Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Nancy Snowball has extensive experience in public and not-for-profit sector organizations addressing social and health issues. Holding graduate degrees in communications and health promotion, she began her career working in public education in 1986 delivering programs addressing child sexual abuse prevention. She then moved into tobacco use prevention, legal education and communications for the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. In 2002, she moved to Ottawa to take on the role of National Manager for Strengthening the Forces, directing the development, marketing and training in programs designed to address the unique work-life challenges of serving members of the Canadian Forces. She later returned to Calgary to direct the promotion of cancer screening programs for the Alberta Cancer Board where she managed several programs for marginalized populations, administered two grant programs and oversaw the development and implementation of a multi-media campaign to promote breast cancer screening. In 2006, she joined the Calgary Health Region to run the tobacco use prevention/cessation programs. She later added the Healthy Public Policy unit to her portfolio before joining the Mental Health Promotion team in 2009. In 2010 she took her knowledge of mental health promotion to the Mental Health Commission of Canada where she undertook initiatives to address mental health in the workplace. After leaving the Mental Health Commission in 2012, she worked as a consultant in communications and volunteer management. In 2014, she joined the City of Calgary as a Business Strategist in the Calgary Fire Department. Her primary work there has been the development and implementation of a mental health strategy for both uniformed and non-uniformed members. Throughout her career, Nancy Snowball has continued her education to stay up to date with best practices in communications and health promotion.
In this position, I research and make recommendations on program opportunities, organizational development and restructuring, re-design and introduction of processes. The most recent project has been developing and implementing a psychological health and safety strategy to bring the Fire Department into alignment with the CSA Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The first step in this was adapting, piloting and evaluating a training program to help uniformed members to enhance their psychological resiliency and learn to identify and support those in need of assistance. This program proved valuable for recruit classes and subsequently I have developed similar programs for non-uniformed staff and one for frontline fire fighters that combines self-directed online learning and peer facilitated in-station conversations.
Chaired the volunteer employee Psychological Health, Safety and Wellness Committee. Planned and coordinated an employee engagement survey that received 75% response rate. Worked with a cross-organizational group to develop the survey strategy, determine subject areas and select questions for the survey. Planned, managed, coordinated and conducted all aspects of employee focus group research including focus group design, recruitment, facilitation and content analysis of the resulting qualitative data for wellness plan development. Approximately 65% of all employees participated in at least one focus group. Developed a comprehensive employee wellness plan. This plan was grounded in employee input from the employee survey and focus groups, the draft National Standard for Workplace Psychological Health and Safety, health and operational data, unpublished literature reviews and critical analysis documents of the MHCC Workforce Advisory Committee, occupational health and safety legislation and regulations and a limited literature review of promising practices.
Directed and reviewed the development of communication tools (posters etc.) to support the implementation of a smoke-free policy on mental health units throughout the Calgary Health Region. Designed, secured approval for and staffed the Tobacco Policy Education and Inquiry Project, an interactive ‘edu-tainment’ project to engage patients, staff and visitors to identify barriers and potential solutions to comply with the Calgary Health Region’s tobacco-free policy. As Co-chair, Smoke Free Calgary, coordinated provincial government agencies and non-profit agencies in the design and delivery of initiatives to encourage smoke-free private and public spaces. Worked with multi-stakeholder committees to develop public health policy proposals. Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to develop public education events about mental health and mental illness. Acted as editor of a resource for parents wishing to build resilience in their young children.
Directed a multi-media campaign: Be a Breast Friend, Key Influencer Initiative. Worked with an external contractor to develop and secure approval of the campaign concept, specific elements including print advertisements, script, talent selection and production of a promotional video, scheduling and implementation of a province-wide launch tour. Acted as the public and media spokesperson for the launch events. Managed annual cervical cancer screening grant program for health regions: reviewed proposals and awarded funding. Analysed evaluation data submitted by health regions at the conclusion of the funding year and generated program report. Developed and administered the province-wide Community Grant Program, which involved revising the existing grant program to extend eligibility beyond the health regions to include non-profit and community groups. Developed a new application package, reviewed funding proposals and awarded funding.