Author: Fiona Wright

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Lansdowne running with the Canadian Armed Forces

The countdown is on to this year’s Army Run in the National Capital Region – taking place on September 20th, 2015.  armyrun2014 startWe have runners in both races – the 5k and the half marathon. Walking, running and rolling are all options for completing the course!

The annual Army Run is an opportunity for the Canadian Armed Forces to thank Canadians, and for Canadians to thank to the Canadian Armed Forces.  Proceeds and fundraising efforts are directed to: Soldier On and the Military Families Fund.

Run with us! You can also share your #ArmyRunPhoto on Instagram, and by tagging @CanadaArmyRun you can win various prizes.

 

Lansdowne Technologies to host EMGroup Courses June 8-12 2015

Lansdowne Technologies Inc. will be hosting EMGroup as they teach their courses in Blast Mitigation, Mail and Packages Security, and Soft Target Security (with an emphasis on active shooters) on 8-12 June in the Lansdowne Boardroom at Suite 1001, 275 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario.

To learn more about and to register for these courses, please visit the EMGroup website at: www.explosivesmanagement.com

Instructing the courses will be Ken Clupp, CD, P.Eng., C.Tech., and Juri Kasemets, CD, P.Eng., M.Eng., MBA, both of whom are engineers and subject matter experts in the security and emergency management fields.

 

Blast Mitigation, Security and the Design-Basis Threat

Course description

This is a one-day course that covers the basics of blast theory and fundamentals of conducting a Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) to develop the Design-Basis Threat (DBT) in order to effectively apply Canadian Standard S850-12 Design and Assessment of Buildings Subjected to Blast Loads. The S850 Standard is intended for use by engineers and architects in the design of new buildings and the assessment of existing buildings to adequately mitigate the effects of blast threats. This is not an S850-specific course but the Standard is covered on the course as we show how and when to apply the basics of risk assessment, elementary blast theory, an understanding of explosives effects and applicable security principles.   The target audience includes engineers and architects (either working for the building owner/manager to determine the DBT OR using CSA S850 to design new buildings or retrofit existing buildings), facility owners/manager, project managers, organizations conducting risk assessments, insurance companies. Even previous attendees of CSA S850 introduction courses will benefit.

 

Mail and Packages policy and procedures workshop

Workshop description

This is a 2-day workshop for attendees to receive an in-depth appreciation of mail and package threats to the facility by routes into the facility including the mail centre, courier deliveries, hand deliveries, and shipping/receiving operations. This will be achieved through lectures and group discussion/presentation by attendees. Scanning is the examination of mail/packages by use of x-ray and/or other specialized detection equipment whereas screening is the examination without the use of special scanning equipment, i.e., visual. The workshop will address potential threats, analyzing risk, security measures, incident response to suspicious mail/packages, developing the response plan, facility design and staff training. This workshop will be of interest to senior security, and management with responsibility for risk reduction, mail centre operations, ‘front door’ security and shipping/receiving.

 

Soft Target Security: threat and risk assessment, bomb threats, and active shooters course

Course description

This is a 1-day course for attendees to receive knowledge of Threat and Risk Assessment (TRA), bomb threats, and active shooter planning and mitigation. A TRA is essential to planning and preparation for responding to threat situations. A TRA may help prove due diligence. Two specific workplace violence scenarios are reviewed: bomb threats and active shooters. The basics of prevention and response to the two scenarios are discussed. Security staff and managers may need to respond before first responders arrive – to protect the people who work and visit the facility. The course will be aimed at property/facility managers, supervisors, senior security staff, management with responsibility for developing policy and procedures against threats, and personnel involved in responding to a threat.

Lansdowne Presents at 2015 IAF Conference

 

Lego for Serious Business…Seriously?

The 2015 Conference of the International Association of Facilitators is taking place May 14-16 in Banff, AB…. and Lise Clement and Fiona Wright, Lansdowne’s SEF team, are packing their bags to join other experts and practitioners in the field of facilitation to explore new tools, processes, lessons and connections.

Lise, head of the Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation practice line at Lansdowne will be hosting a learning event for conference delegates on the use of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ in business planning.

So what is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™?

  • LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ is a radical, innovative, experiential process designed to enhance business performance. It is based on the belief that everyone can contribute to the discussion, the decisions and the outcome.
  • The use of LEGO bricks simply enables you to take a speedy shortcut to the core. The bricks work as a catalyst – and when used for building metaphors, they trigger processes that you were previously unaware of.
  • LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ levels the playing field, engaging 100% attention and participation.

    lego example

Come out and get your head, hands and heart working on solving your strategic business challenges.

We have also partnered with GreatWork, a technology company building a powerful online tool and tapestry based on sound strategic planning process to enable whole-hearted engagement by individuals to make effective decisions at the organizational level.

Curious?

Come and see Jen and Lise discuss the wisdom behind the development of the tool and showcase applications to see if it might be a fit for your great work.

Or, follow us on Twitter @LansdowneCG.

Lansdowne Rides for CHEO

On Sunday May 3rd 2015, Lansdowne employees and their families will be saddling up to support kids with cancer at the CN Cycle for CHEO.

Digital Image Sales Lorne 2012 Canadian Olympic Tri - Bike 1Lansdowne values local community involvement and supporting community members. Join us to help the great work that CHEO is doing to support kids and their families coping with cancer.

Childhood cancer is rare, yet every year at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) there are approximately 75 new diagnoses. The children, youth and families who are confronted with a cancer diagnosis rely on the staff at CHEO to help them through this difficult journey. This is why the CN Cycle for CHEO, the hospital’s largest pediatric cancer fundraising event, is such an important community event in the national capital region.

Sponsor a Lansdowne Rider

Here are our top riding tips:

  • There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choice: come prepared for the weather!
  • Riding = sweating. Especially for office workers. Bring water to rehydrate!
    • While the choice desk-job beverage may be coffee for most, this is a different ball game. Or bike ride.
  • Test your bike ahead of time.
    • No-one likes a consultant who shows up without the right knowledge or equipment for the job.
  • Bring the right tools to stay on track should something go wrong:
    New toy

    • An extra tube
    • Tire levers
    • A portable pump (the best is one with a switch between high volume and high pressure)
    • An allen-key set bike tool
    • An energy bar.  Not that we ever run out of energy. But it’s good to be prepared.
  • Wear eye protection.
    • We’re not talking chemistry goggles here, but sunglasses are key in the face of a fast moving bug. That little guy can whip right down your eye socket before you know it. And if you can’t see you can’t steer. And if you can’t steer… it activates the level of all other risk factors. And here at Lansdowne we are risk averse.
  • Know your capabilities. The right person for the right challenge.
    • We deliver quality services, which is contingent on matching the right people and the right skills to the job.
    • Don’t sign up for the 70km ride if you just bought your first cruiser at a garage sale.
    • Assess how resilient your system is and how much shock you can handle. If you’re particularly wedded to your office chair most days, half-day use of a bike seat might be a bit of a shocker.
  • Where there is no vision, the people will perish ~ F. Nightingale.
    • We are all part of a community, and our community has a vision.  As Canadians we value quality of life and well-being, and a strategic goal within that vision is to be able to overcome cancer.

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Sponsor a Lansdowne Rider

 

Frank Carpentier Joins Lansdowne

Lansdowne is pleased to welcome Frank Carpentier to our team.

Frank is an experienced business capture and proposal specialist with strong marketing and project management skills. He is able to offer clients support to their business development efforts in the aerospace, defence and construction sectors.

Hiring Lansdowne through Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements

Interested in procuring our services for your department?

Lansdowne Technologies Inc. / The Lansdowne Consulting Group serves the public and private sectors through a variety of procurement vehicles, including government supply arrangements and standing offers.

A standing offer is an offer from a potential supplier to provide goods and/or services at pre-arranged prices, under set terms and conditions, when and if required. It is not a contract until the government issues a “call-up” against the standing offer.

When are standing offers used?

A supply arrangement is a method of supply used by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to procure goods and services. Like standing offers, it is not a contract and neither party is legally bound as a result of signing a supply arrangement alone.

Supply arrangements include a set of predetermined conditions that will apply to bid solicitations and resulting contracts.

When are supply arrangements used?

Lansdowne is qualified to serve in numerous categories on government Supply Arrangement and Standing Offers as listed on the website.

Feel free to contact us at anytime to inquire!

Winner of BAE Systems Bronze Chairman’s Award

Lansdowne was awarded the BAE Systems Bronze Chairman’s award for TAPV in 2012. The award recognizes inspirational contributions and acknowledges achievements that demonstrate a devotion to excellence.

Congratulations!

Defence Procurement Strategy

The Defence Procurement Strategy will have a significant impact on major federal Government procurements. While its impact is still not fully understood, we have seen its inclusion on recent procurements.

With a continued requirement to reinvest 100% of the contract value in work in Canada, we will now see proposals contracts with a value of $20M+ require a Value Proposition with a comprehensive ITB Plan added to those with a value of $100M+. Perhaps more importantly; the Value Proposition will be rated and weighted versus the historical pass/fail of an IRB Plan.

Lansdowne will continue to monitor the application and evaluation of the VP and ITBs.

Fiona Wright Joins Lansdowne

P1070850Lansdowne is pleased to welcome Fiona Wright to our team.

Fiona is strategic facilitator and change management professional with a background in stakeholder engagement, collaboration, research and sustainable development. She is able to offer interested clients dynamic and innovative facilitation of meetings, workshops and events, as well as reporting and other project management services.

2 New Employees Join Lansdowne

Richard MoreauLansdowne is pleased to welcome Richard Moreau and Ian Anderson to our team.

Richard is an emergency management, emergency planning and information management subject matter expert with over thirty one (31) years of experience in the defence, security, and emergency management fields.

 

Ian is an experienced and proven strategic planner with the ability to develop concepts of operation that require the integration of multiple P1070843national and bi-national stakeholders. He has extensive marine operations experience ranging from operations at sea to planning and executing whole of government domestic operations at the operational and strategic levels.