Recognizing the long-standing contribution of exceptional OMSSA members who have recently retired or who plan on retiring ahead of next year's OMSSA Exchange Conference.

Eligibility Criteria

Active participation with the association evidenced by at least two of the following:

• Member of OMSSA networks

• Member of OMSSA task forces/working groups

• Member of OMSSA standing committees

• Member of OMSSA Board of Directors

• Member of OMSSA Zone executives

Representation of OMSSA on at least one external table, thereby making contributions to human services policy and implementation in Ontario, including: 

• A committee, working group or table of the provincial government

• A committee, working group or table of the federal government

• A committee, working group or table of the Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO)

• A committee, working group or table of OMSSA specifically designed to partner with another association, order of government or sector

A documented meaningful contribution to OMSSA that strengthened the association in one of the following areas:

• Policy development

• Educational programs and events development

• Governance and sustainability

• Reputation with external stakeholders

A documented, meaningful contribution to the improvement of human service policy and implementation at any order of government.

Nomination Process

Nominations for our 2025 Awards open on May 26th!

• Any OMSSA member can nominate another individual, including themselves
• Only one nomination per member will be accepted
• The total number of award recipients is limited to one (1) person per year; however, exceptions will be made for more than one deserving recipient 
• Nominators must receive sign-off from their Commissioner/Lead

To submit a nomination:

Nominators can submit nominations online! Click on the button below and fill in the form to submit your nomination directly to OMSSA. If you have any questions, please contact OMSSA at info@omssa.com. 

Current and Previous Recipients

2024 | Katherine Chislett 

Katherine’s distinguished career in municipal and regional services began in 1987 with Ontario's Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, where her work on rent control, social housing, and planning Markham’s Cornell community set the foundation for decades of impactful leadership. With Ontario’s download of programs, in 1998 Katherine joined the newly amalgamated City of Toronto to help build its social housing program. In her role as principal planner, she led efforts to protect rental housing and tenant rights amidst sweeping policy changes.

With a shift to frontline housing services, Katherine became Toronto’s Director of Housing and Homelessness, creating and launching the Streets to Homes program (housing first), co-leading with St. Michael’s hospital Toronto's involvement in the Mental Health Commission of Canada's At Home/Chez Soi research project, developing the city's first Indigenous Homelessness Strategy, and delivering its first street count. Her work during this time not only expanded affordable housing but also fundamentally transformed service delivery for those facing homelessness.

In Niagara Region as Commissioner of Community Services, Katherine expanded her reach, leading human services in homelessness prevention, child services, employment support, and long-term care. Her legacy included Niagara’s first housing and homelessness plan and contributions to the Niagara Regional Housing Board.

From 2017 to 2024, Katherine served as Commissioner of Community and Health Services for York Region and as President of Housing York, Inc., overseeing a $1 billion budget, 3,000 staff, and more than 300 programs that support York Region’s residents. Under her leadership, York achieved numerous strategic and service plans, including the region’s first Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and the York Region Inclusion Charter, recognized by the United Nations. Katherine’s focus on integrated service management and her dedication to equity and inclusion have enriched the lives of over 1.2 million residents.

In retirement, Katherine continues to support community development, volunteering with the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation and as a management consultant current supporting planning for a new community. She is deeply grateful to the talented colleagues, mentors, and team members whose passion, dedication, and commitment to public service have inspired her journey and ensured the delivery of essential programs that support healthier, more hopeful lives for so many.

2023 | Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders 

Following 45 years of management and executive experience in government operated and funded health and human services, Douglas uses his expertise to provide strategic advice to government, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. His experience spans service system management, multi-system integration, strategy and policy development, systems expansion, and oversight design and implementation within the human services and includes considerable understanding and expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Recent strategic advisory work includes:

• Collaborating with an Ontario social services organization develop its 10-year Early Learning and Child Care Service plan
• Advising an Ontario temporary shelter on managing external pressure to relocate its facility and operations
• Advising two Ontario based social service organizations on fiscal viability in an environment of declining funding and donor bases
• Leading an Ontario municipality through the introduction of integrated service access and delivery to improve client service and reduce multiple intakes
• Leading an Ontario immigration settlement community to settle and provide multiple services to 1,800 immigrants on an emergency basis in one year
• Introduced new thinking and concepts of care into family medicine through the College of Family Physicians of Canada to address the unique medical needs of the LGBT+ communities in partnership with a prominent Ontario Family Physician (1980s/90s)

Commitment and involvement in local, provincial and national charitable and voluntary sectors remain a passion for Douglas.  He has served on a variety of boards of directors including the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association, Sparrow Lake Alliance, EGALE, Canadians for Equal Marriage, AIDS Committee of Cambridge Kitchener Waterloo & Area (as founding Chair), to name a few. He has been an active supporter of the Arts having been a member of the Patrons Council of the National Ballet of Canada and a member of both the Stratford and Shaw Festivals. Locally, he was a director-at-large on the Board of the United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries and currently sits as a Board member of Porchlight Counselling Services and The Cambridge Shelter Corporation.

In 2020, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association awarded Douglas the Patti Moore Human Services Integration Award for excellence in integration and human services leadership. The award is presented annually to one member of the Association who excels in leadership and service integration.

Douglas, along with his husband Michael and their two miniature schnauzers, Friedrich and Greta reside in Cambridge, Ontario

2022 | Greg Bishop | County of Simcoe

2022 | Debbie Cercone | City of Windsor

2020: Rick Farrell, York Region

2019:

• Gayle Montgomery, County of Lambton
• Beth Nowak, Cochrane DSSAB

2018:

• Walter Burt, Prince Edward Lennox-Addington Social Services
  
• Bruno Ierullo, City of Windsor
• Roxanne Lambert, Region of Durham
• Linda Mitchelson, City of Peterborough
• Joe-Anne Priel, City of Hamilton
• Lucy Sobczyk, City of Windsor
• Mary Lou White, Lanark County

2017:

• Stephen Arbuckle, City of Ottawa 
• Mary Beth Jonz, Halton Region 
• Adelina Urbanski, York Region 
• Brenda Wilton, County of Bruce 

2015:

• Lucy Brown, Municipality of Chatham-Kent
• Shannon Hyatt, City of Windsor
• Patti Moore, County of Norfolk
• Brenda Patterson, City of Toronto
• Dave Pelette, Niagara Region
• Terry Sanderson, Grey County
• Terry Talon, County of Simcoe

2014:

• Marsha Millar, Municipality of Chatham-Kent
• David Overboe, County of Huron
• Jane Soldera, City of Hamilton

2013:

• Merv Hughes, County of Norfolk
• Heather MacVicar, City of Toronto
• Sally Pincock, Halton Region

2012:

• Carmen Ouellette, City of Greater Sudbury 
• Mike Schuster, Region of Waterloo
• Wendy Stewart, Niagara Region
• Ronna Warsh, City of Windsor

2011:

• Mary Lucas, Thunder Bay DSSAB
• Sue Norden, City of Brantford
• Valerie Sauer, County of Wellington
• Johanne Tallon, City of Ottawa
• Bill White, Nipissing DSSAB
• Connie Woloschuck, City of Ottawa