CPHR Manitoba Chair’s Message

Colleen Coates, CPHR

Chair, CPHR Manitoba Board of Directors

HR IS LEADING THE WAY

By Colleen Coates, CPHR, Chair, CPHR Manitoba Board of Directors

As COVID-19 continues to dominate the news and we navigate the various stages of the pandemic in our workplaces, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the extraordinary work of HR professionals. You have played a crucial role in helping organizations not only manage the effects of the pandemic but doing so while handling other major issues that arise in the workplace as a regular course of business. For the past few years, HR professionals have taken the lead in facilitating organizational evolution around issues like diversity and inclusion, accessibility and accommodation, mental health, social media, workplace harassment, ethical leadership, and more. This pandemic is another such issue that shines a light on the value that strategic human resource management brings to business operations, adding further credibility to the CPHR designation.

At CPHR Manitoba, we recognize the power of human resources professionals and what they bring to an organization. We actively work to ensure that our members are recognized for their knowledge, skills, experiences and the CPHR designation. One way we do this is by welcoming our members to volunteer on our Board of Directors and various committees. Our members are the heart and soul of our organization and we are proud to have participation from professionals just starting their careers to the seasoned experts. Their willingness to volunteer and share their knowledge and valuable experiences is what enables CPHR Manitoba to move forward with our initiatives and programs to support CPHR development.

We also continue to provide a variety of resources that encompass the needs of all of our members. This fall, we introduced a new PD Passport, which includes one registration to each of our four premiere virtual events: • Future of Work Conference — October 21 & 22, 2020 • Diversity Forum — January 28, 2021 • Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace Conference — March 11, 2021 • Talent Forum — April 15, 2021

This is just a sampling of the learning opportunities for 2020-2021. We will also continue to run our webinars, executive breakfast series and plan for additional events, workshops and forums.

We remain committed to our mission of advancing the human resource profession in pursuit of our vision of positively impacting leadership, employees, organizational health and organizational performance — where the CPHR designation is highly desired and widely accepted. As HR professionals, we have the opportunity to influence government, business communities and its members as we move our organization forward and work to meet our strategic goals.

On behalf of CPHR Manitoba, I look forward to continuing working with you — our brand ambassadors, advocates and dedicated HR practitioners.

Thank you and have a healthy and safe winter!

Colleen Coates is the Chair of CPHR Manitoba’s Board of Directors and Vice President, People & Culture at Farmers Edge. She has more than 20 years of comprehensive human resources experience including senior leadership positions with Princess Auto, The North West Company, The Dufresne Group, and Convergys Customer Management Canada. She also worked as the National Practice Leader for Total Rewards at People First HR Services where she consulted for organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors.

CPHR Manitoba is committed to advancing the human resource profession and helping CPHRs positively impact workplaces across Manitoba.