On the Road -
Connecting Corrections Staff
By David MacLean

Their voyage isn't quite like those described by Jack Kerouac or William S. Burroughs in their beat novels of the 50's, but a couple of Alberta Corporate Services technicians recently embarked on an important journey of their own.

On April 17, systems analysts Stuart Lee and Gerald King hit the road for two months with routers, hubs and modems. Their mission: to give corrections offices in all areas of the province access to online pay information using PCs in their work area.

AGent is a province-wide employee information network that helps eliminate paper and mailing costs associated with monthly pay advices. The system also provides important employee information regarding vacation time and other benefits.

Most corrections facilities have stand-alone PCs for staff use. After Stuart or Gerald drops by and installs the required hardware and upgrades the browser software, more employees will have full access to pay and benefit information online.

Gerald and Stuart initially worked together in Calgary, and are branching out on their own to other communities around the province.

When reached by phone while installing hardware in Rocky Mountain House, Stuart said two months traveling Alberta's highways is a challenge.

"I can't get a good night's sleep because each night it's a new bed," said Stuart. "But the great part of this trip is that I've finally met the people I speak to on the phone all the time. Connecting them to the network really helps people do their jobs."

The corrections tour wraps up in the summer of 2001.

Edmonton Queen's Printer Bookstore gets a new home

Be thankful you weren't part of this moving party. Edmonton's Queen's Printer Bookstore and its thousands of pounds of publications have moved to a new location.

For all your legislation and publication needs, visit Queen's Printer Bookstore at:

Main Floor,
Park Plaza Building
10611 - 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta,
T5K 2P7

Free parking is available on 107th Street.

If you have any questions, please contact the bookstore at 780-427-4952 or e-mail them at qp@gov.ab.ca.