BLUF: You are invited to the latest PSOA social event – Axe throwing – on 27 Sep 2019 Friday @ 1800hrs. Please open email and use vote buttons (or reply to this email if no voting buttons are available) and let me know if you (and/or any guest(s)) are able to attend by NLT 18 Sep 2019 Wed.

Dear Colleagues,

It’s been far too long since the Personnel Selection Officer Association (PSOA) for Eastern Ontario (NCR, Kingston and Ottawa Valley) has had a social event. So as your Regional Representative, I am cordially inviting you to join myself and our colleagues at the BATL Grounds Backyard Axe Throwing League for an evening of entertainment and fun! Again, this will be a great opportunity to socialize and get to know each other outside of work.

Please forward to any new PSOs that have been recently posted into the area (NCR, Kingston and Pet), those visiting from out of town and those retirees that may wish to join and did not receive this email. For those retirees not on my dist list, I will take their names so I have them for next time.

The concept for this event will be to learn how to and have fun throwing small axes at one of Ottawa’s oldest inside axe throwing venues. Of course, if you wish to sit out and just socialize and drink/eat at the venue, that is okay too!

Here are the details – we hope you can make it!

Where: BATL Grounds, The Backyard Axe Throwing League, 2615 Lancaster Rd., Unit 29 | Ottawa, ON https://batlgrounds.com/axe-throwing-ottawa/
Reservation: Booked 4 axe throwing lanes of fun, can expand depending on interest/returns, but this is for at least 13 participants
When: 27 Sep 19, Friday after work: 1800hrs to 2000/2030hrs (depending on how long playoffs go)
Punctuality: If axe throwing, please show up at least 10 minutes before, as instruction by an axe throwing guru starts at 1800hrs
Parking: There is free parking in and around the plaza
Bus/Uber/Lyft: The location is on a bus route, and accessible by ride share apps

Cost if axe throwing: $46.32 (with HST) per person to be paid by individual or guest to venue
Dress, if axe throwing: Closed-toed shoes are a must for axe throwers
Returns: There are several options for your ‘Vote’ return through Outlook (or through an email reply).

·        “Yes for Axe” (that’s if it’s just you wanting to throw);

·        “Yes for Axe +1” (you and a guest);

·        “No axe, just socializing” (will be sitting back, drinking/eating, no axe throwing);

·        “No axe, just socializing +1” (you and a guest, socializing, no axe throwing);

·        “Maybe for socializing” (if you are tentative for socializing); and

·        “Can’t make it”.
No ‘Maybe’ returns for Axe: because $100 down payment has been provided and there are penalties for not fulfilling the reservation for axe throwing, I can’t accept ‘Maybe’s’ for axe throwing.

Cost if observing drinking/eating: Free!
Deposit: I have put $100 of my own funds for the non-refundable deposit. So if you say you are going to attend the axe throwing, please ensure you come out so I don’t lose my money. 🙂
PSOA Free Beer: The PSOA executive has graciously agreed to buy many pitchers and possibly finger food during the event.

If you don’t have a designated driver or don’t want to drive or carpool – take the bus!

See OC Transpo quick planner
http://octranspo1.com/travelplanner/travelplanner

Everyone is welcome! Bring a spouse, friend or just yourself. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Please send this to any retired PSOs in the NCR that may not have received this invite.

If you can’t make it – check out the latest PSO news on our website!

http://www.psel.org/
Please use the voting buttons as outlined above (or just send me an email reply with your return). Thank you.

Intellegere!

Dave Spurgeon
PSOA Eastern Ontario Representative
DAVID.SPURGEON{[at symbol]}forces.gc.ca

Good day everyone, 

It is with a very heavy heart that I pass on the sad news the Dr. Vic Catano passed away last Friday, 10 May 2019. He was quite ill this winter semester and had decided to take an early retirement this August because of it.  

Dr. Catano was not only my professor, but my thesis advisor as well. As such, I spent many hours in his company and found his presence very calming. I last saw him three weeks ago at his home to discuss my thesis. He looked week but still had a sparkle in his eye whenever he spoke of his work and of his students. It was evident that he loved what he did and that teaching was his passion. I am very honoured to have had the opportunity to work with him.  

Dr. Arla Day is collecting stories about Dr. Catano and will be preparing a book of memories for his family. If you wish to contribute to this endeavour, please contact and/or send your stories toArla.Day@smu.ca.  

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone else who you believe would like to know about his passing.

Intelligere

Jennifer Price

LCdr

PSel O

Dr. Robert William Walker –  DOB, July 23, 1943

After a short but graceful struggle with cancer, Dr. Robert William Walker died on December 4th, 2018 beside his loving family. Bob was most proud of two things, his “girls” (his wife, Colleen Walker, his daughter, Kimothy Walker, and his granddaughter Kyra Lambert), and his 50 years of public service in the military and the RCMP.

Bob is survived by two siblings, Patricia Bannister and Gordon Walker, and their beloved spouses Robin Bannister and Janet Walker, in addition to his niece, two nephews and a grand-nephew.

Most of all he loved his wife, Colleen, his partner of 52 years.

Bob started his career with the military while still in his teens and attended RRMC, RMC and eventually graduated from Queens University with an MA and Ph.D.  Bob was fiercely proud of RMC, Kingston and his university.

His military career took his family from Victoria to Kingston and on to Toronto, Winnipeg and Ottawa, where he joined the RCMP at the Canadian Police College before returning to the military as a civilian back at Kingston’s Canadian Forces Leadership Institute at RMC

Bob was one of the kindest men who ever walked the planet and will be deeply missed by those who knew him best.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his name to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation www.ottawacancer.ca or Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dogs (Autism Program) www.dogguides.com

A private ceremony will be held at a future date.

To whom it may concern:

I submit as a reflection from my past leading to a happy announcement in the present to convey as appropriate.

My career as a PSel officer began in 1980 and lasted 15 rewarding years. I served three back to back tours in Summerside, PEI, first as an Air Nav and then as an Air Operations Controller and finally as BPSO and BTrainIng and Education O. I was then “summoned” from this fair isle to NDHQ Ottawa to assist with the conclusion of the Women’s Trials (SWINTER for short) and thereafter as ABPSO at CFB Ottawa. I was ordered back to a field posting at CFB Trenton where I experienced my most fulfilling tour as BPSO. Beckoned again to Ottawa, I served as PSel consultant for social and economic analysts within DND followed by a brief team position in Military Occupational Structures. After 31 years of service, I elected a voluntary buy out. Perhaps, one of my greatest career achievements was to be recognized by my peers with the annual SCAN  award. This, along with the privilege of serving with some fine dedicated professionals and comrades, has left a very positive impact on my life both then and now and for the future. I proudly stand with all my fellow PSel officers in giving thanks for the great service you provide to members of the CF.

As I look back on my career, I wanted to acknowledge how much it played a significant part of who I have become, not the least of which is to celebrate 50 years of marriage  to my enduring love of my life, Karen, on Aug 24, 2018

Richard Gilman, Capt retired

Ottawa

Response from Col Noonan

Rich, it is great to hear from you after so many years and congratulations on your upcoming 50th wedding anniversary, which is remarkable. It is because of dedicated PSOs like you that our Branch continues to exist and thrive as we are building on the foundation that you and a small number of other committed individuals built 40 years ago. You will be happy to know that last year we were awarded a permanent PSO position as the Director of Personnel Generation Requirements (DPGR) which now includes the occupation/job analysis studies that you worked on, along with oversight of the selection standards and BPSO technical net, and overall management of the CAF Strategic Intake Plan (SIP). Our F/W/BPSOs continue to be heavily relied upon for vocational counselling, education upgrading and individual assessments, while our SCAN section has now become part of a larger initiative that has recently seen the stand-up of Transition Group, headed by a BGen and where we have a LCol position, several Maj positions and a host of distributed Capt positions to better care for the transition of all members, whether voluntary, medical or at CRA. You and Maj (ret’d) Terry Christopher, amongst others, would be quite proud of all the areas in which we’re now embarking in terms of transition services, policy and programs. In any event, thanks for your note as you took me down memory lane for a wonderful minute but also it reminded me that we are still integral to all of these functions in helping the CAF remain an outstanding organization. All the best to you and your wife this summer and on your anniversary.

Col Lisa Noonan

DPGR and PSel Branch Advisor

It is with sadness that we inform you of SLt Kellermann-Thompson’s loss of his mother who passed away on the afternoon of June 13, 2018. On behalf of the PSOA we would like to send our deepest condolences to SLt Kellermann-Thompson and family.

C’est avec chagrin que nous vous informons du décès de la mère du SLt Kellermann-Thompson qui nous a quitté le 13 juin 2018 en après-midi. De la part de l’AOSP nous tenions à exprimer au SLt Kellermann-Thompson et à sa famille nos sincères condoléances.

https://jamesreidfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/798/Susanne-Kellermann/obituary.html