GTEC 2008 announces the selection of the Distinction Awards finalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GTEC 2008 announces the selection of the Distinction Awards finalists
Top public sector IT leaders to receive recognition at Annual GTEC Gala in October

Ottawa, Ontario – Wednesday, August 20, 2008 – GTEC 2008, today unveiled the finalists of the Distinction Awards to be given on Monday, October 27, 2008. The awards recognize outstanding public sector leadership in innovation, in federal, provincial, municipal and national classifications. From over 90 nominations, 45 finalists were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges selected SCOAP, a professional group for IT/IM experts.

Receiving seven nominations this year, the Government of Alberta ranked highest, closely followed by Health Canada at five nominations, and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tied with the City of Ottawa at four nominations.

"We are pleased to see an increase in the number of nominations for the Distinction Award Program this year, as it demonstrates the innovative projects and initiatives taking place across all levels of Government throughout Canada," Kevin d'Entremont, Executive Director of GTEC 2008. "This year’s process saw a particular increase in provincial and municipal nominations, demonstrating that innovation and excellence is happening across the country within governments of all sizes. There are great lessons to be learned from successes of our 2008 finalists."

The Judging Process
SCOAP (Society of Collaborative Opportunities and Advancement of Professionals), a non-profit association dedicated to exploring achievement and issues related to the management of information and technology in a knowledge-based society, provides the selection committee, the judging committee comprised of over 35 members of SCOAP, and the awards methodology to the GTEC Distinction Awards. Nominations are reviewed in two separate processes, which include the screening and initial evaluation of all nominations, and the selection of Award Finalists.

The 2008 GTEC Distinction Awards Gala ceremony will take place on Monday, October 27, 2008 at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec. This year the Gala will be hosted by CTV Ottawa Television reporter and host of TECHNow, Paul Brent. For more information about attending the Gala or purchasing a table, please contact Silvia Villon, 613 736-9851 x 120 svillon@gtec.ca . Please see the following pages for a list of all the GTEC Distinction Award Finalists.

- ### -

About GTEC 2008
After more than 15 years, GTEC is recognized as Canada's most significant forum on the use of technology to improve government services and operations. The event features an annual Distinction Awards program and gala, a comprehensive Professional Development Forum, and the GTEC Exhibition. The conference program and extensive trade show are attended annually by an estimated 7,000 professionals. For more information please visit www.gtec.ca

For Media inquiries only, please contact:
Kathryn Schwab
Media and Analyst Relations
GTEC 2008
Phone: 613-858-4407
kschwab@prceptive.com

Group I: Federal Awards

ePay Card Project Team
Canada Public Service Agency
Strategic Infrastructure and Information Management

Apply for Child Benefits Program – Benefits Online Application (BOA)Team
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) / Benefit Programs Directorate (BPD)-ABSB and Individual
Returns and Benefits Directorate (IRBD)-ITB , Assessment and Benefit Services Branch (ABSB)
Information Technology Branch (ITB)

ADW Migration to UNIX/ MPP Architecture
Canada Revenue Agency
Information Technology Branch

Quick Access
Canada Revenue Agency
Information Technology Branch

GST/ HST Redesign Project
Canada Revenue Agency
Information Technology Branch (ITB)

IT Sustainability Project - DFO
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Deputy Minister's Office

First Nations and Inuit Health, Public Health Surveillance Capacity Development Project
Health Canada, Alberta Region
Public Affairs, Consultation and Regions Branch

The Contract Requisition and Reporting System (CRRS)
Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch

Health Canada's The Way Forward Initiative - An Enterprise Approach to IT
Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch

Electronic Pesticide Regulatory System (e-PRS)
Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch/ Information Management Services Directorate

Working in Canada Tool
(www.workingincanada.gc.ca/tool)
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Skills and Employment Branch

Disaster Recovery for the Receiver General for Canada and Central Compensation Administration Functions Project. / Projet de reprise après sinistre de la fonction
Public Works and Government Services Canadaš(PWGSC)
Accounting, Banking and Compensation

National Time and Activity Reporting System (NTARS)
Transport Canada
Marine Safety

Containing Costs Through National IM/IT Efficiencies
Transport Canada
Technology and Information Management Services Directorate

Group II: Provincial Awards

From In-line to Online – Restructuring Alberta's Student Finance Program
Advanced Education and Technology - Province of Alberta
Adult Learning - Learner Assistance

Application Submission Initiative
Advanced Education and Technology
Province of Alberta - Adult Learing - Post secondary Planning and Accountability

Converting Manual Transfers, Postings, and Bidding to the Web
Alberta Department of Energy
Tenure/ Information Technology

SOSS – Sign-Out Security System
British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range
Information Management Group

Court Services Online Project Team
Business Transformation & Change Management and Strategic Information & Business
Applications
Court Services Branch

Wildland Fire Reporting System - DNR/GNB
Greater New Brunswick, Natural Resources
Regional Support Services

GEM (Grants Enterprise Management)
Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology - Province of Alberta, Information Technology
Management (ITM) a branch of Technology Commercialization

Ministry of the Attorney General Facilities Management Information System (FMIS)
Ministry of the Attorney General
Facilities Management Branch

Nova Scotia iPHIM Project to deliver eResults
Nova Scotia Department of Health
Primary Health Care

TempLink 2.1
Ontario Government - Ontario Shared Services
Customer Relationship Management

Dr. Christopher Schlachta
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Departments of Surgery & Oncology
Smart Systems for Health Agency (SSHA)

Alberta Land Titles SPIN 2 Development Team
Service Alberta - Registries

Group III: Municipal Awards

Municipal Census Application (Version 2.0)
City of Airdrie
City Clerks & Information Technology Departments

G.I.S. Flood Mapping Application
City of Medicine Hat
Information & Computer Services (I.C.S.)
Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.)

Social Housing Administration Management Information System (SHAMIS)
City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

eFootprint Application on www.ottawa.ca
City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

Mainframe Migration Team
City of Windsor
Information Technology Department

eRide – Online Trip Planner
Works and Transportation, Corporation of the City of Brampton - Brampton Transit

Group IV: National Awards

Accountability Pillar Online Reporting Initiative (APORI)
Alberta Education, Performance Measurement and Reporting
Information Technology Management

Videoconferencing in the K-12 Education System
Alberta Education
Stakeholder Technology Branch

Research and Development Team/ Creating Innovative Learning Solutions for Maintaining Language Skills
Canada School of Public Service
Individual Learning

Canadian e-Policy Resource Centre (CePRC)
Canada School of Public Service
Organizational Leadership and Innovation

Ottawa.ca – Usability & Accessibility Improvements
City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

Arts & Cultural Events Calendar (Spotlight)
City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

Health Product Electronic Submissions (e-Submissions)
Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch/ Information Management Services Directorate

Joint Information & Intelligence Fusion Capability Detachment Ops/Web Support Team
National Defence
Strategic Joint Staff/Director General Operations

NRCan Resource Wiki
Natural Resources Canada
Information Management Branch

Service Qualification and Transition for IT Shared Services
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)
Information Technology Services Branch (ITSB)

Parental Benefit Exchange Project Team
Service Canada
Innovation, Information and Technology Branch (IITB)

Windsor Regional Construction Traffic Management System
The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Central Region Advanced Traffic Management

Organizational Readiness Office
Treasury Board Secretariat
Chief Information Officer's Branch