Distinguished Service Award

The men and women who have served in our Parliaments as "unsung heroes", so to speak, are sometimes soon forgotten.  The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians was founded in 1987 and, in 1999, to fulfill its mandate, decided to initiate an annual Distinguished Service Award to recognize one of these unsung heroes.

The Distinguished Service Award was initiated under section 7. (e) of Bill C-275, An Act establishing the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, which was given Royal Assent on May 29, 1996.  Section 7. (e) of the Act reads:

"The Association has the capacity of a natural person and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Association may, in furtherance of its objects... give recognition, by such means as it deems appropriate, for outstanding contributions to the promotion and understanding of Canada's parliamentary system of government."

The process and criteria for the Award were developed in consultation with the Honourable John Fraser, the Honourable Bob Rae, and the Honourable Mitchell Sharp.  CAFP members are asked to make nominations.  A Selection Committee, headed by the President of the Association, decides on the recipient based on his or her contribution to public life while in office, and on their continued interest and activity in the promotion of human welfare and parliamentary democracy in Canada and abroad.

The first Award was presented in the Senate by the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament on June 10, 1999.  The award is presented during a reception hosted by the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament at the time of the Association's annual general meeting.

The 2012 Distinguished Service Award will be presented during a ceremony on Parliament Hill on Monday, June 4, 2012.  Former parliamentarians are now invited to nominate candidates for the award.  Additional details are available to members in the Member News.  (Please note that members must be logged in to view this section.)

Previous Distinguished Service Award recipients are:

• 2011 – Mr. Jim Hawkes
• 2010 – Mr. Keith Penner
• 2009 – The Honourable Douglas Roche, O.C.
• 2008 – The Honourable Sheila Finestone, P.C.
• 2007 – The Honourable Jacques Hébert, O.C.
• 2006 – Mr. Wilton (Willie) Littlechild, Q.C.
• 2005 – Mr. J. Roland Comtois
• 2004 – Dr. Bruce Halliday
• 2003 – Ms. Aideen Nicholson
• 2002 – The Honourable John M. Reid
• 2001 – Mr. Douglas M. Fisher
• 2000 – Mr. Stan Darling
• 1999 – The Honourable John Ross Matheson