Award Ceremony Honours Public Service Excellence - June 16, 2006

OTTAWA, June 16, 2006 — The Public Service of Canada honoured its outstanding employees with the Public Service Award of Excellence at a ceremony held today in Ottawa. This award recognizes employees who have demonstrated excellence in serving Canadians, while reflecting the values, ethics and priorities of the federal public service. A total of 30 individuals and teams were honoured.

"This Government needs the men and women of the public service to help deliver on its commitments to Canadians," said the Honourable John Baird, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada. "The individuals honoured today exemplify a commitment to excellence that serves as a model for us all."

The Public Service Award of Excellence recognizes values, ethics and excellence in seven categories: Outstanding Career, Management Excellence, Innovation, Excellence in Citizen-focused Service Delivery, Employment Equity and Diversity, Official Languages and Exemplary Contribution under Extraordinary Circumstances.

This year’s recipients shine from the East Coast to the West Coast, to the far reaches of the North, as well as in countries around the world. Some of those receiving awards include:

• employees at the Canadian Embassies in Kabul and in Haiti, who work while living with the constant prospect of danger;
• RCMP Inspector Keith Thomas Davidson whose innovative contributions in the field of crime analysis have helped advance law enforcement in Canada;
• Stephen Lee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, who developed leading-edge testing models that have enormously improved food safety for Canadians; and,
• the Market Recovery Team that was sucessful in re-opening the Japanese market to Canadian beef.

These are only some of the winners of the 30 awards to be handed out at the event. The ceremony is part of the Government of Canada’s goal to create, within the federal public administration, a culture that emphasizes its appreciation for the professionalism and commitment of its public service employees.

"The Public Service of Canada has set for itself a standard of excellence," said Kevin Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council. "Public service employees and managers strive to live to this standard, and it is important to recognize those who do exceptionally well."

The complete list of award recipients and their stories, as well as background information on the Public Service Award of Excellence can be found online at http://www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/hr-rh/ar-pr/new_excellence/intro_e.asp.

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