2008 Gold Medal

President Michèle Demers presented the Institute's 2008 Gold Medal to Mr. Dan Beavon, Director of the Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, in Ottawa on June 20, 2008. Mr. Beavon was awarded the medal for achievement in a field other than pure or applied science, in recognition of his leadership and contributions in the field of policy research and development regarding aboriginal peoples in Canada and internationally.

In her remarks, President Demers said, “Mr. Beavon is a pioneering inventor of major public policy instruments in terms of his ground-breaking development of the Human Development Index (HDI) as an analytical tool to address the well-being of Canada’s aboriginal peoples. Mr. Beavon’s work has changed how decision-makers think about aboriginal Canadians and how they develop policy.”

Mr. Beavon has made an equally important impact on the work of the United Nations with respect to indigenous peoples. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Beavon made a number of presentations to the United Nation’s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples, presenting his work on HDI and related research on aboriginal well-being. Mr. Beavon was instrumental in showing both the Permanent Forum and a wide array of other United Nations organizations how to frame, measure and address questions of indigenous well-being.

Mr. Beavon’s numerous collaborations with aboriginal and non-aboriginal scholars resulted in the publication of several books to help disseminate research on the well-being and contribution of Aboriginal people to Canadian society.

The selection panel commented: “Mr. Beavon is an example of the role model that the Institute’s Gold Medal is intended to honour. Mr. Beavon's career in the public service – from his recruitment into the public service via the Native Indigenous Development Program, through the building and expansion of his skill set, to significant policy contributions in areas of great importance to our society – is a great story in itself. He has an effective ability to bring groups together, engender trust, and create partnerships – partnerships that actually lead to meaningful results and actions. Mr. Beavon has demonstrated an ability to bridge the academic and policy communities and to transform empirical data and observations into effective policies. It is clear that the impact of Mr. Beavon's work extends well beyond Canada's borders.”

The Institute thanks the selection panel for their contribution to the 2008 Gold Medal program: Dr. Robert Campbell, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Allison University, Dr. Jack Lightstone, President and Vice-Chancellor of Brock University, and Dr. Jim Tomkins, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Regina.

The Professional Institute established the Gold Medal Award program in 1937 to recognize professional public service employees whose outstanding work has led to the improvement and enhancement of public well-being. The program’s other objective is to promote greater awareness of the role and value of professional public services in Canada and globally. The award is presented on a yearly basis. In odd-numbered years, the award is presented for achievement in the field of pure and applied science, and in even-numbered years it is presented for achievement in a field other than pure and applied science.

Gold Medal Presentation

At the Gold Medal ceremony: (left to right): Dr. Ray Corrado, Professor at Simon Fraser University; Gold Medal Laureate Dan Beavon; President Michèle Demers; Professor Jerry White of the University of Western Ontario; Andrew Beynon, Director General, Strategic Policy and Research, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada; John Sinclair, former Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Strategic Direction, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, who, along with Dr. Corrado and Professor White nominated Mr. Beavon.