Ombudsman Recognizes Three Extraordinary Members of Canada’s Defence Community with the Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation

Ombudsman Presents the Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation for Complaint Resolution to three extraordinary members of Canada's Defence Community  

On October 18, 2011, our office presented the Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation for Complaint Resolution to three extraordinary members of Canada's Defence community at a special ceremony in Ottawa, which was attended by the Associate Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Julian Fantino, more than a dozen Senators and Members of Parliament, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Bruce Donaldson, and more than sixty members of Canada's Defence community.
 

This long-standing award recognizes individuals and groups who have gone the extra mile and exceeded expectations in helping their colleagues resolve a difficult problem or in bringing about positive and lasting change to the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces.
 

This year's recipients of the Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation for Complaint Resolution were:
 

Ms. Louise Cassidy

As the voluntary chair of a continuous improvement committee called IQ Force at CFB Esquimalt, Ms. Cassidy has demonstrated a passion for resolving problems and bringing about improvements to her workplace. She has proposed and established innovative solutions for the gathering and sharing of employee concerns and suggestions, the most important of which were the 2009 and 2010 surveys that gave a positive voice to more than 190 base employees. Spending countless hours of her own time to bring about lasting change at Base Logistics, she was a catalyst in her organization's achievement of the National Quality Institute's first level in the Progressive Excellence Program. Ms. Cassidy's commitment to identifying and resolving problems and her success in driving organizational change are an excellent example of how one individual can help create a healthier and happier workplace for everyone.
 

Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Lewis

A dynamic leader committed to building a cohesive and effective workplace, Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis strives to create an environment where conflict is managed in a productive manner, making people feel heard and valued as members of an extraordinary team doing extraordinary work. Nowhere is this more evident than Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis' contribution to the successful completion of 8 Wing Mission Support Unit operations as part of the Afghanistan mission in 2010. As a result of an unexpected deployment to Haiti, this diverse unit had very little time to complete its training requirements before leaving for Camp Mirage. Through his determined efforts, however, Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis managed to ensure that ninety-five percent of the unit received alternate dispute resolution training, more than doubling the rate of training received by previous deployments. The benefit of this instruction exceeded expectations and helped to ensure the successful completion of the unit's mission, including the herculean task of closing and moving Camp Mirage.
 

Master Warrant Officer Anna Aldrich

Committed to resolving conflict informally, quickly and effectively, Master Warrant Officer Aldrich was instrumental in addressing an inordinate number of grievances and harassment complaints within her diverse workplace and in creating a positive environment with improved morale and productivity. On her own initiative, she sought out additional training in conflict resolution for herself and her subordinates in order to ensure that all staff have numerous avenues through which to pursue and resolve their concerns. A proponent of open communication, visibility and accessibility at 1 Dental Unit Detachment Edmonton, Master Warrant Officer Aldrich often has one-on-one and group discussions, acting as a mediator and facilitator, with the goal of finding innovative and collaborative solutions to workplace conflict. As a result of her proactive leadership, she established and continues to promote a healthy environment free of serious complaints since 2007.
 

The achievements of these three individuals are a true reflection of the high standard for which Canada's Defence community strives.
 

The nomination process for the 2012 Ombudsman Commendations will begin in March 2012. Additional information on the award criteria and nomination process can be found on our website at www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca.
 

Pierre Daigle
Ombudsman