Their accomplishments, as individuals and team members, clearly demonstrate that the Public Service of Canada is a professional and adaptable institution, dedicated to serving Canada in an increasingly complex world.

In order to keep pace with the rapid changes in society, particularly in the face of uncertain economic times, renewal of the Public Service has never been more crucial. Building on the tremendous strengths of Canada’s Public Service remains a priority for this Government. It is particularly those strengths that we celebrate in today’s award recipients.

These dedicated public servants are shining examples of the innovation, professionalism and achievements of our Public Service. In recognizing their achievements, we continue to set new standards for excellence in our delivery of service to Canadians.

Message from the Honourable Kevin G. Lynch

Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet

On the occasion of the Public Service Award of Excellence, I am pleased to highlight the outstanding achievements of all of this year’s recipients.

These individuals and teams have demonstrated an extraordinary willingness and ability to go above and beyond their duties in the pursuit of excellence. Their talent, professionalism and penchant for developing innovative solutions has set them apart in ensuring that Canada’s Public Service remains a proud and adaptable institution.

With the ever changing pace and complexity of the challenges we face as a country, the need for talented and dedicated public servants has never been greater. This is what makes the recipients’ contributions to Canada so impressive. All public servants can draw inspiration from their creativity and commitment to getting the best possible results for Canadians.

As Clerk of the Privy Council, and on behalf of the entire Public Service of Canada, I am proud to honour these recipients. Their hard work and dedication are deeply appreciated by all Canadians.

C. Recipients for 2009

Outstanding Career
Excellence in Citizen-Focused Service Delivery
Innovation
Exemplary Contribution under Extraordinary Circumstances
Employment Equity and Diversity
Management Excellence
Youth
Official Languages

Outstanding Career

Dr. Basil Arif • Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada

Canadians salute Dr. Basil Arif for his outstanding contributions to national and international research on insect science.

Since 1972, Dr. Arif has worked as a molecular virologist at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, one of five research centres within the Canadian Forest Service sector of Natural Resources Canada. He has conducted research to develop environmentally safe control agents that use naturally occurring viruses and bacteria.

Dr. Arif is considered a world leader in the genetic modification of insect viruses. His goal was to make a more effective agent that targets forest insect pests in an environmentally safe manner. With his team, two insect viruses were identified. Their work led to a $4.6 million grant from Genome Canada. The research focused on developing a virus to control the spruce budworm, one of the Canadian forest industry’s more destructive pests.

Dr. Arif has also made significant contributions to the fields of insect physiology and integrated pest management. He has been instrumental in the success of Canada’s research centres of excellence dedicated to insect science.

Dr. Arif has also undertaken work to deal with the application of his science. He is currently leading a research program, in partnership with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, to develop environmentally safe biological control agents.

His discoveries have been published in nearly 100 scientific publications around the world. His work has also resulted in two worldwide generic patents for baculoviruses.

Canadians can thank Dr. Arif for his landmark research to develop safe new agents for pest management.

Nominated by the Departmental Recognition Committee, Natural Resources Canada.

James S. Booth • Natural Resources Canada

Canadians owe a debt of gratitude to James S. Booth for a lifetime of leadership in Canada’s oil and gas industry.

James S. Booth Over the last 30 years, Mr. Booth has contributed to our economy by helping to build the foundation of Canada’s oil and gas markets and position them for long-term, sustainable growth. With an eye to the future, he steered the oil and gas industry to several decades of prosperity. Thanks to his keen market instincts, the industry has become the backbone of the Canadian economy.

Throughout his career, Mr. Booth has explored new frontiers for Canada’s oil and gas industry. In the beginning of his career, he pushed for the exploration of new developments, such as Alberta’s oil sands, and other unconventional sources of energy. Mr. Booth soon became an expert on the Canadian regulatory system and a strong supporter of free and open markets. He defended Canada’s positions in international forums and pushed through the deregulation of markets, opening up oil and gas developments in eastern Canada.

Later in his career, he oversaw the regulatory review of several new gas pipelines. He also led the Government of Canada’s position on northern gas pipelines and advanced the development of the liquid natural gas market in Canada.

Mr. Booth has also been a coach and a mentor to many younger colleagues, with whom he has spent many hours sharing his experiences and passing on his knowledge of Canada’s petroleum sector.

His legacy is the solid position of Canada’s oil and gas industry and its bright prospects for future growth.

All Canadians can congratulate Mr. Booth for his outstanding career in leading Canada’s energy policy.

Nominated by Adam Hendricks, Director of Western Operations, Major Projects Management Office, Natural Resources Canada.

Renée Jolicoeur • Public Works and Government Services Canada

Canadians can thank Renée Jolicoeur for her outstanding contribution to improving the delivery of services and her unwavering commitment to the Public Service.

Renée Jolicoeur At Public Works and Government Service Canada, Ms. Jolicoeur’s strategic and forward thinking has been instrumental in developing the Public Service of the future and leading pay and pension administration reforms across the Public Service of Canada.

As Assistant Deputy Minister of the Accounting, Banking and Compensation Branch, she has tirelessly pursued a solid modernization agenda, helping to deliver modern and cost-effective pension administration to employees and pensioners across the federal government. Encouraging creativity and leading-edge solutions, she pioneered the Compensation Web Applications, the first secure-channel solution to be formally certified and accredited in the Government of Canada.

For over 34 years, Ms. Jolicoeur has been inspiring her teams to strive for excellence. Under her direction, the Receiver General continues to enjoy recognition as a world leader in reporting to Parliament and the public.

Ms. Jolicoeur has gained the respect and confidence of everyone she has worked with. Her commitment and enthusiasm are infectious. This has helped her to build strong dedicated teams. She is always professional and dedicated to excellence, no matter the task, and inspires her staff to be the same way.

Canadians are proud of Ms. Jolicoeur for helping to shape the future of the Public Service.

Nominated by Brigitte Fortin, Director General, Compensation Sector, Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Mary Frances Laughton • Library and Archives Canada

Canadians can congratulate Mary Frances Laughton for her dedicated work over a 37-year career, improving access and library services for people with print disabilities. She realized early on that, to provide an inclusive workplace, employers need to make the right equipment available to employees with disabilities.

Mary Frances Laughton Ms. Laughton was a driving force behind the activities of the National Library’s Task Force on Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians. The Task Force found that three million Canadians have print disabilities. However, fewer than five per cent of Canadian materials are published in a format that they can read.

Ms. Laughton co-authored the groundbreaking report Fulfilling the Promise, which outlines recommendations for improving access to information for Canadians with print disabilities. In response, Library and Archives Canada took up the challenge by establishing the Initiative for Equitable Library Access.

Ms. Laughton has a genuine talent for finding innovative solutions to new and emerging issues. She was responsible for developing Industry Canada’s Accessible Procurement Toolkit. She set out to create a resource that would be easy to use and provide up-to-date information on how to ensure mainstream equipment, such as computers and telephones, could be accessible right out of the box or with minimal adaptation. The toolkit helps procuring organizations comply with policy and legislative requirements to accommodate their employees with disabilities. In addition, it creates more accessible products for Canadians using government services.

Ms. Laughton has gained an international reputation for her expertise in improving physical and electronic access for people with disabilities.

Canadians salute Ms. Laughton for her outstanding contribution to advancing accessibility issues in Canada.

Nominated by Chanel Blanchard and Trisha Lucy, Project Officers, Initiative for Equitable Library Access, Library and Archives Canada.

Edward J. McIsaac • Office of the Correctional Investigator, Public Safety Canada

Canadians owe a debt of gratitude to Edward J. McIsaac for promoting social justice in federal prisons over the course of his outstanding career.

Edward J. McIsaac Mr. McIsaac has held the position of Executive Director at the Office of the Correctional Investigator for 19 years. This small agency has the challenging mandate to investigate complaints from federal offenders.

Working in corrections is a tough job. But in his nearly two decades with the Office, Mr. McIsaac has made it look easy. The challenge is to find workable solutions in very difficult and highly charged environments, where negotiation is the key to success. In this role, Mr. McIsaac has won the respect of wardens, those working in corrections, and imprisoned men and women across Canada. He has been described as the “conscience” of the Office of the Correctional Investigator.

Mr. McIsaac has worked tirelessly to promote the fair and human treatment of federal offenders. His relentless desire to uphold human rights was the driving force behind many reforms aimed at promoting social justice in federal prisons. Mr. McIsaac is a role model to many working in corrections and is an inspiration as someone who has the courage of his convictions.

Around the world, Mr. McIsaac is the subject expert on addressing human rights violations in federal prisons. Canadians applaud Mr. McIsaac for his excellent leadership in ensuring that our correctional system is world class.

Nominated by Nathalie Neault, Director of Investigations, Office of the Correctional Investigator, Public Safety Canada.

James Van Adel • Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

The Public Service of Canada commends James Van Adel for his dedication to making a difference for Canadians.

James Van Adel In his early days as Chief of Review Services at National Defence, Mr. Van Adel managed a large group of professional auditors and evaluators. Driven by his commitment to uphold the public trust, he oversaw the implementation of many innovations intended to strengthen the department’s internal audit function.

In 2002, he was awarded the Deputy Minister/Chief of Defence Staff Renewal Award for his dedication to renewal in the workplace. In 2007, he became the Assistant Comptroller General, Internal Audit, at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Mr. Van Adel has delivered on the daunting challenge of leading the implementation of the 2006 Internal Audit Policy.

Integral to his success has been his vision of the internal audit function and its role in making government more accountable. His overall goal is to improve efficiency and achieve savings for Canadian taxpayers.

At the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Mr. Van Adel has been instrumental in developing the Secretariat’s Charter. In this work, he has brought to bear both his vision for the Public Service and his commitment to excellence. The Charter captures the ethics, values and principles that have underpinned his career in the Public Service.

His dedication to serving Canadians has been an inspiration for the next generation of internal auditors and policy advisors. The Public Service salutes Mr. Van Adel for providing outstanding services to Canadians, based on the principles of transparency and accountability.

Nominated by Brian Aiken, Assistant Comptroller General, Internal Audit, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Excellence in Citizen-Focused Service Delivery

Richard Comerford • Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Thanks to Richard Comerford, municipalities and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador are empowered to take charge of their economic development.

As Director General of Regional Operations with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Comerford has long recognized the importance of working closely with communities.

With the introduction of the Municipalities Act in January 2000, municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador were granted the responsibility for local economic development.

Mr. Comerford began working closely with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador on a new initiative to help prepare municipalities to direct economic development in their own communities.

Through the Local Action Developing Regions (LADR) initiative, he and his colleagues at ACOA reached out to citizens where they live, tailoring workshops and providing relevant information and research to each community. The LADR initiative comprised workshops presented to community leaders, helping them understand how to encourage economic development in their region. Using a ”lessons learned” approach, they were provided with information on how citizens in other parts of the world have been able to effect economic change. As well, they were given information on best practices in economic development and were given the opportunity to network with other community leaders and government partners.

The point of the LADR initiative was to educate community leaders so they could be more proactive in developing their own economic development initiatives and to improve the outlook for their communities. The main goal of the initiative was to engage community leaders, not just to educate. This initiative has earned international recognition from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development as a successful model for federal-local government partnerships and for stimulating economic development.

Most importantly, Mr. Comerford’s work has helped to build partnerships and co-operation among the key players in community economic development in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Canadians can thank Mr. Comerford for helping to improve the lives of people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nominated by Karen Skinner, Director, Enterprise Development, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Geoff Coulson • Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada

Thanks to Geoff Coulson, the people of Ontario are more prepared to deal with high impact and severe weather.

Geoff Coulson Mr. Coulson became Ontario’s first Warning Preparedness Meteorologist in 2004.

The warning preparedness meteorologist (WPM) works with the media and emergency responders to help inform the public about severe weather events and educate them on how to stay safe during these events, including tornadoes, strong winds, lightning and severe winter storms. The WPM helps citizens to take action to protect themselves, their families and their property.

Mr. Coulson and his team worked with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to launch Project OPPortunity. Under this project, Ontario provincial police officers, who are working on Ontario’s roads and highways, provide weather observations through their dispatch office directly to forecasters at the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre. Their warnings help to save lives and protect property. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police plans to extend this program to regions across the country.

Mr. Coulson also played an integral role in promoting and expanding CANWARN, a severe weather spotter program. Similar to project OPPortunity, this network sends severe weather reports to the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre, helping them to ground truth their radar and satellite measurements to issue timely and accurate warnings to Ontarians. Mr. Coulson recruits and trains volunteers from all areas of Ontario each year, strengthening this important network.

Throughout his career, Mr. Coulson has blazed a trail for others to follow through his innovative ways of getting his message out to the public. He is highly regarded by his colleagues at the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre and by outreach and warning preparedness communities in Canada.

Canadians are grateful to Mr. Coulson for his dedication and innovative approaches.

Nominated by Victoria Hudec, Outreach Officer, Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada.

Joel Yan • Statistics Canada

Thanks to Joel Yan, Canadian teachers are helping their students to better understand the world by using statistics.

Joel Yan Mr. Yan has been the face of Statistics Canada among Canada’s educators since 1993.

During his career, Mr. Yan has taught thousands of new teachers how to use Canadian statistics in their elementary and secondary school curricula, especially in mathematics and the social sciences. With contagious enthusiasm, he has worked closely with teachers to create new teaching tools and Web resources for using and understanding statistics. He continually comes up with ways to make information relevant to students and teachers alike.

Mr. Yan has forged partnerships with several university faculties of education. Through his collaboration with professors, he has created more than 20 course assignments, which are now posted on the Statistics Canada Web site. In addition, he has spearheaded annual awards for the best use of Statistics Canada data by post secondary students.

Canadians admire Mr. Yan for his inspiration, dedication and enthusiasm in spreading the message about the importance of statistics.

Nominated by François Nault, Director, Culture, Tourism and Centre for Education Statistics, Statistics Canada.

Canada Student Loans Program, Service Provider Transition Team • Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Marie-France Caron	Renée L. Cooper	Jacques Falardeau	Guy Lamarche
Line Leduc	Sophie Lemay	Jean Matte	Brigitte Palarchio
Catherine Power	Atiqur Rahman	Brian Ramsay	Pierrette Renaud
Sarah-Lee Richardson	Christine Ricottone	Nathalie Riendeau

Canadians owe a debt of gratitude to members of the Service Provider Transition Team for helping to provide better student loans services for students. The team comprised members from each of the divisions involved in the Canada Student Loans Program at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

Canada Student Loans Program, Service Provider Transition Team The Canada Student Loans Program plays a key role in ensuring that Canadians have access to post-secondary education and that they can fully participate in our knowledge-based economy. It serves over 1.6 million students across the country by providing financial assistance for students.

The program has developed strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, such as provincial and territorial governments, the National Advisory Group on Student Financial Assistance, student and academic organizations and other departments, including Public Works and Government Services Canada, Finance Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency.

The team’s goal was to ensure a seamless transition of services from two private service providers to a single window for student loans for Canadian students. It involved transferring 2.5 million accounts into a combined portfolio with a value of over $10 billion. The project was completed on time, with no interruption in services to Canadians. In total, the project will save an estimated $138 million over five years.

The Public Service applauds the team for its excellence in delivering improved services to Canadians.

Nominated by David MacDonald, Assistant Deputy Minister, Learning Branch, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

Corporate Tax Administration for Ontario Team • Canada Revenue Agency

Rick Adams	Catherine Bennett	Annie Boudreau	Christiane Courchesne
Joanne Davis	John Foulds	Michel Goguen	Stephen Harrison
Petra Kenny	Guy Mathieu	Cary O’Brien	Ken E. Parkes
Mickey Sarazin	Girish Shah	Sandra Stapleton

Canadians can thank the members of the team of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for making corporate income taxes easier to file in Ontario.

Corporate Tax Administration for Ontario Team Corporate leaders can breathe easier because they can now file a single harmonized return.

The project began in 2006 when the governments of Canada and Ontario agreed that, after 2009, corporations would file a single return with the CRA, covering both federal and provincial corporate income taxes. The CRA team ensured that corporate taxpayers experienced a seamless transition as the service was moved from provincial to federal administration. The team recognized that creating a single administration made enormous sense for business, since it cuts administrative costs, reduces paperwork and eliminates duplication of government services.

Making the transition created unique challenges in light of the complexity of corporate tax administration. On April 3, 2008, over 300 Ontario Ministry of Revenue employees joined the CRA, bringing with them the knowledge and expertise to ensure a smooth transition.

All elements of this single tax system have been implemented with great success, and Ontario corporations are already reaping the benefits. It is estimated that the new system will save Ontario businesses up to $100 million in reduced compliance costs, with an additional $90 million in reduced corporate taxes due to Ontario’s adoption of the federal tax base. Most importantly, the project was done without any interruption in service to corporate taxpayers.

Corporations across Ontario can thank the CRA team for their leadership in simplifying corporate taxes.

Nominated by Susan Bowen, Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Strategies and Business Development Branch, Canada Revenue Agency.

Northern Harvest Transition Team • Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Dr. Natalie Bragg	Daniel R. Dodge	Dr. Kazimierz Pietucha
Alfredo Sandoval	Shannon Young

Canadians owe a debt of gratitude to the five members of the Northern Harvest Transition Team for working hard to ensure the safe harvest of caribou, reindeer and muskox in remote northern communities.

Northern Harvest Transition Team The team was put together to centralize meat inspection services for the North to improve planning and lower costs for the harvest. Since the 1990s, the commercial harvest of wild caribou, reindeer and muskox has grown into an industry that provides enormous economic benefits to northern communities. The harvests allow Inuit hunters to use their traditional skills to support new commercial opportunities. They also provide employment in both the harvesting of animals and the processing of their meat.

Meat inspection services for the northern harvest have played an important role in the safe production of unique meat products and the marketing of these products around the world. Delivering the Meat Hygiene Program in remote northern communities presents unique challenges. In the North, the abattoir may be a tent, and transportation may be by snowmobile. It is an environment of freezing temperatures, rugged conditions and isolation. Inspection is needed for food safety and to gain access to the international market.

To overcome these challenges, the team forged strong partnerships with the territorial and local governments, hunter and trapper organizations, land claim organizations, development corporations and meat processing plants. This approach helped to lower supply costs, reduce overtime, coordinate travel arrangements and improve staffing.

The success of the team has improved meat inspection services to the people of Canada’s North. It has allowed them to promote economic development of their communities while maintaining their traditional way of life.

Canadians salute the members of the Northern Harvest Transition Team for their contribution to ensuring the health and safety of Canadians.

Nominated by Bonnie Jensen, Regional Director, Alberta North Region, Western Operations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Registered Disability Savings Plan Development and Implementation Team • Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Department of Finance Canada and Canada Revenue Agency

Denyse E. Bertrand (CRA)	Maryse Champagne	Danielle Charbonneau
Catherine Cloutier (FIN)	Danielle Doré	Joanne Hamon
Susannah Hill	Paul K. Joseph	Aaron Good Annik LeBlanc
Alexandra MacLean (FIN)	Michelle G. Mazerolle	Christina O’Quinn(CRA)
Ian Pomroy (FIN)	Eric Robitaille	Sid Woznica

Canadians can thank members of the Registered Disability Savings Plan Development and Implementation Team for improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

In Budget 2007, the government introduced the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and its matching grant and income-tested bond to help people with disabilities and their families save for long-term financial security. The government promised Canadians they could access the plan and apply for the grant and bond before 2009.

To implement the plan, a partnership was forged by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Department of Finance Canada, Canada Revenue Agency and central agencies. At the heart of this partnership was the RDSP Development and Implementation Team. Together, they worked toward a common goal: ensuring Canadians with a disability can save for their future financial security and provide for a better quality of life.

The team faced many challenges in implementing the initiative within a short time frame. It was a complex task that involved drafting several pieces of legislation. The team members worked closely with the provinces and territories to ensure that the social assistance benefits received by Canadians would not be impacted. Financial organizations received the team’s help to ensure that they would be ready to offer the program. The team also worked with the disability community to ensure their needs were considered.

Despite these challenges, the team designed the program, drafted legislation and regulations, amended the Income Tax Act and prepared a Treasury Board submission in a mere ten months. This program will help provide long-term financial security for about 280,000 Canadians with disabilities. It is an excellent example of how we can take steps to significantly improve the lives of Canadians.

The Public Service applauds the team for making a real difference in the lives of Canadians.

Nominated by Stephen Loyd, Director General, Office for Disability Issues, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

Innovation

Bruno B. Larochelle • Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada

Thanks to Bruno B. Larochelle’s innovation, Canada is a world leader in using software that provides collaborative weather forecasts to the airlines industry. As a result, airlines in Canada are able to operate at a greater efficiency.

Bruno B. Larochelle Mr. Larochelle is a forecaster and program supervisor with the Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre in Edmonton.

Mr. Larochelle developed two tools designed to provide decision makers with additional information about the forecasting process. The first tool, TAFPlus, is designed to allow forecasters to provide insight into their aviation forecasts. The second tool, currently in the prototype stage, is a collaborative on-line weather display called V-CMAC (Virtual – Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre).

V-CMAC allows key decision makers in the Air Navigation System to communicate directly with forecasters at the weather office. It allows aviation dispatchers and air traffic managers to easily get timely and accurate weather predictions, meteorological data, forecasts and warnings to help them make better decisions. Mr. Larochelle worked closely with the aviation industry in developing the software. It has helped to fill the communication gap between forecasters and aviation users.

Today, TAFPlus and V-CMAC are used every day for decision-making by major Canadian airlines and air traffic managers at NAV CANADA. Because of its applications, V-CMAC has also drawn interest from US Air Traffic Managers and the US National Weather Service.

Mr. Larochelle’s innovation has helped to improve the efficiency of Canada’s air navigation system.

Nominated by Carmen Snyder, Program Supervisor, Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre of Edmonton, Environment Canada.

D. Brian Marson • Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Canadians owe a debt of gratitude to D. Brian Marson for putting citizens first in the delivery of government services.

D. Brian Marson For years, Mr. Marson has been a strong champion of the concept of citizen centred service. He has been a tireless advocate of improving government service to citizens in Canada and abroad.

Mr. Marson was instrumental in launching the first major survey of citizen-centred service, called Citizens First. He had the insight to recognize that service improvement initiatives should be based on the actual needs, experiences and expectations of Canadians. Nowadays, governments of countries as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Qatar and the United Kingdom are using the Citizens First model.

Mr. Marson also helped to develop the Taking Care of Business surveys, which help meet the needs of business clients using government services. Today, governments have a better understanding of the factors that drive satisfaction with their services. Thanks to his efforts, Canadian innovations in public sector service delivery have become the international gold standard.

In 1997, Mr. Marson helped to create the Citizen-Centred Service Network. This network served as the foundation of what is known today as the Public Sector Service Delivery Council. These organizations are leading the way in fostering improved service delivery across Canada. Over the last decade, he has been at the forefront of many innovations involving the development and measurement of service delivery.

Through his work and leadership, Mr. Marson has helped make Canada a world leader in Public Service delivery. Canadians can thank Mr. Marson for helping to make the lives of all citizens better.

Nominated by Cathy Ladds, Senior Communications Strategist, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Americas Strategy Team for Refugee Protection • Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Jennifer Carter	Samuel Laredo (IRB)	Ian McGrath
Luis E. Monzón	Chad D. A. Prowse	Jérôme Ruault (IRB)
Andrew Stewart	Juan Pedro Unger

Canadians can thank the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Americas Strategy Team for Refugee Protection for helping other countries to protect refugees.

Americas Strategy Team for Refugee Protection Members of the team had a dream of advancing Canadian leadership in international protection to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 40th anniversary of Canada’s adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

They wanted to share Canada’s best practices in refugee protection with the Americas as a way of helping even more vulnerable people. They drew inspiration from the Government of Canada’s Americas Strategy, which pledges that Canada is committed to playing a bigger role in the Americas.

The team recognized that Canada has refugee protection best practices to share with Costa Rica and other Latin American countries and that partners working together could save more lives. To this end, they organized a refugee protection workshop in Costa Rica in August 2008. The workshop, co-hosted by the governments of Canada and Costa Rica and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), brought together representatives from 11 governments and experts from international organizations and civil society groups. They also partnered with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Canadian non-profit organizations.

There were many lessons learned from this successful workshop. The UNHCR and the International Organization on Migration, both leaders in their field, have asked Canada to create more similar initiatives to foster regional dialogue and share protection best practices.

The team also led six Costa Rican senior officials on a study tour of Canadian refugee protection systems in December 2008. Canadian refugee protection experts freely shared their experience and perspectives to help Costa Rica rebuild its refugee department.

Canadians are grateful to the Americas Strategy Team for Refugee Protection for its groundbreaking work in helping to protect refugees in the Americas.

Nominated by Cindy Munro, Senior Policy Advisor, Horizontal Policy and International Protection, Refugees Branch, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Container Examination Team • Canada Border Services Agency

Anthony D. Hague

Scott Hardy

Canadians can thank the Container Examination Team for devising an ingenious solution to stem a growing backlog of marine shipping containers across the country.

Container Examination Team Border Services Officers examine marine containers for contraband and other unregulated goods.

In the spring of 2008, a problem was identified involving toxic fumigants in shipping containers at the Port of Prince Rupert, B.C. These fumigants were found to be at unsafe working levels. Unfortunately, the containers could not be examined and released until the levels of the fumigants could be reduced. The only option was to vent the containers, which took weeks and exposed the goods to weather damage. With every shipment of containers arriving at the port, the backlog of containers needing ventilation grew. This problem was experienced by container examination facilities across Canada.

That’s when Border Services Officer Scott Hardy came up with a simple idea. He designed a door made of plywood, which would fit into the door of a shipping container. The door housed a high output fan, allowing the air to circulate through the container while protecting the goods from the weather.

Border Services Officer Anthony D. Hague, an experienced carpenter, volunteered to help build the doors, known as the Hardy Doors. Together, they created a cost effective solution that reduced the ventilation time from weeks to mere hours. The development of these doors allowed Prince Rupert to efficiently and effectively ventilate containers and make them safe for examination. This greatly limited the impact of fumigant issues, and, more importantly, the delays related to container shipping through Prince Rupert.

Their innovation solved a problem that nearly halted the movement of shipping containers across the country. It was instrumental in providing a safe working environment for Border Services Officers working at the Port of Prince Rupert. Today, the Hardy Door has been adopted by container examination facilities across the country.

Canadians can thank the team for their innovation, which freed up a backlog of shipping containers at ports across the country.

Nominated by Trevor Baird, Chief of Operations, Prince Rupert Marine and Container Port Operations, Canada Border Services Agency.

Permafrost Thaw Impact Assessment Team • Natural Resources Canada

Sukhi Cheema	Dr. Wenjun Chen	T. Edward Hoeve
Pamela Kertland	Haoqiang (Robert) Li	Dr. Daniel Riseborough
Siva Sutendra	Bill Wyness	Dr. Aining Zhang
Dr. Yu Zhang	Dr. Fuqun Zhou

Thanks to the Earth Sciences Sector (ESS) Permafrost Thaw Impact Assessment Team, Canada is a world leader in understanding the impact of climate change in Canada’s North.

Permafrost Thaw Impact Assessment Team The ESS Permafrost Team conducted one of the most elaborate studies to date on the impact of permafrost degradation on infrastructure in the Canadian North.

Many northern residents are witnessing the impact of climate change on permafrost. This includes landslides, the crumbling of building foundations, damage to utility pipelines and the disappearance and reduction of northern ponds and wildlife habitat.

The team developed a low-cost, powerful tool to measure the impact of these changes and assess the vulnerability of northern ecosystems. The tool brings together geological knowledge of deep permafrost with information on climate and land surface properties observed by satellite remote sensing. Using this tool, the members of the team produced nationwide maps of the impact of climate change on the permafrost active layer. They also forecast the potential degradation of permafrost under climate change until the year 2100.

The team estimates that the cost of inaction on climate change would be about $50 million to $120 million for Inuvik alone.

Their research is critically important to the Government of the Northwest Territories and to engineering consultants working on permafrost issues in the North.

Canadians can thank the ESS Permafrost Thaw Impact Assessment Team for enriching our understanding of how climate change is affecting the permafrost and infrastructure of Canada’s North.

Nominated by the Departmental Recognition Committee, Natural Resources Canada.

Exemplary Contribution under Extraordinary Circumstances

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada • The Sichuan Earthquake Response Team

Louis-Martin Aumais	Della Cai (Cai Linli)	Jeff David
Alexander Godin	Alan W. Hamson	Dorothy Hu (Hu Jia)
Tina Huang (Huang Ya)	Michael Kyte	Janet Lai
Peter Liao (Liao Zhong)	Stéphan McLaughlin	Jean Marcotte
Shawn Steil	Coco Wen (Wen Yi)	Connie Wong
Aice Yufei Xiong	Wang Yuke	Eva Yuv

Canada’s response to the devastating Sichuan earthquake demonstrated exemplary contribution under extraordinary circumstances by a team of dedicated professionals from Canadian posts across China.

The Sichuan Earthquake Response Team On May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale rocked China’s Sichuan province. More than 70 000 people died and several million lost their homes. For weeks, the area was struck by thousands of aftershocks.

The Sichuan earthquake shook the Canadian Consulate in Chongqing, on the edge of the Sichuan Plateau, and was clearly felt at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, 1,500 kilometres away. The response team mobilized minutes after the earthquake and operated around the clock in the weeks that followed.

The 18 member team was composed of employees from the Canadian Consulate in Chongqing (led by Canadian Consul Shawn Steil), from the Consulates General in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, from the Canadian Embassy in Beijing as well as from Headquarters. (Many others not listed here also contributed.)

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the team worked quickly with local authorities to identify and locate Canadians who were in the region affected and to ensure their well-being. The team dealt effectively with enquiries from anxious families in Canada seeking information about their loved ones.

Shawn Steil and members of the team travelled to the most affected areas, set up temporary Consulate facilities in Chengdu, met with local authorities organizing relief and identified areas where Canada could help in the recovery. Their work was complicated by the devastation of the earthquake, the disruption of transportation and communications and the tragic level of death and injuries suffered. Although the Canadian Consulate in Chongqing was evacuated and temporarily relocated, services remained uninterrupted throughout the crisis.

In the days and weeks that followed, the team coordinated Canadian contributions to conducting disaster relief and reconstruction work. The team worked in partnership with international agencies and local authorities to provide humanitarian assistance.

Team members set aside their own needs, the needs of their families—and in many cases, their own personal safety—to respond to the needs of Canadians and Chinese affected by this tragic event. In their response, the team exemplified the highest values of Canadian Public Service under extraordinary circumstances.

Nominated by Ambassador Robert G. Wright, Embassy of Canada, Beijing, China.

Industry Canada • Automotive Industry Crisis Response Team

Thanks to employees at Industry Canada, Canadian automakers will receive financial support to help ensure a viable auto industry in Canada. The Automotive Industry Crisis Response Team worked quietly behind the scenes to respond to the extraordinary challenges facing the North American auto industry.

Automotive Industry Crisis Response Team Last fall, the United States financial sector collapsed, triggering a global downturn and creating enormous pressure on North American industry, especially the automotive industry. At stake were more than 150,000 Canadian jobs and 14 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing output and 23 per cent of the country’s manufactured exports.

The Automotive Industry Crisis Response Team was asked to develop strong and viable options to help the auto industry weather these difficult economic times and save workers’ jobs. The team was instrumental in providing the government with timely and professional strategic advice on how best to manage this complex file. It worked closely with the U.S. Administration and Congress, the province of Ontario, federal partners and auto industry stakeholders in crafting its response. The team developed a holistic approach to the situation facing auto manufacturers, one that would protect the government’s investment and ensure the overall competitiveness of the auto industry.

In late December, the governments of Canada and Ontario approved interim loans to help the auto industry deal with these tough economic times and save workers’ jobs during a period of fundamental restructuring. This was only the first in a series of intergovernmental initiatives intended to support the restructuring efforts of the industry, each of which required sustained, intensive and complex negotiations among governments, companies, creditors and employees. These deals will restructure the automotive industry in Canada. They seek to secure Canada’s interest in maintaining its production share of the North American market and to support an orderly transition of an industry undergoing fundamental restructuring.

Canadians are grateful to the dedicated employees of Industry Canada for their exemplary service in this extraordinary situation.

Nominated by Richard Dicerni, Deputy Minister, Industry Canada, and Paul Boothe, Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Industry Canada.

Employment Equity and Diversity

Ghassan G. Kassouf • Veterans Affairs Canada

Ghassan G. Kassouf is helping to put a new face on Veterans Affairs Canada. Thanks to his work, the Department is making great strides in becoming more representative and inclusive.

Ghassan G. Kassouf Mr. Kassouf joined the Department in 2000 and has been an engaged defender of equity from day one. He has been active in his union and on various employment equity committees—both regional and national—throughout his career. He is also President of Prince Edward Island Human Rights Committee - Public Service Alliance of Canada, where he works tirelessly to eliminate racial discrimination.

Mr. Kassouf helped develop such programs as the Employment Equity Mentoring Program and the Employment Equity Internal Development Program. These programs aim to increase the number of visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities at the Department. Together, they are helping to bring about enormous change in the culture in the Public Service. They are also providing more opportunities for members of designated groups.

At the community level, Mr. Kassouf has tried his hand at local politics and is always there to help out when necessary. He is an officer of the Canadian Forces and, as Lieutenant of the Cadet Instructor Cadre, is responsible for training and human rights issues within the squadron.

Mr. Kassouf is a devoted ambassador for equity, whether at work or in the community. He is always challenging the status quo and trying to push the Department to explore more recruitment options and plan for the longer term. As he says, “Our workplace should be reflective of the community we live in.” Under his leadership, this goal is closer to becoming a reality.

Nominated by Alana Rattray, Business Support Analyst, Projects, Planning and Systems Directorate, Veterans Affairs Canada.

Senior Management Team of the Thunder Bay Tax Services Office • Canada Revenue Agency

Rufus Olapade Abidakun	Ted Janiec
Lonnie Nichols	Frank Talarico

Senior managers at the Thunder Bay Tax Services Office (TBTSO) are helping to make the Public Service of Canada more diverse.

Senior Management Team of the Thunder Bay Tax Services Office Four senior managers have worked tirelessly to promote recruitment and retention of Aboriginal employees in the region.

Over the years, senior managers have designed many employment initiatives for Aboriginal people in their community. In 2002, the Thunder Bay Aboriginal Development Program was developed. This successful program, now known as the Aboriginal Taxation Officer Apprenticeship Program, serves as a national recruitment program for Aboriginal people at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Under the program, 50 Aboriginal graduates have found work with the CRA across Canada in the past year.

The senior management team has demonstrated the importance of building community partnerships and removing barriers to employment for Aboriginal people. They support a very active Employment Equity Committee, and all employees in the TBTSO have participated in the Aboriginal Awareness Workshop delivered by one of Canada’s leading experts on diversity, Dr. Neil McDonald.

The TBTSO is currently participating in the Aboriginal Taxation Officer Apprenticeship Program and the Aboriginal Student Employment Bridging Program and recently completed the Small Business Aboriginal Outreach Pilot Project.

The senior management team’s dedication to diversity has resulted in measurable cultural change in the Department, earning them the respect of other federal government departments.

Nominated by Lynda Kaban, Senior Project Officer, Thunder Bay Tax Services Office, Canada Revenue Agency.

Management Excellence

Joanne O’Byrne • Natural Resources Canada

The Public Service of Canada commends Joanne O’Byrne for her ability to achieve tangible results through her people management skills.

Joanne O’Byrne At Natural Resources Canada, she has been the driving force behind a simplified and shared human resources process. She played a leading role in the government-wide Shared Service Initiative, which is improving corporate service delivery in the public sector.

Ms. O’Byrne has spearheaded many innovations to improve the delivery of human resources. They include employee self-service, fast-track staffing, centres of excellence in staffing, labour relations, compensation and benefits, and language testing. She has also been instrumental in implementing many client-centred approaches across the Public Service. As Director of HR Services and Systems, she ensures a respectful workplace where every employee is valued and respected.

Ms. O’Byrne is a true leader and is guided by a set of strong moral principles and values. She encourages her staff to be the best they can be. She ensures that all employees have the support they need to achieve their full potential through learning and career development. She provides opportunities for growth, learning and discovery throughout the organization. In addition, her impressive skills in people management have successfully reduced the turnover rate in her division.

Canadians applaud Ms. O’Byrne for inspiring her team to strive for excellence.

Nominated by the Departmental Recognition Committee, Natural Resources Canada.

Tony Prosia • Canada Revenue Agency

Canadians can be proud of Tony Prosia for his leadership in supporting the Canada Revenue Agency’s goals and priorities.

Tony Prosia As Director of the Hamilton Tax Services Office, Mr. Prosia is dedicated to providing a workplace that is committed to excellence. He is responsible for managing an office of over 900 employees and is a member of the Ontario management team. Through his leadership, he is creating a workplace that inspires creativity and a commitment to excellence.

Mr. Prosia has been the driving force behind several unique initiatives designed to empower staff and allow leadership to flourish at all levels. They include the Values and Ethics Strategy, the Continuous Learning Strategy, the Tax Services Office Recruitment Strategy and the comprehensive Human Resources Strategy, to name but a few. This has created an environment with a reputation for excellence, innovation and creativity. For example, the Hamilton staff has launched storytelling coffee breaks as a way of sharing work experiences.

His management team and staff have showcased many of the best practices for which Hamilton has been recognized nationwide. Creating a continuous learning environment that takes into consideration the developmental needs of all employees, from clerical staff to the management team, has been one of his priorities.

Through his leadership, he has helped to create a highly motivated and positive working environment.

For all these reasons, the Public Service of Canada celebrates Tony Prosia for his excellence in management.

Nominated by Massimo Testa, Assistant Director, Call Centre, Hamilton Tax Services Office, Canada Revenue Agency.

Michel Robillard • Canada Public Service Agency (now Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)

The Public Service of Canada applauds Michel Robillard for making the Public Service a better place to work.

Michel Robillard Mr. Robillard was the chief architect of the groundbreaking Common Human Resources (HR) Business Process Initiative, which helped to streamline human resources business processes at all government departments and agencies. This initiative has long-term strategic implications for information management, policy development, training and other areas.

Through his vision, Mr. Robillard helped bring senior executive members of the human resources community in the Public Service together to effect change. He put the building blocks of the project together by establishing responsibilities on common processes across all human resources disciplines. During the process, he engaged federal departments, policy centres, the Human Resources Council and communities to design common government human resources processes. The Common HR Business Process Design Initiative is a key element of the Public Service Renewal Action Plan.

Mr. Robillard is an excellent role model who leads by example. He works in partnership with his clients, stakeholders and colleagues, but always keeps the final objective in sight. With his approach, he has earned the respect and admiration of his team, his clients and his superiors.

Canadians commend Mr. Robillard for his ability to achieve real results through excellent people management.

Nominated by Gilles Carpentier, Vice-President, Strategic Infrastructure, Organization and Classification, Canada Public Service Agency.

Holding Centre Management Team • Canada Border Services Agency

Pascal Jacques

Maurizio Mannarino

Canadians can thank the management team of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Holding Centre for improving the security of our nation’s borders. The team has also won praise for its work on improving the well-being of detainees.

Holding Centre Management Team Maurizio Mannarino, Chief of Operations, and Pascal Jacques, Supervisor, make up the management team of the CBSA Holding Centre. The Holding Centre is responsible for detaining foreign nationals arriving in Canada who constitute a threat to national security or the safety of Canadians, who are deemed a flight risk or whose identity has not yet been established.

They supervise a group of eight employees and about 100 subcontractors, including security guards and a medical team. The management team has reviewed procedures to ensure they comply with international conventions and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

They have forged strong partnerships with other federal agencies, such as Correctional Service Canada, the Ministère de la sécurité publique du Québec and the Montreal Police Service. During their four years at the helm, they have inspired a strong sense of belonging in their team. A new work schedule promoting greater work-life balance was introduced to maximize the productivity of staff. In addition, security has been improved.

Together, they have made the Canada Border Services Agency Holding Centre a model to emulate throughout the Public Service.

The Public Service commends the leadership of the management team of the Canada Border Services Agency Holding Centre.

Nominated by Lorraine Frigon, Regional Director, Enforcement Division, Quebec Region, Canada Border Services Agency.

Mountain Riot Leadership Team - Mountain Institution Divisional Heads • Correctional Service Canada

Claude Demers	Irvin Hammond
Brenda Lamm

Canadians can be grateful to the Mountain Riot Leadership Team for helping to create a safer environment for the staff and inmates at Agassiz, British Columbia’s Mountain Institution.

Mountain Riot Leadership Team - Mountain Institution Divisional Heads On March 29, 2008, about 30 inmates created a disturbance that resulted in a major riot at Mountain Institution. Located 120 km east of Vancouver, the institution houses about 440 inmates. The riot was quelled about eight hours later, with two inmates dead and one seriously injured. Twelve inmates overdosed on methadone.

In the aftermath of the riot, many staff and inmates were concerned for their personal safety. Nineteen guards were exposed to threats to their safety and many took extended sick leave.

These three assistant wardens provided their support to the Crisis Manager during the riot at the medium-security facility. They worked together to develop and implement the Mountain Institution Recovery Plan.

Managing the recovery of the prison involved close collaboration with staff, unions, inmates and other stakeholders. They helped to improve safety and security within the compound. An investigation showed actions at the prison were carried out properly, with due respect for life and public safety.

Canadians can applaud the team for their outstanding leadership, which has made the prison safer and healthier.

Nominated by Alex Lubimiv, Warden, Mountain Institution, Correctional Service Canada.

Youth

Mohammed Al-Shalchi • Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre, Canada Border Services Agency

We can thank Mohammed Al-Shalchi for helping to improve the safety and security of Canadians.

Mohammed Al-Shalchi Mr. Al-Shalchi is a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) supervisor in the Security Monitoring Unit at the Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre. The unit is responsible for monitoring persons subject to a security certificate in the area.

He has displayed intelligence and sound judgement in managing high profile, difficult and litigious files. Every action taken by Mr. Al-Shalchi and his officers is subject to extreme scrutiny by the Federal Court, opposing counsel, the media and CBSA senior management. His calm and reasoned approach to dealing with national security suspects has contributed to the continued success of the program.

Part of Mr. Al-Shalchi’s success has been in establishing a professional relationship with persons subject to a security certificate. These people are often volatile and emotional. Nevertheless, he always maintains his composure and works with respect and integrity.

Recently, Mr. Al-Shalchi represented the CBSA in Federal Court as a witness for several high-profile cases. Throughout the hearings, he spent many days on the stand, being cross-examined by opposing counsel. His testimony was professional and earned high praise from the Department of Justice Canada lawyers working on the case. In leading by example, Mr. Al-Shalchi has contributed to the success of the Security Monitoring Unit and helped to build safer communities across Canada.

Canadians are grateful to Mr. Al-Shalchi for his outstanding dedication to ensuring a safer and better future.

Nominated by Madeleine Kiameh, Chief of Operations, Security Monitoring Unit, Canada Border Services Agency.

Deanne Gosselin • Veterans Affairs Canada

Canadians can thank Deanne Gosselin for ensuring we celebrate and honour the contributions of Canada’s veterans.

Deanne Gosselin Ms. Gosselin works as an Area Counsellor for the London District Office of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). Her dedication to serving veterans has helped improve access to services for many VAC clients and their families.

Ms. Gosselin raises awareness through outreach activities to ensure that Canadian Forces members, reservists, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers, their families and the community as a whole are aware of the services and benefits offered by VAC.

Ms. Gosselin has organized several commemorative activities, such as the Year of the Veteran Gala and Heroes’ Day 2008. This 2008 event was held in September to honour Canadian veterans as well as Canadian Forces members, local cadets, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and members of the RCMP. Planning such an event is no easy task, considering that 22 organizations and over 400 volunteers were involved, with more than 70 displays and presentations. Thanks to her efforts, the event was a huge success. The community agreed that setting aside a day to recognize everyday heroes was long overdue.

Ms. Gosselin has also hosted information sessions to make Canadian Forces members and reservists aware of the services and benefits offered by VAC.

Above all, Ms. Gosselin embodies the notion of a dedicated and committed public servant. Canadians are grateful to Ms. Gosselin for her commitment to serving our nation’s true heroes.

Nominated by Kim Dolan, Area Counsellor, and Joanne Miller, Area Counsellor, London District Office, Veterans Affairs Canada.

Kathleen Murphy • Canadian Intellectual Property Office (an agency under Industry Canada)

Kathleen Murphy is a Senior Examiner at the Patent Branch of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). The Branch is responsible for examining patent applications and issuing Canadian patents for inventive products and processes.

Kathleen Murphy Ms. Murphy is a member of the Branch’s Quality Working Group. In this capacity, she undertook the difficult task of preparing work instructions for the examination of international patent applications, with little guidance and no model to rely on. She produced a unique, comprehensive document that outlines the steps in the examination process, ensuring a consistent approach among examiners. These instructions represent the building blocks of the Branch’s Quality Management System (QMS).

Ms. Murphy also led an internal group in the development of a proposal for a quality assurance process. This proposal was so well developed and received by senior management that it was promptly and confidently adopted as a component of the QMS, enabling CIPO to improve service to its worldwide client base.

On her own initiative, Ms. Murphy has volunteered her time to take part in initiatives designed to improve CIPO’s products and services for clients both in Canada and abroad. She has been innovative in the training of new patent examiners at the Patent Branch and has participated in a training program for patent professionals outside the federal government.

Ms. Murphy stands as a great example of how young people can make a difference in Canada’s Public Service.

Nominated by Michael Gillen, Biotechnology Division Chief, Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

Official Languages

Jean-Bernard Lafontaine • Canadian Heritage

Canadians can thank Jean-Bernard Lafontaine for helping to promote the use of official languages across Canada.

Jean-Bernard Lafontaine As Regional Executive Director for the Atlantic Region, Mr. Lafontaine has a keen understanding of the issues faced by Atlantic Canada’s Acadian and Francophone communities. He has helped to support their development and advancement over the past 20 years.

Mr. Lafontaine has been an innovator in promoting official languages with the federal Public Service in New Brunswick, Canada’s only bilingual province. As Champion of the Official Languages Committee of the New Brunswick Federal Council, he fostered the development of various initiatives to promote bilingualism in the workplace.

During his career, Mr. Lafontaine has worked tirelessly to advance the cause of official languages. He has been committed to developing Official Language Minority Communities across the country.

Mr. Lafontaine has been instrumental in establishing school-community centres to promote linguistic duality. They include the Centre Communautaire Sainte Anne in Fredericton, the first of its kind in Canada. These centres have become meeting places for language minority communities throughout Canada. They are places where Canadians can celebrate their language and culture.

Recognized in the official languages community for his drive and commitment, Mr. Lafontaine has accomplished a great deal since joining the Department 15 years ago.

Canadians are grateful to Mr. Lafontaine for his leadership in promoting the importance of linguistic duality.

Nominated by Edna Hall, Director, Newfoundland and Labrador, Donald Arsenault, Director, Prince Edward Island, and David Burton, Director, Nova Scotia, Canadian Heritage.

Research and Development Team • Canada School of Public Service

Robert Beaumier	Sylvain Bergeron	Nicole Bertrand
Nancie Cantin	Leonard Courage	Christine Cyr
Sylvain Dufour	Jean-Guy Gauthier	Nancy Gauthier
Stéphane Jomphe	Lyne Magny	Marc Mantha
Francis Mawn	Robert Willson

Thanks to the Research and Development Team, public servants have powerful new tools at their disposal to improve their ability to respond to Canadians in both official languages.

Research and Development Team Inspired by the leadership of Sylvain Dufour, Director General of the Language Training Centre, the team took on the challenge of finding innovative ways of motivating public servants to acquire and maintain their second official language.

The challenge was to capture the imagination of adult learners and engage them in the language learning process. Mr. Dufour’s vision was to create a suite of interactive tools to make learning a new language easy, fun and rewarding. Over the past two years, the team has produced truly innovative learning solutions for public servants.

More than 60 new online language learning tools have been developed with a focus on self-directed learning. Public servants can use them to gain and practice their second language skills at any time and at no cost, across Canada or overseas.

The tools are available on Campusdirect, the Canada School of Public Service’s online learning portal. More than 62,000 Canadian public servants used them last year. In fact, these tools and learning resources are now among the most popular products ever offered by the School’s Language Training Centre. They are well suited to the new generation of public servants, who are comfortable with online learning.

Canadians can thank the team for giving public servants easy access to the learning tools they need to be able to serve Canadians in the official language of their choice.

Nominated by Donna Achimov, Vice-President, Individual Learning Centre, Canada School of Public Service.

Thank You

A special thank you to the organizations that participated in this program by submitting nominations:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Public Service Agency
Canada Revenue Agency
Canada School of Public Service
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Canadian Heritage
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Correctional Service Canada
Department of Finance Canada
Department of Justice Canada
Environment Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Health Canada
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Industry Canada
Library and Archives Canada
National Defence
National Energy Board
Natural Resources Canada
Parks Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Safety Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Service Canada
Statistics Canada
The Correctional Investigator Canada
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Veterans Affairs Canada