Celebrating Black Excellence
Through the Black Excellence Campaign, we hope to celebrate each other, highlight excellence and demonstrate how Black employees are making positive impacts and contributions to ESDC and the Federal Public Service. These outstanding achievements of Black ESDC employees will be recognized through a series of testimonials right here on the Black Employee Community iService page.
If you are interested, simply send an email to the Black Engagement and Advancement Team at: edsc.dgsrh.sre.epen-beat.ws.hrsb.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca along with the following:
- A short passage (2-3 sentences) explaining why you serve as a public servant, and your contributions or achievements during your tenure at ESDC;
- A picture of you; and,
- A completed Consent and Release form available by contacting Black Engagement and Advancement Team GD box : edsc.dgsrh.sre.epen-beat.ws.hrsb.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
The consent form is required to allow us to post your picture and passage on the Black Employee Community iService page.
You can also shine a light on a colleague deserving of recognition for their achievements in supporting the department. Why not lift their spirits with a Virtual Shout-Out! Again, follow the steps above, please note that no picture will be used without obtaining the consent of your colleague.
Testimonials of Outstanding Achievements
Andrea Nissen
My name is Andrea Nissen, and I have been a civil servant supporting EI for 24+ years. My great uncle was a life-long career civil servant, and my grandfather owned a banana plantation and started the first Banana Board in Jamaica. They have inspired me to dedicate my life to civil service. I started my career at the Toronto EI Call Centre, and helped thousands of claimants, employers and employees over 13 years. I contributed to the hiring, training, and quality monitoring of hundreds of staff, many of whom have since moved on to different roles throughout ESDC. Since 2009, I have mainly supported the EI program at NHQ. I consolidated ROE services nationally, created the 1-800-Employer line, and launched the Employer Contact Centre. I joined the EI Payment Systems team in 2014, where I continue to contribute to the EI program and mentor new staff. In 2018, I created the EI Recruitment and Training Strategy Pilot, which was adopted as an on-going Program. I will retire in the next 3-5 years, and I will leave very proud of my personal contributions and positive representation of women of colour at ESDC.
Dawn Pennyfeather
I have been with ESDC since 2018 and each day that I come to work, I look forward knowing that I can have a positive impact on Canadians, whether that is with the public or fellow employees. I’ve always felt the drive to “serve my country”, and feel proud to be a public servant. I started out as a Payment Services Officer for the EI Call Centre, directly servicing the public. In 2020 I moved on to support in operations, working as a Program Advisor for the HCCS Technology Management team for the EI/ECC/CPP-OAS/NIDS call centres; to now working as a Project Coordinator for the W-T Centre of Expertise for Diversity and Inclusion. Currently I am also a Visible Minorities Network Ambassador. I do all that I can to provide the best service whether that is with external or internal partners, all whilst making sure to promote respect for all and completing my work with integrity.
Dominique Ngando Moukala
I am happy to be a public servant because every day I can share my skills to serve Canadians. I enjoy the work I do in providing quality service and I have met colleagues who are now another family. In order to get involved with Employment and Social Development Canada, I am a member of the recognition committee that values the efforts and work done by the great team of the department.
Kathryn Bunyan-McCleandon
When I first joined the Public Service at the age of 19, it was just a great ‘government job’; 30 years later, I am still here because I genuinely enjoy helping people. I have participated in many initiatives and pilot projects during my time here, my most endearing occurred just this year and I am proud to say that I was the initiator. As a perpetual student of all things Canadian History, I wanted to ensure that Black History month was meaningful. Throughout the entire month, I was able to share the overwhelming contributions of Blacks to the Canadian narrative with the Ontario SouthWest CSB Branch Team via topic specific emails that included numerous resources for more in-depth learning.
Kheen Nugent
I serve as a public servant because I truly believe in the importance of serving one's community and ones country. To me service is a gift worth sharing. It’s what makes us human. It is also what gives our lives meaning. Ultimately serving my country is part of serving humanity.
I have managed to progress in my career from a Payment Service Officer at the call centre agent to Service Canada benefits Officer in the processing department, in a few years. I have worked many places prior to securing a job with Service Canada and I have managed to move further and faster along my career path than anywhere else.
Michelle Philip
Thank you for this opportunity and this platform, to speak to the pride I feel as a Public Servant. My journey began out of a desire to do more with my professional life. I made a leap of faith leaving a 15-year career to join the Public Service, and I’ve never looked back. What started as a desire has now become a passion for supporting Canadians and the public in accessing the services that enrich their lives.
Whether it be a colleague or the public, I strive to make each interaction one that leaves them with a sense of their importance. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” ~ Maya Angelou
Simone Dasrat-Hercules
I am a black public servant and I serve because I like to help people. I have been given the opportunity to speak to several Canadian citizens during my government career and they have always shared with me just how much they appreciate the help we give to them.
I recently celebrated my 15th year as a public servant and over the years it has been a very fulfilling career. I started my government career as a call centre Client Service Officer. I was promoted to Team Leader and for the past 5 years I have been a Manager. I am also pleased to share I have won two Assistant Deputy Minister awards of excellence.
Although there have been a few roadblocks along my government career journey, thanks to the support of inclusive minded colleagues, managers and directors, I consider my life as a public servant a success!
Sovi Lambert Ahouansou
Several reasons can be given to justify my willingness to be a public servant. The most essential of these reasons is: To serve Canadians in general and the most vulnerable in our country (Aboriginals, foreign workers, seniors, international students and other minorities) in particular. To this end, I have spent over four years travelling throughout Northern Ontario working with Aboriginal communities on development issues and Service Canada priorities. I am proud of my accomplishments. I continue my journey of service to Canadians through my work with foreign workers and businesses that require the services of these workers for the benefit of Canadians. It is a great privilege to work for Service Canada and to serve Canadians.
Althea Williams
I am very proud to serve Canadians as a public servant. I started my career right out of university as a Citizenship Officer in Ontario Region, and the experience of providing direct services to Immigrants by facilitating their acquisition of Canadian Citizenship was powerful. That service inspired me to continue to serve as a manager and then Director in policy development and program design in NHQ - in areas such as Immigrant settlement and labour market Integration, Temporary Foreign Worker, and Indigenous labour market integration programming. I continue that service in Program Operations Branch in supporting service delivery for disabilities and seniors programming.
Virtual Shout-Outs!
Adwoa Gyasi-Nimako
Adwoa Gyasi-Nimako is a leader and advocate for Black and racialized employees across the GC. She is seizing the opportunity to create lasting, meangingful change by tackling anti-Black racism and building on this past year’s momentum.
Quote: “I am making sure that the conversations at the tables I sit at are addressing anti-Black racism. I use my voice to advocate for the unheard voices within my community.” – Adwoa Gyasi-Nimako
Aretha Constant
Aretha Constant’s career in the Public Service spans over twenty years. Since 2018, she has led Ontario Region’s Management Services Branch, which recently took on the region’s Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion portfolio. She is also the Co-Champion of Diversity and Inclusion for the Ontario Federal Council. Some of her recent achievements include ensuring that 100% of the selection board committees within the region are racially diverse in composition as well as the rollout of the Safer Spaces: Beyond the Boardroom Engagement Series, which brings to light the lived experiences of Black, Indigenous and racialized employees. Aretha cares deeply about the mental well-being of her employees and recognizes the value of coaching and mentoring as a tool in their career development. She is an exemplary leader to work for!
Jacqueline Lamarre
I would like to send a shout out for the amazing Jacqueline Lamarre. Although Jacqueline has only been with ESDC for a year, her commitment to outstanding service, skill development, and courage to try new things is a pure inspiration. She is always there to help and support the team, and goes above and beyond to stay organized and attentive to client needs, while infusing her work with creativity and authenticity. She is a true asset to the OICM team and will surely continue to make a meaningful difference for those who work with her.
Mamadou Diallo
Virtual Shout out to Mamadou Diallo for his remarkable and well-done work, but especially for his availability at all times.
Peter Swanston
Peter has worked tirelessly to raise black culture awareness and demonstrates Black excellence. He leads the Richmond Hill Diversity Committee who host activities and events to celebrate all cultures. He does an exceptional job year after year to celebrate, educate and share black culture with all of our employees. A virtual shout out as well to all of our black employees on the Richmond Hill Diversity Committee who have consistently provided great support to Peter in his efforts!
Trisha Roach
We want to shine a light on our colleague, Trisha Roach, a valued employee within the Ontario Region, Management Services Branch, for her enthusiasm and tireless efforts as the co-chair of the Anti-Racism Task Team. With her leadership, the task team has made substantial advancements in its priorities and Strategic Plan of Action (which she co-developed!). She continues to work closely with regional and national colleagues to move the dial forward in Anti-Racism, equity and inclusion work.