As part of the annual U of G Community Breakfast for faculty and staff, U of G recognizes staff who have gone above and beyond to make U of G a great place to work with the President’s Awards for Exemplary Staff Service.
This year, acting president and vice-chancellor Rene Van Acker presented the awards to seven individuals and one team for their commitment to excellence.
Each recipient receives an award of $2,000 (less applicable taxes), with teams sharing the award.
Please join us in congratulating our 2024 President’s Awards for Exemplary Staff Service winners and thanks to the nominators who put their names forward!
Wellness, Health and Safety Award
College of Arts Wellness Warriors
The College of Arts Wellness Warriors, Olga Petrik, Marie Ann O’Neill, Libby Johnstone, and Vanessa Joy made it their mission to foster a culture of wellness and mental health awareness in the college. Funded by a Wellness@Work Grant, the team organized two impactful Wellness@Work Art Therapy Sessions for staff to foster emotional expression, personal growth, and healing. Through these sessions, the team has left a longstanding impact on the campus community and created a healthier, safer and more vibrant workplace environment as they empower individuals to pursue personal exploration and self-care through art.
Hidden Hero Award
Barb Robbins
Described by her nominators as a beacon of unwavering support and boundless compassion, Barb Robbins, Community Life Manager in the Department of Student Housing, is deeply committed to the well-being of every resident she serves. For 15 years, Barb has helped families navigate university life, introduced innovative programs that foster a multicultural community, and navigated numerous challenges such as COVID-19. By creating space for socialization and meaningful conversation, Barb has played a pivotal role in ensuring family housing residences find a space to belong on the U of G campus.
Tatia Leader
As a porter in Hospitality Services, Tatia Leader does a lot more than manage essential tasks like managing kitchen cleanliness. Tatia oversees a team of 30 porters and has played a foundational role in shaping the experiences of younger staff, especially international students who are adjusting to life in Canada. Tatia has a thoughtful and caring approach to managing and mentoring her team, taking time to guide each person through tasks and creating a nurturing and supportive environment where they can thrive.
Innovative Leadership Recognition Award
Alison Crerar
Alison Crerar joined the Office of Quality Assurance team as the Project Manager, Curriculum Systems Implementation, to lead the charge on implementing SYL, a course outline software. Managing this complicated project required coordination across all three campuses, the integration of many campus systems, and understanding the many diverse needs of programs. Alison approached the challenge with transparency, integrity and a focus on continuous improvement. Throughout, Alison demonstrated an outstanding ability to relate, build trust and bring her colleagues along through the process of change. Alison’s exemplary leadership truly made a difference to the success of this project.
Kimani Rutherford
Team Lead for the LSD Animal Health Laboratory, Kimani Rutherford is determined to facilitate a positive and inclusive work atmosphere through effective communication, while ensuring a high standard of excellence. With the goals of each team member in mind, Kimani implemented a comprehensive six-month training program geared towards addressing the team’s collective needs that had a positive impact on her team’s motivation and skill development. When the team was faced with an unexpectedly busy week, she made team appreciation a priority, organizing coffee and treats to boost morale and acknowledge everyone’s efforts. By celebrating team members’ efforts and contributions, Kimani has fostered a positive and supportive work team culture.
Service Excellence Recognition Award
Ben Melenhorst
Ben Melenhorst, Operations Technician at the Winchester Research Station, took initiative to enhance a large research project looking into the best management practices for in-season nitrogen applications in corn with his innovative invention. By creating a small-plot nitrogen fertilizer applicator, Ben dramatically improved the precision of the treatment and saved hundreds of hours of student labour that would have been needed to weigh and apply fertilizer by hand. It is Ben’s inventiveness in pursuit of excellence that is essential to keeping with the highest tradition of scientific and agronomic excellence and has had a global impact as international parties have expressed interest in purchasing his device.
Nick Anbeek
As Manager of Mountain and Prairie Cafeterias, Nick Anbeek has garnered the respect and admiration of students and staff with his affable nature, clear insight and guiding vision. His efforts to create weekly and monthly menu specials keep the cafeteria fresh and exciting to improve student and customer satisfaction. In managing his team, Nick leads by example, tackling tough challenges and advocating for inclusion and fair treatment for employees of all backgrounds. As a result of his leadership, his staff feel more supported, respected, engaged and confident of their growth at the University.
Saeed Mirzaee Ghazani
Saeed Mirzaee Ghazani, Research Associate in the Department of Food Science, brings to U of G a spirit of collegial co-operation. An amazing team member, Saeed is always eager to help, volunteering to collaborate and assist with courses and mentor students outside of his normal work duties. When interacting with students, he demonstrates great patience in giving clear and concise information and instruction. With an unwavering dedication to excellence in everything he does, Saeed never hesitates to give back to the U of G community by supporting his peers and his students.
Congratulations to all of the award winners! Enjoy some other photos from the breakfast below.
