Strengthening the Real Property Community in an Evolving Public Sector

November 23 – Opening Address (8:40 – 9:00 am)

Christine Perry, Co-chair Procurement, Materiel Management and Real Property Director General Steering Committee and Director General, Corporate Operations Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

In her role as co-chair of the PMMRP DG Steering Committee, Christine Perry has been actively engaged in setting the priorities to develop the capacity of the Procurement, Materiel Management and Real Property communities over the next five years. The Real Property community, estimated at over 10,000 functional specialists, is facing challenges similar to those facing other functional communities across government. Ms. Perry will speak to the leadership being demonstrated by the departments and agencies that comprise the governance for the Real Property community, as they work collaboratively to pursue initiatives that support professional development and other public service renewal objectives.

Real Property Innovation: Enabling Public Service Renewal

November 24 – ADM Panel (9:00 – 10:00 am)

The ADM panelists will discuss how real property leaders can contribute to advancing the Clerk of the Privy Council’s Public Service Renewal agenda through innovative solutions for renewing the Public Service workplace, its people, and technology.

The 2010 RPIC ADM Champion, Scott Stevenson, Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), Department of National Defence, will moderate the panel discussion and will be joined by the 2008 RPIC ADM Champion, John McBain, Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada; 2011 ADM Champion, Alain Seguin, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Marc O'Sullivan, Assistant Comptroller General, Acquired Services and Assets Sector, Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat and ADM Champion for the federal real property community.

Innovation: Expanding the Realm of Imaginative Possibility

November 24 – Luncheon

The Honourable David Crombie, Chair of Toronto Lands Corporation, former Member of Parliament and former Mayor of Toronto

This presentation will focus on David Crombie’s experiences and lessons learned in the development of creative, co-operative endeavours that maximize public benefits by reducing the limits of narrow mandates through expanding the realm of imaginative possibility.

David will draw on his experience in the development and implementation of innovative solutions that are inclusive of a broad range of issues and solutions.

Gala Entertainment

Real Property: Where it’s Always Sunny

November 25 – Luncheon

Suzanne Cyr, VP Sales and Marketing, SolPowered Energy Corp

In an era of smokestacks, oil spills and other ecological disasters, businesses and individuals who take responsibility for environmental stewardship shine the brightest among their peers. With the recent implementation of the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed-In Tariff program, our province is on the forefront of sustainable innovation. The private sector is taking advantage of this golden opportunity, and localized renewable energy systems – specifically rooftop solar panels – are adorning buildings throughout Ontario.

Federally owned and occupied buildings, however, are seldom recognized for their incredible potential as renewable power plants. This presentation will explore the social, environmental and economic feasibility of solar panel installations on those properties. When it comes to solar power, acting now will yield incredible social, ecological and financial benefits today and well into the future.

Managing a Changing Workforce

November 25 – Closing Keynote (2:30 – 3:30 pm)

Dr. Linda Duxbury, Professor, Carleton University School of Business and Director of Research, Centre for Research and Education on Women and Work

The upcoming century will see a fundamental shift in the change in the nature of the employer-employee relationship as organizations seek to attract and retain good employees in a declining labour market. This labour force shortage will arise as the massive baby boomer generation retire and companies compete to hire the small pool of “Baby Bust” employees. Other factors that contribute to these changes include the following: birth rates are declining throughout the world, populations are aging, the age at which people are taking retirement has fallen, people are staying in school longer (or returning to school) and the skill-intensity of employment is increasing.

These demographic changes will have profound impacts on employers as they enter a “sellers” market where there are fewer employees with the necessary skills than there are good jobs. Human resource management will become a critical success factor in the new millennium as companies have to focus on recruitment and retention of employees of all ages, succession planning, work-life balance and career development.

We are currently in an unusual position in Canada in that we have four generations in the workforce at the same time: the Veterans (59 +), the Baby Boom (1947 to 1964), the Baby Bust (Generation X) (1964 to 1972) and the Echo Boomers (Nexus) (1972 to 1990). Each of these generations have different attitudes and values with respect to work and life. Managers in organizations today need to understand key generational differences in order to attract, motivate and retain good employees.

Dr. Duxbury’s talk will look at the formative influences shaping the different generations as well as discuss the possible sources of generational conflict within the workforce. She will also give employers information on how to adapt to meet the needs of these different groups of employees.