Patti Moore Human Services Integration Award



Recognizing an OMSSA member or delegate who has displayed extraordinary leadership and made an exceptional contribution to human services.

2024 Nominations Closed!

Nominations for OMSSA's 2024 Awards are closed. If you have any questions, please contact OMSSA at info@omssa.com. 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

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.



Eligibility Criteria

  • A proven and respected track record of achievement in human services and in the development and/or application of the theory and practice of human services integration
  • Demonstrated experience and commitment in placing clients/people at the centre of the planning and administration of human services
  • Someone who has strengthened or broadened internal and external relationships to achieve a common vision of seamless service delivery

Nomination Process

Nominations for our 2024 Awards are CLOSED!

  • Any OMSSA member can nominate another individual, including themselves
  • Only one nomination per member will be accepted
  • Nominators must receive sign-off from their Commissioner/Lead
  • 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 

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 | Gail Spencer | City of Greater Sudbury

Gail Spencer, Manager of Housing Stability and Homelessness for the City of Greater Sudbury demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities in integrating human services. Gail has worked with the City’s Social Services Division for over 30 years, starting at the frontline as a General welfare fieldworker and moving upward to the development and management of dynamic homelessness team.  Over the past 16 years, Gail has spearheaded community and provincial initiatives, developing a roadmap for a responsive, integrated human service system for the unhoused population and programs aiming to end homelessness. Gail has established and supports committees such as the Reaching Home Community Advisory Board and Housing First Steering Committee to enhance and coordinate funding for direct client support, improve referral pathways, and reduce duplication for individuals experiencing homelessness, severe mental health issues, and addiction concerns.

Gail worked with federal, provincial and municipal partners to bring about significant changes in housing placements for the homeless population through the implementation of a Coordinated Access System. This involved integrating intake, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms for available housing and funding sources The previous system had a fragmented approach that made it difficult for individuals to access the services they needed. Gail's leadership helped consolidate program efforts and ensured that the client's needs were at the center of all planning and decision making.

While building strong, respectful relationships with community partners and other sectors has always been a priority for Gail, the increasing complexity of homelessness and the development of the Homelessness team over the past five years has amplified the importance of breaking down barriers and working together. Gail believes building collaborative partnerships is the key to successful programs aimed at ending chronic homelessness.


2023 | Fern Dominelli | NOSDA

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.




2023 | Laura LePine | County of Renfrew

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.


2022 | Mellissa Morgan | City of Cornwall

Mellissa Morgan has had a varied career, across many sectors, within the City of Cornwall’s Human Services Department. With more than 28 years experience, this has also provided her with many opportunities to expand her leadership skills throughout that time. 
 
As the current General Manager of Human Services and Long-term Care for the City of Cornwall, she oversees the operations, transformation and modernization of Ontario Works, Children‘s Services and Housing Services and believes that life stabilization is a fundamental and core principle within each of those areas. She been instrumental in the introduction and promotion of cross training within the three divisions. Most recently, under her leadership, the city completed a merger of the Local Housing Corporation into the Human Services Department and will extend those leadership skills to the operations of Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge (municipally owned long-term care facility), which is new to her portfolio. In addition, Mellissa has spearheaded the Housing Revitalization Plan which targets 741 new affordable housing units within the region, in the next 10 years, of which 104 will be available for occupancy in 2023.
 
Mellissa has a BScSoc. from the University of Ottawa and has completed the AMCTO Executive Municipal Leadership Program from the Ivey Business School. Mellissa has also been a member of several committees and non-profit organizations, including the Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Housing and the City’s new Corporate Leadership Development Program. Mellissa’s leadership is inspired by the underlying premise of helping to improve the lives of other people and improve the system that they live under.

  • 2021: Cordelia Abankwa, Employment and Training Division, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development

  • 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