Municipality OHS Specialist Erin Gillis Wins Safety Award
Safety award honourees including Municipality OHS Specialist Erin Gillis (far right) at the 2019 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium. Photo: Cape Breton Partnership
SYDNEY, N.S. – On May 15th, 2019, the Cape Breton Partnership in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education and the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia welcomed over 200 delegates from all over Cape Breton Island to Cape Breton University in Sydney for the 7th annual Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium. Among the delegates was Municipality of the County of Inverness Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Erin Gillis.
Originally from Southwest Margaree, Erin has worked for several large-scale manufacturing firms in Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia, before returning to her roots and joining the Municipality of the County of Inverness team in 2018. Her dedication to ensuring the health and safety of her Municipal colleagues earned her the Engagement Ally Award at the 2019 Safety First in Cape Breton Awards. It also represents the first Safety First in Cape Breton award merited by a Municipality or an employee of a Municipality.
The Engagement Ally Award is given to ‘training providers or OH&S managers who have done a superior job educating clients or employees about the importance of creating a positive workplace health and safety culture [and] have created a culture where people feel valued, respected, and satisfied in their jobs while working in a safe and healthy environment’ (Safety First Cape Breton, 2019).
“Ms. Gillis embodies all these qualities and more,” said Keith MacDonald, CAO of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “The occupational health and safety of team members is a priority at the Municipality of the County of Inverness, and the Municipality is proud to have a leader like Ms. Gillis on the team and wishes to congratulate her on being honoured with this well-deserved award.”
“The Cape Breton Partnership is very proud of the Safety First in Cape Breton Award winners, especially the Municipality of the County of Inverness’ own Erin Gillis,” said Carla Arsenault, President and CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “Though Ms. Gillis is at the beginning of her work in establishing inverness County as a standard in Municipal workplace health and safety, her dedication and passion for safety were noted in two separate nominations in support of this well-earned recognition. On behalf of the Cape Breton Partnership, and our partners at the Department of Labour and Advanced Education and the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, I wish to again congratulate Ms. Gillis and the Municipality on this award.”
The Cape Breton Partnership is Cape Breton-Unama’ki’s private sector-led economic development organization, and can be found at www.capebretonpartnership.com. For more information on the Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium and the award winners, visit www.safetyfirstcapebreton.com.
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Joan MacLellan to Retire from Inverary Manor After 32 Years
INVERNESS, N.S. – Craigmore native and current Margaree resident Joan MacLellan is to retire soon after a long, successful tenure as administrator of Inverary Manor in the community of Inverness.
A proponent of lifelong learning, Joan first graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in the early ‘70s and moved to Labrador City to teach before studying business to work as a Certified General Accountant in Newfoundland and Calgary, Alberta. She returned home to Cape Breton in 1980 when she began working as the administrator of Mary’s Hill Home in Mabou in 1980 while completing the Health Services Management Program through the Canadian Healthcare Association.
Shortly after the Municipal Housing Corporation assumed ownership of Mary’s Hill Home in 1984, Joan managed both the Home and the Inverary Manor simultaneously until 1989, when she moved on to work at the Manor full-time.
“I have had a truly amazing work life and have encountered wonderful people along the way,” Mrs. MacLellan said when asked about her impressive career. She plans to enjoy her retirement beside the Margaree River by spending time with her two young grandsons, volunteering with the Inverary Manor’s Auxiliary, enjoying walks and sunsets on Inverness County’s many local beaches, and continuing her lifelong learning by picking up new hobbies.
The Board of the Municipal Housing Corporation and the Municipality of the County of Inverness would like to sincerely congratulate Joan MacLellan and thank her for her tireless dedication and advocacy on behalf of Inverary Manor residents for over three decades, as well as wish her a very happy retirement.
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Contact:
Karolyn Aucoin
Communications and Community Engagement Specialist / Spécialiste en communications et engagement communautaire
Municipality of the County of Inverness / Municipalité du Comté d’Inverness
375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0
Ph: 902.787.3519
karolyn.aucoin@invernesscounty.ca
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