Making better possible

Discover how our initiatives are improving the lives of Canadians.

On this page

A century of prosperity: The Esquimalt Graving Dock

The Esquimalt Graving Dock is a unique facility that has long been an important contributor to the local economy. Watch as Angelina, Dan, Stafford, Peter and Max share their personal stories of what it’s like to contribute to running this century-old facility.

Transcript: A century of prosperity: The Esquimalt Graving Dock

Start of video

(Music plays)

(Text on screen: Making better possible)

(Shots of the Esquimalt Graving Dock.)

(Angelina Bennetts speaks.)

(Shot of Angelina Bennetts speaking.)

(Text on screen: Angelina Bennetts, Dock Operator, Esquimalt Graving Dock, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

(Historic family photos followed by various footage of machinery and people working around the Esquimalt Graving Dock facility.)

My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my great-uncle would ride their bikes down here every day for day hires. And I guess as the story goes, if you were here to be hired you'd come to dock bottom and wait for the supervisors up top to throw wooden tokens down. And if you caught a wooden token you were hired for the day.

(Dan Cleemoff speaks.)

(Shot of Dan Cleemoff speaking.)

(Text on screen: Dan Cleemoff, Security, Health and Safety Officer, Esquimalt Graving Dock, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

I’ve grown up here all my life. I’m the 3rd generation. My family, grandfather and my father both worked in the shipyard and they both spent time here at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. I feel really proud of being part of that. The Esquimalt Graving Dock is a huge economic benefit for not only just Esquimalt but Victoria, and B.C. and in Canada in general.

(Various historical images of Esquimalt Graving Dock.)

(Footage of Dan speaking, followed by various footage of machinery and people working at the Esquimalt Graving Dock.)

(Stafford Bingham speaks.)

(Text on screen: Stafford Bingham, Director, Esquimalt Graving Dock, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

(Various footage of Stafford speaking, machinery and people working around the Esquimalt Graving Dock, and a large cruise ship being repaired in the dock.)

The Esquimalt Graving Dock is a unique facility in Canada as it’s one of the only multi-user open-access facilities. And what that means is that the facility is owned and operated by the federal government but any outside ship repair contractor, commercial venture can come here and use our facilities and repair ships. The annual economic impact of the graving dock is estimated at about $183 million a year. We support normally anywhere between 1,300 and 2,000 high-paying skilled paying jobs.

The Esquimalt Graving Dock is operated by approximately 54 federal public servants that work for PSPC and they range from crane operators, to electricians, to our admin staff, to property and facility managers, and all of us that are responsible for this place day in and day out.

(Peter Storie speaks.)

(Text on screen: Peter Storie, Plant and Maintenance Supervisor, Esquimalt Graving Dock, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

(Footage of Peter speaking followed by various footage of Peter and people working around machinery at the Esquimalt Graving Dock facility.)

I grew up in Toronto, Ontario. Once I got to the coast I was bitten by the sea bug and one of the reasons why I came to the Esquimalt Graving Dock is that I have to be around the ocean and the saltwater. But probably more important, the people here are fantastic and excellent to work with. The people that work here are basically a big family.

(Angelina Bennetts speaks.)

(Footage of Angelina working around the Esquimalt Graving Dock.)

With the government, they do like having women in non-traditional roles and they support that. I’m 3rd generation at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. It’s an honour to have my last name down here again. And I’m super proud to be here.

(Max Urbanoski speaks.)

(Text on screen: Max Urbanoski, Maintenance Electrician, Esquimalt Graving Dock, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

(Footage of Max speaking followed by various footage of Max and other people working around machinery at the Esquimalt Graving Dock facility.)

We all get along very well. We have an interesting background for everybody. Everybody has a great story to tell. I love working at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. There is a great sense of community here. Working here long-term is my ideal goal. Where else can you have something like this, in this beautiful city?

(Footage of deer near the Esquimalt Graving Dock facility followed by footage of a lighthouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean.)

(Music stops)

(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)

(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)

(Music stops)

(Canada wordmark)

End of video

In pursuit of carbon neutral: Arthur Meighen building

The Arthur Meighen building is set to be one of the first federal carbon neutral buildings. When complete it will include solar panels, a geothermal heating and cooling system and will serve as the main Government of Canada building for the Ontario region.

Transcript: In pursuit of carbon neutral: Arthur Meighen building

Start of video

(Music)

(Text on screen: Making better possible)

(Mirela Nasaudean speaks)

(Arthur Meighen Building sign)

Having the approval to go with maximum carbon neutral was a dream. So when we got the approval, oh I think I cried.

(Text on screen: In pursuit of carbon neutral)

(Text on screen: Mirela Nasaudean, Project Team Leader, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

I don't remember, but I was so happy. It was the proudest moment in my civil servant life.

(Mirela looking out a window)

(Street view with cars passing)

Arthur Meighen Building is located at 25-55 St. Clair Avenue East in Toronto, Ontario.

(Mirela in mechanical room speaking)

As a project manager, I was just asked to start with a feasibility study in 2015 when we were looking at a major renovation of the project.

(Mirela and Maria McGibbon in front of the building discussing)

That was pretty much what we were tasked to do: understand what's the condition of Arthur Meighen Building.

(Mirela discussing blueprints with 2 colleagues)

A change in direction came through. I was so excited when I heard that. That was an opportunity for us to actually look at something better.

The Canadian Green Building Council was brought to the table by the Headquarters team by asking us if we were interested to actually be one of the pilot buildings that are participating in the Zero Carbon Pilot program.

(Building facade)

(Maria McGibbon speaks)

(Text on screen: Maria McGibbon, Senior Sustainability Specialist, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

(Maria in mechanical room taking notes on pad)

(Canadian flag flying on building roof)

(Computerized image of the view from the sky of the future building)

Midway through the first design of the project, we were told to stop what we were doing and revisit a new design to ensure that we are pushing the boundaries and going carbon neutral.

We knew we could do it, we just didn’t know how, and that was part of the challenges. There was no previous template, there was no previous direction on how to do this.

(Maria looking over blueprints with 2 colleagues)

(Maria opening a sliding door)

We had, as a team, had to create the path forward.

(Computerized image of front of future building)

(Drawings of future solar panels on the roof)

(Animated graphic showing geothermal system operations)

We defined carbon neutral as being firstly energy efficient as possible and secondly using and creating energy in the building, so utilizing solar panels on the roof, using a geothermal system to heat and cool the building.

(Kent A. Watson speaking to camera)

(Text on screen: Kent A. Watson, Regional Client Service Director, Public Services and Procurement Canada)

I think it’s extremely important for us, PSPC, to lead the federal government in building design of this type.

(Kent and Maria going over blueprints)

(Pan of an empty floor with Maria talking to 2 colleagues)

(Text on screen: 80% with downward arrow)

The design itself is going to take the current building and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon emissions, by more than 80%.

So just that fact itself will be able to identify to, you know, current employees or new employees that, you know, by working in this environment, they are contributing to a much healthier environment both within the office and, you know, within the city itself.

(View from the back of an employee working on a computer)

(View of a city)

(Maria speaks to camera)

The maximum site carbon neutral option also included wellness features. Ensuring that there was access to daylight and views in the stairways and making sure that each floor was connected inside and outside, so as you’re walking up the stairs, you can look outside the entire way from the bottom floor to the top floor.

(Moving images of the design for the future staircase from the front of building)

(View from sky of the future building computerized design)

(Kent speaking to the camera)

(Mirela crossing an empty room)

(Text on screen: WELL building standard, air, water, nourishment, light, comfort, fitness, mind)

(Computerized image of a workout room)

The WELL certification is an enhancement to a normal building design. It looks at the occupants’ health. It takes into account water, light, the occupants’ health themselves, energy use. It’s a holistic design approach that incorporates everybody.

(Mirela in front of a screen making a presentation to colleagues)

Accessibility was always something that PSPC and Government of Canada was looking at. Every single ramp, every single space, every single sitting area or collaboration area would be accessible for everyone. Canadian National Institute for the Blind have a great pilot happening at Yonge and St. Clair.

(A beacon installed over a door)

What they're doing is they are collaborating with all the businesses in the area by introducing these beacons that are small devices that will be introduced inside of the buildings or outside of the buildings.

Those beacons will be able to communicate to a smart device that the people will carry with them and will be able to read to them what's happening in that area.

(A woman with headphones on clicking on her smartphone)

(Maria speaking to the camera)

We were supported by our senior management to look outside the box and explore. The only way we’re going to, you know, make a change is if we take action and create a true flagship for Canadians and provide a new way of renovations for buildings.

(Maria by a window inside the building)

(Outside view of the front of current building)

(Maria and Mirela on rooftop discussing with flying Canadian flag in the back)

(Mirela on rooftop talking to a colleague)

(Computerized image of front of future building)

(Text on screen: Currently under construction, expected completion by 2022)

(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)

(Music stops)

(Canada wordmark)

End of video

Modernizing our pension services

PSPC is responsible for the pension administration for all Government employees and is always looking to modernize our public pension service delivery model, in order to make better possible. Experience the stories of Dolorèse and Kyra and see how the Department makes a difference in people’s lives during a period of significant transition.

Dolorèse’s story as a retired public servant

Kyra’s story as a retired RCMP officer