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The John Tait Award of Excellence was established in 1998 to honour, recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Public Sector Lawyers in Canada. Originally named the Inukshuk Award of Excellence, it was renamed in August 1999 to honour an outstanding lawyer, public servant and friend who passed away in the summer of 1999. The award is presented each year at the CBA Annual Conference to a public sector lawyer or law office who has achieved the highest standards of professional conduct and competence and made significant contributions to social justice or community affairs, and who exemplifies preeminent public service.

Details Eligibility Current or former public sector lawyers (e.g. lawyers working for crown corporations, for legal aid offices, for legal services of boards, commissions or agencies);   Lawyers employed in organizations fully funded by any level of government;   Nominees must exhibit one or more of: high standards of professional conduct & competence; excellence & leadership; commitment & service to the public; achievements in the area of social justice or community affairs, and/or exemplary performance of public sector legal service;   Nominees need not be a CBA member;   Members of the current PSLF Executive and PSLF Awards Committee are not eligible for this award;   There are no posthumous awards. Presentation Candidates are responsible for their travel and accommodation expenses to the presentation. Nomination Procedure Nominations shall take the form of a letter stating the reasons for the nomination, including a description of the exemplary performance and/or service, the time frame involved, and the impact;   Individuals: Letter shall contain full name, address, telephone and fax and e-mail information, as well as years in practice of the nominee and the nominator.   Each nomination shall include three reference letters (inlcuding name, title and phone number) familiar with the performance of the nominee.  The references need not be CBA members.  However, the person nominating the nominee must be a CBA member.   Completed application forms must be submitted to the John Tait Award of Excellence, Canadian Bar Association, 865 Carling Avenue, Suite 500, Ottawa, ON. K1S 5S8 Deadline for Applications: May 1, 2009  Selection Process The award is administered by the PSLF Awards Committee. All nominees will be notified. The Committee may decide not to offer an award in any one year. Award The award is sponsored by Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP. The award takes the form of a statue of Inukshuk (or a direction finder, a symbol of showing the way) by an Inuit artist from Elgowlowet, in Nunavut. Award Winners 2008 - Vincent Calderhead (Halifax. NS) 2007 - Donald J. Manderscheid, Q.C. (Edmonton, AB) 2006 - David Frayer, Q.C. (Winnipeg, MB) 2005 - John H. Sims, Q.C. (ON) 2004 - Edward Bates (Vancouver, BC) 2003 - Jack Walsh, Q.C. (Miramichi, NB) 2002 - Nora Sanders (Iqaluit, NV) 2001 - Thomas C. Marshall, Q.C.(Toronto, ON), Stephen Owen, Q.C. (Vancouver, BC) 2000 - Jerry McHale, Q.C. (Victoria, BC) 1999 - M. David Gates, Department of Justice (Edmonton, AB) 1998 - Arne Peltz (Winnipeg, MB)

Application Nomination Form (.pdf) Deadline Deadline for Applications: May 1, 2009 Contact Jennifer Lalonde Associate Director, Canadian Bar Association jennifer@cba.org