In this practice, we assess needs, design, develop, deliver and evaluate training. Our professionally trained adult educators have developed over two dozen courses for federal departments and have delivered well over 100. Although most of our work in this area is to develop courses for government clients, we have also developed and delivered several of our own courses, which we customize for each client audience.

Our approach to training is based on the principle that people are always an organization’s greatest asset, and that training is an investment in their futures and the future of the organization. Having said this, we are well aware of threats to training resources and are committed, therefore, to providing cost-effective, results-based training solutions that maximize resources and build stronger organizations. We use a systems approach to training design and development, including evaluation. By working closely with our clients we co-design and co-develop flexible, practical and lasting training solutions that really fit people’s training needs and budgets.

This business line includes the following services:

• Training needs analysis
• Training / course design and development
• Training / course evaluation
• Course delivery

D&A courses that can be given on short notice include:

• Train the Trainer (two – four days)
• Presentation Skills for Professionals (two days)
• Internal Marketing ….. selling your ideas up the food chain (one day)
• Facilitating Small Groups (two days)
• Managing Public Consultations in the Federal Government (two days)

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Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Local Health Integration Network

Community Engagement Training

Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN) in Ontario are required by their legislation to plan and deliver healthcare services that are tailored to local/regional needs. As such, each LHIN operates an on-going community engagement (CE) program. Delaney and Associates Inc. developed and delivered a five-day customized IAP2 certificate program to Community Engagement Specialists from 11 of the 14 LHINs. Delaney and Associates Inc. are licensed service providers of the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) and used the IAP2 certificate training program as the platform for this training delivery.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Habitat Program Services Branch

Review and Revise the FA-LP 301 Inspection and Investigation Course

The Habitat Management Program offers a number of internal training courses. D&A was commissioned to review the existing Inspection and Investigation Course and to design and develop a new course, based upon that review and the input of both legal and natural science subject matter experts. Tasks included review of learning objectives, redesign of the learning framework, and design and development of new materials, including lesson overviews and learning activities. This four-day course is an important training tool for those who carry out the Program’s compliance responsibilities.

Natural Resources Canada, Office of Energy Efficiency

Review and Revise the Dollars to $ense Workshops

Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) offers four Dollars to $ense workshops. They are: Energy Master Plan, Spot the Energy Savings Opportunities, Energy Monitoring, and Energy Efficiency Financing. D&A was hired to facilitate a two-day workshop for contracted OEE trainers, the purpose of which was to review and discuss proposed changes to these courses, and to offer recommendations. The OEE required a facilitator with training experience to facilitate this workshop.

The facilitator worked with the event planning team to develop an agenda and process to support the identification, discussion, documentation and approval of revisions to the existing course materials. A detailed list of agreements, priority issue areas, and potential revisions was one of the outputs of the workshop.

Stikine School District, Dease Lake, B.C.

Student Assistant Professional Development Workshop

The Stikine School District recognizes the important role that Student Assistants play in the classrooms, schools and communities of this immense school district, which is predominantly First Nations. Student Assistants, however, have received little, if any, training in support of this role. Professional development has been identified recently as a priority, in order for this role to be maximized and for duties to be conducted most effectively.

The D&A trainer, who is also a certified teacher, conducted a needs analysis, designed a learning framework, developed a training handbook and delivered a two-day professional development workshop. Workshop topics included: professionalism, creating a positive learning environment, communication and conflict, and student behaviour.

Natural Resources Canada

Train the Trainer Course

Delaney and Associates (D&A) developed and delivered a two-day course that helps to prepare sustainable development and environmental management policy and program officers to deliver the two-day sustainable development course that we previous helped to develop. This skill development course provides an overview of adult learning principle; information about course management; handling difficult behaviour; delivery skills; opportunities to strengthen delivery skills, and culminating in a videotaped practicum.

Industry Canada; Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Managing Public Consultations in Government

Delaney and Associates (D&A) offers a two-day course on managing public consultations in the federal government. The course covers all federal public consultation policies and directives, consultation techniques, project management protocols and consultation strategies. It includes a participant binder, relevant case studies and several in-classroom activities and exercises. Our courses are learner-focused and results-driven and, therefore, we undertake a participant pre-course survey to baseline skill levels and learning needs and conduct a full post-course evaluation.

Justice Canada, Centre for Conflict Management

Informal Conflict Management System Train the Trainer

We were hired in early 2006 by the Federal Centre for Workplace Conflict Management, Justice Canada, to deliver a Train the Trainer program to help federal departments build internal capacity to roll out and sustain the government-wide (ICMS then being introduced across the federal house.

Our team has delivered the Train the Trainer course many times in different (departmental) settings, but this application was different because course participants had an unusually wide range of knowledge and experience in their subject area – conflict management. We needed to design a Train the Trainer course designed specifically to develop participant capacity to deliver the Level 1 (Introductory) and Level 2 (Advanced) Conflict Management programs. Two (one French and one English) week long residential courses were run simultaneously.

Fisheries and Oceans, Habitat Management Programme

Presentation Skills for Science-Based Professionals

This course was designed and developed specifically for science-based professionals who are required to address the public and industry associations. The three-day course provides detailed insights into important concepts such as: presenter as leader, influencing attitudes and behaviour, creating rapport and developing a personal presentation style. Participants make six individual presentations, including a recorded 20-minute formal presentation. Participants also receive and learn to use planning and design templates based upon the presentation lifecycle, including evaluation and follow-p for continuous improvement.

Natural Resources Canada, Office of Energy Efficiency

Financing for Energy Efficiency Project

As part of a joint venture with EPS (Montreal), D&A helped to develop an Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) workshop aimed at assisting companies to structure financial deals for energy efficiency capital works. In the fall of 2006, this one-day workshop will become the fourth in the OEE series. Our role was to work with subject matter experts to undertake a needs analysis, design and help develop workshop materials, and run two four-day train the trainer courses (French / English).

Industry Canada, Environment Canada, Transport Canada

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE: Implementing Sustainable Development In the 21St Century Knowledge Economy

In affiliation with Professor Glen Toner (of Carleton University’s Faculty of Public Administration) and Mr. Kevin Brady (of Five Winds International), we helped to develop and deliver a Sustainable Development capacity-building course for federal departments. The course is a four-module program, which is presented over a three-day period, for up to twelve participants. Module one deals with the history and concepts of sustainable development (SD). Module two is a customized presentation on the SD impacts and opportunities for the client department. Module three is a review of current best practices in SD from similar organizations around the world. This module concludes with a session on SD issue scanning. Module four is a session on techniques for integrating SD into business management.

D&A developed module four, using relevant case studies identified during the pre-course participant issue scan. The module walks participants through various exercises using customized SD planning and business tools and aims to assist with the identification of realistic SD objectives and targets. Industry Canada was the first federal department to commit to a formal approach to SD capacity-building using this course; several other departments have signed long-term contracts since that time.

Canadian Police College (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

The Mind / Body Connexion

In the fall of 2001, we were approached by the Canadian Police College to develop a course that helps middle managers to better understand their strengths and weaknesses as supervisors. The Mind / Body Connexion course is a half-day session within the Senior Police Administrator’s Course (SPAC), which is a three-week program taken by virtually all federal and municipal police force members who are moving into supervisory roles. The course focuses on the physical elements of leadership and explores the dimensions of stress, emotional highjack triggers, and ways to improve and refine leadership performance. It includes discussions on the links between past experiences and values and how these influence response, reaction and decision-making. A yoga session is built into the course, which is presently delivered eight times per year.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Habitat Management Programme

National Training Programme Development

The Habitat Management Programme of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is a $72M programme comprised of over 250 biologists and other habitat management professionals. The purpose of the programme is to conserve, restore and enhance fish habitat in Canada, for both marine and freshwater ecosystems. As part of an overall strategic plan, known as the “Blueprint”, the programme set out to address staff development and programme delivery concerns through development of a national training programme.

We were approached to design a systems approach to habitat management training. The system includes a series of two-four day training courses, including instructor guidebooks, participant workbooks and reference guide for each course. Central reference resources were also compiled as part of the training system and to support on-going programme management. We also developed the communication strategy, evaluation tools and other supporting documents and instruments.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Habitat Management Programme

National Training Course Design and Development

In support of the National Training Programme (above), we have designed and developed all training materials, including instructor guidebook, instructor slides, participant workbook and evaluation tools, for the following courses:

Introduction to Fish Habitat Management Course – a two-day introduction course for fish habitat biologists that provides an overview of the Habitat Management Programme, including the legal and policy frameworks.

Introduction to Environmental Assessment Course – a two-day course for fish habitat biologists that provides an overview of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and the policy framework, along with two sets of six case studies (French and English).

Expert Witness Training Course – a three-day course for fish habitat biologists that helps them understand their roles and responsibilities when preparing to testify before a court or in a hearing. The course provides an overview of the court system, criminal hearings and the judicial process and concludes with a mock trial.

Twelve Case Studies (Six English / Six French)

Training within the natural sciences is generally best conducted in an “applied” environment. For cost-effectiveness purposes, however, the Habitat Management training courses are all classroom or e-learning-based; therefore, we were commissioned to develop a series of twelve science-based case studies to help provide illustrations of operational applications of the course content.

Sustainable Development – a stand-alone module that outlines the history of sustainable development, as well as the major concepts and how they are applied to the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Smart Regulation – a stand-alone module that outlines the concepts and applicability of Smart Regulations to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Train the Trainer Course – a four-day course that helps to prepare fish habitat biologists to deliver habitat management training courses internally. The course provides an overview of the national training programme, including roles and responsibilities; information about course management and the principles of adult learning; and, opportunities to strengthen delivery skills, culminating in a videotaped practicum. We have trained over 100 biologists, from across Canada, using this course.

Habitat Management – HM102

After major policy and process changes to the Habitat Management Programme, in support of government-wide regulatory streamlining, D&A was commissioned to review the existing two-day habitat management and environmental assessment courses and consolidate them into one three-day course. This project included a needs analysis and design and development of an instructor guidebook, participant workbook, a slide deck and course activities.

Risk Management – FA201

After assisting with the development of the National Training Programme, and several courses within the programme, we were asked to develop a two-day course on how to apply risk management concepts to the habitat management process. Based upon several of the tools and emerging procedures for the freshly minted Risk Management Framework, we created an advanced-level course for habitat management practitioners, including many individual and small-group skill-building exercises and case studies.

Evaluation and Up-Date of Habitat Management Courses

Since development of the original Introduction to Fish Habitat Management course, significant changes to the organization and the way business is conducted necessitated a complete review, evaluation and revision of the HM course.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Trainer Skills Up-Date Workshop

In support of the Fisheries and Oceans National Training Programme, we were commissioned to undertake an assessment of internal trainer skill gaps and to develop and facilitate a two-day workshop to help close these gaps. The assessment also looked at areas where training materials needed to be refined.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Habitat Management Programme

Instructor Training

In support of the National Training Programme, we have delivered five four-day Train the Trainer courses in English and two in French to approximately 60-70 fish habitat biologists from across Canada.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

Course Development and Instructor Training

Over a two-year period, NRCan presented five (40-person) Welcome to the Future courses (see above). In order to increase the number and flexibility of course offerings, NRCan decided to revise the course and deliver it internally. We were commissioned to undertake a needs analysis and develop the learning framework for the new two-day course. The project included a half-day instructor orientation for the new course trainers.

Canadian Police College (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

An Appreciative Approach to Problem-solving

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) successfully uses a “problem-based” approach to learning. This is the approach taught at the Canadian Police College. During a professional development day, the College wanted to expose the faculty to a completely different approach to problem-solving. Using the concept of Appreciative Inquiry, we developed a two and one-half hour lecture and activity session that illustrated an approach to problem-solving and performance improvement that might be applicable to police work.

Transport Canada

Sustainability Impact Assessment and Planning

In 2002, we were proud to include Transport Canada as part of the Welcome to the Future training series for sustainable development capacity-building in the federal government. Transport Canada is a forward-looking and innovative department. As part of the course development, the Sustainable Development Directorate of the Environmental Affairs Division commissioned us to develop a sustainability impact assessment (SIA) process and analysis instruments. The new process was used in the course exercises and will be applied broadly within the department to assess sustainability impacts of policies, plans, programmes and projects.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

A Licensed Approach to Training Delivery

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is responsible to develop and deliver awareness and competency training related to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. A training package had been developed several years previously and was delivered through contractors at several locations in Canada, about six times per year. The Agency was looking for ways to improve the quality of the course and, at the same time, reduce its delivery cost.

We proposed and were subsequently commissioned to research a licensed approach to delivering the course. Under this innovative arrangement, it was proposed that the Agency license private consultants or educational institutions to deliver the course on an “as and when needed” basis. The delivery agents retain the proceeds from the course and pay royalties to the Agency. These royalties are used for quality assurance, continual improvement of the course and, over time, development of other training products.

Canadian Police College (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

Emotions in the Workplace

Emotions are an integral part of the workplace. Emotions are not benign and can add to or take away from the bottom line in terms of morale, innovation, productivity, and employee retention. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police operates a national police college in Ottawa and asked us to develop a presentation, which included small-group activities, that demonstrates the importance of emotions in the workplace and strategies to deal with and engage these emotions.

Canadian International Development Agency

Chinese Study Tour for Strategic Environmental Assessment Practitioners

Part of the mandate of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is to help developing countries to build management capacity within their governments. An important part of this capacity is sustainable development and environmental management.

We were invited to develop a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) orientation course for Chinese environmental practitioners taking part in the CIDA “study tour” programme. The course included information on the Canadian approach to SEA, as well as procedural, constitutional and institutional considerations. The course also included presentations by several prominent Canadian leaders in the field and instruction in the areas of corporate social responsibility and environmental management systems.

National Capital Commission

Environmental Management Training Seminar

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is an operational organization that owns significant real property and undertakes or contracts a wide range of physical activities that have the potential to impact negatively on the environment. To mitigate potential negative impacts, the Commission developed an environmental management system (EMS) based upon the ISO 14001 standard.

The NCC is committed to continued improvement of its environmental performance and, having identified a number of areas for improvement in a recent audit, commissioned us to develop, deliver and follow up a bilingual, one-day environmental management system (EMS) training course, based upon the ISO 14001 standard. This course was designed to increase EMS understanding on the part of principal environmental aspect managers, as well as managers with partial environmental responsibilities. The learning modules, which were accompanied by numerous case studies, paid particular attention to the task of setting objectives and targets within the NCC operating context.

Canadian Police College (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

Personal Learning Strategies

We were asked by the Canadian Police College to develop a course that helps participants understand their strengths and weaknesses, relevant to the learning objectives for the Senior Police Administrator’s Course (SPAC), and to develop a personal learning strategy that facilitates improved performance in key competency areas.

We used the SPAC learning objectives to develop a facilitated self-assessment process that seeks to identify areas where participants feel there are opportunities for personal performance improvement. The self-assessment includes a prioritization process that is linked to job-related requirements and leads to development of an action-based learning strategy that is driven by individual learning styles.

Health Canada

Sustainability Assessment Guidance for Policy and Programs

As part of its strategy to integrate sustainable development throughout its departmental policy and programming framework, Health Canada commissioned us to develop a number of management instruments. A “HOW TO” guidebook and assessment tool was developed to help senior policy and programme managers ensure that the department’s SD policy is fully engaged for new or revising existing policies, plans or programs.

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Environmental Assessment Training for Projects Outside of Canada

DFAIT, CIDA and National Defence are the principal departments affected by the Projects Outside of Canada regulation. As a followup to development of the POC policy and procedures, we were requested to develop and deliver a series of “introduction” courses and a “refresher” POC course.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Regional EMS/EMP Development, Training and Implementation: St. John’s, Newfoundland; Winnipeg, Manitoba

We were asked to undertake a review of Small Craft Harbour (SCH) environmental management practices and then to develop an environmental management system. Following the national environmental management system (EMS) review, we were approached by Newfoundland Region and, subsequently, by Central and Arctic Region (ON, MN, SK, AB, & NWT) to help develop a regional EMS and environmental management plans (EMPs) at the harbour level. Through meetings and focus groups, we developed a regional EMS to help staff coordinate activities at the harbour level; a straightforward approach to managing government-operated facilities; and, a step-by-step approach to environmental management by Harbour Authority Boards of Directors. As well as developing EMPs for harbour authorities, we coached SCH staff in developing EMPs for those harbours that they continue to manage.

We designed, developed and delivered several training initiatives for this project, including a two-day training course for SCH regional staff, a one-day training course for harbour managers and users, and a Harbour Authority Manual. [www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca]

Environmental Canada

Federal Committee on EMS, Training and Awareness Working Group

We were engaged by the Training and Awareness Working Group of the Federal Committee on Environmental Management Systems for 24 months to undertake a review and create an inventory of environmental training programs and materials in the federal government. The project compared training in the federal government to that in large, private-sector organizations. The final report was presented at a national workshop of federal environmental practitioners. It contained recommendations on how to improve the federal approach to environmental training, which in turn provided the terms of reference for a followup federal training initiative.

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)

Environmental Awareness Training

As part of the implementation of the PWGSC “Zero Waste” initiative at federal buildings, we developed and implemented a series of environmental awareness and waste system orientations for building tenants (public servants). The project included over 30 small-group orientation sessions and development of promotional materials and activities to showcase the new system. The project also included baselines and followup evaluations to determine project success.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Public Awareness: Environmental Assessment for Families

The Agency has a mandate to protect the natural environment from human activity in a proactive way. As part of its outreach program, the Agency commissioned us to develop an awareness brochure for Members of Parliament to include in their spring “Householder” publication, as part of Environment Week promotions. The brochure spoke to families about their environmental impacts and responsibilities and provided an assessment process for major household purchases and projects.

Health Canada

Performance Management Framework and Workshop

Health Canada is committed to integrating sustainable development into national health policy and programs. We were asked to develop a planning, management and reporting framework; workshop teaching materials; and, work instruments focused on results-based planning. Our solution was to go back to basics – building capacity for strategic planning and developing tools to draw the required linkages between strategic and business planning. This involves moving from “knowing what should be done” to “making it happen”. The centre of this approach is the real key to effective management and the biggest challenge to all federal departmental: making the shift from monitoring inputs to reporting results. We also conducted four one-day workshops to help Health Canada build management capacity in this area, and they are now in the process of making the sustainability shift.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA)

SEA Awareness Programming

CEAA is committed to raising awareness and increasing the use of policy and program environmental assessment within the federal community. We were retained to help establish an interdepartmental forum and develop and implement an awareness campaign.

Environment Canada

Environmental Management System Development (Edmonton)

After developing a national framework for its environmental management system (EMS), Environment Canada (EC) had been struggling to get facilities on line. We were asked to look at logistical and corporate cultural barriers and opportunities and to develop a methodology to address identified problems. In response, we developed a customized, step-by-step practitioner’s workbook for this project, which has now become the template for all EC facility-level EMS training and implementation. Our team spent several on-site days training facility staff in its use. In January 2001, EC brought its first facility on line. An action plan has been developed, and several more facilities will come on line over the coming months.