Ottawa, Ontario
6 March 2014
The Government of Canada introduced the Outstanding Achievement Award in 1966. This Award is considered the highest expression of recognition for senior public servants in the Public Service of Canada. It is presented to senior public servants whose leadership has been distinguished by a sustained commitment to excellence, with an emphasis on modernizing service delivery, building the public service as a vibrant national institution geared to future needs, or enhancing Canadian interests globally.
The Award emphasizes the importance that the Government attaches to efficient operations in the public service and to the provision of quality service to Canadians.
The Award consists of a framed certificate signed by the Prime Minister and the Governor General, a gold pin, and a Canadian work of art. A total of 88 awards have been conferred since the program's inception, including this year's recipient. A list of previous recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Award as well as details of the recognition program may be found on the Outstanding Achievement Award page of the Privy Council Office at: www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oaa-psi.
The Selection Committee for the Outstanding Achievement Award consists of distinguished Canadians appointed by the Prime Minister. The Committee reviews nominations and makes its recommendations directly to the Prime Minister. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be professionals at the executive, deputy head or equivalent levels, including Governor-in-Council appointees, and occupy a full-time position in the Public Service of Canada at the time of nomination.
Throughout her long career as a public servant, Ms. Jolicoeur has consistently exemplified the values of the Public Service of Canada, as well as the professionalism, vision and innovation which have made her a role model.
After earning a Bachelor's degree in Geography from Université Laval, Ms. Jolicoeur joined the Public Service of Canada and occupied a series of progressively responsible positions with the Public Service Commission, Transport Canada and National Defence in the areas of finance, auditing and human resources.
During her time at the Department of National Defence, she specialized in compensation administration, fostering extensive collaboration across the Public Service to achieve clear goals in very challenging circumstances.
In order to provide effective support to the Receiver General and the Deputy Receiver General of Canada in fulfilling their mandates, Ms. Jolicoeur ensured that financial data captured from the more than 130 organizations that constitute the source of the annual production of the Public Accounts of Canada was accurate, automated and sustained. As a result of her efforts over her tenure at PWGSC, the Government of Canada has received clean reviews by the Auditor General of Canada for its Public Accounts.
Ms. Jolicoeur's tireless work on the transformation of pension administration resulted in the creation of a sustainable, flexible and client-based service that leveraged emerging technologies. Through her commitment, an aging system of disaggregated business processes and IT systems were transformed into a seamless electronic and data-capturing and imaging-based process, providing a consolidated and centralized pension service centre which is located in Shediac, New Brunswick. This has resulted in Canada having one of the world's most modern and innovative pension service systems, which other countries are looking to as a model. It has also resulted in annual government-wide savings of $23 million a year.
Ms. Jolicoeur also launched the pay modernization and consolidation initiative to once again modernize an aging IT system and centralize all pay advisory services and functions, located in Miramichi, New Brunswick.
She has been instrumental in working across government and with bargaining agents to mobilize compensation advisors in support of this important initiative, as well as with the Government of New Brunswick and post-secondary institutions to develop a training and recruitment initiative to create a pool of skilled compensation service providers.
Throughout her career, Ms. Jolicoeur has been a strong leader and a visionary. She has demonstrated an unwavering ability to make bold decisions and to chart new territory in technology and service delivery. She is considered the ultimate team-player who fosters extensive collaboration among all partners and possesses a remarkable ability to achieve Government priorities. She has made a substantial contribution to the Public Service of Canada.
Renée Jolicoeur is currently Associate Deputy Minister of Public Works and Government Services.
