The National Quality Institute (NQI) today announced the 2005 winners under the prestigious Canada Awards for Excellence (CAE) program.

The Canada Awards for Excellence (CAE) is NQI's annual awards program that recognizes Canadian organizations that, through a commitment to innovation, productivity, healthy workplace and ethics, have demonstrated sustainable measures of continuous improvement. Winning organizations have reported expanding market share, increased efficiency, enhanced international competitiveness, reduced costs and higher employee retention and productivity. NQI’s research shows that private sector winners dramatically out-perform the TSE, S&P; and the Dow Jones consistently over time.

“The 2005 winners demonstrate the importance of excellence to a wide range of organizations – be they large manufacturers, smaller service providers, schools, or health care facilities,” said Cameron Hyde, Chairman of NQI and Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America Agent Operations, Xerox Corporation. “These organizations may be vastly different in their missions but they are all characterized by unparalleled excellence in their management practices. By investing in quality processes and healthy workplace practices, they have achieved impressive results in 2005.”

The National Quality Institute CAE Quality Award

The CAE Quality Award, presented by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, is based on the Canadian Framework for Excellence, used by numerous organizations as a management model for continuous improvement and achievement of great operational results. To receive the CAE Gold Trophy, organizations must have fully met the criteria of the framework with documented overall achievements and results. To receive Bronze and Silver recognition, organizations must be at the equivalent of Level 3 of one of NQI’s Progressive Excellence Programs (NQI PEP®), a target-driven, incremental approach to applying excellence criteria.

In 2005, the Quality Award winners are:

 3M Canada Company, London, ON – Gold Trophy
 NuComm International, St. Catharines, ON – Gold Trophy
 Xerox North American TeleWeb, Saint John, NB and Dartmouth, NS – Gold Trophy
 Telus– Gold Trophy
 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, Vancouver, BC – Silver Award
 Purolator Courier Ltd., Mississauga, ON – Bronze Award

The National Quality Institute CAE Healthy Workplace Award

The CAE Healthy Workplace Award, presented by the Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, is based on the criteria of the Canadian Framework for a Healthy Workplace developed by NQI in partnership with Health Canada and in association with professionals from the health and wellness sector.

In 2005, the Healthy Workplace Award winners are:

 Homewood Health Centre, Guelph, ON – Gold Trophy
 Buffett Taylor & Associates Ltd., Whitby, ON – Gold Trophy Small Business

The National Quality Institute CAE Customer Service Award for Small Business

The CAE Customer Service Award for Small Business, presented by the Canadian Federation for Independent Business (CFIB) and NQI, recognizes excellence in organizations with less than 50 employees, and is based on the NQI 10 Point Quality Criteria for Small Business.

In 2005, the Customer Service Awards for Small Business go to:

 Print Audit, Calgary, AB – Gold Trophy
 Venngo Inc., Toronto, ON – Gold Trophy
 Vubiz Ltd, Mississauga, ON – Gold Trophy

The National Quality CAE Education Award

The CAE Education Award, presented by Xerox Canada, is based on comprehensive criteria modeled after the Canadian Excellence in Education progressive program. Schools at the third or Red Level are eligible to receive the CAE Education Bronze or Silver Award, while schools at the fourth level are eligible for Gold.

In 2005, the Education Awards go to:

 R.H. King Academy, Scarborough, ON – Gold Trophy
 Vincent Massey Public School, Ottawa, ON – Silver Award
 St. Luke Catholic Elementary School, Mississauga, ON – Silver Award

About the Canada Awards for Excellence

Since 1984, the Canada Awards for Excellence have been presented annually to private and public sector organizations of all sizes that have displayed outstanding performance in the areas of Quality and Healthy Workplace. In 2004, the Small Business and Education award categories were introduced.

The awards will be presented at the 2005 Performance Excellence Summit during a CAE Awards Gala dinner celebrating the winning organizations and their employees on Thursday, October 20, 2005 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, has been invited to make a keynote address and introduce the award-winners.

The 2005 Summit, hosted by the NQI Board of Governors, will feature some of Canada’s best-run organizations and a special luncheon address by James K. Gray, O.C., Corporate Director, Brascan Corporation. Delegates will learn about achieving excellence through workplace innovation and sustainable performance improvement. During the day, two other awards of recognition will be presented by the NQI Board of Governors to Dr. David T. Suzuki and John W. Perry for their outstanding contribution to Canadians and Canada.

About the National Quality Institute (NQI)

National Quality Institute (NQI) is the national steward organization for the annual Canada Awards for Excellence. Created in 1992, NQI is an independent, not-for-profit organization and the leading authority in Canada on workplace excellence based on quality systems and healthy workplace criteria. NQI provides organizational leaders with strategic business frameworks, services and tools that support ongoing performance improvement in quality and healthy workplace environments, using NQI's innovative Roadmap to Excellence. The four levels of NQI's Progressive Excellence Program (NQI PEP®) certification lead to eligibility for the Canada Awards for Excellence.

For more information, and/or to arrange an interview with NQI President and CEO
Allan Ebedes, or with any of the 2005 Canada Awards for Excellence recipients, please contact:

Carole Leger
Tel: 416.251.7600 ext 236
Toll free 1.800.263.9648
E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nqi.ca

To arrange an interview with NQI Chairman Cameron Hyde (Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America Agent Operations, Xerox Corporation), please contact:

Angela Miner, Admin Assistant
Tel: 585.423.3447
Email: [email protected]

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