[2023-05-23] Commemorative coin
For many reasons, today was an extraordinary day, but chiefly because I got to see members of my former communications team.
A few weeks ago, the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) and Associate ADM of the Communications and Public Affairs Branch (CPAB) serving Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)—my former team—invited me to take part in a ceremony honouring CPAB employees who had worked on the Government's response to the COVID pandemic. These employees would receive a commemorative coin, designed by PHAC.
I accepted the invitation immediately, eager for the chance to get together with former employees, whom I hadn't seen in person for more than three years.
When I arrived at the venue for today's event, I was giddy with anticipation. One of my former employees captured the mood of the celebration well when he said, "It's like a family reunion and a wedding, rolled into one." He noted that it was the largest gathering of CPAB employees since the start of the pandemic.
As the ADM and Associate ADM shared samples of the incredible work that CPAB delivered during the pandemic and the unbelievably high workload they coped with, I was reminded of just how difficult it was to deliver communications under unrelenting pressure. I can only imagine how exhausting it has been to sprint for, not 8 months (as I had done before going on leave to deal with ovarian cancer), but 40 months.
In March 2020, when we dispersed to our respective homes to work, I (and, no doubt, many others) thought that we'd be back in the office in a matter of weeks. Then, in July 2020, when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I thought that I would be back with my team in a matter of months. A return to the office would take years, and—for me—a return to work would never materialize. I retired in November 2021, and though my staff threw me the most thoughtful and touching virtual retirement party, I missed the chance to say farewell in person.
Today felt like a new beginning, a chance to say hello, not goodbye. I was privileged to have an opportunity to greet and hug many past colleagues.
The card that accompanied the commemorative coin reads:
Coins are traditionally awarded to recognize special achievements and serve to identify recipients as members of a larger team. The coin symbolizes that you were part of the workforce at the Public Health Agency of Canada supporting Canada through the pandemic.
I was always proud of my CPAB staff, never more so than as I watched them rise to the occasion in the early days of the pandemic. I was incredibly lucky to have their support throughout my tenure as ADM, but especially during those crazy months between January and August 2020.
In one of the many enjoyable conversations I had today, one of my former colleagues mentioned having heard someone say that they start their day by asking themselves:
- What will I let go of?
- What am I grateful for?
- What will I focus on today?
Today, I will let go of my guilt for the mistakes I made while leading CPAB early in the pandemic and for having left my incredible team in the midst of such stressful circumstances. I am grateful for their dedication and hard work during the pandemic and throughout my four years with the team, which made it possible for me to survive in a challenging role. And I will focus on the memories I have of the fabulously talented people in CPAB.
(Shoutout to the gentleman who asked for a special mention today. Congratulations to you, and to all your colleagues.)
