insider March 22, 2011

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Sash found his time a the United Way a rewarding way to gstay involved in doing something to support his community.

An occasional series on the people at the OPA. This issue: Sahsa SudWhat is your position?

The Insider, March 22, 2011 file:///X:/EDITORIAL%20SERVICES/NEWSLETTERS/The%252520Ins...

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I am the segment manager for the small business sector in the Conservation Division.

How long have you been with the OPA?

I have been with the OPA for three years.

Last year you were seconded by the United Way as part of their sponsoredemployee program. What is this program about?

United Way’s sponsored employee program is designed to get volunteers from differentcompanies and industries in Toronto to be part of the sponsored employee team. The team isinvolved in numerous activities that support United Way’s fall fund-raising campaign. The15-week program has the sponsored employees support, guide and provide ideas to morethan 900 United Way Toronto workplace campaigns. These workplace campaigns can rangefrom small offices with three to five employees to large corporations that have thousands ofemployees.

What did you do during your time there?

Depending on the workplace sector to which you are assigned, a sponsored employee’s jobmay include a wide range of activities including providing strategic and planning support,giving speeches at work-place campaigns, organizing logistics for fund-raising auctions andeven contests.

During the training period, sponsored employees are provided with opportunities to visit someof the 200 agencies United Way supports. This allows them to learn about how theseagencies work to create strong, safe, healthy and happy communities in Toronto. Somesponsored employees get involved with supporting these agencies while they are there andoften even after their stay at United Way. I was responsible for supporting the professional sector’s workplace campaigns (the top fouraccounting firms and about 10 law firms). I was responsible for providing them support withthe planning of their campaign strategy; campaign execution; and track and solve some ofthe operational challenges that were faced by these firms in running their campaigns. I waseven called on by the IT group to provide training to different firms that needed assistance inlearning how to use the donation tool.

Read more

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SAP invoice processefficient and green

Six months after BusinessStrategies and Solutions (BSS)introduced Systems, Applications,and Products in Data Processing(SAP) software, the OPA’s newelectronic invoice approvalprocess has meant higherefficiency and less paper.

Through the use of interactiveforms, SAP allows staff toelectronically complete approvalrequests, attach soft copies ofsupporting documentation, and

Have you ever walked by a perfume counter in alarge department store and held your breath or hadto limit your time with someone because of his orher perfume or cologne? Scents can beoverpowering, and today many of us are developingallergies to scents in our environment.

Whether it is perfume or cologne, potpourri or evena neighbour’s flower bed, we are becoming lesstolerant to our environment. This could be the resultof many factors including exposure to chemicals orair pollutants. Some work environments andgenetics may also play a major role.


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receive approvals as per OPA’ssigning authority.

Feedback has been positive fromOPA staff already using thesoftware.

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The next time you splash on perfume cologne,please remember that for some of your colleagues itmay not be a “breathtaking” experience.

For information on scents and their effect on ourenvironment, click here.

For information on scent-free products, DalhousieUniversity has a comprehensive website onscent-free environments, including scent-freeproducts that are on the market today.

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Last week, Joyce Poon, Derek Leung and I had the great opportunity toattend CERA Week 2011, one of the largest global energy conferences.CERA is one of the world’s preeminent energy research bodies andprovides the OPA with global energy analysis throughout the year.

This year was the 30th anniversary of the conference and the themewas “Leading the Way: Energy Strategies for a World of Change”. Guestspeakers included major world leaders in the energy industries as wellas Henry Kissinger, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

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Thunder Bay clean energyplant to expand

AbitibiBowater will soon be providing more cleanpower for Northwestern Ontario and adding 56permanent jobs.

Through an agreement with the OPA, AbitibiBowaterwill increase its electricity generation capacity by 40megawatts, producing enough additional power for38,000 homes. The project is expected to becompleted by January 2013.

The expansion is also supported by Ontario's ForestSector Prosperity Fund and will add capacity toAbitibiBowater's existing biomass-fuelled combinedheat and power (CHP) project. These types ofprojects help industries become more energy efficientand reduce costs, while supplying clean electricity.

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Keeping our workspaces clean

As a reminder, please rememberto be diligent and removeunfinished food and beveragesfrom your desk area before youleave at the end of the day.Leftover food and beverages canattract insects and otherunwanted pests.

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Letting in the Light


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How solar technology is helping ancient traditions see the light

By Sheri Strickland

The old met the new as an Ontario cultural centre celebrated theChinese New Year last month.

On February 28, the International Taoist Tai Chi Centre hosted itsannual Lantern Festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Thefestival is an ancient tradition that has welcomed as many as athousand guests some years. Drawn from the spiritual traditionsof China, the International Taoist Tai Chi Centre claims adevotion to Taoist training that promotes a path of health andtranquility.

The festival is so ancient that its origins can only be speculatedabout but this year there was a surprisingly modern twist to thefestivities: it was lit with the help of solar energy.

“Lanterns are a symbol of light, and it was interesting to see the solar system connected tothis festival,” said John Forde, member of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada and presidentof SolGenSys Inc, a solar power solutions business from Peterborough, which was responsiblefor installing the new solar system.

Read more

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Calendar of events:

Andrew Pride,Vice-President,Conservation, speaks atthe Canada in 2035symposium in Toronto onCEO Colin Andersen speaksat the Canadian UrbanInstitute urban leadershipseminar in Toronto onMarch 25Social Committee event:April visit to the RoyalOntario Museum, date tobe confirmedEnvironment Committeelunchtime screening ofGasland, rooms 1805March 25, 12:00–1:00 p.m.Wellness event: Harry’sSpring Run-off to fightprostate cancer, High Park,10 a.m., April 2.

Corporate concierge program

Did you know that we have a corporate conciergeprogram here at the Richmond-Adelaide Centre?

The program provides tenants with customer serviceand access to discount tickets to events andattractions around the city. The staff isknowledgeable about the services available throughthe program and can provide you with the informationyou need.

Services offered include:

discount tickets to theme parks, shows,sporting events and attractionsarranging airport transportationfloral deliverycar and truck rentalsrestaurant and hotel information

For more information contact Thomas Chesterfield at416-868-3707 or [email protected] here for ticket information.

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OPA staff had fun with Hawaiian shirt day on February 25 in support of United Way. Backrow (left to right), Dan Carr, Jenni Myllynen, Marsha Terry, Kathleen Wilson, Mario Chiarelli,Chris Barker, Mayuran Srikantha. Front row (left to right), Agatha Pyrka, Vicki Gagnon

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