(flickr.com)
The 15th annual Premier’s Innovation and Excellence Awards honoured BC Public Service employees for their exceptional work making life better for British Columbians.
This work includes projects to advance reconciliation, improve emergency response and revitalize B.C.’s environmental assessment process.
“Public service employees make life better for British Columbians every day,” said Premier John Horgan. “It is through their dedication and leadership that government is making life more affordable, delivering quality services, implementing a new climate action plan and building a strong, sustainable economy for all British Columbians.”
The Premier’s Awards recognize public service employees for applying new and innovative approaches in seven categories: Emerging Leader, Evidence-Based Design, Innovation, Leadership, Legacy, Organizational Excellence and Partnership.
“It’s thanks to our nominees, and countless others in the public service, that British Columbia shines here at home and on the national stage,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance. “Every day British Columbians rely on the services provided by public servants. Whether it’s by delivering front-line programs, strengthening environmental protections or bringing about generational policy shifts to implement the principles of reconciliation, I am incredibly grateful to you for your innovative work serving the people in our province.”
The awards celebrate work at both the regional and provincial level. Regional awards recognize projects and people that impact a specific region, while the provincial awards honour work that impacts people and communities throughout British Columbia. A panel of independent adjudicators and judges determine the finalists and winners of the Premier’s Awards.
Learn More:
Learn more about the BC Public Service Hall of Excellence and previous B.C. Legacy winners: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/public-service/hall-of-excellence
A backgrounder follows.
Backgrounders
The Province of British Columbia congratulates the following recipients of the 2019 Premier’s Innovation and Excellence Awards:
- Evidence-Based Design: The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development created an interactive map to help track objectives, assessment results and management strategies for natural resources found on B.C.’s south coast.
- Emerging Leader: Caleigh West, a social worker with the Victoria Aboriginal Child Protection Team, works with Indigenous families and communities to develop innovative solutions that will keep children at home and in their communities.
- Innovation: Following the 2017 wildfire season, the Ministry of Children and Family Development pioneered a new system that mapped existing geographical and case management data to provide real-time information on the status and location of ministry offices, partner agencies and children in care.
- Leadership: Linda Herman brings exceptional leadership and mentorship skills to her role as the manager of service delivery with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
- Organizational Excellence: The Environmental Assessment Office transformed the environmental assessment process to ensure the legal rights of First Nations are respected and the process remains transparent. The office collaborated with Indigenous groups and consulted with stakeholders to develop a new Environmental Assessment Act that implements the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within provincial regulatory legislation — a first in Canada.
- Partnership: Following years of conflict over aquaculture and wild salmon in the Broughton Archipelago, a unique government-to-government process involving the ministries of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; Agriculture; and Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development; resulted in the Broughton Recommendations. The recommendations deepen the involvement of First Nations, the Province and industry in salmon aquaculture policy in the region, and support the self-determination of Indigenous communities.
- Legacy (3 winners):
- Dave Wilford, a hydrologist with 45 years of service, is a recognized multidisciplinary team leader with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Wilford’s work has been recognized with awards for geoscience and forestry professionals in B.C. and his service continues to enrich resource management in the province. His legacy will continue through the Province’s support for the Critical Incident Stress Management program.
- Yvonne Foxhall has shown exceptional leadership in her work over the past 36 years with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Because of Foxhall, it is faster and easier to get hunting and fishing licences and the public is protected from incidents involving exotic animals, like tigers and snakes.
- Dirk Nyland has served with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for 45 years, creating a legacy of teamwork, mentorship and relationship building. Nyland was recognized by the Nisga’a Nation for his role in the ratification of a major treaty in 1998. More recently, he has led initiatives to ensure that B.C.'s transportation network is resilient to climate change.
https://news.gov.bc.ca/21094
Office of the Premier
