‘The envelope please… And the winner of the BC Premier’s Innovation and Excellence Award goes to…’

These are the words spoken again and again by Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of B.C., on May 31st in Victoria as she recognized the exceptional work of individuals and teams in the BC Public Service Agency. Individuals and teams who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to excellence and the citizens of BC through private and public sector partnerships, cross-government integrated teams and strong leaders who focus on positive citizen outcomes and mentor others to do the same.

A new, Emerging Leader Award category was introduced this year as the government recognizes the key role vibrant ‘can do’ individuals make in any organization. It was awarded to Cheryl McLay, Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Innovation This young woman brings a spirit of innovation to her work with communities every day. She was recognized for creating enthusiasm and harnessing excellence for projects that make a difference on Vancouver Island. Cheryl was instrumental in eight local economic development projects in Port Alberni. Clearly one of her strengths is building strong business relationships leading to positive outcomes for all.

I am pleased to tell you that Ramona Soares, the Executive Director of the Workers’ Advisors Office, won the Premier’s Innovation and ExcellenceLeadership Award. I have known Ramona for a number of years and she certainly exemplifies all aspects of leadership. With exceptional results, Ramona focuses her leadership on continuous improvement in client satisfaction, employee engagement, and innovation. Ramona fosters a culture of service excellence and accountability which led to development of an “Early Dispute Intervention”, resulting in higher citizen/client satisfaction and savings of more than $430,000 in four years.

Whether it is the Cross Government Integration Award that led to the exceptional work of over 100 separate entities that ensured the public’s safety throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games or the Partnership Award given to the BC Public Service Agency and the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (for offering Aboriginal youth the opportunity to acquire experience and leadership skills through internship, followed by placement in an Aboriginal organization), the outcomes are the same - bringing together different groups of people with varying skills and knowledge to improve the lives of all British Columbians.

For the past 23 years National Quality Institute (soon to be Excellence Canada) has helped organizations ’Improve Organizational Performance and Recognize Excellence’. We understand and congratulate the BC government for their work on rewarding and recognizing a citizen-centred approach to business.

Innovation is essential to meeting and exceeding citizen needs and expectations. This year the Innovation Award recognized BC Parks for acquiring over 500 hectares of land on Denman Island that became available, and with traditional acquisition techniques (partnerships, donations, and land exchanges) unavailable, BC Parks staff creatively used carbon offset and municipal rezoning to create the largest provincial park on Denman Island.

And what would the Vancouver Olympic Games have been without the Organizational Excellence of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Secretariat, who organized the Olympic Torch Relay, the BC International Media Centre – the most successful centre in Olympic Winter Games history – and Robson Square, the signature celebration site.

The Premier’s Service Excellence Award recognized the work of a branch of the Ministry of Health. This team developed a strategy that led to significant improvement in quality services and patient care, reduction of surgical wait times (specifically knee and eye surgeries), and the development and promotion of best practices.

And last but, as they say, certainly not least, is the award that recognizes the fine work done by an individual who, because of his or her exceptional contribution over a number of years, has left a lasting legacy. Mike Proudfoot from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure was this year’s recipient of the Legacy Award. In his 35-year history with the Ministry Mike embodied the spirit of leadership and believes that achieving a goal is a collective process, achieved through teams of people committed to a common vision. It was no surprise then when Mike took the time to thank those he worked with over the years for their part in his being recognized for this prestigious award.

The evening was a tremendous success for the organizers of the event, for the Premier , and especially for the award winners and their colleagues who were there, cheering them on.

As an awards adjudicator for a number of years now, when I see the good work and commitment of these individuals and teams to making life better for the citizens of BC, it makes me very proud to live in this province. And, of course, I’m pleased to be able to ‘show off’ the good things happening here. Click here for the official news release from the Premier’s Office and additional details.