By Sarah Jessop, HR Generalist

At ASP, we value and recognize the diverse religious beliefs of our employees. The world’s rich diversity is reflected in the observances that are celebrated and recognized by our ASP employees.

Knowledge of the following holidays and celebrations can enhance our workplace diversity and inclusion efforts. Throughout the months of January, February, and March a variety of religious holidays, festivals, observances, and spiritual commemorations took place. These events were celebrated and observed by many of us, so it is important that we recognize and respect each and every one of them.

We have compiled a list below of the many important religious events that took place throughout the last few months. We encourage you to review this list to learn more about some of the significant celebrations and observances that are meaningful to your colleagues and friends. Let’s celebrate diversity, together.

January 2022

  • January 6 – Feast of the Epiphany: The day that commemorates the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles for Christians. It is celebrated on January 6th as it marks 12 days after Christmas when the three kings arrived in Bethlehem.
  • January 7 – Coptic Orthodox Christmas: The date that Orthodox Christians celebrate Jesus’s birth in the Julian calendar.
  • January 10 – Bodhi Day: This day celebrates the Buddha’s enlightenment; it is celebrated by Mahãyãna Buddhists.
  • January 14 – Orthodox New Year: The “Old New Year” celebrates the start of the Julian calendar.
  • January 13 – Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday: The date used to celebrate the tenth Sikh Guru and spiritual master.
  • January 16 – World Religion Day: A day in the Baha’i faith that celebrates common themes for faiths across the world.

February 2022

  • February 1 – Imbolc: The halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox in the Pagan and Wiccan calendars. This day celebrates fire, light, and the return of life.
  • February 2 – Candlemas:
    A holiday in the Christian church that blesses the candle supply for that year.
  • February 15 – Parinirvana: Also known as Nirvana Day in Mahãyãna Buddhism, this date marks Buddha’s death and attainment of final nirvana.
  • February 17 – Tu Bishvat:
    The “New Year of Trees” in the Jewish faith.
  • February 25 – Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha: A multiple-day festival in the Baha’i faith that prioritizes gift-giving, hospitality, charity, and preparation for fasting ahead of the New Year.

March 2022

  • March 1 – Maha Shiravatri:
    A Hindu festival called “Shiva’s night” which honors this significant deity.
  • March 1 – Lailat al Miraj: A Muslim holiday commemorating Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended into heaven.
  • March 3 – Ash Wednesday:
    The day in the Christian Church that marks the start of Lent, the 40-day period of prayer and fasting before Easter.
  • March 17 – Purium: The Feast of Lots in the Jewish faith that honors the survival of ancient Persian Jews who were marked for death.
  • March 17 to March 18 – Holi: A Hindu festival of colors that welcomes spring and a new harvest in India.
  • March 18 to March 20 – Hola Mohalla: The 3-day Sikh festival honoring valor, skill, and defense preparedness.
  • March 19 – Feast Day of St. Joseph: A day that commemorates the husband of Jesus’s mother Mary and surrogate father on Earth.
  • March 20 – Ostara: The celebration of the spring equinox in the Pagan and Wiccan religions.
  • March 21 – Naw Ruz: The New Year for the Baha’i faith, marking the end of the Baha’i fast.
  • March 25 – The Annunciation: The day in the Christian religion when the Angel Gabriel announced that Mary would become the mother of Jesus.

By Paul Parkinson, Director, Finance

With spring just about here, I read a very interesting article that translated a common tool we use in the finance area. The tool is the setting of SMART goals. The article focuses on exercise, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to share this as we’ll be getting to the warmer weather soon. The article was published by LifeWorks, ASP’s carrier for employee assistance programs and more.

SMART Goals and Exercise

Having clear, short-term goals is like having a road
map, and that can be an important part of success when developing an exercise routine. Whether you work with a health coach or prepare for a healthy change on your own, the SMART-goal model can help you think through and evaluate your plans.

What Are SMART Goals?


Smart
Is a method of goal setting that focuses on short-term, practical tasks to set you up for success. Breaking down large goals into smaller incremental goals is important for long-term achievement and sustainable behaviour change. SMART stands for:


Specific
A goal needs to be well-defined and clearly worded in a positive statement. It should be narrow enough in scope to use as a guide.


Measurable
Your goal should be specific and measurable so that you have a way to track your progress and identify when success is attained.

Action-Oriented
You are more likely to achieve your goal if it includes steps you will take. That’s why the “A” can also stand for achievable or attainable.


Realistic
Goals motivate us to grow and challenge ourselves, but they need to be realistic—and relevant. If your initial goal is realistic and relevant, it can help you move forward with more confidence in achieving other goals. If you want to begin eating healthy, start by introducing healthy foods slowly into your diet each day, rather than going on a crash diet.


Time-Bound
You’re more likely to reach a goal if it has a timeline in which to accomplish the goal. Creating a timetable makes it easier to measure your progress because it gives you a clear target and helps you stay focused.


While SMART goals are very specific by design, try to focus on their intent, and know that the actual goals might need to be modified along the way.

How to Apply SMART Goals

Your goals will ideally build on your past successes and experiences. Think about what has and hasn’t worked in the past and what might need to be different this time.

For example, if running for 30 minutes every day of the week was not sustainable for you, a new SMART goal could involve going for a 20-minute walk or run four times a week.

Here are a few examples of how SMART goals can work for someone who wants to develop an exercise routine:

  • Starting tomorrow, I will walk 20 minutes during my lunch break at work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next two weeks.
  • Starting tonight, I will ride my exercise bike for 15 minutes while watching a TV show at least every Monday and Wednesday for the next three weeks.
  • Starting tomorrow, I will attend a 30-minute online fitness class on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next four weeks.
  • Starting today, I will do 10 push-ups and 10 squats before breakfast and before dinner Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next two weeks. It’s vital to write down your goals, action steps, measurements, and time frame. You may find it helpful to keep a copy of the week’s goal with you or in a convenient place where you can refer to it easily. Focus on being consistent and patient as you wait for results. Review your goals frequently to make sure they still match your bigger plan and modify them as necessary. If your goal didn’t work out as planned, that’s OK. You can create new goals that better match your circumstances or implement a strategy to make the goal work better. If you exceed your goal or do better than expected, you can enjoy celebrating your additional success. Reward yourself for any goal you achieve, regardless of how small or large it is!

By Sarah Jessop, HR Generalist


By Sarah Miller, Operations Manager

The Crossing Guard Division would like to welcome Mohammed ‘Momo’ Mounir to the team as a Mobile Patrol Supervisor. Momo started with ASP in the CIC division as a respite center guard but transitioned to a crossing guard supervisor role in late January 2022. He’s been an incredible addition to the group.

When Momo isn’t on duty he’s pursuing a diploma in Police Foundations from Seneca College, expecting to finish his last course in April 2022. When he graduates, he’ll be working towards a career in policing.

Welcome to the team, Momo!


By Sarah Miller, Operations Manager

Mobile Patrol Supervisor George Papachristos would like to recognize Joseph Melo’s hard work and dedication to the crossing guard division: “Joseph is a fantastic part of the team. Every time I visit his crosswalk there are pedestrians that stop to tell me how well organized and attentive he is as well as how he’s kind and thoughtful to the needs of everyone around him.

He’s a true safety ambassador and very vigilant to his surroundings. He is very confident at his crosswalk and has developed meaningful relationships with the people around him.”

ASP appreciates all the good work he does serving the community. Thank you, Joseph!


By Mohammed Mounir, Mobile Patrol Supervisor

The Crossing Guard Division would like to recognize Xhevdet Celaj for his creativity, attentiveness, and friendliness. During a routine inspection with Mobile Supervisor Mohammed ‘Momo’ Mounir, it was noticed that Xhevdet invented a new and efficient way to press the walk button at his crosswalk by attaching a small plastic flange onto the side of the stop sign, eliminating the need to connect with a high-touch surface repeatedly. While he was crossing the students, he was also consistently giving a warm welcome greeting and a very happy smile. As students were crossing from his side of the crosswalk, Xhevdet continuously paid attention to the other side of the intersection, making sure to help as many students cross as safely as possible.

Xhevdet, thank you for being an excellent Crossing Guard and ASP team member!


By Keba Walters, Assistant Manager, Recruitment (RES/CIC)

At ASP, growth and development are at the core to providing the most information possible to anyone of who we are and how we operate. Last Quarter, starting a new role with us, ensuring you are prepared for we announced our Voice of ASP focus groups, which gave a platform for employees from all divisions to voices their needs, wants, critiques, and suggestions in relation to their positions and their development at ASP. This quarter, we had the privilege of presenting this anonymous information to the entire management team at ASP. Our goal is to turn your feedback into real action.


On March 7, 2022, the management team at ASP met, reviewed your feedback, and spoke about how they intend to create meaningful changes that impact the daily lives of ASP employees.

Some of the major points discussed were the following:
• Growth plans across the organization for each role
• More training for employees looking to develop
• Better communication to all employees
• Encouraging more feedback to improve the day-to- day lives of all members of ASP

Our recruitment team knows it is integral for employees to feel that all the promises made during the interview and onboarding process are met. We are committed to provide the most information possible to anyone starting a new role with us, ensuring you are prepared for that next step in your career.

We want to see how we can make the ASP experience even better. We also want to thank all the members of management who took the time to learn more about the needs of their employees; it really showed that there is a heart to this company that strives to be better each day. If you know a person who is interested in:
• Training and development
• Protecting the community
• The importance of safety and security • The value of customer service

Ask them to join our team and be part of the company where Security MattersTM.


By Jason White, Manager Strategic Initiatives

This quarter’s theme is doing business communications right. There are many ways to interrupt ‘right’ when it comes to communications, and we are going to explore a few.

The golden rule of treat others as you want to be treated doubly applies to communications. Being polite reduces miscommunication, especially in business emails.

One trick I use is to start an email with: “This is a friendly email to….”. This lets your reader know right from the start that your email is not accusatory or confrontational, which reduces the chance that the tone will be misinterpreted. This is very useful if you are sending a follow-up email. It also gets you in a positive frame of mind when you write the rest of the message.

Almost without exception, people do not take offence if you are polite when asking for something or following up on a sensitive issue. Being nice in your communications also means that if you make a mistake or your message is confusing, at least you were not mean about it. Your reader will be more understanding. It is never looks good to be full of righteous indignation only to find out, you are in the wrong.

Next, ask yourself – am I communicating using the right method. For example, will a text message be better than a phone call. Is my tone, tense, and vocabulary appropriate? Is my messaging clear? Is it suitable for a work environment? There are dozens of factors to consider when communicating, and for the most part, we do this unconsciously. However, for our audience to get the right message and to ensure we are business appropriate, we need to step back and take a moment to reflect on our communication. Before sharing memes and jokes with co- workers by email, for example, I always ask myself, would I send this to my mother. If it is not appropriate for my mother, it is not appropriate for work.

Finally, proofread your emails and do not assume your reader is going to understand the bigger picture. Get in the habit of checking your emails for grammar, spelling and style errors before hitting send.

We have all hit send too soon and realized there are typos after the fact. I hate that feeling. So, take the time
to send proofread emails. Similarly, make sure your message, email, text, or request is going to get the response or answer you are looking for. There is nothing more frustrating than sending a request by email and getting an ambiguous response.

For example, if I send an email to a supervisor saying “I’d like my break at 11am or 1pm”, I could get a response saying “OK”. Well, which is it – 11 or 1? Take the guess work out of the message for the reader and write something like “Please let me know if I can take my break at 11am or 1pm because I need to make a phone call.”


By Debbie Ciccotelli, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Spring is an exciting season, it is a time of Spring will also be a busy time for ASP with crossing awakening, rebirth and growth which brings with guards ensuring children’s safety from ice, rain, slush and it a level of optimism in us all. I am sure you are as through identifying and reporting damage to curbs or excited as I am to see the warmth and sunny days we have cross walks which have occurred over the winter months been longing for, finally arrive after a long winter.

Spring is a time to celebrate many multi-cultural holidays such as Easter, Passover, St. Patrick’s Day, Holi Festival, Shunbun No Hi, Mother’s Day, etc. as well as other special observance days, including Employee Appreciation Day and International Women’s Day, just to name a few.

Spring is also a time for renewal which is evident as we begin to see green shoots pop up and flowers and leaves appear. This year spring also brings a renewal of our personal lives and our business as we enter the phase of “living with COVID”. The decline in COVID infections and the lifting of many COVID restrictions is a positive sign of recovery – we can now see light at the end of the tunnel. Although we have all experienced some form of “pandemic fatigue”, as we move toward recovery, I urge you to take a moment to stop, reflect, re-engage and take stock of what we have learned and achieved.

March break is also the busiest travel period which means our aviation teams will be bustling with passenger flow/queue management, crowd control and customer services activities, which will be amplified by passenger confusion with changing COVID rules/restrictions as well as potential weather issues. Additionally, the warmer weather will result in a significant increase in people moving through Union Station, shopping at St Lawrence Market, etc. where we provide security services.

Take the opportunity to develop a more positive outlook during this season where flowers bloom and join me in jumping with both feet into the exciting world of optimism.


By Darren Scott, Manager, Acting Manager

During peak times of the day, you may be waiting on hold to speak with a Workforce Scheduler. We all have busy lives and this can be frustrating. If you require immediate attention, you can alternatively contact your direct Supervisor or Manager. We also encourage you to email your requests and inquiries to scheduling@security-asp.com This email inbox is monitored from 06:00-21:00 every day and you can expect a reply within 12-24 hours depending on volume. Your questions and requests are important to us and we will do our best to respond as soon as possible.

inTime Scheduling App and Preferences

Never miss an available posting again using the inTime App. The inTime App improves communication by putting your schedule on your smart phone.

From the App you can:

  • Sign up for shifts and overtime
  • Apply for Leaves
  • Sort and filter available postings
  • Punch in and out

Have you set your Preferences?

Using your portal or inTime App, you can tell Workforce Scheduling when you prefer to work. When an individual shift is open or a long-term assignment becomes available your preferences are reviewed to assist scheduling.

Without having preferences set on your portal you may be overlooked. For more information regarding the app or if you require assistance it, please contact Workforce Scheduling Department.

inTime App Video Did you know there is an instruction video on how to use the inTime App? If your having difficulties or curious of the various functions available follow this link for more information: https://fast.wistia.net/embed/ channel/6gne3j7rl