This moment captures my visit to Pier 21, which to me, represents the importance of open immigration policy leading to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of today. When Canada welcomed immigrants fleeing their homes in search of a new life, it was history in the making which has demonstrated the value of living in a pluralistic society. While my family was not part of the history of immigrants that arrived at Pier 21, they are part of the history of immigrants that arrived in the 1990’s. When Idi Amin’s rule persecuted the South Asian African community in Uganda during the 1970’s, there was major impact on the rest of East Africa including neighbouring Tanzania where my family and I came from. This occurred before I was born but I know it affected my parents and even when it ended, my family sacrificed a life of comfort and luxury to leave a nation of corruption/political issues so that I could have a better education and life. I am so grateful for their sacrifice and to the policies that allowed my family to begin a new life and become fellow Canadians.

Roborace is the world's first driverless electric racing car. It represents the policy challenges on the horizon for governments to regulate the use of driverless cars across a variety of industries.

The Directorate, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (DGDI) is holding a Visioning workshop, as part of taking a strategic approach to supporting the integration of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) for the Department of National Defence. DGDI is taking a collaborative, team approach that capitalizes on its diversity, expertise, and passion to re-defining its priorities, approach, and work plan. While GBA+ is recognized as part of the policy development cycle, it is also important that there is the infrastructure, tools, and governance to support GBA+ as part of that cycle. In 16 months, the DGDI team has gone from 2 staff, to 13. It is being recognized as a Centre of Expertise within the department, as well as externally. It has developed a number of tools, including a Treasury Board Submission Annexe guide and Thinking Things Through tool that have been recognized as a best-practice by Status of Women Canada and are used extensively internally to the department. DGDI has also established a network of over 85 GBA+ Focal Points, conducted GBA+ assessments on over $10 Billion of projects or initiatives, and has begun to map the stakeholders, processes, and areas it will seek to influence over the short and medium-term. This picture represents the discussion of this team to reflect on its accomplishments, but also to look forward at what it should be doing to fully support the integration of GBA+ in all defence activities, from the design and implementation of programs and services that support our personnel, to equipment procurement and operational planning.

I've submitted a photo of my daughter Delta. When she was born a little more than a year ago, I discovered that the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada have created an integrated birth bundle for new parents. Through a single portal we were able to apply for a birth registration, birth certificate, social insurance number and CRA's tax benefits for parents. Four programs, from three different departments, across two jurisdictions and you only had to tell the government the information once. As a new father worrying about diaper changes, late-nights, etc. I appreciated that there service was easy to user and I didn't need to complete multiple forms. For me, this is a current state example of digital government at its best. Easy, User-centred, digital-end-to-end, reusing data responsibly and integrated across silos.

On my first taxi ride as a government employee, my coworker requested our route take us over the Alexandra Bridge to better see the view of the Parliament Buildings perched on top of the Ontario ridge. That day, and many days since, I have felt a sense of pride and connection to the larger community of policy makers tirelessly striving for a better Canada when I look at the cluster of impressive buildings on the Hill. I feel very fortunate to be a part of an organization that instills a sense of continual improvement, as I am aware that this is not the case in every country, and the system is not perfect. This photo was taken on an evening commute home, capturing a visual reminder of a shared course of action and positive outcomes for the future.

Using policy powers for good (and not evil)! This is the little superhero in my life. When he came along, the importance of creating a world that is positive, healthy, safe and connected was crystalized in my heart and mind more than ever before. As a policy practitioner, I feel lucky every day to have the opportunity to contribute to programming that has the potential to make a difference in the health of Canadians. In my work at the Public Health Agency of Canada, we put policy into practice by building partnerships and funding projects that encourage Canadians to sit less, move more, eat healthier and stop smoking. The ability to translate policy into meaningful and impactful programming is an ongoing challenge that we try to meet everyday. You can practically hear the BAM, POW, BOOM as we try to ensure that we are using our policy powers for good (and not evil)! The innovation agenda in the Government of Canada is helping us to do that by providing options to further refine our processes and tools to find ways to work smarter in the push to achieve our outcomes and ensure accountability to Canadians. My hope is that our policy contributions in healthy living and chronic disease prevention will help to build a Canada where the small superheroes of our future can learn, grow and thrive - and hopefully use their superpowers to continue making the world a better place.