Nominations for OMSSA's 2024 Awards are closed. If you have any questions, please contact OMSSA at info@omssa.com.
OMSSA encourages nominations that reflect the diversity of its membership, in particular from individuals from racialized groups and Indigenous Peoples to ensure that our awards are reflective of the racial diversity of the populations its members serve.
Nominations for our 2024 Awards are CLOSED!
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.
Fern Dominelli is currently the Executive Director for the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association. He retired as CAO of the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (DSB) in August 2022. Fern started with the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB as a Program Manager in August 2000 and then became Chief Administrative Officer in 2009. Prior to his work with the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB, he was with the Ministry of Community & Social Services for 18 years.
When he first began his work with the Ministry, Fern was a front-line Income Maintenance Officer in Sudbury. In 1986 he accepted the position of Program Review Officer and became involved in many special projects and working groups through these years, as well as doing a great deal of travelling across the province assisting with program and operational reviews. As CAO with Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB he participated and chaired several provincial committees. One of Fern’s top priorities over the years was implementing Human Services Integration within the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board. The goal was to provide staff with enough information and training that they can provide the people we served with the right information and resources while only having to tell their storey once.
Fern was previously a member of the OMSSA Board, chairing the OMSSA’s Professional Development Committee.
Laura LePine is the current Director of Community Services with the County of Renfrew. With over 25 years working in community/social services at the County of Renfrew, Laura has seen the many changes, challenges and opportunities that exist in community and social services. From Employment Services Caseworker, to Coordinator of Operations, Local System Support (LSS), Case Presenting Officer (CPO) for the Social Benefits Tribunal to Manager and then Director, Laura has been involved in social services from the bottom up. From 2010 to 2013, she was seconded by MCSS as the Local Change and Implementation Coordinator for the Social Services Solutions Modernization Project (SSSMP), Eastern Region. This role was to represent Eastern Ontario on the business, technical, change management, and data conversion teams and act as the link between MCSS and service delivery agents to successfully implement the complex new technology program (SAMS) for the Eastern Region including development of Province - wide communication tools.
Prior to joining the County of Renfrew, Laura held a variety of roles in the social services field including Addiction Treatment Services as a Case Manager, a Training Consultant with Algonquin College, assisting youth to complete their high school education and/or find employment and training opportunities and in the role of Program Coordinator and Mental Health Caseworker for Community Mental Health Services. Always driven to improve the experience of those utilizing services, Laura has been active on many boards and committees throughout her career including the Renfrew and Area Social Safety Net Committee, the Family Focus Committee of Arnprior and Area, Renfrew County Committee on Abused Women, OMSSA Board of Directors, End Violence Against Women (EVA) Renfrew County and the Board of Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services, MacKay Manor Recovery Home and The Renfrew Police Services Board, to name a few.
Passionate about people and services, Laura has been a strong voice for those in need. Removing barriers and creating easy spaces for people to feel comfortable and valued is what she is known for in her work and in her community. Ensuring that the residents have a clear pathway to services, and staff feel valued in the work they do, has been the focus of her work throughout her career. She is a no-nonsense kind of person who speaks clearly and without hesitation when it comes to any form of advocacy.
2020: Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders, Region of Waterloo
2019: Keith Palmer, Former Director of Community Services, County of Dufferin
2018: Linda Mitchelson, Former Division Manager, Social Services, City of Peterborough
2017: David Landers, Former CAO, Cochrane DSSAB
2016: Joe-Anne Priel, General Manager, City of Hamilton
2014: Nancy Dickieson, Director, Children's Services, Region of Waterloo
2013: Heather MacVicar, General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services, City of Toronto
2012: David Court, Former CAO, Algoma District Social Services Administration Board
2011: Patti Moore, General Manager, Health and Social Services, County of Norfolk