Bruce H. Yeo Award
The Federation of PEI Municipalities (FPEIM) is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2022 Bruce H Yeo Memorial Award is Mr. Geoff Baker, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Kensington. The award was presented by FPEIM President Bruce MacDougall, during the Federation’s 65th annual general meeting, on April 25th at the North Shore Community Centre. The award was established in memory of FPEIM’s first president to recognize outstanding contributions to municipal government in Prince Edward Island.
Mr. Baker has been serving the Town of Kensington as CAO since 2007. His leadership and advice to the Town Council played a major role in the Town’s population growth, as well as in the municipal boundary expansion that brought 106 properties into the Town. He is also responsible for managing the design, development and construction of a new business park in the Town of Kensington, which is currently under construction. His clear and professional advice has helped guide the Town Council’s work to ensure it efficiently governed and transparent to the public.
On receiving the award, he said, “I am honoured to receive this award that I get to share with a great team of people. I have been very fortunate throughout my career in Kensington to work with many progressive Mayors and Town Councillors and a highly competent team of people that has allowed our municipality to strategically grow and develop.”
Mr. Baker is a true community and municipal leader who has contributed immensely to the cause of local governments in Prince Edward Island. He has not only played a vital role in enacting the new Municipal Government Act, but also has been pivotal in the municipal revenue-sharing negotiations with the Government of PEI. Geoff has supported smaller municipalities by providing guidance and sound advice on local governance and administration. His professionalism and commitment to municipalities exemplify outstanding leadership in local government.
FPEIM is thrilled to have Mr. Geoff Baker join the list of proud recipients of the Bruce H Yeo Memorial Award.
Past Winners of the Bruce H. Yeo Award
| 2022 | Geoff Baker, CAO, Town of Kensington |
| 2021 | Peter Meggs, former Councillor, Town of Cornwall |
| 2020 | late Ralph Thompson, former Commissioner on Land and Local Governance |
| 2019 | David Dunphy, former Mayor, Town of Stratford |
| 2018 | Councillor Terry Bernard, City of Charlottetown |
| 2017 | Mayor Clifford Lee, City of Charlottetown |
| 2016 | Late Wade Williams, former Deputy Mayor, Town of Georgetown |
| 2015 | Former Mayor Michael Farmer, Town of Stratford |
| 2014 | Deputy Mayor Stu MacFadyen, City of Charlottetown |
| 2013 | Chairperson Terry McGrath, Community of Hunter River |
| 2012 | Mayor Richard Collins, Town of Montague |
| 2011 | CAO Robert Hughes, Town of Stratford |
| 2010 | Chairperson Faye Fraser, Community of Murray Harbour |
| 2009 | Councillor Irene Dawson, Town of Cornwall |
| 2008 | Deputy Mayor Steve MacDonald, Town of Stratford |
| 2007 | Mayor Basil Stewart, City of Summerside |
| 2006 | Harry Gaudet, former Administrator, City of Charlottetown |
| 2005 | Dianne Dowling, Administrator, Community of New Haven-Riverdale |
| 2004 | George MacDonald, former Mayor, City of Charlottetown |
| 2003 | Brenda MacDonald, Administrator, Resort Municipality |
| 2002 | Mayor Gerald McCarville, Town of Kensington |
| 2001 | Noel Wilson, former Chairperson of the Community of Cardigan |
| 2000 | Kingsley Lewis, Provincial Public Servant |
| 1999 | George Likely, Provincial Public Servant |
| 1998 | Don Smeltzer, Executive Director, MMTDB |
| 1997 | Phil Wood, Planner |
Gilbert C. Bell Award
This award is granted by the Federation of PEI Municipalities to a full-time undergraduate student at the University of Prince Edward Island who exemplifies an interest in a career in Public Administration by obtaining the highest mark in Political Studies 311 (Canadian Public Administration) in the academic year.
Award Recipients
| 2018 | Dustin Jewell |
| 2016 | Ross Grant MacEwen |
| 2015 | Christian Gallant |
| 2014 | Travis William Gordon |
| 2013 | Janet E. McQuaid |
| 2012 | Lindsay Handren |
| 2011 | Holly MacInnis |
| 2011 | Ian Ritchie |
| 2010 | Shelley Louise Cole-Arbing |
| 2010 | David L. Ellis |
| 2010 | Christina Ann Fontaine |
| 2009 | Timothy Joseph Cullen |
| 2008 | Susan Jayne Frizzell |
| 2007 | Mike Patrick Keliher |
| 2006 | Christopher W Gillis |
| 2005 | Lauren Heather Perry |
| 2004 | Stefanie Anne Moore |
| 2003 | Sjors Reijers |
| 2002 | Heather Cox Diamond |
| 2001 | Barbara A Mayhew |
| 2000 | Kent Myron Turner |
Municipal Achievement Award
The City of Summerside has won the 2023 Municipal Achievement Award for its innovative Sunbank project.
The annual award from the Federation of PEI Municipalities recognizes a member municipality for outstanding commitment to improving the quality of life of residents.
The City of Summerside’s Sunbank project is a $66-million solar power farm that will add more than 21 megawatts of green energy with 10 megawatts/28 megawatt-hours of battery storage to the city’s energy portfolio. The project resulted from a partnership with Samsung Renewable Energy.
“The completion of the Sunbank project, coupled with existing investment in wind energy, will see Summerside become 70 per cent net zero this fall — which is a benchmark for Canadian municipalities,” says Deputy Mayor Cory Snow, who accepted the award on behalf of the City of Summerside. “We are honoured to receive this recognition.”
The Sunbank project not only adds to Summerside’s green energy portfolio. It has helped attract new business and jobs, retain investment in the community, contribute to the clean tech sector in the province, and create a greener place for residents to live and work.
“The City of Summerside is an environmental leader,” says Rodney Mann, vice-president of cities and towns with the Federation of PEI Municipalities. “The Sunbank project illustrates how partnerships, hard work, and vision can create more sustainable communities. We congratulate Summerside’s municipal leaders and staff for their commitment and success.”
The 2023 Municipal Achievement Award was presented at the Federation’s annual general meeting in the Town of Souris.
| Year | Municipal Achievement Award recipient |
|---|---|
| 2023 | City of Summerside |
| 2022 | Rural Municipality of Tyne Valley |
| 2021 | no award presented |
| 2020 | no award presented |
| 2019 | no award presented |
| 2018 | City of Charlottetown |
| 2017 | Community of Hunter River |
| 2016 | Town of Stratford |
| 2015 | Town of Stratford |
| 2014 | No award presented |
| 2013 | Community of Tignish |
| 2012 | No award presented |
| 2011 | Community of Murray Harbour |
| 2010 | Community of Victoria, Town of Stratford |
| 2009 | Community of Kinkora |
| 2008 | Community of Miltonvale Park, City of Summerside |
| 2007 | Resort Municipality |
| 2006 | Community of Tyne Valley |
| 2005 | Community of Tignish |
| 2004 | Town of Kensington, Town of Cornwall |
| 2003 | Resort Municipality |
| 2002 | Community of O'Leary, City of Charlottetown |