OTTAWA, December 1, 2004 -- Effective today, the Bank of Canada is inviting nominations for the second annual Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence. This award is presented to one or more police officers, employees, or volunteers of a Canadian law enforcement agency who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and initiative in the fight against bank note counterfeiting or in the prevention of counterfeiting. Nominations may be submitted by any serving member of a Canadian law enforcement agency. The Bank of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), established the Award of Excellence in March 2004 to recognize the efforts of Canadian law enforcement in deterring bank note counterfeiting. In 2004, three members of the Toronto Police Service received the award for their work on "Project Greenback," which resulted in the seizure of approximately $3 million in counterfeit bank notes, as well as the dismantling of multiple counterfeit production facilities in the Toronto area. The three recipients of the first award-Detective Carmine Palermo, Detective Constable Thomas Hancock, and Detective Constable Harjit Sangha-were honoured at the 2004 CACP conference in Vancouver. The next recipients will be honoured at the 2005 CACP conference to be held in Ottawa in August. Each recipient will receive an award, presented by a member of the Bank of Canada's Governing Council, and their names will be inscribed on the master award that will be permanently displayed in a public area at the Bank's head office in Ottawa. Award recipients are chosen by a selection committee comprising three representatives from the Bank of Canada, and two from the CACP. Nominations for the 2005 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence must be received at the Bank of Canada by 31 March 2005. - 30 - For further information: Monica Lamoureux (613) 782-8782 For more information on the award, as well as the nomination process, application procedures, and forms, visit www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes. You may also contact John Mackenzie at jmackenzie@bankofcanada.ca or by calling (613) 782-7698.
