As you may know, we have moved the venue for the awards to the National Gallery of Canada, which is a spectacular site!

We’d like to present this video, which brings you through the layout and visuals for the awards ceremony and the celebration dinner. Since everything is “new” this year, I hope the video will help give you an overall visual for the evening and an idea of what you can expect as a guest.

For your information, ticketing is also different this year, and we have structured the event to offer better value so that more team members can participate. The pricing is as follows: You can attend the awards ceremony and the celebration dinner at a cost of $150, or just the dinner following the ceremony for $90. We hope you will take advantage!

Also please note, the seating for the ceremony is limited to 500, and the post event tickets are limited to an additional 250 guests, so please book soon as they are already going fast! For tickets, please contact Silvia Villon at 613-599-8880, ext. 102, or via e-mail at svillon@gtec.ca.

We look forward to seeing you at the Distinction Awards!

The Distinction Awards take on a dramatic new tone in 2009 with the introduction of a new event format, and an expansion of the recognition program for nominated projects. The new-look Distinction Awards Program formalizes recognition in two principle ways: by presenting all nominated projects that clear the first round of judging with a “Service Delivery Award”; and by creating a new “Gala Celebration” that project teams, leaders, deputies and executives can all participate in. 

This year the Distinction Awards will truly become the recognition program they were conceived to be. Every nomination that makes it through to the final round of judging will be recognized with a Service Delivery Award which will include the project name and the individual names of all team members listed on the project, and up to 17 exceptional nominations will receive a coveted gold Distinction Award Medal.

According to Andrew Moffat, the president of SCOAP, the association of Canadian IT professionals that has conducted the judging for the past 16 years, “the intention of the awards has always been to celebrate excellence within the Public Service. In the past the awards followed an old paradigm where the ‘winners’ were the medalists. The changes being implemented this year recognize that all of the projects that make it through to the final round of judging are worthy of recognition because they clearly demonstrate excellence. Going forward, the gold medalists simply highlight the best of the best.”

GTEC’s Executive Director Kevin d’Entremont also said, “competitions don’t encourage high standards of excellence in the public sector. We are choosing to put the emphasis on celebrating the exceptional service that already exists in the public sector, in a meaningful ceremony that is appropriate for all to enjoy”.

Ticket prices for the Gala Celebration have also been reduced to encourage participation by more team members. The 2009 Gala Celebration will be presented in the stunning Great Hall of the National Gallery of Canada. Beginning and ending with elaborate receptions, and with the Parliamentary Precinct as its backdrop, the Distinction Awards Celebration Gala will be attended by government CIOs, invited Deputy Ministers, leaders in industry, and the Secretary of State for Science and Technology, the Hon. Gary Goodyear.

For more information on the Gala, judging and to reserve tickets, please contact:

Silvia Villon
Distinction Awards Gala Manager
GTEC
Tel: 613-736-9851, ext 120
e-mail: svillon@gtec.ca

Health Canada, City of Ottawa, Alberta receive four medals each

 

GTEC 2008, last night revealed the medal winners of thirty-five Distinction Awards given at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec.  The awards recognized outstanding public sector leadership in innovation, in federal, provincial, municipal and national classifications.  From close to 100 nominations in 2008, the thirty-five medals were given in categories such as International Partnerships, Service Delivery to Citizens and Businesses, and Cross-Jurisdictional Partnerships, to name a few.  

 

Health Canada, the City of Ottawa, and the province of Alberta each took four medals for achievements in categories such as Service Delivery to Citizens and Businesses and IT Operations.  CRA took away two medals for projects in Service Delivery to Citizens and Business and IT Operations. 

 

John Bethel, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services of British Columbia, was given a Gold Medal Leadership award for his outstanding service in helping the B.C. government execute 10 ASD deals worth $1.8 billion, with a projection that they will generate $550 million in financial benefits to the government in addition to significant non-financial benefits.

 

The Judging Process

SCOAP (Society of Collaborative Opportunities and Advancement of Professionals), a non-profit association dedicated to exploring achievement and issues related to the management of information and technology in a knowledge-based society, provides the selection committee, the judging committee comprised of more than 30 members of SCOAP, and the awards methodology to the GTEC Distinction Awards.   Nominations are reviewed in two separate processes, which include the screening and initial evaluation of all nominations, and the selection of Award Finalists. The a full description of the process can be found at http://www.gtec.ca/distinction-awards/judging-process.php

 

“The Distinction Awards celebrate technology and innovation throughout industry and Government, which is driving better collaboration, reducing costs, and improving efficiencies and service delivery to Canadians,” said Kevin d’Entremont, Executive Director of GTEC 2008.  “Many of the initiatives have demonstrated significant change and tremendous innovation.  We are proud to recognize major IT projects and the accomplishments of industry and Government’s top IT leaders, their innovative teams, and their contribution to improve services available to citizens across Canada.” 

 

Please see the following pages for a list of all the GTEC Distinction Award Medalists.

 

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About GTEC 2008

After more than 15 years, GTEC is recognized as Canada’s most significant forum on the use of technology to improve government services and operations. The event features an annual Distinction Awards program and gala, a comprehensive Professional Development Forum, and the GTEC Exhibition. The conference program and extensive trade show are attended annually by an estimated 7,000 professionals.  For more information please visit www.gtec.ca

 

 

 

 

Group I:  Federal Awards

Category A:  Service Delivery to Citizens & Businesses

 

BRONZE

 

The Working in Canada Tool
(www.workingincanada.gc.ca/tool)

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Skills and Employment Branch

 

SILVER

 

Apply for Child Benefits Program – Benefits Online Application (BOA)Team

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Assessment & Benefit Services Branch and Information Technology Branch

 

GOLD

 

First Nations and Inuit Health, Public Health Surveillance (HAS) Capacity Development Project

Health Canada, Alberta Region
Public Affairs, Consultation and Regions Branch

 

Category B:  Internal Business Operations

 

SILVER

 

Electronic Pesticide Regulatory System (e-PRS)

Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch/ Information Management Services Directorate

 

SILVER

 

Containing Costs Through National IM/IT Efficiencies

Transport Canada
Technology and Information Management Services Directorate

 

GOLD

 

IT Sustainability Project - DFO

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Information Management and Technology Services

 

Category C:  IT Operations

 

BRONZE

 

Disaster Recovery for Receiver General and Central Compensation Administration Project

Public Works and Government Services Canadaš(PWGSC)
Accounting, Banking and Compensation

 

SILVER

 

GST/ HST Redesign Project

Canada Revenue Agency
Assessment & Benefit Services Branch and Information Technology Branch

 

GOLD

 

Health Canada’s The Way Forward Initiative - An Enterprise Approach to IT

Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch

 

 Group II:  Provincial Awards

Category A:  Service Delivery to Citizens & Businesses

 

BRONZE

 

From In-line to Online – Restructuring Alberta’s Student Finance Program

Advanced Education and Technology - Province of Alberta
Adult Learning - Learner Assistance

 

GOLD

 

Court Services Online Project Team

Business Transformation & Change Management and Strategic Information & Business Applications
Court Services Branch – Government of British Columbia

 

GOLD

 

Nova Scotia iPHIM Project to deliver eResults

Nova Scotia Department of Health
Primary Health Care

 

Category B:  Internal Business Operations

 

BRONZE

 

Wildland Fire Reporting System - DNR/GNB

Natural Resources, Province of New Brunswick

 

SILVER

 

GEM (Grants Enterprise Management)

Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology - Province of Alberta, Information Technology Management  (ITM) a branch of Technology Commercialization

 

GOLD

 

Facilities Management Information System (FMIS)

Ministry of the Attorney General
Facilities Management Branch

 

 

Group III:  Municipal Awards

Category A:  Service Delivery to Citizens & Businesses

 

SILVER

 

eRide – Online Trip Planner

Works and Transportation, Corporation of the
City of Brampton - Brampton Transit

 

SILVER

 

G.I.S. Flood Mapping Application

City of Medicine Hat
Information & Computer Services (I.C.S.)
Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.)

 

GOLD

 

eFootprint Application on www.ottawa.ca

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

Category B:  Internal Business Operations

 

GOLD

 

Social Housing Administration Management Information System (SHAMIS)

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

 

Category C:  IT Operations

 

GOLD

 

Mainframe Migration

City of Windsor
Information Technology Department

 

Group IV:  National Awards

Category A:  Information Management

 

BRONZE

 

Ottawa.ca – Usability & Accessibility Improvements

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

 

SILVER

 

Accountability Pillar Online Reporting Initiative (APORI)

Alberta Education, Performance Measurement and Reporting
Information Technology Management

 

GOLD

 

SOSS – Sign-Out Security System

British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range
Information Management Branch

 

Category B:  Cross-Jurisdictional Partnerships

 

BRONZE

 

Arts & Cultural Events Calendar (Spotlight)

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

 

SILVER

 

Windsor Regional Construction Traffic Management System

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Central Region Advanced Traffic Management

 

GOLD

 

Parental Benefit Exchange Project Team

Service Canada
Innovation, Information and Technology Branch (IITB)

 

Category C: International Partnerships

 

SILVER

 

Canadian e-Policy Resource Centre (CePRC)

Canada School of Public Service
Organizational Leadership and Innovation

 

GOLD

 

Health Product Electronic Submissions (e-Submissions)

Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch/ Information Management Services Directorate

 

Category D:  Pilot Projects

 

SILVER

 

Service Qualification and Transition for IT Shared Services

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)
Information Technology Services Branch (ITSB)

 

GOLD

 

NRCan Resource Wiki

Natural Resources Canada
Information Management Branch

 

Category E:  The Human Dimension

 

BRONZE

 

Organizational Readiness Office

Treasury Board Secretariat
Chief Information Officer’s Branch

 

SILVER

 

Research and Development Team/ Creating Innovative Learning Solutions for Maintaining Language Skills

Canada School of Public Service
Individual Learning

 

GOLD

 

Videoconferencing in the K-12 Education System

Alberta Education
Stakeholder Technology Branch

 

Category F:  Unique Achievements

 

GOLD

           

Joint Information & Intelligence Fusion Capability Detachment Ops/Web Support Team

National Defence
Strategic Joint Staff/Director General Operations

 

Group V:  Leadership Awards

 

GOLD

 

John Bethel

Assistant Deputy Minister - Alternative Service Delivery

Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services of British Columbia

 

Distinction Awards honour John Bethel on October 27, 2008

 

Ottawa, ON – September 24, 2008 – The Leadership Medal at the Distinction Awards are an affirmation that one person really can make a difference even within a large IT organization or project. As leaders, nominees will have inspired and mobilized the energies and talents of others to work toward the achievement of the shared goals and objectives of their organization, the people within it and the people it serves.

 

On October 27, the Distinction Awards will present a Gold Leadership Medal to John Bethel, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Alternative Service Delivery (ASD) for the British Columbia government.  With a view to saving money and transforming service delivery in B.C., John Bethel has worked tirelessly to help the B.C. government execute 10 ASD deals worth $1.8 billion, with a projection that they will generate $550 million in financial benefits to the government in addition to significant non-financial benefits.

 

As a member of the Joint Executive Steering Committees for current ASD deals, and an evaluator on new Joint Solution Procurement projects, John provides strategic advice to client ministries throughout the lifecycle of these long-term partnerships.

 

John sits on the board of the Centre for Outsourcing Research and Education (CORE), a national organization for the promotion of best practices in outsourcing in the public and private sectors and is a regular speaker at conferences and training events dedicated to ASD models.

 

According to Kevin d’Entremont, Executive Director of the Awards, “We don’t give these medals out every year, and it truly takes an inspirational person or event to merit this honour.  The B.C. government’s joint-solutions procurement partnerships are large, complex deals that set the benchmark for Canadian governments.  John’s passion for his role is a testament to the commitment that the province has made to finding new ways to service citizens better.  He is the ideal candidate for the Leadership medal this year.”

 

Distinction Awards medals are given in five groups: Federal, Provincial, Municipal, National, and leadership.  Although there can be up to 42 medals each year, only one medal can be given in a Leadership Category.  The last time a leadership medal was awarded was in 2006.

 

“In BC, Alternative Service Delivery is not a theory or a process or a Secretariat.  It is a discipline–a way of doing business.  We set out clear goals to achieve better value and better service for the taxpayers of BC – and we work every day to achieve that value.  It is not easy, but it is worth it,” said John Bethel. 

 

“Our success is rooted in executive and political support, and the dedication of hundreds of public servants across government that have focused their careers on procuring, negotiating, and managing complex ASD partnerships   I am truly honoured to be recognized for our program’s success and look forward to receiving the award at GTEC on behalf of each and every one of the leaders in the BC Public Service that have proven it can be done,” continued Bethel. 

 

The 2008 Distinction Awards Gala is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year for public servants. To be held on October 27, 2008, the Gala be attended by over 600 executives from government and industry, plus our finalists and departments heads from across Canada.