National Managers' Community (NMC)/ Newsletter / September 2025
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In this edition
NMC Insight
Events and Celebrations
- From Consultation to Action: Positioning Public Engagement Ahead of the Budget
- Empowering Managers to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
- NMC Top 3 Things Managers Should Know about Change Leadership
- Efficient Practices for Faster Staffing Processes
Spotlight on Resources
- Reimagined Job Aid: Leading with Emotional Intelligence
- Canada's Federal Spending Reviews: 50 Years of Facts, Figures, and Lessons
- The Manion Lecture: Serving Canada in 2025
- OpenAI's ChatGPT Explained
- Updated Government of Canada Materiel Management Community Competencies
- The Role of Managers Throughout the Procurement Process
- Selection of Employees for Retention or Layoff (SERLO)
Regional News
Prairies & Northwest Territories
- Managers’ Connect Event in Whitehorse
- Manager’s Mental Health Toolkit, developed by the BC Federal Council’s Community of Interest on Mental Health
NMC Insight
Our 2024–2025 NMC Annual Report Is Available!
We’re excited to share the latest NMC Annual Report to the Clerk, marking another milestone in our journey to support managers across the federal public service.
Over the past year, we’ve continued to connect, engage, and support thousands of managers, supervisors, and aspiring leaders from departments and agencies across the country. From the success of our in-person events and national virtual sessions to the steady growth of our membership, which now includes over 14,000 managers, every initiative reflects our commitment to building a strong, inclusive, and forward-thinking community.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to mark the 25th anniversary of the NMC, a meaningful milestone that reaffirms our purpose and deepens our commitment to the manager community.
As our Champion, Arun Thangaraj, puts it: “Networks like the NMC help us stay focused on our purpose—especially through change and uncertainty.”
What You Told Us – July pulse survey Results
In our July Managers "Check-In", we asked: What would help you feel more connected to other managers in the public service? Your responses were clear.
Regional in-person events topped the list, showing a strong appetite for authentic, face-to-face networking. You also emphasized the value of mentorship, collaborative projects, and small-group discussions to build meaningful cross-departmental connections.
Several comments also called for greater senior leader engagement and support, as well as short informal opportunities to connect like coffee chat, lunch-and-learns and 5 à 7s.
These results reinforce a key message: managers want more opportunities to connect authentically, exchange ideas, and learn together, especially in person.
This feedback is especially valuable as we work to increase in person participation and gain more senior leader support for managers to take time to connect. Your input will help us guide where we focus time and resources.
📊 The NMC is taking a short pause from Check-In questions in August, but it's a great time to catch up!
If you haven’t had a chance to respond to past Check-In questions, we invite you to take a moment now:
- May: How effectively do you feel your current work environment supports your ability to lead and manage your team?
- June: Which leadership topics would be most valuable for your growth as a manager?
- July: What would help you feel more connected to other managers in the public service?
We’ll be back in September with a new question as we continue our monthly Check-In series, stay tuned!
Events and Celebrations
From Consultation to Action: Positioning Public Engagement Ahead of the Budget
The Public Engagement Community of Practice (PE CoP) is hosting a timely discussion for federal managers on designing engagement that informs real policy choices ahead of the fall budget on September 17, from 12-1PM. Speakers include:
· Laurie-Anne Kempton, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (PCO), on whole-of-government coordination.
· Jean Cardinal, Director, Open Government (TBS), on digital participation that converts input into actionable insights.
Managers will leave with practical tactics to position their teams’ work for impact, align with priorities, and accelerate decision-making.
National audience; all regions welcome.
Interested? More details and registration here
Empowering Managers to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Even the most experienced leaders can struggle with self-doubt. Imposter syndrome is real, and it can quietly affect your performance and well-being.
Join us for an insightful session with Dr. Katy Kamkar Ph.D. C.Psych, clinical psychologist and Associate Ombud of Mental Health at Public Services and Procurement Canada.
We’ll discuss:
· How imposter syndrome shows up in leadership
· Tools to build resilience and self-confidence
· Strategies for managing stress in today’s evolving workplace
📅 September 22, 2025 | Virtual | 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm (ET) | More details and registration here
NMC Top 3 Things Managers Should Know about Change Leadership
Change is constant and how you lead through it matters more than ever. As a manager, your leadership can either ease the transition or amplify resistance. Understanding how to support diverse reactions to change is key to fostering trust, engagement, and resilience in your team.
Join us for an inspiring session that will explore the top three things every manager should know about leading change. You’ll reflect on your leadership style, uncover your strengths, and learn how to lead with greater clarity and intention through every phase of change.
Discover practical tools to help you adjust your leadership posture, inspire your team, and build a healthier, more human, and more aligned workplace.
📅 September 23, 2025 | Virtual | More details and registrations here: English session 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (ET) - French session 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (ET)
Efficient Practices for Faster Staffing Processes
Staffing positions in the public service has been a persistent challenge for managers, with time delays impacting both efficiency and productivity.
Join representatives from the Public Service Commission on October 16, 2025 as they will share simple strategies to streamline your staffing efforts. You’ll gain valuable insights into how to cut down on delays, improve hiring efficiency, and implement best practices that can transform your organization’s recruitment process.
📅 October 16, 2025 | Virtual | English, with interpretation in French | More details and registrations here
Spotlight on Resources
Reimagined Job Aid: Leading with Emotional Intelligence
The Canada School of Public Service has reimagined your learning experience by harnessing the transformative potential of generative AI with alternative learning experiences. Give it a try with this practical job aid that was designed to help leaders foster effective, healthy teams – whether in person or remotely. Leading with Emotional Intelligence offers simple, actionable tips to strengthen your awareness of others, improve engagement, reduce stress and burnout, and boost team performance. By paying attention to how colleagues are doing, you can create a supportive environment that inspires trust, collaboration, and results. This resource is a quick read you can apply right away to make a meaningful impact on your team’s success.
👉 Leading with Emotional Intelligence (TRN4-J48) - CSPS
Canada's Federal Spending Reviews: 50 Years of Facts, Figures, and Lessons
This publication provides a historical perspective on disparate fiscal review initiatives spanning over a half century, and serves to decode the evolution of contemporary expenditure management practices through factual retrospectives and lessons learned.
👉Canada's Federal Spending Reviews: 50 Years of Facts, Figures, and Lessons (FON1-J13) - CSPS
The Manion Lecture: Serving Canada in 2025
As Canada faces mounting fiscal pressures and growing demands for efficient public services, the need to rethink how government operates has never been more urgent.
This premier event features the Honourable Jocelyne Bourgon, former Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, and President Emeritus of the Canada School of Public Service, who offers her reflections on Canada's governance journey and the bold reforms needed to build an agile public service.
👉The Manion Lecture: Serving Canada in 2025 (LPL1-V54) - CSPS
OpenAI's ChatGPT Explained
This article explores OpenAI's ChatGPT system, its capabilities as an AI language model and its present-day limitations.
👉 OpenAI's ChatGPT Explained article
Updated Government of Canada Materiel Management Community Competencies
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has updated the Government of Canada (GC) Materiel Management Community Competencies, which is an update to the 2021 Materiel Management Competencies.
The updates further reflect the strategic nature of the materiel management function. The competencies are a baseline of behaviors required to be demonstrated by all materiel management officers in their day to day in accordance with their classification level. The adoption of competencies in the management of the workforce is a key element of the new professional development framework for the procurement and materiel management communities.
The TBS Comptrollership Community Development Office is available to answer any questions managers or materiel management specialists might have about the competencies at CCDO-DCCS@tbs-sct.gc.ca.
The Role of Managers Throughout the Procurement Process
This event recording presents the federal government's procurement process and highlights the roles and responsibilities of managers in collaborating with functional experts to meet operational needs while adhering to policies, values and ethics principles.
The Role of Managers Throughout the Procurement Process (FON1-V55)
Selection of Employees for Retention or Layoff (SERLO)
The Public Service Commission has developed valuable resources to assist you throughout this journey. The comprehensive guide for managers and HR specialists covers everything you need to know before, during, and after a SERLO, ensuring that you are well-prepared and confident in your decisions.
Once you've read through the guide, it is highly recommended to watch the HR Council SmartShop: Selection of Employees for Retention or Layoff (SERLO). The smartshop provides an insightful overview of the steps and requirements involved in conducting a SERLO.
For an overview of the workforce adjustment including SERLO, you can register to the online self-paced course: Understanding Workforce Adjustment (COR123) at the Canada School of Public Service.
Regional News
Atlantic
Managers’ Connect Event in St-John’s
Join fellow managers for an inspiring day of learning and connection on the theme Communication and Influence: Leading Change with Insight and Integrity. Together, we’ll explore how to lead with clarity, compassion, and strategic intent in times of change.
Through interactive sessions, you’ll strengthen essential leadership skills and walk away with practical tools to support mental health, foster psychological safety, and build trust through meaningful conversations.
📅 September 17, 2025 | In Person | 8:00 am to 4:30 pm | Details and registration here
Managers’ Connect Event in Charlottetown PEI
“Communication and Influence: Leading Change with Insight and Authenticity”
Join us for an inspiring and collaborative day designed for federal public service managers, whether they are experienced, new, or aspiring.
This inspiring and collaborative event is designed for public servants navigating the complexities of hybrid work, evolving expectations, and continuous organizational change. Participants will explore how to lead with compassion and strategic intent.
The sessions will delve into key leadership practices such as fostering psychological safety and wellbeing, championing change leadership and engaging in courageous conversations that build trust and drive meaningful impact in service of Canadians.
📅 October 15, 2025 | In Person | 8:00 am to 4:30 pm | Details and registration here
National Capital Region
Managers’ Connect Event in Gatineau
Managers Connect on October 30 - Registration opens October 9
Join us in person for the next NMC Managers Connect day in the NCR, focused on resilient and inclusive leadership in uncertain times.
Programming includes Dr. Katy Kamkar (Clinical Psychologist, and Associate Ombud, Mental Health, PSPC) leading a powerful workshop on Building Individual Resiliency Pathways — gain personalized insights and practical tools to strengthen self-care and resilience. Followed by co-development groups to collaborate on real-world leadership challenges.
In the afternoon, Dr. Nadia Ferrara (Ombudsperson, ISC & PCO) will present Cultural Humility: A Lifelong Journey, drawing on 30+ years of experience in art therapy and public service. Learn how cultural humility fosters inclusion and deeper connections in the workplace. Finally, a panel of senior leaders will share candid stories and strategies on resilience, courage, and adaptability. The day will conclude with an informal networking at a nearby venue.
📅 Save the date: October 30
📬 Registration opens October 9 – link will be shared in the October newsletter and on the NMC's Events and Activities page.
Ontario
Managers’ Connect Event in Toronto
"Empowered Connections: Emotional Intelligence & Leadership Conversations"
Join the National Managers’ Community (NMC) for an in-person Managers Connect event in Toronto — a unique opportunity to pause, connect, and grow alongside fellow public service managers.
This interactive session will explore the power of emotional intelligence (EQ) in navigating today’s workplace challenges. Through a mix of learning, an executive leadership panel, and speed mentoring conversations, participants will reflect on how empathy, self-awareness, and connection strengthen leadership at all levels.
Whether you're looking to build your leadership toolbox, expand your network, or simply take time for reflection, this session offers practical insights and authentic connection.
📅 October 1 & 2, 2025 | In Person | 8:30 am to 4:00 pm | Pick the day that works with your schedule - both days offer the same programming so chose the one that works for you!
Link to register for the October 1 day
Link to register for the October 2 day
Prairies & Northwest Territories
Managers’ Connect Event in Calgary
The National Managers’ Community (NMC) is pleased to offer you a day of professional development and networking on October 7th in Calgary.
The program includes Leading With Emotional Intelligence, a workshop for managers and supervisors facilitated by Susan Badame and Julie Wills, NMC Regional Leads, ICF Certified Coaches and Peer Coaching Circle Leaders.
In today’s complex and fast-paced work environment, emotional intelligence (EI) is more important than ever. This interactive session will explore how EI can help you communicate more effectively, build stronger teams, and lead with greater confidence.
Also planned, a panel of senior leaders will share their experiences and offer concrete perspectives relevant to the issues of today. This will be followed by a Speed Mentoring event where senior leaders will join participants at their tables to answer questions and share their knowledge and experience.
📅 October 7, 2025 | In Person | 8:30 am to 4:30 pm | Details and registration here
Opportunities to participate in a co-development group
Achieve clarity and take action — with the support of your peers.
Now more than ever, managers need free access to safe, supportive spaces to learn and solve real challenges together. This month, the NMC is promoting the peer-based initiative Co-development Groups (Québec Region only).
Groups bring together managers from across departments, guided by trained facilitators, to support a peer through real-life work challenges. The initiative shares a foundation of confidentiality, respect, and collective learning but differ in their approach:
🔹 Co-development has a mentoring approach. Participants ask questions and offer advice based on their experience with an emphasis on reflection and shared insights. Sessions last 2 hours monthly (October to June).
Interested to grow with your peers? Register now. The deadline for registration is September 12, 2025:
👉Co-development Initiative 2025–2026 (Québec Region only)
British Columbia & Yukon
Managers’ Connect Event in Whitehorse
The National Managers’ Community is excited to return to Whitehorse for a two-day Managers Connect event on September 10–11, 2025. Join us for one or both days of learning, networking, and practical leadership insights.
Day 1: Dr. Katy Kamkar shares tools for supporting employee mental health and managing disability-related challenges with compassion.
Day 2: Michelle Sangster explores emotional intelligence and resilience to help you lead with impact.
Whether you attend one day or both, you’ll leave with strategies to foster well-being, strengthen teams, and lead with confidence.
📅 September 10 & 11, 2025 | In Person | 8:30 am to 4:00 pm | Details and registration here
Manager’s Mental Health Toolkit, developed by the BC Federal Council’s Community of Interest on Mental Health
We’re pleased to share the Manager’s Mental Health Toolkit, developed by the BC Federal Council’s Community of Interest on Mental Health, with contributions from the National Managers’ Community BC and Yukon regional representative and committee members. The toolkit is available on the GCXchange site - Manager Mental Health Toolkit.
Created in response to the unique mental health challenges faced by federal public service managers, this resource draws on insights from the Mental Health Pulse Survey, the Opening the Door to Mental Health symposium series, and other key initiatives.
It offers practical tools to promote mental wellbeing, foster psychological safety, and support managers in creating healthy, high-performing teams.
Learn more about the NMC and how we help support managers