Our Featured Celebration

November 15th is dedicated to one of the truly unsung heroes of American theatre. It’s national George Spelvin Day. Doesn’t immediately ring a bell? That would be because “George Spelvin” is a pseudonym, used in theatre programs by actors who don't want to be credited in a given play – sometimes because they shouldn’t be appearing for legal reasons, sometimes because they’re playing more than one part, and sometimes because they simply hate the play, but can’t get out of their contract.

We look forward to Spelvin’s next appearance, which, we understand, will be an uncredited cameo in an Alan Smithee film.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CONSILIUM, AARLUK and ARDOS... In this corner of our site we'll be posting notes on new people, new projects, and new online materials you may find interesting. Enjoy, and come back often.

NEW ARRIVALS

Yo, ‘sup? ARDOS is delighted to welcome to Sonya Howard, a newly-minted economics graduate struggling to get in touch with her inner homey.  She joined the ARDOS team mid-October to work as a consultant.  Born in Winnipeg and raised in rural Manitoba, North Western Ontario and Ottawa, she’s rediscovering her coastal Salish roots in Tsawwassen, British Columbia.  Her research at Queen’s University focussed on labour market outcomes of off-reserve Aboriginals and the cultural challenges of economic development.

 

NEW PROJECTS      

ARDOS Consulting Inc. will be participating in another major evaluation for HRSDC –the Summative Evaluation of the AHRDAs (Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement Holders). ARDOS is joint venturing with TNS Canadian Facts for this project. TNS will be the lead company, responsible for the quantitative research – which involves sophisticated quasi-experimental statistical data gathering and analysis. ARDOS will be responsible for the qualitative research which includes document and literature review, 20 focus groups across the country and 40 key informant interviews. This continues a series of major evaluation projects for HRSDC managed by Greg Smith, with participation of a large number of our partners, staff and associates. The new project is scheduled for completion by end of July 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

They must have liked us. Following last year’s successful publication, ARDOS will once again produce the Annual Report for the Aboriginal Headstart On Reserve Program, through FNIHB at Health Canada.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two Terries (Forth and Rudden), assisted by James Arreak, will be working this winter with the Iqaluit Elders Society on a revision of their corporate policies and procedures.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Jennifer David and Ian Kenney led a productive one-day workshop on Stakeholder Relations and Communications for 30 members of the Alliance of Sector Councils.  The workshop resulted in the creation of a community of practice to continue the discussion among sector councils.  Two more workshops are planned:  Finance, facilitated by Ron Ryan, and Project Management, facilitated by Chuck Gilhuly.

 

Alex Ker is working with Sagamok Anishnawbek on the implementation of their mineral industry strategy. Among other things, this involves organizational planning, obtaining financial assistance to support operations, and the negotiation of impact and benefits agreements with resource developers with active projects in the Spanish River watershed, Sagamok’s traditional territory. Last month, with support from Alex and Fred Weihs, Sagamok successfully concluded an Interim Measures Agreement with URSA Major Minerals Ltd. in relation to its Shakespeare project, paving the way for a more comprehensive impact and benefits agreement. Presently the First Nation is preparing for IBA negotiations with both CVRD-INCO Ltd., in relation to its Totten Mine, and with URSA Major Minerals. Alex recently attended a three day planning workshop in Sault Ste. Marie with the First Nation’s Community Response Coordination Team.

Assisting northern communities plan for economic development has been a core activity of the Consilium Consulting Group for decades. To date we have undertaken or completed community economic development plans for nearly half of the communities in Nunavut. A project team headed by Chris Grosset is currently developing a plan for Arviat, the second largest community in the Kivalliq region. As part of the project team, David Boult recently conducted a community consultation, working closely with the Arviat Economic Development Committee to identify key people and businesses to interview. A critical element of the research gathering process was holding radio call-in shows that allowed community members to contribute to the overall discussion of economic development in Arviat. Pictured Dave “Wolfman” Boult and community research Nick Arnaludjuak conducting the radio call-in show in Arviat.

 

 

HAPPY ENDINGS

 

Chuck Gilhuly facilitated a professional development program with seventeen Senior Administrative Officers and other senior municipal staff from across the territory, covering everything from the Constitution and the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement to financial management and municipal operations. Municipal participants once again showed their personal commitment to improving the quality of municipal programs and services in communities by attending four days of lectures, group work, homework and peer support sessions. Despite search and rescues, public hearings, payroll, weather and many other pressing day to day issues, they stuck to it and raced for the planes home almost immediately after the final exam. Congratulations to all the participants!

 

 

Ron Ryan and Abraham Tagalik co-facilitated a large meeting of delegates represent the Health Committees of Council from across Nunavut. Designed by Terry Rudden, the meeting brought together community and officials from the Department of Health and Social Services to discuss a number of the Department’s important upcoming plans and initiatives, to exchange ideas, and to establish solid framework for ongoing and effective liaison. Guest presenters included Minister Leona Agglukaq and Deputy Minister Alex Campbell.

 

Finally, after 19 months of intensive planning, research, analysis and reporting, ARDOS has completed the formative evaluation of the AHRDAs. Project Manager Greg Smith and research team member Jennifer David presented summary findings from the evaluation to HRSDC and the Evaluation Steering Committee on October 23. The evaluation research included an international literature review and detailed case studies of thirteen AHRDAs as well as a study of the roles of HRSDC and the Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council. Other team members included David Boult, James Arreak, Kim Ghostkeeper, Valerie Assinewe, Ryan Lotan, Bill Vass, Ron Ryan, Fred Weihs, Chris Cloutier, Alex Ker, Fern Assinewe, and Ian Kenney. EKOS Research Associates also conducted a detailed analysis of data from HRSDC and the AHRDAs, producing a client profile, and reports on data systems and issues for each case study report. The information provided by the ARDOS team will be rolled up into a summary report on the evaluation by a separate consultant hired by HRSDC.

BIRTHDAYS

 

Solo Birthday honours this month to no-longer-the-youngest-Consiliumite Chris Cloutier, who shares his natal anniversary, Nov. 5, with National Donut Day.

GOSSIP

Under the heading “Really Exciting New Gossip About ARDOS That We Can’t Quite Tell You About Yet” – well, there’s some really exciting new gossip about ARDOS that we can’t quite tell you about yet. Sorry about that. Watch this space.

 

In yet another extra-curricular adventure, Ian Kenney recently completed training to become an authorized instructor in Contemplative or “Miksang” photography. Miksang is a Tibetan word that literally means "Good Eye". Contemplative photography is said to work with the “synchronization” of eye and mind so that “the vividness of the visual world can be appreciated fully.” The result is often an interesting experience for the people taking the photos, as well as some cool shots of our ordinary world. Ian is organizing a local group of Miksang practitioners. You can see some of their photos by visiting http://www.flickr.com/groups/miksang-ottawa/pool/show/.

Greg and Marianne Smith discovered the Magdalen Islands last August, spending a week visiting with friends and occasional interpreters for our corporate group, Benedicte Brueder and Lucette Ferrari, who had rented a house there. They are shown here with Greg on one the Islands’ many beautiful beaches. The other photo is of one of the typical homes for which the Islands are well known. The Magdalen Islands, population 13,500, belong to Quebec and are a popular tourist destination in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Occasional visitors in recent years have included Brigitte Bardot and ex-couple Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, out with a large media contingent to oppose the spring seal hunt. If you go, don’t mention their names to any locals (known as Madelinots) as they are not too popular!  Aside from lots of long beach walks, checking out local entertainment and public establishments, and sampling locally produced beer, herring, mackerel, seal steaks and cheeses, Greg managed to spend part of each morning working on a proposal with other colleagues, via dial-up – including a Blackberry-in-Algonquin-Park to Laptop-In-the Magdalens session. No holiday would be complete without squeezing in at least a bit of productive corporate time!

 

TWENTY YEARS AGO LAST MONTH....

Another astonishing moment from Ian Kenney’s musical past (that’s Ian on the right). We never actually heard them play, but damn, who cares about the music - the world needs more bands with this kind of look.

In fact, we’ve decided to use this opportunity to begin an online movement to persuade this group to reform under a new name. Nominations so far are:

• Beau Lemia and the Emasculates
• The Elftones
• Screamin’ Rocco Fury and the Steel-Toed Weed Whackers
• The Boogie Knights
  

You can do your part to resurrect this piece of musical history by either voting for your favourite band name above, or proposing a new one. The winning entry will receive onstage seating for the kickoff concert of the ___’s comeback tour, PLUS a Consilium Pen and Pad set…personally autographed by Ian.

   CHECK BACK EVERY MONTH FOR MORE CONSILIUM NEWS, TOOLS, AND GOSSIP.