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Awards of Excellence

CANAC Awards of Excellence

In 1992, the CANAC Awards of Excellence were established to recognize members who have demonstrated excellence in HIV/AIDS clinical practice or who have made an exceptional contribution to the development of nursing in HIV/AIDS care. Annually, the CANAC membership is invited to nominate members to receive an Award of Excellence. The Awards are presented in a special ceremony during the Annual CANAC Conference gala dinner.

Nominate an exceptional CANAC nurse today!

The nomination form is available through our Online Member Portal.

Once you are logged in to the online member portal, click the “Forms” section on the dashboard to access the nomination form. 

Jill Sullivan Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice

This award is named in memory of Jill Sullivan; a pioneer in the delivery of HIV/AIDS nursing care in Canada. The recipient of this award is a nurse who consistently demonstrates excellence in the application of skill and knowledge in her/his nursing practice.

Recipient Region Year
Evelyn Marquis Ontario 2024
Jim Donovan Ontario 2023
Deanna Clatworthy Ontario 2021
Jen Shergold British Columbia 2021
Ted Birse Alberta 2020
Chasity Vermette Saskatchewan 2019
Afshan Nathoo British Columbia 2013
Hannah Cowen Ontario 2012
Jocelyn Preston Manitoba 2011
Leegay Jagoe Alberta 2010
Liz Kirkpatrick British Columbia 2009
Doreen Littlejohn British Columbia 2007
Danielle Gélinas Quebec 2007
Édith Duterville Quebec 2006
May Lou Miller British Columbia 2005
Caroline Côté Quebec 2004
Constance Howlie Newfoundland and Labrador 2003
Fiona Gold British Columbia 2002
Michele Gauthier Ontario 2001
Julie Phillips Ontario 2000
Evanna Brennan British Columbia 1999
Susan Giles British Columbia 1999
Maureen McLelland Ontario 1998
Lorraine Bernier Quebec 1997
Cheryl Arneson Ontario 1996
Glen Doupe British Columbia 2016
Clarence Frenchman Saskatchewan 2017
Diane Knox Saskatchewan 2018
Patricia Lauridsen-Hoegh British Columbia 2015
Recipient

2024
Evelyn Marquis
Ontario

2023
Jim Donovan
Ontario

2021
Deanna Clatworthy
Ontario

2021
Jen Shergold
British Columbia

2020
Ted Birse
Alberta

2019
Chasity Vermette
Saskatchewan

2013
Afshan Nathoo
British Columbia

2012
Hannah Cowen
Ontario

2011
Jocelyn Preston
Manitoba

2010
Leegay Jagoe
Alberta

2009
Liz Kirkpatrick
British Columbia

2007
Doreen Littlejohn
British Columbia

2007
Danielle Gélinas
Quebec

2006
Édith Duterville
Quebec

2005
May Lou Miller
British Columbia

2004
Caroline Côté
Quebec

2003
Constance Howlie
Newfoundland and Labrador

2002
Fiona Gold
British Columbia

2001
Michele Gauthier
Ontario

2000
Julie Phillips
Ontario

1999
Evanna Brennan
British Columbia

1999
Susan Giles
British Columbia

1998
Maureen McLelland
Ontario

1997
Lorraine Bernier
Quebec

1996
Cheryl Arneson
Ontario

2016
Glen Doupe
British Columbia

2017
Clarence Frenchman
Saskatchewan

2018
Diane Knox
Saskatchewan

2015
Patricia Lauridsen-Hoegh
British Columbia

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Andrew Johnson Award for Exceptional Contribution to HIV/AIDS Nursing

This award was re-named in 2009 in memory of Andrew Johnson, a co-founder and first president of CANAC. The award recognizes the exceptional contribution made by a nurse working in the area of clinical practice, education, research and/or administration to the advancement of Nursing’s role in HIV/AIDS care. Prior to 2009, it was called the “Award of Excellence for Exceptional Contribution to the Development of Nursing in HIV/AIDS Care”.

Recipient Region Year
Jeff Reinhart Ontario 2024
Vera Caine Alberta 2023
Joanna Binch Ontario 2022
Añiela dela Cruz Alberta 2021
J. Craig Phillips Ontario 2019
Meaghan Thumath British Columbia 2013
Dr. Judy Mill Alberta 2012
Debbie Rodger Saskatchewan 2012
Susanne Nasewich Saskatchewan 2011
Scott Harrison British Columbia 2010
Anne Russell Manitoba 2009
Lisa Crawley-Beames Ontario 2008
Irene Goldstone British Columbia 2007
Jane McCall British Columbia 2006
Karina Wulf Ontario 2005
Sally Simpson Ontario 2004
Diane Fillion Ontario 2003
Margaret Dykeman New Brunswick 2003
Lois Brummet British Columbia 2002
Judith Thompson British Columbia 2002
Barney Hickey British Columbia 2001
Antoinette Lambert Quebec 2000
Steve Tattle Ontario 2000
Deborah Randall-Wood Ontario 2000
Sandra Gibson Saskatchewan 1999
Brynn Grierson British Columbia 2015
Julie Kille British Columbia 2018
Lesa Pryce British Columbia 2016
Laurel Stang Saskatchewan 2017
Brenda Done Ontario 2014
Recipient

2024
Jeff Reinhart
Ontario

2023
Vera Caine
Alberta

2022
Joanna Binch
Ontario

2021
Añiela dela Cruz
Alberta

2019
J. Craig Phillips
Ontario

2013
Meaghan Thumath
British Columbia

2012
Dr. Judy Mill
Alberta

2012
Debbie Rodger
Saskatchewan

2011
Susanne Nasewich
Saskatchewan

2010
Scott Harrison
British Columbia

2009
Anne Russell
Manitoba

2008
Lisa Crawley-Beames
Ontario

2007
Irene Goldstone
British Columbia

2006
Jane McCall
British Columbia

2005
Karina Wulf
Ontario

2004
Sally Simpson
Ontario

2003
Diane Fillion
Ontario

2003
Margaret Dykeman
New Brunswick

2002
Lois Brummet
British Columbia

2002
Judith Thompson
British Columbia

2001
Barney Hickey
British Columbia

2000
Antoinette Lambert
Quebec

2000
Steve Tattle
Ontario

2000
Deborah Randall-Wood
Ontario

1999
Sandra Gibson
Saskatchewan

2015
Brynn Grierson
British Columbia

2018
Julie Kille
British Columbia

2016
Lesa Pryce
British Columbia

2017
Laurel Stang
Saskatchewan

2014
Brenda Done
Ontario

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Barney Hickey Newcomer of the Year

This award is given in memory of Barney Hickey, who was passionate about mental health and advocated for the health and rights of persons living with HIV. Barney lived life fully, and was devoted to nursing and cared deeply about his patients, colleagues, and the students he mentored. His tireless and inspiring work was recognised by the both College of Registered Nurses of BC, which honoured Barney with its Excellence in Nursing Practice Award and by this organization, which bestowed the Excellence in AIDS Care Award upon him.

Providing care to individuals living with and/or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS can be both rewarding and frustrating or even traumatic at the same time. CANAC acknowledges the learning challenges and emotional burdens faced by nurses entering the field of HIV/AIDS care. This award recognises a member who has not only “braved the storm and survived” their entry into the field of HIV/AIDS, but has excelled in the process.

Recipient Region Year
Morgan Wadams Alberta 2024
Olivia Wale British Columbia 2023
Emily McKay British Columbia 2022
Derek Straatsma & Emily Harron Ontario 2019
Luc Cormier Quebec 2013
Geoffrey Ford British Columbia 2011
Kim Bressler Manitoba 2010
Michelle Bilan Saskatchewan 2009
Dennis Loeppky Manitoba 2005
Kara Piels Ontario 2004
Tobin Brown Ontario 2003
Judith Thompson British Columbia 2002
Lynn Muir Ontario 2001
Jeff Reinhart Ontario 2015
Ezra Paul British Columbia 2016
Serena Eagland British Columbia 2017
Eric Eligh British Columbia 2018
Kassie Junek British Columbia 2014
Recipient

2024
Morgan Wadams
Alberta

2023
Olivia Wale
British Columbia

2022
Emily McKay
British Columbia

2019
Derek Straatsma & Emily Harron
Ontario

2013
Luc Cormier
Quebec

2011
Geoffrey Ford
British Columbia

2010
Kim Bressler
Manitoba

2009
Michelle Bilan
Saskatchewan

2005
Dennis Loeppky
Manitoba

2004
Kara Piels
Ontario

2003
Tobin Brown
Ontario

2002
Judith Thompson
British Columbia

2001
Lynn Muir
Ontario

2015
Jeff Reinhart
Ontario

2016
Ezra Paul
British Columbia

2017
Serena Eagland
British Columbia

2018
Eric Eligh
British Columbia

2014
Kassie Junek
British Columbia

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Education, Research & Administration

Award categories offered in the first years of CANAC’S existence, eventually to be replaced by the Andrew Johnson and Newcomer Awards.

Education

Recipient Region Year
Pook, Terry Ontario 1997
Goldstone, Irene British Columbia 1996
Paquin, Marie-Josee Quebec 1998
Recipient



1997
Pook, Terry
Ontario

1996
Goldstone, Irene
British Columbia

1998
Paquin, Marie-Josee
Quebec

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Research

Recipient Region Year
Tomblin-Murphy, Gail Nova Scotia 1997
Getty, Grace New Brunswick 1996
Peppler, Carolyn Quebec 1998
Recipient



1997
Tomblin-Murphy, Gail
Nova Scotia

1996
Getty, Grace
New Brunswick

1998
Peppler, Carolyn
Quebec

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Administration

Recipient Region Year
Johnson, Andrew Ontario 1997
L’Homme, Catherine Quebec 1996
Flannery, John Ontario 1998
Recipient



1997
Johnson, Andrew
Ontario

1996
L’Homme, Catherine
Quebec

1998
Flannery, John
Ontario

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Honourary Award

On occasion, CANAC honours an individual outside the field of medicine whose work has, over the years, provided great benefit to the discipline of nursing.

Recipient Region Year
San Patten Nova Scotia 2022
Mark Haggerty British Columbia 2021
Nena Nera 2001
June Callwood 2004
Recipient

2022
San Patten
Nova Scotia

2021
Mark Haggerty
British Columbia

2001
Nena Nera

2004
June Callwood

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CANAC Award of Excellence in Advocacy

Introduced in 2015 as a new Award Category, the CANAC Award of Excellence in Advocacy recognizes a CANAC member who has gone above and beyond in their advocacy efforts for patients, nursing, HIV, social justice or to effect positive policy change.    The Award is intended to recognize the extra time, effort and passion required to advocate at Regional, National and International levels.

Recipient Region Year
Josephine Etowa Ontario 2024
Sarah Ionson Ontario 2023
Erin Telegdi Ontario 2021
Mary Petty Pacific 2016
Marilou Gagnon Quebec 2015
Recipient

2024
Josephine Etowa
Ontario

2023
Sarah Ionson
Ontario

2021
Erin Telegdi
Ontario

2016
Mary Petty
Pacific

2015
Marilou Gagnon
Quebec

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