The Province’s Deputy Minister of Health and Wellness, Jeannine Lagassé, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

The medal is presented annually to a person in public administration who exhibits the highest standard of excellence, dedication and accomplishment.

“For over 25 years, Jeannine Lagassé has provided essential leadership and cemented relationships between the government, health authorities and healthcare partners,” said Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc. “She has demonstrated courage and commitment in unprecedented circumstances and continuously strives to improve the delivery of healthcare services across the province.”

Ms. Lagassé is being recognized for developing sound public policy and for her leadership in service and program delivery. Her professional experience includes work with legal services, the executive branch of government and the most senior levels of management in the field of health and wellness.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Lagassé played a key leadership role in the procurement of personal protective equipment, testing and vaccine protocols and ongoing support for public health staff and volunteers.

She previously provided legal guidance for the establishment of Nova Scotia Business Incorporated, now part of Invest Nova Scotia, and the creation of a governance and accountability branch at the Executive Council Office. As secretary to cabinet, Ms. Lagassé improved organizational systems and accountability mechanisms supporting budgets, corporate strategy and service delivery models.

The award program is administered by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) Nova Scotia and is sponsored by Davis Pier. The Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia serves as its patron.

An award ceremony will take place at Government House in January.

To view and download the full press release, please visit Lieutenant-Governor Recognizes Excellence in Public Administration - Government of Nova Scotia, Canada.