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CNOLC-newsletter-no3/interview (view source)
Revision as of 12:07, 17 January 2023
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<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">''Please meet Marcelo Gomez-Wiuckstern, Official Languages Champion at Canada Lands Company.''</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">''Please meet David Burton, Official Languages Champion at the Atlantic Federal Council.''</span></span></p>
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<p></p><p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">Marcelo Gomez-Wiuckstern is Vice President, Corporate Communications. He has more than 20 years of experience in communications, reputation management, public affairs and marketing in the private and public sectors. Before joining Canada Lands Company, Marcelo was Director of Communications, International Banking and Digital Transformation at Scotiabank. Marcelo holds a Bachelor in Business Administration (HEC Montreal), a Masters in Communications (UQAM). He has also completed Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development.</span></span></p><p></p><p></p>
<p></p><p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">David Burton was born and raised in Newfoundland and Labrador. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland<ins>,</ins> and a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia. David has worked in the federal public service for 32 years, nine 9 of which were spent in the former federal Management Trainee and Career Assignment Programs. He has held various positions at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Veterans Affairs Canada, Health Canada and Canadian Heritage, which he joined in 2006, and where he has held a number of executive roles. Since 2018, he has served as the Atlantic Regional Director General there. David also serves on the Board of Directors for Compassion Canada, one of the country’s leading child sponsorship organizations.</span></span></p><p></p><p></p>
<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''Marcelo, thank you for agreeing to take part in this interview. First of all, how long have you been your organization's Official Languages Champion? How does this role manifest itself in your daily life?'''
<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''How long have you been an Official Languages Champion?'''
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<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">I have been with Canada Lands Company for almost five years and took on this important mandate shortly after joining the company. We have offices and operations across the country in both real estate development and attractions management. Our priority is to ensure that we adhere to the ''Official Languages Act'' on a daily basis. Whether we organize public engagement events, work with official language minority communities or communicate with the public, we must always be vigilant. Our real estate projects often attract the attention of various linguistic communities and our attractions bring in visitors from across the country and internationally, so reflecting on Canada’s linguistic duality is important for us.</span></span>
<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">I became the OL Champion for the Atlantic Federal Council back in 2018, when I started my role as Atlantic Regional Director General at Canadian Heritage.</span></span>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''Since your arrival, you have overseen the implementation of measures to ensure that official languages are an integral part of your organization. Can you discuss your approach and the initiatives you have put forward?'''</p>
<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''In this capacity, you lead the Atlantic Federal Council’s Official Languages Sub-Committee. Can you tell us about this group and the many innovative initiatives it has undertaken in your region?'''</p>
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<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">I grew up in Québec in French, and one of my first jobs was at a Francophone television station in Ontario. That work experience allowed me to discover the vitality of Francophone minority communities and better understand the importance of promoting French across the country.</span></span>
<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">The OL Sub-Committee is comprised of representatives from a dozen federal institutions in Atlantic Canada. We meet four times each year and lead a number of key OL initiatives for the Atlantic Federal Council. These include oversight of the annual Atlantic Official Languages Week, which is always held in the region in May and includes the awarding of OL Prizes to recognize outstanding OL contributions both within the public service and in the community. A highlight of Atlantic OL Week over the last two years has been an Atlantic “kitchen party”, the closing activity. The kitchen party features both French and English performing artists from each of the four Atlantic provinces.</span></span>
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<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">In addition, the Sub-Committee provides oversight to the region’s annual events for Official Languages Day each September, champions initiatives to advance language training in the region, and provides a forum for sharing information on advancements related to Parts IV, V, VI and VII of the OL Act, often welcoming subject matter experts to speak to the Sub-Committee and/or the Atlantic Federal Council. The Sub-Committee’s work is supported by two networks – one focusing on Parts IV, V and VI of the Act, and another focusing on Part VII of the Act.</span></span>
<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">In 2019, Canada Lands Company conducted an internal audit, with the help of a consultant, to better understand our strengths and weaknesses regarding the compliance with the ''Official Languages Act.'' This exercise showed us there was room for improvement within the Company and its divisions. As a result, we strengthened our policies and procedures, provided further resources available to employees who wish to work in the official language of their choice and provided more training to employees on our collective obligations under the ''Act''.</span></span>
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<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''In closing, what to you appreciate the most about your role as Official Languages Champion?'''
<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''What do you appreciate most about your role as Official Languages Champion?'''
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<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">This important role allows me to have a direct impact on not only Canada Lands Company, but, more importantly, on communities and the linguistic duality of our country.</span></span>
<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">I am always inspired by the desire of dedicated public servants in Atlantic Canada to see OL thrive here in the region. In many cases, those involved in the work do it on the corner of their desks, as an add-on to their core roles as public servants. When you work with people who are that committed to a principle, you cannot help but be moved and inspired by it.</span></span>
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<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">I grew up in a small town in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Learning my second language did not come easily, and my own linguistic insecurity has led me to take risks and to go out on a limb, so to speak, at many times in my career. But I believe a personal commitment to OL makes Canada a better country, and my own efforts to improve my second language has made me a better person. Therefore, having a leadership role in OL is something I regard as an honour.</span></span>
<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">Most of all, I love seeing tangible results. I see our employees working hard everywhere to promote and protect both official languages. Whether it be by displaying bilingual signage, providing services to the public or working with communities to enable the establishment of new Francophone schools, each success is a victory for our country. My colleagues support and celebrate this work. We aim for linguistic duality in all our operations and want minority communities to feel included when they visit our attractions and live in our communities.</span></span>
<span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif">If, as OL Champion, I can encourage others to take linguistic risks and inspire them on their own linguistic journeys, then I will know that I’ve made a difference in the public service and in the OLCM, no matter how small. I often end our OL Sub-Committee meetings by reminding the team of the following: ''“When it comes to OL, if not us, then who?”'' We have to continue to lead OL development with courage and energy, and it truly brings a lot of joy.</span></span>
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<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''We can see that the promotion of official languages is of great importance to you. This is clearly reflected in your leadership and the proactive approach you have taken in your organization. Thank you for this interview.'''
<br><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Franklin Gothic, Demi Cond, sans-serif">'''What a great way to end this interview. Let’s conclude with your question, which will certainly resonate with official language champions: ''"When it comes to OL, if not us, then who?"'' David, we thank you for this interview.'''
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