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News Release: January 17, 2019

Region of Peel Receives Organization-Wide Platinum Award for Excellence, Innovation and Wellness

The Region is the only municipality or level of government to receive this exceptional recognition after end-to-end review

(Brampton, ON.) Jan. 17, 2019 – The Region of Peel has earned the Excellence Canada Platinum Award, recognizing the outstanding achievements of organization-wide systems of management and public service delivery. The Region of Peel is the only municipality or level of government to receive this exceptional recognition.

"The Excellence Canada Platinum recognition provides independent validation that the Region of Peel serves residents and businesses in an efficient and effective manner, with a commitment to continuous improvement," said David Szwarc, CAO of the Region of Peel. "This recognition would not have been possible without Regional Council's leadership on our 20-year Strategic Plan and Term of Council Priorities, as well as our dedicated staff who drive our vision of creating a Community for Life every day. We will continue to foster an engaged, forward-thinking and customer-service oriented team, so Peel continues to be properly supported in the future."

Excellence Canada recognized the following practices as vital strengths of the Region:

Role Model for Excellence in Canada:
The Region of Peel demonstrates many examples of leadership in Canada, i.e., The Butterfly Model, award winning Asset Management System, development of nutritional standards led by Public Health, award winning financial management/budget, leader in cybersecurity, etc.

Culture of Continual Improvement:
The Region has a culture of continual improvement and uses a Lean Six Sigma approach to eliminate waste, optimize value for the taxpayer and improve community outcomes through a robust continuous improvement program.

Outcome Focused Planning and Budgeting:
All levels of employees refer to outcomes when looking at strategy, planning and reporting. The Community for Life annual report is an excellent example of showing clear, visually pleasing, and understandable outcomes and is very forward thinking and clear for people to understand.

Enterprise Risk Management System:
The Enterprise Risk Management System is well ingrained in all aspects of the work at the Region, and across all areas. All programs and projects contain a risk component and analysis, including the reports and proposals that go to the Council on a regular basis.

"The Region of Peel continues to be an essential and well-managed public service delivery model for over 1.4 million citizens," said Nando Iannicca, Chair, Region of Peel. "I would like to share my congratulations with my fellow members of Council, the CAO and staff at the region, and the citizens of Peel on this outstanding achievement. We will continue to strive towards excellence in all that we do."

Excellence Canada uses the same criteria to rank the public and private sector. The Region was evaluated in five key areas: leadership, organizational planning, customers, human resources, and processes. Certification supports further development of strategic initiatives, innovative approaches, engagement, and improves the physical and mental health and safety of Peel employees as the Region moves forward and upholds the designation.

About the Excellence Canada Platinum Level Criteria & Process: 

• The Platinum standard requires the Region to demonstrate excellence across five theme areas: leadership, organizational planning, customers, human resources, and processes. Each theme area contains between 12 and twenty-four drivers, on which the Region is scored out of 100 per cent. To receive Platinum certification and Canada Award of Excellence recognition, a minimum overall score of 70 per cent is required, with a score of at least 60 per cent for each individual driver.
• The criteria used to rank the Region of Peel was the same as the criteria used to rank businesses.
• Between July and December 2018, Excellence Canada reviewed documentation provided by staff, visited several Regional sites and conducted focus group sessions with over 150 staff members, including commissioners, directors, managers, supervisors, front-line staff, as well as the Regional Chair.
• Whereas most organizations pursue evaluations for a single department, Excellence Canada applied its Platinum criteria across all 26 services provided by the Region.

Excellence Canada Award Presentation, Regional Council
High-resolution photo available upon request

Interview availability:
Nando Iannicca, Chair, Region of Peel, will be available for interview by phone. Please call the Chair's office to arrange a time.

Media Contacts

Media Contact
Bethany Lee
Manager, Strategic Client Communications
Region of Peel
905-791-7800, ext. 8556