The Path of Public Service

In Part One of Art Daniels’ conversation with Katie Jensen, Art Daniels reflects on his personal journey and the experiences that shaped his career and contributions in Ontario Public Service. From working alongside Lithuanian refugees in his father’s construction company to challenging outdated hiring rules in corrections, Art describes public service grounded in fairness, inclusion, and practical reform. Championing others in breaking down barriers,  and striving toward a greater good, he traces his early leadership lessons, his role in opening prison jobs to Indigenous people and women, and his shift toward community-based corrections, victim services, and deinstitutionalization. The episode also introduces Art’s broader philosophy of citizen-centred government, moving beyond rigid bureaucracy to focus on people, outcomes, and trust. 

[00:03:00] The influence of Art’s personal history

[00:05:00] How Art joined the public service

[00:10:00] The start of change in the Ministry of Reform

[00:15:00] Reform through community

[00:21:00] Community group homes

[00:23:00] The beginning of Service Ontario

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In Part Two of Art Daniels’ conversation with Katie Jensen, Art reflects on the bold government reforms that defined the next chapter of his public service career. He describes rebuilding Ontario’s Registrar General from the ground up by flattening hierarchies, hiring a more inclusive workforce, and replacing paper-based systems with digital imaging to better serve citizens. The conversation then follows Art’s reform work beyond Canada, including partnerships in Lithuania, Ukraine, Qatar, Egypt, and Kazakhstan, where he helped advance transparent, citizen-centred, and corruption-resistant public services. Art also revisits the evolution of Applaud from a long-service OPS club into a broader movement recognizing public service across sectors. The episode closes with his advice on vision, storytelling, and culture change. Lasting reform depends not only on new systems, but on helping people imagine a better way forward.

[00:02:00] Rebuilding a department from scratch

[00:04:00] The technology of change

[00:06:00] Modernizing public service in other countries

[00:10:00] The trustworthiness of Canadian Public Service

[00:13:00] Public service enabling economical growth

[00:18:00] How Applaud has evolved 

[00:22:00] Visionaries are storytellers

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Part 2 digs into the grind behind a “normal” 12-hour shift and the strain that chronic understaffing creates for both dispatch and crews. Communications Officer, Marie Larocque describes the dispatch “chess game” of moving ambulances to protect lunch breaks, often unsuccessfully, and the moral injury of holding exhausted paramedics on mandatory overtime. She also recounts a ride-along on the orange air ambulance, including a dramatic hospital transfer and being left behind due to weather. And Paramedic, Norm Robillard, reflects on the high standards emergency response personnel hold themselves to, learning from tough calls, and not “keeping score” on outcomes. Both critique offload delays and primary-care gaps, while stressing: if you’re truly sick, call 911. 

[00:01:50] The lunch issue

[00:04:10] Overtime and moral injury

[00:05:29] Paramedics and Communications Officers relationship

[00:07:29] Marie’s ride-along adventure

[00:10:10] The hard side of the work

[00:14:11] Offload delay

[00:16:48] Community band-aids

[00:19:05] If you need help, call

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In part 1 of this candid conversation, host Katie Jensen sits down with Marie LaRocque, a paramedic communications officer, and Norm Robillard, a former advanced care paramedic, to go behind the scenes of Ontario’s 911 and ambulance system. They reflect on dispatching emergencies across Eastern Ontario with minimal staff, evolving technology, and the relentless multitasking required on the radios. From dark humor and tough calls to rare “saves” and delivering babies, they share what keeps them going, and what wears people down. The episode puts listeners in the shoes of the voices on the line and the paramedics on the scene. 

[00:05:36] How Marie became a Communications Officer

[00:07:52] The evolution of the dispatching system

[00:11:18] How Norm became a Paramedic

[00:13:32] Bilingualism in EMS

[00:16:28] EMS in the 90s

[00:18:59] What is a good call?

[00:21:03] How many paramedics make it to retirement?

[00:21:49] The intense multitasking dispatch

[00:23:33] Healthcare gap stories

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In Part 2 of Path of Public Service, host Katie Jensen continues her conversation with Matthew‑Ray “Testament” Jones, Ontario’s second Poet Laureate. In this continued conversation, Jones reflects on his “why not me” mindset, the role of recognition in public service, and how poetry creates space for healing, connection, and expression across communities. He discusses his work with educators, seniors, survivors, and artists, highlighting how storytelling fosters empathy and collective resilience. The closing of this episode also explores his growing impact through Applaud partnerships, arts advocacy in Mississauga, and his forthcoming poetry collection. The conversation culminates in a powerful spoken-word performance inspired by his volunteering experience in the Philippines, underscoring art’s ability to honor unseen lives and inspire action.

Disclaimer:
Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

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In Part One of this episode, host Katie Jensen speaks with Ontario’s second Poet Laureate, Matthew‑Ray “Testament” Jones, a spoken‑word artist, educator, and community leader. Matthew shares how poetry and storytelling became a lifeline through childhood adversity, racism, and a non‑linear educational journey. And he traces his evolution from a young poet and hip‑hop artist to a respected cultural leader, educator, and father. Rooted in Jamaican heritage and Black history, his story emphasizes the power of language, creativity, and lived experience to shape identity, foster resilience, and inspire social change. 

Disclaimer:
Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

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In Part Two of our conversation with longtime Ontario public servant Barb Simmons, she takes us back to her early days of computing in the  Ontario Public Service (OPS) that included reel-to-reel backups, sneakernets, and the thrill of a first PalmPilot. Barb reflects further on her early career in apprenticeship and training policy, the high-pressure moments that shaped her ethics, and the hard-won lessons she worked to pass forward in mentorship. We explore her 23-role career path, the unmatched mobility within the OPS, and the realities of navigating crises. Barb also shares proud milestones, from leading major federal–provincial integrations, to supporting Indigenous women’s leadership, and her late-career mentoring work to make the OPS more inclusive for neurodivergent staff.

Disclaimer:
Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

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In Part One of our conversation with former Assistant Deputy Minister Barb Simmons, we explore her decades of leadership within Ontario’s public service and her commitment to advancing women’s social and economic opportunity. Reflecting on her years as ADM of Ontario’s Office of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, Barb recollects her meaningful work championing inter-ministerial collaborations, improving access for women entrepreneurs, and strengthening responses to gender-based violence across the province. After retiring from a demanding career, she shares how travel, rest, creative writing, and playful diorama-making helped her rediscover herself beyond work. Grateful for her happy home, Barb also opens up about her family’s experiences with transition, emphasizing inclusion, resilience, and the importance of supportive communities.

Disclaimer:
Any statistics, facts or data references mentioned in this episode have not been independently verified and may not reflect the most accurate, complete, or current data. Please consult reliable sources for up-to-date and authoritative information.

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In Part 2, Fatouma Ahmed reflects on what it means to lead with integrity, and responsibility. She discusses the role of allyship in opening doors for others, the importance of accessibility in design and service delivery, and how accountability strengthens leadership. She recalls lessons from her work across different ministries, where bridging policy and community realities required not just technical expertise but humility, and a willingness to share power. Fatouma also shares why representation matters in public institutions and how lifting others creates a ripple effect of belonging and change.

(00:04:24) Accessibility and its Benefits on the Lives of Everyone

(00:05:38) Designing Actionable Action 

(00:08:05) Changes in Public Service 

(00:13:32) Community and Youth Leadership Initiatives

(00:18:29) Cultural Heritage and Representing Underrepresented Groups 

(00:19:30) Co-Creating Inclusive Spaces

(00:22:34) Bringing Your Full Self to Work: Power in Vulnerability 

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In Part 1, Fatouma Ahmed reflects on the personal and professional journey that led her into public service. She recalls childhood memories of accompanying her family to immigration offices, as these moments gave her an early glimpse of how government decisions directly impact people’s lives. Fatouma speaks too about growing up as a Black Muslim woman in Canada, the role of community and early influences in shaping her commitment to service, and how she came to understand the humanity that lies at the heart of policy work. Fatouma also shares lessons in resilience and authenticity, and why representation matters in creating spaces of belonging.

(00:03:52) Childhood Memories: Visiting the Immigration Office
(00:04:36) Mother’s Influence: Strength, Sacrifice, and Inspiration
(00:09:01) Growing Up in Canada: Family, Community, and Early Responsibility
(00:11:04) First Jobs in Government: Learning Humility and Navigating Early Roles
(00:14:13) Experiences on the Immigration Refugee Board
(00:19:26) Giving Back: Teaching Kids the Value of Service

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