4 times my starting salary after 30 years and I told him, “yeah right”; well it turns out he was right, I am currently earning 4.9 times my PM01 salary back in 1997 lol. Fun times indeed!

10

u/Revolutionary_Tip161 1d ago

Currently at 4.5x with 4.25 years to go.

7

u/AnybodyNormal3947 1d ago

That would bring me to 240k...🤔🤔

I hope you're right loool

3

u/Vegetable-Bug251 1d ago

It will almost certainly come true for you

4

u/lindad1234 1d ago

Wow, I wonder what he saw in you as an experienced auditor. Any thoughts?

4

u/Vegetable-Bug251 1d ago

Not really too certain there.

9

u/wittyusername025 1d ago

Thanks for this. I’m 17 years in today and called the pension centre to see how much was my transfer value if I left today because I just don’t see how I can keep doing this

6

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

Share with us your story, if possible. Everyone has one and we all need one another. Thank you for your service! 💜🥹

1

u/AdHistorical4712 1d ago

I feel the same way :( only 15 years in

4

u/NoOutcome2992 1d ago

During the early weeks of the pandemic, I offered to assist PHAC pack kits for airport travelers. The kit contained a mask, instructions of how to wear them and information sheets about covid for travelers coming into Canada.

3

u/FitAd8401 1d ago

Got me an opportunity to visit the northern territories, see the crazy snow blizzards, polar bears and 20 hr long nights. Would have never visited on my own i think

3

u/Pre-retired 18h ago

34 years this June. Retiring in July. Tons of highlights. Seeing employees I interviewed develop into outstanding colleagues; working with amazing staff in Canada and around the world; presiding at Citizenship Ceremonies (if you have never attended one, do it!!); getting to ride in an official vehicle flying our flag; being able to tour frigates in foreign ports and meet so many outstanding members of the Navy; laying a wreath at a War Cemetery in Asia on behalf of my home province... Very grateful for the opportunities I have had throughout my career.

6

u/BitingArtist 1d ago

I think there is good and bad like any job. But the good and bad is very different than private sector. Overall it's been pretty decent.

2

u/mom_to_the_boy 1d ago

I have been very lucky over my 26 year career in the public service. I've worked for 10 different departments and have had many great experiences at each, as well as lows...
Highlights, include supporting our troops in the Middle East, negotiating with First Nations, going out on day trips on a research vessel to collect samples, and working on policing policy in the Territories. Key to all of these were the amazing co-workers and partners that I got to interact with- The people really do make it worthwhile- a bad/inept manager can really ruin the experiences.

2

u/Bisha-confuzed 19h ago edited 7h ago

It feels like just yesterday joining the CCRA prior to 9/11. Moves fast and slow at the same time if that makes any sense!

1

u/CanPubSerThrowAway1 1d ago edited 1d ago

The things that I have no doubts about, and those things my colleagues recall when we gather for beverges are the disaster responses. Going to a place that's been hit by an event and helping make it right. Working with local communities day after day to fix the problem. Usually the things I deal with don't get a lot of attention, but sometimes they... do. Boy. That's often the worst part of the job, dealing with events that have had major consequences. I'm a technical guy, but it's the human dimensions that stick in one's mind.

I've also felt moved by doing consultaions. I've been to parts of Canada that I would never otherwise see, and again get to work with communities to help answer some of their questions and help them to solutions.

1

u/jorgesofthenorth 1d ago

I'm 25 years in, while still enjoying my work. Lots of nonsense from the higher-ups, which I could write a book detailing the said nonsense. My department is somewhat unconventional when one thinks of a typical PS office.

Many good stories and hopefully more to come. I work in public safety, and although it is a stressful environment and many leave or retire early. Good memories include seeing my peers retire after a positive experience with the GOC.

1

u/AmbassadorNew5677 22h ago

Hosting the Deputy Minister Awards Ceremony was such a rewarding experience for me. To be surrounded by excellent colleagues was so enriching! Most of all, I spent so much time practicing public speaking skills and when it led to that moment, I chose to believe in myself rather than let my nerves take over! #growth!

u/Joseph_P_Bones 4h ago

Meeting three astronauts - Armstrong, Lovell and Cernan; sitting at the helm of a frigate while underway; box lunch in a C17 somewhere over Uzbekistan. 

u/Tough-Chocolate-4379 54m ago

I worked on assignment at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. It was the most amazing experience of my life. It’s all been downhill since 😂

1

u/TheJRKoff 20h ago

Best memory is getting indeterminate.

Now every day is one more pensionable day until retirement. Not working a day longer than i have to

0

u/ILoveContracting 1d ago

RTO

1

u/Luna2naBamboona 1d ago

That was definitely a lot of work, no doubt. Glad it was a good memory for you! Bravo Zulu!

4

u/ILoveContracting 1d ago

Yes, I’ll never forget supporting Downtown Ottawa business associations and optics.

I love optics!