Exceptional achievements and service to British Columbians by provincial public service employees on Vancouver Island have been recognized with Premier's Awards, Premier Christy Clark announced today.

"These awards recognize public servants who continuously strive for excellence, translating their passion for innovation into real benefits for British Columbians," Premier Clark said. "Each recipient found a creative and cost-effective way to foster positive change that will be felt by families and communities throughout B.C."

More than 270 employees and teams from Vancouver Island were recognized for developing new, more efficient ways of providing services to communities in British Columbia.

• One team introduced an innovative approach to road stabilization, resulting in projects being completed at less than half the original time and cost.

• Another partnership modernized employee workspaces, resulting in improved financial performance, environmental stewardship and effective management of the corporate real estate portfolio.

• An award-winning leader developed competency models for key staff positions, providing the foundation for employee training and encouraging staff development.

• A partnership between government, local agencies, police and local municipalities increased victim safety and offender accountability through investigation, client management and effective communication with various partners.

• Low-income British Columbians benefit from the streamlining of B.C.'s Bus Pass Program application process, improving client service and increasing employee engagement.

"Improving project timelines, reducing costs to taxpayers, and enhancing services for British Columbians are only a few of the results from the programs we celebrate today," Finance Minister Michael de Jong said. "I commend each of today's recipients for their dedication to public service excellence."

This year's recipients were selected by a group of independent adjudicators and announced via a streaming online video presentation. Interior and Northern regional recipients were celebrated during a similar webcast on Sept. 12, 2013, while a webcast held on Sept. 26, 2013, will honour Lower Mainland employees. The final celebration will take place in Victoria at a provincewide awards ceremony.

Videos of the Premier's Awards finalists can be viewed online at: http://www.youtube.com/user/BCPublicService#p/p

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252?

Jamie Edwardson
Director of Communications
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821

BACKGROUNDER

Premier's Awards honour Vancouver Island recipients

276 public service employees from B.C.'s Vancouver Island have received awards in Innovation, Cross Government Integration, Leadership, Partnership, and Organizational Excellence.

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure INNOVATION - Geotechnical Design Engineer Peter Bullock and his team have introduced an innovative technique to road stabilization by combining design/build project delivery, where the design evolves with and through construction, and recent construction advancements. This technique has been used on seven sites on Vancouver Island with crews delivering a green product that increases driver safety with reduced road maintenance costs, project completion time and traffic backlog. Extremely effective, this method could be used throughout the province.

Ministry of Citizens' Services and Open Government, Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services and the BC Public Service Agency and partners CROSS-GOVERNMENT INTEGRATION - Leading Workplace Strategies (LWS) is an initiative that transforms workplaces by shifting from traditional office spaces to workplaces that support greater mobility, collaboration and flexibility for employees. Shared Services BC and the BC Public Service Agency partnered with the ministries of Social Development; Transportation and Infrastructure; Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations; and Education to implement this. The results are improved financial performance, enhanced environmental stewardship and more effective management of the corporate real estate portfolio.

Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation LEADERSHIP - Within the Engagement and Workforce Development Branch, David Glockzin has created a supportive environment which encourages employees to take risks, learn from their mistakes and grow as employees. Under his leadership, the branch has become known for its uncompromising work standards and strong sense of teamwork. Glockzin's development of competency models for key positions is now the foundation for training and development across the ministry with 60 per cent of all ministry employees now under these models. Under David's leadership, the branch was recognized as one of the BC Public Service's 10 Best Places to Work in 2010 and 2011 based on high work-environment survey scores.

Ministry of Children and Family Development and partners PARTNERSHIP - The Greater Victoria Regional Domestic Violence Unit (RDVU) is a strategic partnership between government, police and local municipalities focused on victim safety and offender accountability through investigation, client management, enhanced community partnership and effective communication between lawyers, correctional staff, police and support workers from the criminal justice system. As of September 2012, the RDVU has increased victim safety through action resulting in 80 guilty pleas, 10 convictions, five peace bonds and one civil peace bond.

Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE - By applying the Lean initiative (preserving value of services with less resources), the ministry has transformed a program that provides subsidized public transportation to over 86,000 low-income British Columbians. The new program has resulted in increased call centre answer rates and streamlined the program's application and renewal process, improving client services and facilitating employee engagement.

Media Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252?

Jamie Edwardson
Director of Communications
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821