PREMIER HONOURS PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES

VICTORIA – B.C.’s exceptional public service employees were the focus of a ceremony this evening hosted by Premier Gordon Campbell, where they received a Premier’s Innovation and Excellence Award acknowledging their creativity and dedication.

“Tonight’s event celebrates the very best of the best,” said Premier Campbell, who presented awards at the provincial event in Victoria. “This year’s finalists showcase the depth of talent and dedication of BC Public Service employees. It’s their work that makes a difference in the lives of British Columbians in every part of the province.”

The annual provincial awards ceremony is the BC Public Service’s pinnacle recognition event. It highlights and acknowledges achievements from across the province in the categories of Cross-Government Integration, Innovation, Leadership, Legacy, Organizational Excellence, Partnership and Service Excellence.

Fifty-eight of the record 136 nominations were recognized with regional awards presented by the Premier at four preliminary ceremonies held in Nanaimo, Vancouver, Kamloops and Prince George. The 58 regional award recipients were selected by a group of eleven external adjudicators. The adjudicators also selected a provincial shortlist of 31 nominations. A group of four external judges reviewed the shortlist and selected the 20 provincial finalists, including eight Premier’s Award recipients for 2008/09:

Cross-Government Integration Premier’s Award:

· Independent Power Project Transition Team, Integrated Land Management Bureau and partner organizations

Innovation Premier’s Award:

· Virtual Office – Regional Services Division, Ministry of Housing and Social Development

Leadership Premier’s Award:

· Lynda Cavanaugh, Executive Director, Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Ministry of Housing and Social Development

Legacy Premier’s Award:

· Del Meidinger, Research Ecologist, Research Branch, Ministry of Forests and Range

Organizational Excellence Premier’s Award:

· BC 150 Secretariat, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts

Partnership Premier’s Award:

· Food Safety Initiative, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and partner organizations

Service Excellence Premier’s Award:

· Electronic Payment Solutions, Banking/Cash Management Branch, Ministry of Finance

Special Achievement Premier’s Award Recipient:

· Kim Moore and Jorja, the Tobacco Detection Dog, Special Investigations Branch, Ministry of Finance

“The winners and finalists of these awards exemplify the qualities of BC Public Service employees,” said Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “The BC Public Service is becoming known as an employer of choice, and these awards are one way that the Province, as an employer, can recognize employees’ contributions.”

The BC Public Service is the province’s largest corporate employer and was selected as one of the top 50 employers in B.C. for 2009. To learn more about the opportunities available in the BC Public Service visit http://employment.gov.bc.ca/ online.

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2 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177	Craig MacBride Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 356-7882 250 213-1649 cell

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