Open Hands’ Projects

Navigable Waters Protection Program

Transport Canada, 2011

Transport Canada’s Navigable Waters Protection Program (NWPP) introduced new national service standards in 2011. The roll-out required a comprehensive set of tailored communications products to communicate the changes to diverse stakeholders. In addition, the key points of recent legislative changes needed to be communicated to specific external audiences. Open Hands created a comprehensive first draft of the various communications products identified in the NWPP 2011 communications plan (e.g. information kits for key partners and stakeholders, Intranet and Internet copy, media releases, ad copy, presentation decks).

On the strength of this work, Open Hands was subsequently contracted to write the copy for two publications: a general guide for all program applicants, and a guidance document for applicants in cases where the proposed project triggers section 23 of the Navigable Waters Protection Act, involving the federal Cabinet in the review process.

CATSA Annual Report 2010/11

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, 2010

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority required the services of a professional writer to create the front end of their 2010/11 Annual Report. Working closely with CATSA personnel, Teresa LeGrand provided advice on the structure of the document and crafted most of the text comprising the first half of the report (up to the Management Discussion and Analysis). You can view the finished product here:
http://www.catsa.gc.ca/File/Library/87/English/AnnualReport2010.pdf

Environmental Health Guides

Health Canada, 2009

Health Canada’s Environmental Health Information Division is responsible for social marketing initiatives aimed at increasing Canadians’ awareness of environment-related health issues. The Environmental Health Guides project developed a series of draft publications aimed at diverse public audiences. Open Hands developed a storyline entitled Your environment … your health covering all of the issues identified by Health Canada. Subsequently, Open Hands was retained to write three audience-specific guides—one for tenants, one for homeowners, and one covering recreational activities.

Feasibility Study for Developing a HARS Training Tool

Health Canada, 2009

Heat Health Alert and Response Systems (HARS) are being developed in several Canadian municipalities as a means to prepare for and manage the public health response to the health risks of heat waves. Health Canada’s Climate Change and Health Division retained Open Hands to conduct a feasibility study on developing a portable HARS decision-support and training tool that could be used by municipalities. Conducted in three phases, the study included an environmental scan, identification of options, and an outline of several potential courses of action.

Volunteer Program Three-Year Strategic Plan

Canadian Blood Services, 2009

Canadian Blood Services’ Volunteer Program Manager was facing challenges in the development of a new three-year strategic plan for the program. Open Hands was retained to provide a fresh perspective and suggest new strategic directions to both address current challenges and align the program’s plan with research findings and other internal strategy documents. Teresa’s insight and analysis led to a set of recommendations which ultimately formed the basis of a new draft strategy, contributing significantly to the final version of the plan.

Human Health in a Changing Climate: A Canadian Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacity

Health Canada, 2008

Human Health in a Changing Climate is Canada’s first assessment of the potential health risks related to climate change. Open Hands was retained to develop a 24-page draft of a synthesis report for policy makers covering the main findings and recommendations of the 400+ page technical assessment document. In related tasks, Teresa distilled the report’s main findings into a single page covering eight main points and wrote additional summary text for a general readership.

Sustainable Development Action Items Management System (SD-AIMS)

Natural Resources Canada, 2008

Open Hands consulted with departmental staff to determine user needs, then drafted a comprehensive specifications document for upgrading the Department’s Web-based application for tracking the status and reporting on commitments made in its sustainable development strategies. Scott Clarke managed the implementation of the new iteration with our technology development partner.
http://sd-aims.nrcan.gc.ca/

The Green Zone

Natural Resources Canada, 2007

The Green Zone is an Intranet site aimed at engaging NRCan internal audiences in the Green Operations Initiative. Open Hands assisted with the organization and development of the site. Teresa wrote all introductory and connective text, edited and integrated supplied materials, researched and recommended external links, and suggested directions for future content development.

Sustainable Development Web site

Natural Resources Canada, 2007

Open Hands was hired to assist with the redevelopment of NRCan’s Sustainable Development Web site. Initial discussions regarding the implementation of Treasury Board’s Common Look and Feel (CLF) 2 standards resulted in a decision to conform to CLF1 but take steps to make the site content as CLF2-ready as possible. Open Hands worked with the project team on the new site architecture, produced all artwork, wrote the required text and implemented a new transitional site.

Freshwater: The contributions of Canada’s natural resource industries

Natural Resources Canada, 2006

Open Hands conducted research, compiled information supplied by industry and the Department, and drafted a 44-page document outlining the activities of Canada’s natural resource industries related to the stewardship of freshwater. This publication was developed as a companion piece to Freshwater: The role and contribution of Natural Resources Canada, which was edited by Open Hands and published in 2005.

Adapting to Climate Change: A Primer for Municipalities and Communities Canadian Climate

Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network (C-CIARN), 2005

Open Hands developed a draft of a 24-page primer, Adapting to Climate Change : An Introduction for Canadian Municipalities. The primer was intended as a tool to help decision makers in municipalities and communities develop a better understanding of climate change, its potential impacts, and proactive adaptive responses, particularly with regard to infrastructure and emergency preparedness planning. Now available in a new edition.
http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/pub_e.php

The Nunavut Energy Management Program: Teachers’ Kit for Grades 1 through 12

Crocodile Communications (for the Government of Nunavut), 2005

The ‘Save 10’ initiative was launched by the Government of Nunavut in response to rising fuel prices and environmental concerns related to dependence on diesel-generated electricity. Open Hands, working with Crocodile Communications, conducted research and developed lesson plans appropriate for Nunavut students in grades 1 through 12. The kit was intended to engage teachers and students in the program to retrofit school buildings for energy-efficiency, and also communicate the territorial government’s ‘Save 10’ message, encouraging all citizens to find energy savings amounting to 10 percent.
http://www.gov.nu.ca/save10/English/inschool.html

Sustainable Development Strategy 2004 – 2007: Moving Forward

Natural Resources Canada, 2003-04

Teresa worked on-site with NRCan staff for six months to develop the Department’s third Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS), Moving Forward. Responsibilities included drafting the main text blocks and editing the action tables. While on staff, Teresa contributed to several other projects within the Strategic Policy and Portfolio Coordination sector. Open Hands also prepared the SDS for publication on the Department’s Web site.
http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/sd-dd/pubs/strat2004/index-eng.php

Sustaining the Environment and Resources for Canadians

Environment, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Agriculture (ENRFA) Cluster, 2002

EnvironmentandResources.gc.ca was one of the earliest efforts to provide a horizontal information portal on the Government of Canada Web site. Open Hands provided a content architecture document for the sustainable development vertical of this interdepartmentally managed Web site. Teresa was responsible for drafting story-line copy and identifying supplementary documents and links.

Sustainable Development Action Items Management System (SD-AIMS)

Natural Resources Canada, 2000-2001

Open Hands was retained to develop a custom Web-based application for tracking the status and reporting on commitments made by Natural Resources Canada in its first Sustainable Development Strategy. Scott was responsible for developing the project specification and managed the implementation of database and interface with our technology development partner.
http://sd-aims.nrcan.gc.ca/

Climate change fact sheet series and newspaper supplements

Environment Canada / Climate Change Bureau, 2000

Open Hands developed a series of six four-page fact sheets aimed at a public readership on topics related to climate change. Teresa wrote the text as well as managing translation, design and print production. Following this work for Environment Canada, the federal Climate Change Bureau requested draft copy for a newspaper supplement “Understanding our changing climate” which was widely distributed in major Canadian dailies.

A Canadian Perspective on Climate Change: Science, Impacts and Adaptation

Environment Canada, 1999

A Canadian Perspective on Climate Change was a series of documents prepared for the Government of Canada’s presence at the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CoP5) meeting in Bonn, Germany in 1999. The Science, Impacts and Adaptation document was reviewed by representatives of several federal departments, went through three drafts, and was produced to very tight deadlines. Teresa was the lead writer assigned to this project.

National Association Web site

Canadian Library Association, 1998

Scott was the lead consultant assisting the Canadian Library Association with a complete review and redevelopment of their Web site as part of a re-branding exercise. Open Hands also developed a new logo and graphic standards for the organization, and created a Web site look and feel to match. All aspects of the site implementation were handled by Open Hands. (Note: the site has since been reiterated; the logo has been retained.)

HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse

Canadian Public Health Association, 1996-1999

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse was a bilingual site hosted by the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA). Open Hands assisted the CPHA with the development of this site, including the site architecture, graphic design and HTML implementation. (The Clearinghouse ceased operations in 2008.)

Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory

Environment Canada, 1996-1999

The Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory (EVRI) is an Internet database of valuation studies. Its aim is to assist economists in locating studies for the purpose of conducting benefits transfer analysis. Scott managed the development of the site’s graphics and HTML, and created a public-access area of the site and a user tutorial.
https://www.evri.ca/

Web site development projects

Environment Canada, 1996-1999

Work for Environment Canada during this period included designing and building templates for the Biodiversity Convention Office site and the department’s Science and Technology site. Scott was the senior consultant for these projects. Open Hands also converted several bilingual publications for Web presentation, including Canada’s Ozone Protection Program: A Summary (two editions, for which Open Hands also provided writing, editing and translation services) and the Code of Practice on Halons.

The Green Lane

Environment Canada, 1997-1998

Teresa worked on-site as a Senior Communications Advisor attached to The Green Lane, Environment Canada’s public Web site. Specific responsibilities included managing the launch of a cutting-edge interactive site component aimed at a youth audience, ongoing improvements to internal resources for site developers, and the development and launch of specialized site components related to international events and emerging national issues. This was a one-year term appointment.