Awards

The Department of Justice encourages excellence in every aspect of our justice system. While we strive for excellence in the work we do on a day-today basis, the department also sponsors a number of awards to celebrate outstanding achievement in upholding and advancing Canada's justice system. Our awards recognize the accomplishments of individuals in disciplines as diverse as ethics, dispute resolution, and journalism.

Justicia Award for Excellence in Legal Journalism
The Canadian Bar Association, the Law Commission of Canada, and the Department of Justice offer the Justicia Award for Excellence in Journalism. The Award is given for French or English stories in two categories: print and broadcast media. The Awards celebrates outstanding journalism that fosters public awareness and understanding of any aspect of the Canadian justice system and the roles played by institutions and participants in the legal system.

John Tait Award of Excellence
This award was established in 1998 to honour, recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Public Sector Lawyers in Canada. Originally named the Inukshuk Award of Excellence, it was renamed in August 1999 to honour an outstanding lawyer, public servant and friend who passed away in the summer of 1999. The award is presented each year at the CBA Annual Conference to a public sector lawyer or law office who has achieved the highest standards of professional conduct and competence and made significant contributions to social justice or community affairs, and who exemplifies pre-eminent public service.

Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award
The Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), is pleased to announce the establishment of the Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award. The Award will recognize the efforts of police officers, singly or as a team, who undertake their work in a manner that reflects, promotes and is consistent with the spirit and goals of the government's Youth Justice Renewal Initiative and the new Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Dispute Resolution Award in Law Studies
In 1999, the Department of Justice established an annual award to encourage law students to undertake research and writing in, and pursue greater understanding of, the dispute resolution (DR) field. This award also promotes the pursuit of new ideas and excellence in DR system design and in the application of DR approaches and options across the wide variety of subject areas represented in law studies.