2012 NMC Leadership Awards Recipients

Mike Nurse Leadership Award Winner

To be announced at the NMC Professional Development Forum in Winnipeg on May 8, 2012

The National Managers’ Community (NMC) Mike Nurse Leadership Award recognizes managers who demonstrate excellence in meeting the management and leadership challenges and who have led national initiatives that have positively impacted the community of federal public service managers across the country.

NMC Community of Practice Award

Mariette Thomas
Department of National Defense
National Capital Region

Beginning as a Coaching Resource for the NMC in 2010, Mariette now serves as a faculty member for “Deepening the Conversation” in both official languages. As a coach, she demonstrates the practice in the way she interacts with new resources. As a subject matter expert, Mariette assisted in the creation and implementation of an on-line Coaching course for DND which mirrors the NMC’s “Changing the Conversation”. She continues to present the NMC and its great work and benefits to managers through ensuring that in all her courses, time is allotted for the NMC to be promoted.

NMC Ambassador Award

Alain Trépanier
Regional Director General
Public Works and Government Service Canada

As the NMC BC Region Champion, Alain actively promotes the NMC priorities through the Federal Council and other committees he is involved in. He participates in as many NMC events as he possibly can, and has influenced the support of senior federal leaders and the participation of regional managers. Alain shares the contributions and opportunities of the NMC whenever possible, and provides sound advice and continuous support to the NMC in BC. He is known among the community as a connector, caring about many initiatives to make the public service a more effective and enjoyable workplace.

NMC Regional Award of Excellence

To be announced at the NMC Professional Development Forum in Winnipeg on May 8, 2012

NMC Leadership Award Winners

Alberta

Barb Schwartz
Public Works and Government Services Canada

Barb demonstrates her outstanding leadership abilities through her management of regional and multi-branch teams, the support she provides to senior managers within her region and her contributions to departmental, interdepartmental and national networks. She recognizes excellence in others and is willing to support, promote and incorporate their ideas. Barb motivates her staff by creating an engaging work environment where team members can contribute their talents on a daily basis. She is supportive, provides positive feedback and trusts her staff to come up with their own best solutions.

British Columbia

Jason Hwang
Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Jason encourages and promotes collaboration through regular meetings and planning sessions in order to achieve mutual benefits and maximize overall program effectiveness. Because of the healthy environment this creates, program heads can easily coordinate and communicate with others on all program components. Jason inspires his staff to look for and offer creative or innovative solutions to program problems. He then tests and challenges these ideas and plans with staff to ensure success. Jason acknowledges and celebrates his staff's successes and accomplishments. As a result of his effective leadership, Jason's program is often at the forefront of the region in terms of program delivery and effectiveness.

Manitoba

Cameron Buchanan
Public Safety Canada

Cameron demonstrated outstanding leadership during the Manitoba 2011 flood. His strong vision for the role of Public Safety during times of emergency permitted him to successfully partner with a multitude of parties during this crucial activity. Cameron has a leadership style that has created a team of dedicated federal coordinators who work with him. He led the establishment of a Regional Operational Reserve which was utilized for nearly 27 consecutive weeks in the Federal Coordination Centre during the flood.

National Capital Region

Martin Foubert
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Martin is an inspiring manager in the Trade Commissioner and Market Development Division. He motivates the group to achieve their full potential despite the changes and uncertainties presently affecting the organization. He has a remarkable ability to recognize the potential in his team and creates an excellent work environment. He is known to provide continuity, momentum and flexibility in accommodating changes. Martin provides guidance to the team on AAFC’s regional and international market development and trade promotion activities, and champions industry’s efforts to venture into emerging markets.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Kimberly Rice
Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Kim leads her team with confidence. Her work ethic and dedication are demonstrated daily in her work and her ability to achieve results. She is a leader by example who is very good at getting results from her team. Kim recognizes the strengths of individual team members and will draw on those to get results. She keeps staff up to date, handles all situations with the utmost tact and confidence and stands behind her decisions. Kim is a mentor and treats her team members with the highest respect. They trust her to the nth degree. This sentiment is felt not only by the team she supervises but also by management and bargaining agents.

Ontario

Sara Daignault
National Defence

As the lead for integrated management within the formation, Sara developed an integrated model which enabled leaders to manage resources and mitigate risk. She succeeded by establishing an immediate and positive rapport with peers, superiors and subordinates. She has tremendous personal integrity and a sincere desire to see everyone succeed. Her open encouragement of others to share opinions and experiences in order to advance common ideals and fully advance the group’s potential illustrates her dedication to collaboration.

Prince Edward Island

Patti-Sue Lee
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Patti-Sue recently negotiated regional agreements and partnerships with federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as tourism/regional development groups - a difficult task with multiple partners. Her professionalism, business acumen, and keen desire to see this partnership succeed helped guide the partnership which now speaks with one voice. Patti-Sue has succeeded in building a strong team and creating an environment where team members take pride in the results they achieve together. She provides clear direction, invites the participation of all team members and is quick to offer praise for a job well done.

Quebec

Sylvie Touchette
Service Canada

In a demanding working environment, which includes many challenges relating to personnel management, clients in distress and logistics support, Sylvie is very visible among her virtual teams in spite of the large region in which they operate. She involves her staff in decision-making and rallies employees around a common vision to achieve organizational objectives. When employees approach Sylvie with a problem, they know she’ll take action. She manages her employees as one large team, and encourages mutual assistance, listening and the sharing of best practices. Sylvie has all the qualities of an excellent manager. She is self-confident, believes in her potential and abilities, and has the inner strength to make tough decisions.

Saskatchewan

Heather Heapy
Health Canada

Heather brought in subject matter experts to produce educational content for HR personnel and managers in Regina. This was later used as the basis of the NMC “Manager’s Guide to” series that is currently being delivered in the province. The series has evolved into a multi-year project with different themes and has touched over 500 HR personnel, managers and aspiring managers. Heather has a passion for constructive conflict resolution and has combined this with her determination to share best practices between departments. She established the interdepartmental Labour Relations Community of Practice which now exists in Saskatchewan.

Yukon Region

Elsie Wain
Aboriginal and Northern Development Canada

Elsie has a long-standing history with her department and is well-known for moving files forward by working collaboratively with the national office and stakeholders. Her efforts have resulted in conditional approval of senior management for a new directive on the acquisition of federal lands to benefit the First Nations. She is passionate about the issues impacting First Nations in the Yukon and her enthusiasm for achieving results is infectious. Elsie encourages her staff to take risks while working creatively. This has resulted in the team being able to achieve great things while being part of groundbreaking work.

Overview of the Awards Program

The National Managers’ Community (NMC) works with and on behalf of managers to strengthen the public service. A healthy and vibrant managers’ community is critical to the successful delivery of key government priorities such as public service renewal.

To reach its goals, the NMC focuses its efforts and energies on programs, services and activities in the following three areas:

• Voice and influence: Managers and senior leaders partner to make positive changes that facilitate serving our government and Canadians.
• Engaged managers: Managers are committed and work to make improvements that contribute to employee engagement and citizen satisfaction.
• Relevant and sustainable NMC: Managers and senior leaders have the capacity to work as a horizontal collective through the NMC.

The new NMC Leadership Awards were launched in May 2011 in celebration of NMC's 10th anniversary to recognize leaders who have contributed significantly to achieving the goals of the NMC.

About the Award

The awards were created for the NMC by Stephen Brathwaite, an artist in the Ottawa area. Stephen was inspired by the award winners as he created these awards. Each one is a little bit different as are all of the recipients. In a couple of cases an opportunity was made from a mistake. Stephen likes the qualities of glass both enduring and fragile. He said he enjoyed treating the NMC visual and the quotes by Mike Nurse in a playful way and putting them into the Canadian context among the etched maple leaves.

Stephen and we hope the recipients enjoy these pieces for their own qualities and unique differences.

Nominations for NMC Awards

Nominations can be made for the following awards:

• NMC Regional Honours Award
• NMC Mike Nurse Manager of the Year Award
• NMC Ambassador Award 
• NMC Community of Practice Award
• NMC Regional Award of Excellence

Deadline for Nominations

February 22, 2012

Process for Nominations

• Any public servant can nominate a colleague or an employee for the NMC Awards.
• Only Regional Coordinators and Governing Council members can nominate a region for the NMC Regional Award of Excellence.

In order to nominate an individual, you must:

1. Complete the nomination form, demonstrating how the individual or team meets the selection criteria.
2. Attach a signed letter of endorsement from the nominee’s supervisor as well as from one other person (except for the NMC Ambassador Award).
3. Send your nomination to the Awards Program Coordinator.

Letters of endorsement from the nominee’s supervisor and one other person should be addressed to the nominator, must refer specifically to the nominee and substantiate the reasons for supporting the nomination.

Note: For the NMC Mike Nurse Manager of the Year Award, the selection committee will consider only nominations that have been prepared and submitted for the NMC Regional Honours Award. 

Recognition of Recipients

All award recipients will be recognized at the NMC Professional Development Forum in May in Winnipeg. Recipients of the NMC Regional Honours Award will also be recognized prior to the Forum during various events in the regions.

How Are Decisions Made?

A selection committee will review all submissions and make a recommendation to the Governing Council, which will make the final decision.

For Information Contact: Donovan Mutschler
Regional Coordinator, Saskatchewan and
Coordinator of the NMC Leadership Awards Program
National Managers' Community
400 - 2220 12th Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 0M8
Tel: 306-780-8038
Fax: 306-780-5210
Donovan.mutschler@wd-deo.gc.ca

NMC Regional Honours Award

This award allows for each of the 14 NMC regions to recognize an exemplary manager in their region. Along with being honoured in their region, all recipients of the NMC Regional Honours Awards will be assessed by a national committee, and one individual will be selected to be the recipient of the NMC Mike Nurse Manager of the Year Award. Selection criteria are aligned to the key leadership competencies: management excellence, engagement, values and ethics, and strategic thinking.

Selection Criteria

• Shows outstanding leadership in setting a vision and achieving results.
• Demonstrates the ability to motivate others and fosters an environment that allows others to contribute fully toward the attainment of goals.
• Has the confidence to stand alone and make tough decisions.
• Acts with fairness and fosters a climate of transparency, trust and respect.
• Encourages innovation and intelligent risk taking, creating an environment where creativity is fostered and mistakes are accepted and learned from.

Eligibility

Individuals working in all disciplines at a manager level with responsibility for managing and leading teams. NMC staff and governing council members are not eligible for this award.
Nomination Form for the NMC Regional Honours Award (DOC, 135 KB) ^*

NMC Mike Nurse Manager of the Year Award

This award recognizes the top NMC Regional Honours Award recipient that best exemplifies what Mike Nurse inspired managers to be. Mike was a key builder for the NMC. Throughout his career he encouraged managers to be courageous, take risks, support and value employees, lead by example, and go the extra mile to give employees what they needed to be productive in their work and engaged in their organizations.

Selection Criteria

• Same as for the NMC Regional Honours Award

Eligibility

All recipients of the NMC Regional Honours Award from each region, province or territory will be considered as nominees for the NMC Mike Nurse Manager of the Year Award. One individual will be selected as winner.

NMC Ambassador Award

This award recognizes a senior executive who demonstrates strong engagement with the NMC and whose efforts result in significant regional and/or national impacts that positively affect the community of federal public service managers.

Selection Criteria

• Actively works to increase awareness of the NMC, its programs and services.
• Has gained respect of his or her colleagues and influences them to positively support the work of the NMC.
• Imparts wisdom, frank advice and guidance, and contributes to the goals of the NMC.

Eligibility

Senior managers (EX-01 and above) who demonstrate strong sponsorship, engagement and support of the NMC during the previous year. NMC staff and governing council members are not eligible for this award.
Nomination Form for the NMC Ambassador Award (DOC, 125 KB) ^*

NMC Community of Practice Award

This award recognizes an individual or a two-person team from the NMC Communities of Practice who has achieved outstanding results and demonstrated commitment and dedication in the delivery and/or practice of NMC learning programs.

Selection Criteria

• Delivers sessions over and above what is expected, and/or achieves significant results in the implementation of learning practices in their workplace.
• Consistently receives exceptional feedback from session participants and/or acknowledgement from their organization of the positive results achieved in applying their practices in the workplace.
• Contributes new ideas and techniques that enhance program outcomes and supports, and mentors or coaches other members of their Community of Practice.
• Profiles and raises awareness of the goals and objectives of the NMC.

Eligibility

An individual or a two-person team from the NMC Community of Practice who delivers NMC learning programs within the Government of Canada. NMC staff and governing council members are not eligible for this award.
Nomination Form for the NMC Community of Practice Award (DOC, 151 KB) ^*

NMC Regional Award of Excellence

This award recognizes 1 of the 14 NMC regions that has achieved outstanding results and made significant improvements over the last year in engaging managers.

Selection Criteria

• Achieves significant results for their managers and their region through engagement programs and service delivery.
• Actively works to increase awareness of the NMC.
• Has an engaged local steering committee that develops and shares best practices in community building, and builds strong, collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and other groups.
• Supports the overall NMC and regions in reaching out to the community of managers across the public service, e.g., sharing best practices, locally produced materials, intelligence, etc.

Eligibility

This award is intended for an NMC regional group (province or territory) that has achieved outstanding results in engaging managers in their communities. Note: Only Regional Coordinators and Governing Council members can nominate their region for the NMC Regional Award of Excellence.
Nomination Form for the NMC Regional Award of Excellence  (DOC, 129 KB) ^*

NMC Leadership Awards - Archives

• 2011 Awards
• 2009 Awards
• 2008 Awards

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