May 18, 2011 - Premier Floyd K. Roland honoured 56 recipients and several organizations with Premier’s Awards for Excellence and Collaboration today. The recipients include GNWT employees, teams and their collaborative partners. A ceremony was held this morning at the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly.

“Encouraging innovation among our public servants is one of the priorities this Assembly identified to help pursue its goal of effective and efficient government.” said the Premier. “The leadership, cross-agency collaboration and innovative ideas demonstrated by the recipients of this year’s Premier’s Awards and their working partners is a model for all of us and has resulted in enhanced productivity and improved services.”

The Premier’s Awards were created to acknowledge the exceptional work of employees who might not otherwise be recognized for their work as public servants. Collaboration team awards recognize the outstanding achievements of GNWT employees who work in partnership with other individuals outside the GNWT to improve service for NWT residents.

This year’s ceremony included the inaugural presentation of the Dave Ramsden Career Excellence Award to Sukhi Cheema, Director of Design and Technical Services for the Department if Public Services.  In his nearly 30-year career with the government, Mr. Cheema has guided building design decisions on major infrastructure projects throughout the North; promoted and demonstrated sound energy management practices; and played an instrumental role in bringing northern building science and technology issues to the international level.

For more information, contact:
Drew Williams                                                Brenda Norris
Press Secretary for Premier/Cabinet              Communications Officer
Government of the Northwest Territories       Human Resources Strategy & Policy
Tel: (867) 669-2304                                      (867) 873-7070