County’s Career Development Program earns national award

At the CAMA Awards of Excellence Ceremony in Niagara Falls, from left: Glen Davies, 2014 CAMA Awards of Excellence Chair and City Manager for the City of Regina, SK; Bruce Malcolm, President, Ravenhill Group Inc, Gold Level Awards Partner; Mayor Peter Mertens, County of Prince Edward; Merlin Dewing, Chief Administrative Officer, County of Prince Edward; Jean Savard, CAMA President, Director of Special Projects, Office of the CAO, Quebec City. CAMA National Office photo

The County’s new Career Development Program has received national recognition from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA).

During the association’s national conference in Niagara Falls last week, the County was presented with the 2014 CAMA Award for Professional Development for municipalities with a population between 20,001 and 100,000.

The award recognizes a municipality that has developed an innovative program for staff which can be replicated in other communities.

“We are thrilled to receive the 2014 CAMA Professional Development Award,” said Mayor Peter Mertens. “Since the implementation of the program, employees have been working incredibly hard to enhance and develop their skills and abilities. I am proud of the work that has gone into this program, and the positive response it has received from staff.”

The County’s Career Development Program was established and implemented across the corporation in 2013. The program, funded by cost savings obtained through corporate realignment, encouraged staff to pursue professional development and learning opportunities both inside and outside the scope of their work.

The program was intended to result in improved job satisfaction, employee productivity and succession planning, while reducing turnover rates and associated administrative costs. It was also intended to benefit the community as employees enrolled in the program are encouraged to give back to the community by volunteering. To date, nearly 20 community organizations are benefitting from this component, including the Hastings and Prince Edward Fire Training Complex, Alzheimer’s Society, Wellington Archives, community theatre, Hospital Auxiliary, Prince Edward Learning centre, Community Care for Seniors, Women’s Auxiliary, and more.

“Ongoing investment in the personal and professional growth of staff will provide both short and long-term returns to the municipality and will remain a key component of our corporate realignment strategy moving forward,” said Merlin J. Dewing, Chief Administrative Officer. “Establishing an efficient and sustainable business model that offers continuous growth opportunities will improve employee knowledge and capacity while meeting our objectives of employee retention, satisfaction, succession planning, and becoming an employer of choice”.