Denise LaFitte Receives the 2026 Ron MacDonald Outstanding Service Award
The Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) is pleased to announce that Denise LaFitte, Special Advisor, Strategic Leadership at the University of Alberta, is the 2026 recipient of the Ron MacDonald Outstanding Service Award. Denise will be honoured at the Ron MacDonald Award Ceremony during CRKN’s Member Summit in Québec City in recognition of her exceptional leadership, collaborative spirit, and decades of service advancing scholarly communications, licensing, and open access in Canada.
Denise has played a pivotal role in shaping Canada’s collaborative approach to licensing through her work on CRKN’s committees and Board. With appointments spread across three decades, Denise has served the CRKN community as a member of the Negotiations Resource Team and subsequently the Content Strategy Committee (CSC), where she also served a three-year term as CSC Chair and member of the Board of Directors. Her ability to balance strategic thinking with practical solutions has helped guide complex negotiations and advance sustainable access to scholarly content for CRKN members.
A longstanding advocate for open access, Denise has also been instrumental to Canada’s transition toward a more equitable scholarly publishing ecosystem. She was an early member of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries’ Open Access Working Group and co-founded Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, the first diamond open access journal hosted by the University of Alberta Library. In addition to founding a journal to support library research, Denise has shown her commitment to research by completing her PhD in Information Studies at Aberystwyth University. Throughout her career, she has championed innovative and evidence-based approaches to collections management, licensing, and scholarly publishing that continue to benefit libraries across the country.
Beyond her work with CRKN, Denise has made significant contributions to organizations including COPPUL, The Alberta Library, and the Health Knowledge Network. Of note, she initiated and chaired COPPUL’s LOCKSS Task Group in 2006, which evolved into the COPPUL Private LOCKSS Network, and chaired the Steering Committee from 2007-2011. She has also led and supported initiatives in shared print preservation, and evidence-based librarianship, while fostering collaboration across institutions and mentoring colleagues throughout the profession. Her leadership also extended to advancing more inclusive library spaces and collections, including consultation work that supported the creation of an Indigenous ceremonial space at the University of Alberta and championing collection policies that better reflect diverse communities.
“Denise provided key contributions and leadership to CRKN over many years. In particular, she was a strong and consistent voice informing CRKN's negotiation strategies and shaping positive outcomes for Canadian academic libraries,” said Dale Askey, Chief Librarian of University of Alberta Library. “Her impact on this work and her ability to mentor and support her colleagues merit this recognition of a wonderful career.”
“She has been a strong leader in the Canadian academic library community throughout her career. Denise always had an insightful perspective to contribute and was a champion for the collective strength of libraries,” said Jason Friedman, Assistant Dean, Collections and Discovery of the University of Saskatchewan Library. “As CSC Chair, her leadership was critical to the successful renewal of the CRKN-Érudit Partnership for Open Access. I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of this award.”
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Ron MacDonald Outstanding Service Award from the Canadian Research Knowledge Network,” said Dr. LaFitte. “Our Canadian library community is one of collaboration, where we work together to explore possibilities and expand our minds in order to advance projects that are impactful for researchers, students, and the general public. Thank you to all those in this community who have lifted me up over the years through mentorship, knowledge sharing, dedication, and differing viewpoints that have helped me learn and grow.”
Since taking a phased retirement from the University of Alberta in January 2026, after more than 25 years of service, Denise has continued to support the library community by advising colleagues on major initiatives and continuing her service to CRKN as Vice-Chair of the CSC. Her legacy is reflected not only in the programs and partnerships she helped build, but also in the many colleagues she has mentored and inspired throughout her career.
On behalf of the CRKN Board of Directors, we congratulate Denise on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her longstanding contributions to Canada’s research and library community.
Award Ceremony
The award will be presented to Denise LaFitte during CRKN’s Member Summit in Québec City on October 20, 2026, at 6:00 pm, at Hotel Plaza Quebec. All attendees are invited to join us at the reception to celebrate her remarkable accomplishments.
About the Award
The Ron MacDonald Outstanding Service Award recognizes an individual from a CRKN member institution who has demonstrated vision, dedication, and outstanding service in building bridges and collaboration to advance knowledge infrastructure in Canada. This award was introduced by CRKN in September 2008 to honour the late Ron MacDonald who was a member of CRKN’s Negotiations Resource Team from February 2000 to July 2007 and who played a key role in establishing CRKN’s collaborative programs and services.