No images? Click here COVID-19 Update #17The past several weeks have been a flurry of change and activity. As we look ahead to the long weekend, I would like to take a moment to reflect on just a few of the remarkable ways in which our staff have gone above and beyond in helping our organization adapt to the realities of this unprecedented situation. Throughout all our departments, I have seen examples of our staff taking on new roles and responsibilities, or extended their expertise and experience, to help keep our Regional staff safe and healthy. One group of staff I’d like to specifically thank is our Construction, Energy and Facilities Management team. Our building maintainers have risen to the daunting task of implementing the Region’s enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols. Our contracts coordinator, who normally deals in contract specifications, has arranged cleaners to fulfill these measures at all Regional facilities and has been working along with our facilities supervisor to secure hard-to-find cleaning supplies from our vendors. It’s important to remember the scope of work this team tackles every day. For example, the team has also been working extended hours to ensure all Niagara Regional Police Service facilities, which have some very unique needs, meet our high standards for cleaning and disinfection. The team has also been hard at work developing safe operating procedures and responding to after-hours calls when systems go into alarm. Employees have taken on these challenges with positivity and a can-do attitude, attributes I’ve personally noted in staff across the Region through this situation. I’d also like to recognize the staff in Public Health, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, Construction, Energy and Facilities Management, Clerks, IT and Legal who have come together to create the new employee screening tool recently put in place at Regional facilities. Staff have done a remarkable job quickly and effectively implementing this important tool, which helps protect the health of all our employees. You can find the employee screening tool on the employee information page on our website. Don’t forget, if you have a COVID-19 question, myself and Dr. Hirji are hosting our third virtual COVID-19 town hall this Thursday. Submit your questions to phcommunications@niagararegion.ca by Wednesday, April 8 at noon. Due to the large volume of participants during the previous sessions and technical difficulties experienced, this town hall will be recorded and shared on Vine, rather than held live, to ensure the best quality. The video will be shared on the main Vine page on Thursday, April 9. And of course, I’d like to thank all of you for your patience and cooperation in following these procedures. I know they present some inconveniences, and add to the already long list of ways in which our day-to-day lives have changed, but your cooperation shows our resolve to band together as staff to look out for each other, and for our communities. Once again, thank you for your continued dedication in serving the needs of Niagara during these difficult times. Ron Tripp |