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Honouring continued service Territorial government employees in the Deh Cho recognized
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 27, 2013
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A group of territorial government employees in the Deh Cho were honoured earlier this month for their commitment.
Lori Chemerys, a corporate services officer, is presented with a framed certificate by Carl Lafferty, the regional superintendent of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, during the 2013 long service award ceremony in Fort Simpson recognizing her 10 years of employment with the territorial government. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo
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The annual long service award ceremony was held in Fort Simpson on June 14 at the Seven Spruce Golf Course's clubhouse. Forty employees with five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years of service were recognized. The Dehcho Divisional Education Council will be conducting its own ceremony for 13 members of its staff.
Gail Villeneuve, the manager of regional finance operations with the Department of Finance, was one of eight people who were recognized for spending 25 years working for the territorial government. Villeneuve began as a data entry clerk, a position she held for approximately 10 years.
In 1996, she became the assistant regional manager and then advanced to being the manager in 2006. Villeneuve said the department is a good match for her because she's always been interested in finance.
"I just enjoyed working with numbers," she said.
She's spent all 25 years with the same department, except for two years when she transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Villeneuve especially likes data entry. After a while, she didn't even have to look at her fingers any more while entering numbers. Villeneuve, who plans to retire in four years, said the good team she works with has also been a positive part of her job.
When it comes to loyalty to one department, Hilda Antoine has Villeneuve beat. Although it's changed names three times during her tenure, Antoine has been a part of the Department of Human Resources for 25 years.
During the awards ceremony, Celine Antoine, the Dehcho Human Resources Client Services manager, applauded Hilda's dedication and loyalty to the department.
She's helped the workforce in this area apply for jobs and has encouraged people to continue their education, Celine said. Hilda has also helped the department's staff, she said.
"She has a lot of corporate knowledge," said Celine.
Hilda, who is a human resources officer, started with the Department of Personnel when she was a stay-at-home-mom raising children after being offered a two-week position doing typing and filing.
That position was extended as a casual for two months and then term for six months before Hilda got a position as a pay and benefits clerk in July 1988 and has been with the department ever since.
"I've seen lots of changes over the years," she said.
Hilda's first desk was a filing cabinet drawer with a piece of cardboard put over it. All of the paperwork was done manually until the department started using computers in 1989.
Over the years, Hilda has been a human resource manager, a senior benefits and officer and a human resource officer. One thing has remained the same.
"I like that interaction with employees," she said.
"I like the work. I really enjoy it."
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