“A modern society does not function well without skills, experience, dedication and a commitment to service from our public administrators,” said Lieutenant Governor Frank Lewis. “We learned this year, with suddenness and sadness, that we often do not know well enough how much we rely on our public administrators.”

The 2012 IPAC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration was presented to Rory Beck’s family during a ceremony at Government House on Monday. The presentation of the award was made by Lieutenant Governor Frank Lewis and President of the Prince Edward Island Regional Group of IPAC Janice Pettit.

“The IPAC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration recognizes exceptional, sustained achievements and leadership by public service professionals,” said Pettit. “Those ideals were exemplified by the late Rory Beck. In the course of a career that spanned three decades and every sphere of public service, Rory left a legacy – tangible and intangible – that has few if any parallels in Prince Edward Island.”

Rory Beck earned his Master’s in Public Administration before beginning his career as an administrator at the Guysborough County School District in Nova Scotia. He then returned home to join the Island’s public service as Executive Director of Enterprise P.E.I. For the following two decades, he provided outstanding leadership in economic development, first provincially, then federally at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, next at Service Canada, and then returning to the province as Deputy Minister of Strategic Initiatives. He was appointed Clerk of Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet in 2009.

During Monday’s ceremony, Rory Beck was also recognized with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal that was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The medal recognizes outstanding Canadians who have built a caring society and country through their service, contributions and achievements.

“Rory Beck made a tremendous contribution to Prince Edward Island life,” said Premier Robert Ghiz. ”Rory’s talent and dedication played an invaluable role in reshaping our public service to meet the needs of our times. As a public servant, he developed a more diversified and vibrant economy for all Islanders to enjoy.”