Greg’s Employment Background

This page highlights my employment experiences, focusing on the most recent first. I have had a number of forms of work over the past dozen years, or so, with much of it being rather diverse. Only within the last few years have I taken greater strides to find positions which challenge me and have a greater impact on the community than do minimum wage jobs or the like.

May – August, October 2006 - Present
Policy Analyst: Province of New Brunswick/Department of Education

This position came about through a synergy in my Masters research (that being on civic engagement) and a government commission, entitled the Commission on Legislative Democracy. This document made a number of recommendations on how the Provincial Government could improve the effectiveness of government and further engage the public in political and civic activities. One of the recommendations considered Civic Education as a key aspect of revitalizing participation among the youth. My role was to create a report on civic education, by looking its current state in New Brunswick and then recommending a number of best practices from research and from education policy across Canada and around the world. I worked within the Policy & Planning branch of the Department of Education, and worked closely with a number of civil servants throughout the department and at all levels, from teachers, to curriculum directors, to deputy ministers, in order to construct this document. I was also connected with the Executive Council Office, which was overseeing the Commission document. While in the Department of Education, I also helped research and draft other policy documents and worked closely with the Policy & Planning team in their day-to-day activities. The report is now in draft form.

I gained a lot of valuable experience from this position. Perhaps the biggest learning curve involved interacting with the politics and beaurocracy behind government. I worked with a number of individuals at all levels, and properly networking and making sure that the right information was given (or not given) at the proper time to the proper person was an ongoing concern. This in many ways does slow down developments, but, in some regards, it is a necessary incumbrance. This taught me the importance of being aware of hierarchy and chain of command, as well as expectations and norms within such large organizational structures. I also learned about the thorough procedures behind policy creation and development, as the team I worked most closely with had this as their focus. Education, being one of the most public government service, is particularly careful about policy creation and has a thorough policy development process. Research, consultation, and interviews where also a key part of my work, skills which I continue to polish with each work experience.

References:

John Smith

Executive Director, Democratic Renewal Unit w/ Executive Council Office

john.j.smith@gnb.ca, (506) 453-8312

Cathy Garabb-Read

Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs w/ Department of Education

cathy.garabb-read@gnb.ca, (506) 453-3090

May 2005 – April 2006
Managing Editor: The Brunswickan

I had been a contributing member of The Brunswickan for many years, so I decided to increase my commitment and become the Managing Editor of this, the oldest Canadian student publication. As Managing Editor, I was the Chief Financial Officer of the company, being responsible for financial, human resources, and advertising aspects of newspaper. With an annual budget of over $200 000, The Brunsiwickan has a staff of 10 and a large base of volunteer contibutors. Over the course of the academic year, 27 weekly issues were published. The Brunswickan’s circulation is 10 000, where two thirds remain on campus, and the remaining being distributed all over the Fredericton community. As such, even though it is a student newspaper, The Brunswickan is an important news source for the area. 

Together with the Editor-in-Chief, we made a number of improvements to both the newspaper as well as the business sides of the company. Our focus on consistent community content, on alternative revenue sources, and sound financial and human resources management lead to a very successful year. For instance, each year we send a number of delegates to a national student newspaper conference - CUP National. This year, led by my efforts, we were able to raise over $8000, almost twice as much as the previous record. I was able to use my networks and community connections to develop a very successful letter writing campaign, organize a few events, and encourage fundraising efforts from the candidates themselves. Thanks to a good advertising year, some fiscal prudence, and some sound employment choices, we were able to end the year with a surplus of nearly $50 000 (roughly a quarter of our budget) and formulate a solid plan for employment and equipment expansion in the next year.

Reference:

Brendan Doyle

Former Editor-in-Chief

brendan.doyle@unb.ca, (506) 471-9163

May 2004 – April 2005
President: University of New Brunswick Student Union

The UNB Student Union is the largest student representative body in the province, with over 7000 students constituting its membership. As the democratically elected President and CEO of this multi-million dollar group of non-profit organizations, this position entailed a large variety of roles and responsibilities. I was the official spokesperson and representative of the UNB Student Union and the student community at UNB. In this role I communicated with, and at times lobbied, the various levels of government, municipal, provincial, and federal. I also worked extensively with UNB’s administration on behald of students.

- Implementing new ventures in order to better serve students
- Working in partnership with various organizations: CASA, NBSA, MPHEC
- Volunteering for numerous activities: Shinerama, Orientation, CHSR

January - April 2003
Undergraduate Teachers Assistant: University of New Brunswick

Responsibilities included:
- Aiding professor in classroom preparation
- Helping with instruction and class projects
- Interacting with students and providing basic tutoring

May - August 2002
Farmhand: Willowbrook Farm, Ericson, BC
Responsibilities included:
- Planting and harvesting organic produce
- Learning organic farming and sustainable living
- General maintenance and care of farm and livestock

Summer 1992 - 1996
Counsellor in Training/Junior Leader: YMCA Day Camps, Fredericton, NB
Responsibilities included:
- Working with counsellors, children and their parents
- Swim instruction, organizing games and preparing large events

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