April 18th, 2011

MAYOR NENSHI PROCLAIMS SECOND-ANNUAL WORKSHIFT WEEK IN CALGARY

Calgary Economic Development launches Canada’s first national whitepaper on telework

(CALGARY) – To celebrate the second-annual WORKshift Week, Calgary Economic Development has an exciting line up of events planned to profile WORKshift, the Calgary regional telework initiative. To kick-off the week, Mayor Naheed Nenshi will address the media this morning on the impact of the WORKshift program to the Calgary community and the potential impact for the rest of the country.

“Building a more sustainable Calgary is very important, and we can do this by considering innovative approaches to transportation and transit issues,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “WORKshift demonstrates how cities can address these issues in a meaningful and financially prudent way, and I am pleased to see the City of Calgary leading by example.”

In the past year 100 participants from the City of Calgary have been working from home one day a week. This telework program has resulted in close to 200,000 kms of reduced vehicular travel and avoided over 40,000 kgs of green house gas emissions. This is the equivalent of the total emissions from the electricity used by five homes per year.  

The WORKshift program is the first of its kind in Canada. This Calgary-based initiative, being led out of Calgary Economic Development, is a program that embraces the concept that you don’t have to go to work to be at work. Calgary Economic Development is working with the Calgary business community to help accelerate the adoption of telework programs so that they may realize the triple bottom line benefits associated with the practice.

Telework is not new,” said Robyn Bews, Program Manager for WORKshift.  “In fact, we know that a vast majority of Calgary companies are already seeing their employees work from home or places outside the office as a regular practice. We want to encourage companies to embrace, track and measure the impact and benefits.” 

 

Media is invited to attend the following WORKshift Week events/ activities:

 

 

WHAT:             Virtual press conference to launch Canada’s first national whitepaper on telework - “WORKshift Canada: the bottom line on telework” in collaboration with the Telework Research Network (TRN).  

WHO:                          

• Robyn Bews, Project Manager, WORKshift
• Kate Lister, Telework Research Network (TRN)
• Hosted by Cisco WebEx

 

WHEN:             Monday, April 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. MDT   

WHERE:           This is a virtual press conference - there is no physical location

 

To join the online meeting environment:

1.  Go to https://cisco.webex.com/cisco/j.php?J=209525258

2.  Enter the meeting password: calgary

3.  Click “Join Now”.

4.  Follow the instructions that appear on your screen to join the teleconference.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This WebEx service includes a feature that allows audio and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. By joining this session, you automatically consent to such recordings. If you do not consent to the recording, discuss your concerns with the meeting host prior to the start of the recording or do not join the session. Please note that any such recordings may be subject to discovery in the event of litigation. 

To only join the teleconference:

To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the meeting, or call the number below and enter the access code.

Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): +1-866-432-9903

Call-in toll number (US/Canada): +1-408-525-6800

Toll-free dialing restrictions: http://www.webex.com/pdf/tollfree_restrictions.pdf

Access code:209 525 258 

 

 

WHAT:             Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson, former HR executives and authors of the book “Why Work Sucks and How to Fix it” address Calgary business leaders on the merits of ROWE

WHEN:             Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 

WHERE:           Gasoline Alley – Heritage Park Historical Village

                        1900 Heritage Dr S.W. Calgary, AB T2V 2X3

 

 

WHAT:             Kate North (e-Work) and Nancy Settle-Murphy (Guided Insights), global experts in the virtual workplace, will lead a highly interactive, 90-minute session designed to help organizations prepare employees and managers to thrive in the increasingly (and inevitable) virtual workplace.

WHEN:             9-10:30 a.m.

WHERE:           The Global Business Centre – Terrace View Room

                        120 8^th Avenue S.E.

                        Calgary, AB T2G 0K6

 

 

WHAT:             A surprise public engagement activity planned in downtown Calgary.

WHEN:             11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

WHERE:           Stephen Avenue, 200 Block West

 

 

CED can provide the media with names of employees and employers to speak to who are already reaping the rewards a more flexible workplace can provide. Additionally, CED will try to make all WORKshift Week event speakers available for interviews.

 

Did you know:

 

• We are the only program of our kind in Canada and are establishing a benchmark program that will be replicated by other jurisdictions
• We have worked with 18 organizations in Calgary  to consider flexible work programs
• A three per cent reduction in the number of Calgarians commuting to work on any given day would completely eliminate gridlock
• This program addresses pressing urban issues including traffic which is strangling our city
• 43 per cent of Canadians would change jobs to an employer that allows occasional telework (the war for talent is back and employers care about this stuff)
• Our site has the best tools for employees and employers considering WORKshift including an award-winning video and a build your own business case app.

 

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ABOUT CALGARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  

Calgary Economic Development (CED) is working to make Calgary the undisputed choice for people and business. As Calgary’s lead economic development agency, we work with businesses to facilitate growth, expedite local, national and international business investment and trade development opportunities and promote sustainable economic growth in the Calgary region. For more information on Calgary Economic Development, please visit our website at www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com

 

ABOUT WORKSHIFT

WORKshift is an innovative initiative by Calgary Economic Development to promote, educate and accelerate the adoption of telecommuting in the business community. WORKshift offers businesses in the Calgary region tools and resources to assess and effectively implement telework programs for their employees.  

For more information contact:

Calgary Economic Development

Media Cell: 403.880.7040