CITY OF CHILLIWACK 2025 Annual Report 34 35 2025 Annual Report CITY OF CHILLIWACK STRATEGIC GOAL #7: ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE Employ recruitment strategies that focus on attracting the best workforce, while providing opportunity for internal advancement. Provide focus on workplace safety and on-site training while encouraging ongoing professional development. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2025 RECRUITMENT Strategize to attract and retain staff. Focused on internal advancement opportunities for staff. Offered educational opportunities to promote advanced knowledge and qualifications. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Encourage employee development and create opportunities for internal advancement. A combination of virtual and in-person training sessions were completed for a variety of educational courses. Provided refresher courses on important policy information. Provided refresher courses in relation to mental health to frontline workers. Delivered refresher training to all staff on the City’s Respectful Conduct in the Workplace Policy. Delivered PIECES (Progressive Institute of Education for Chilliwack Employees’ Success), an in-house leadership program facilitated by the Justice Institute of BC. Delivered Freedom of Information (FOI) training for all staff to educate on compliance with legal obligations and best practices. EFFICIENCY Provide fast and efficient service. Concerns and issues followed up on promptly. Maintained efficient turnaround times on approvals for all types of development. Continued using the web portal permitting system and cloud-based software associated with building permit applications with funding from the Union of BC Municipalities Local Government Development Approvals Program. The system was expanded to accept all forms of building permit applications resulting in one-half of applications being submitted electronically. Completed the Form and Character Design Guidelines update project to improve clarity for staff and the public, reduce uncertainty in the development process, and enable quicker City reviews. STRATEGIC GOAL #8: CUSTOMER SERVICE Ensure employees receive customer service training in order to provide excellent and efficient service to the public. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2025 TRAINING Train employees to provide quality customer service. Continued to provide Customer Service Training for new employees. WORKPLACE SAFETY Build and maintain a safe and respectful workplace that minimizes workdays lost due to injury. Continued to provide additional support to staff after an incident, resulting in less Lost Time Incidents and a stronger Return to Work process. Conducted monthly safety meetings to encourage greater staff engagement. Staff from all departments continued to represent on three active Joint Health and Safety Committees. Provided Respectful Conduct in the Workplace training for all staff. Provided staff with a Sleep Education Workshop to support long-term health and reduce risks of serious illnesses. Provided De-Escalating Potentially Violent Situations Training to all staff to practice strategies for effective communication. Provided further knowledge for psychological safety and health education through poster campaigns, educated toolbox talks and various courses. Continued utilizing an online platform to facilitate access and improve document quality for health and safety issues. Continued providing training specific to safety-sensitive work including Occupational First Aid, Traffic Control Certification, Blood Pathogens and Defensive Driving. Continued peer-to-peer training support to include Crane Operations, Bucket Truck Operations, Boom Lift, Snow and Ice Control, and Snow Plow Operations. Continued certification training for operationally relevant and safetysensitive courses including Fall Protection, Confined Space Entry and Rescue, Forklift, Trench and Evacuation, Utility Locating and Overhead Crane Operator. Continued annual hearing tests and respirator fit testing to maintain employee health and safety.
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