The award recognizes an individual within a CRKN member institution who has demonstrated vision, dedication, and outstanding service in building bridges and collaboration to advance access to knowledge in Canada. The award consists of recognition through an engraved trophy and citation, presented at CRKN’s annual Member Summit.
CRKN is currently accepting nominations for the 2025 Ron MacDonald Outstanding Service Award! Submit your nomination before the May 13, 2025, deadline.
Award Selection Criteria
- Demonstrated vision, integrity, and inclusive values;
- Fosters collaboration and building connections within the CRKN membership and/or between CRKN and like-minded organizations;
- Significantly contributes to collective efforts to create new pathways to knowledge;
- Demonstrates outstanding service in at least one of the following areas: licensing, open access, Canadian digital heritage content and infrastructure, or persistent identifiers.
CRKN particularly encourages nominations of outstanding candidates who are women, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, members of Black, and racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and members of other diverse and underrepresented groups.
Previous Recipients
2024 Camille Callison
2023 Dana McFarland
2022 Larry Alford
2021 Jonathan Bengtson
2020 Tony Horava
2019 Christopher Callbeck
2018 Benoit Séguin
2017 Brian Owen
2016 Leslie Weir
2015 Michael Ridley
2014 Carole Moore
2013 Jocelyn Godolphin
2012 Ronald Bond
2011 Jean-Pierre Côté
2010 Jonathan Blay
The Ron MacDonald Outstanding Service Award was created by CRKN in September 2008 to honour the late Ron MacDonald. Ron served on the Negotiations Resource Team from the inception of the Canadian National Site Licensing Project in 2000 through to July 2007, and was a key contributor in the development of CRKN’s collaborative programs and services.