DeputyMinisterWatch: Deck the halls with bizarre departmental email!

Meanwhile, another colleague discovered that this is only the most recent installment in the religious studies correspondence course that Dansereau has been conducting over the last month: 

From: Office of the Deputy Minister / Bureau de la sous-ministre
Sent: 2010-November-25 9:14 AM
To: XGLF-GRP, All Gulf; XNFL-Group, All Newfoundland Region; XPAC All Exchange; XNCR-Grp, NCR_All; XCA-Grp, AllRegionalStaff; XMAR, All-Maritimes
Subject: Birthday of Guru Nanak / Anniversaire du gourou Nanak

(La version française suit)

This week is a special time in the Sikh religion, as it marks The Birthday of Guru Nanak. A Sikh Festival is held each November 24 to celebrate the life of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. 'Guru' means teacher:

Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak (15 April 1469 - 22 September 1539) and nine other Sikh Gurus, and today Sikhs follow the teachings of the ten Gurus. During the Festival Day, there are often processions through the street and firework displays. In Sikh temples, which are called Gurdwaras, the Sikh holy book, called the Guru Granth Sahib, is read from beginning to end; candles are lit in the Gurdwara and in homes, shoes and offices.

I encourage all employees to take this opportunity to learn about The Birthday of Guru Nanak, Sikhism and the contributions of the Sikh communities in Canada.

DFO is a learning organization that values the perspectives and contributions of all employees from diverse backgrounds. Managers are able to consider requests for accommodation from employees, in accordance with the departmental Accommodation Policy and Guide.

I wish all who are participating a lovely celebration this week.

Claire Dansereau

Deputy Minister

Incidentally, the reference to candles being "lit in ... homes, shoes and offices" appears to be a typo/mispaste from the relevant section of a British website designed for planning school assembles, which uses the identical wording, with some editing, but lists "homes, shops and offices" as the traditional -- and much safer-sounding -- venues for fiery tributes.

A few days later, another missive arrived:

From: Office of the Deputy Minister / Bureau de la sous-ministre
Sent: 2010-December-01 10:49 AM
To: XGLF-GRP, All Gulf; XNFL-Group, All Newfoundland Region; XPAC All Exchange; XNCR-Grp, NCR_All; XCA-Grp, AllRegionalStaff; XMAR, All-Maritimes

Subject: HANUKKAH: December 1 - 9, 2010 | HANOUKKA : du 1er au 9 décembre 2010

(La version française suit)

Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BC. Hanukkah is observed for eight evenings starting on the 25th day of Kislev to the 2nd day of Tevet (or on the 3rd if Kislev has 29 days) according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar.

The Festival of Lights is commemorated by the lighting of the Hanukkah lamp (Hanukiah), a type of menorah which contains eight candleholders plus a shamash (master light). The holiday begins by the lighting of one candle on the first evening of Hanukkah. On each subsequent evening, an additional candle is lit.

On each day of the holiday, the kindling of the Hanukkah lamp is followed by a short prayer. The Hanukkah story is then recounted.

DFO is a learning organization that values the perspectives and contributions of all employees from diverse backgrounds. Managers will be able to consider requests for accommodation from employees who will be celebrating Hanukkah, in accordance with the departmental Accommodation Policy and Guide. I encourage all employees to take this opportunity to learn about Hanukkah and the contribution of Jews in Canada.

I wish all who participate a very happy Hanukkah.

Claire Dansereau
Deputy Minister

On the plus side, no inaccurate and possibly inadvertently culturally offensive references to flaming footwear -- really, did that strike no one involved in the vetting process as sufficiently odd and/or fire-hazard-risk-inducing to warrant a quick fact check, or at least Googling? -- but as is the case with the rest of the series, the tone is just briskly patronizing enough to almost certainly induce eyerolls and grumbles in recipients, no matter how well-intentioned the initiative.

It's one thing to remind managers that they may be facing a spurt of requests for religious holiday leave -- not that they would likely need it, since they are, after all, managers, and have presumably gone through the December holiday cycle before -- but treating your employees like promising but slightly backwards third graders may not be the best way to raise morale within the public service -- not to mention the almost impossibly delicate process for deciding which festivals -- religious and otherwise -- don't qualify to make the short list. As far as I know, at press time, no backgrounder on Yule-tide rituals has been received -- and it started yesterday! 

But maybe I'm being far too Grinchy. What do you make of it, commenters?