Corrections and probation officers from around British Columbia were honoured at the annual Corrections Exemplary Service Medals award ceremony.

This year, 33 exceptional B.C. Corrections employees from the Ministry of Justice received the awards from Judith Guichon, lieutenant-governor of British Columbia at a medal presentation ceremony at Government House on Nov. 30.

The annual awards are presented to honour corrections staff members who have reached milestones for exemplary service, beginning at 20 years for the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal and 30 years for the Corrections Exemplary Service Bar. Six of the 33 award recipients received the Corrections Exemplary Service Bar for their service.

For the first time in B.C. Corrections history, two brothers received Exemplary Service Medals together at the ceremony - Scott Vallance of the Nanaimo Correctional Centre and David Vallance of the Vancouver Community Corrections Regional Office.

The awards are the most prestigious national decoration for corrections professionals in Canada.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General -

"I would like to extend my congratulations to all of the corrections staff who received awards for outstanding contributions to service in correctional centres and probation offices throughout B.C. It is an honour to see such commitment to creating a safe environment in our facilities and working with offenders in the community. It is important to acknowledge that corrections staff play a vital role in keeping our families and communities safe every day, and they deserve our gratitude and recognition."

Quick Facts:

• The Corrections Exemplary Service Medal is awarded by the Governor General of Canada to deserving corrections staff upon the recommendation of the B.C. Corrections Branch.

• The lieutenant-governor of British Columbia presents the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal and Corrections Exemplary Service Bar.

• The medal recognizes exceptionally commendable service and is not to be used merely to recognize lengthy terms of service.

• The first Canadian medal to recognize long and outstanding service in the public
  safety professions was the Police Exemplary Service Medal, created on Aug. 12, 1982.
  The second was the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal, created by Letters Patent signed by Her Majesty the Queen on Jun. 11, 1984.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961

BACKGROUNDER

2012 Award Recipients

Award Recipients

Corrections Exemplary Service Bar for 30 years:

Robert Allison - Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Prince George, B.C.

Dana Cosgrove - Fraser Metro Community Corrections Regional Office, Surrey, B.C.

Kenneth W. Fox - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Debbie Hawboldt - Adult Custody Division Headquarters, Victoria, B.C.

Terry McKay (retired) - Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Prince George, B.C.

John McKenzie - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, Kamloops, B.C.

Corrections Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years:

Darren Allison - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, Kamloops, B.C.

Philip Chafe - Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Prince George, B.C.

Allen Chapple - Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, Surrey, B.C.

Alfred Chu - Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, Surrey, B.C.

Ryan Doern - Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Prince George, B.C.

Patrick Doherty - Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, Victoria, B.C.

Theresa Dutemple - Nanaimo Correctional Centre, Nanaimo, B.C.

Gregory Fensome - Ford Mountain Correctional Centre, Chilliwack, B.C.

Allan Gillespie - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Eileen Johnston - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Denean Jones - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Dawn Kelly - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Gerald James Lapointe - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Nancy Lewis - Kelowna Community Corrections Office, Kelowna, B.C.

Nedeljko Macesic - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Miles McGuire - Northern Interior Community Corrections Regional Office, Prince George, B.C.

Patrick Monkman - Langley Community Corrections Office, Langley, B.C.

Shauna Morgan - Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, Victoria, B.C.

Randall Nelson - Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Michael Albert Page - Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Wendy Potts-Wong (retired) - North Shore Community Corrections Office, North Vancouver, B.C.

Melody Shepherd - Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, Kamloops, B.C.

Don Tarling - Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, Surrey, B.C.

David Tuyttens - Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Prince George, B.C.

David Vallance - Vancouver Community Corrections Regional Office, Vancouver, B.C.

Scott Vallance - Nanaimo Correctional Centre, Nanaimo, B.C.

Ruth Wiltse (retired) - Vancouver East Community Corrections Office, Vancouver, B.C.

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961