Announcement – Movement of personnel within the PCX community

Colleagues,

I am pleased to share with you a number of upcoming changes within the PCX community.

I would like to announce the deployment of Michaela Kent to Executive Director, Atlantic, effective October 10^th, 2023.

Michaela began her career with Parks Canada in 2001 as Manager of the Discovery Centre in Gros Morne National Park. In 2009, as Manager, External Relations she focused on raising the profile of Parks Canada and its sites within the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Field Unit.  In 2014, Michaela, her husband and three children made the move from Newfoundland to Manitoba when she was appointed Field Unit Superintendent in Riding Mountain.  She also acted as the Executive Director, Operations in Prairies, Yukon and Northwest Territories from 2017-2019.  In 2019, they continued the journey west as she was appointed the Executive Director of Operations in Alberta.  Michaela and her family are excited to return back to their roots in Atlantic Canada after having had some fantastic adventures and meeting many wonderful people. 

Michaela holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature as well as a Master of Arts degree in English Language and Literature.

I would also like to announce the deployment of Melanie Kwong to Executive Director, Alberta effective October 10^th, 2023.

Melanie returns to Parks Canada with a wealth of experience from her time at the Department of Canadian Heritage. Since 2021, Melanie was Director General, Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience where her team delivered high-profile major events, including the installation of the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada; a Royal Tour of Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall; Platinum Jubilee activities and a national commemorative ceremony for the Late Queen Elizabeth II; the first post-pandemic Canada Day in Ottawa and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony on Parliament Hill. Her team also led the passage of federal legislation to designate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 80), worked with residential school survivors to initiate work on the national residential schools monument in Ottawa (Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 81) and funded approximately $50M in grants and contributions for activities and events in the context of post-pandemic re-opening.

Melanie holds a Bachelor in Communication from the University of Ottawa.

I would also like to announce that Louis Lavoie has accepted a promotion in the role of Special Advisor to the Vice President, External Relations and Visitor Experience, effective July 31, 2023. Louis will be supporting the Vice President in the development of a strategic plan for ERVE.  His valuable operational experience will be critical to the work the directorate will be undertaking to identify strategic priorities for 2024-2029. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Louis for his contribution and leadership as Acting Executive Director, Atlantic over the last 9 months.

Louis began his career in the public service in 1997 at Industry Canada and joined the Parks Canada team in 2003. Since then, he has worked in various roles: Manager of Internet Policy and Operations, Senior Business Analyst at the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Senior Advisor to the Agency’s Chief Executive Office, Manager of the Office of the Vice-President of External Relations and Visitor Experience, Senior Advisor for Private Sector and Community Engagement at Rouge National Urban Park and finally as Field Unit Superintendent for Southwestern Ontario as well as Field Unit Superintendent for Quebec. In recent years, he has also held interim Executive Director positions in several regions. Since 2021, Louis has been the co-champion for official languages and co-chair of the Parks Canada Agency's Greening Coordinating Committee.

Louis has a Bachelor's degree in Consumer Sciences from Laval University and a certificate in computer programming from Algonquin College.

During this transition period, Géraldine Arsenault has graciously agreed to take on the Acting Executive Director Atlantic role from July 25, 2023 until Michaela’s arrival in October.

Please join me in wishing each of them all the best with their new roles.

Ron Hallman
President & CEO
#StrongerTogether #ParksCanadaProud

Reminder to managers: In keeping with Parks Canada's procedures for communications with employees, managers are responsible for ensuring all employees under their responsibility receive the information intended for them. It is important that you find a means to transmit this message and, if any, the attachment(s) to employees without access to Parks Canada e-mail or the intranet, e.g., by posting it, circulating a paper copy or by any other appropriate means.