By Renée Trépanier, CFP Education and Communications Manager
SISIP Finacial Services, Ottawa
(613)760-3405 Renee.trepanier@sisip.com

This is a new column that will appear in every issue of Apropos, CFPSA's personnel newsletter. We said to ourselves that since Apropos was created for the personnel, the personnel should make the headline!

Our national photographer, Lyndon Goveas, being in Saint-Jean, we took the opportunity to ask him to take a photograph of the team and we decided to start this column with the team members.

Photo by: Lyndon Goveas Here is the St Jean CFPSA team from left to right: Roger Gauthier, PSP Community Recreation Director; Isabelle Côté, SISIP Financial Counsellor; Éric Gosselin, CANEX Manager; Martin Proulx, SISIP Financial Management Educator; Jacinthe Fallon, SISIP Administrative Assistant; and Jean-Pierre Toupin, PSP Manager.

We asked them the following question:

What do you like the most about your job?

Roger Gauthier, PSP Community Recreation Director:
"For me, it's being able to provide diversity. We have everything we need in terms of equipment, personnel and facilities. For example, we just finished organizing a bicycle trip and we are now preparing to set up a caribou-hunting trip in the far north. What is also very interesting is preparing the teams of civilians to support CF members in Bosnia. We have been in charge of that since the very beginning and I hope we continue to be for a long time, because it's very motivating!"

Isabelle Côté, SISIP Financial Counsellor:
"It's the opportunity to inform people that there is financial help out there that is customized to meet their specific needs. My role as a teacher is also exciting, because when I meet with my clients, I teach them how to solve their problems and take control of their financial future."

Éric Gosselin, CANEX Manager:
"It's the freedom that management allows me to have in my work methods. I was in the accounting field before and I didn't have as much flexibility. I like this work environment and I intend to have a long career with CANEX."

Martin Proulx, SISIP Financial Management Educator:
"For me, it's the fact that this service doesn't exist elsewhere. It's wonderful to teach young people how to manage their money. I feel that I help them a lot. I work with a designated group and it gives me a sense of belonging. Knowing that I have a direct impact on three to four thousand people per year, feeling that I kindle passions is very rewarding!"

Jean-Pierre Toupin, PSP Manager:
"I had to set up a civilian team to take over from the military team who performed these duties before. It was a big challenge and it is not over, because this kind of work is a continuous challenge. You have to constantly adjust yourself to the news rules of the game of our customers: FC members. You don't have time to rest, you have to constantly be on the look-out and ready to adjust."

Jacinthe Fallon, SISIP Administrative Assistant:
"I want to talk about what helps me to keep being thrilled by my work. More and more, we feel that we are part of a team. Too often, administrative assistants are kept aside, left out in the cold, but not here. Next year, we will have a training session of at least two days in Ottawa - just for us administrative assistants. Now that's something to get worked up about!"

Lastly, did you know that?

Roger Gauthier was part of the first group who set up Operation Santa Claus following the Golf War in December 1993.

In 2002, Jean-Pierre Toupin was named to the Canadian Forces Honour Roll for his involvement as an athlete and a highly skilled instructor. Congratulations Jean-Pierre!