Member Awards

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Shelley Jones Outstanding Contribution Award    Peter W. McBurney Memorial Award for Professional Excellence   Roger T. Hughes Future Leader Award   Members of Distinction           

Shelley Jones Outstanding Contribution Award

The Shelley Jones Outstanding Contribution Award aims to recognize a Committee member who has made a significant contribution to its committee and to IPIC. These individuals have gone above and beyond to help their Committee achieve its goal, therefore helping IPIC achieve its strategic goals. 

2024

Christopher (Chris) Dejardin received the Shelley Jones Outstanding Contribution Award on September 27, 2024, for exceeding expectations as a dedicated volunteer at IPIC. Chris has made significant contributions, including adapting the trademark training to align with the new exam format, developing essential content, and teaching as Chair of the Trademark Agent Training Committee for a second term, among other notable initiatives. Chris, a Partner and Trademark Agent at Cassan Maclean since 2016, brings extensive experience in trademark prosecution, opposition proceedings, and domain name disputes. His leadership in education and continuous efforts have earned him recognition across the profession.

2023

Catherine (Cat) Lovrics received the award on October 13, 2023, for having gone above and beyond expectations of our volunteers at IPIC as Chair of the Copyright Committee, past Chair of the Copyright Policy Committee, as well as frequent contributor to the Internet Committee, among other initiatives.

2022

Paul V. Lomic received the award on September 30, 2022, for having gone above and beyond expectations of our volunteers at IPIC as past Chair of the Conference Committee formerly known as the Forum and Seminars Committee in 2018 and past Chair of the CPD Committee in 2017.

2021

Jenna Wilson received the award on October 14, 2021, for having gone above and beyond expectations of IPIC volunteers on IPIC’s response to development of regulations for the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents, as well as two separate comprehensive responses to consultations to amend the Patent Rules, among other initiatives. Click on the image below to learn more about Jenna's contributions to IPIC. 

 2020

Mary Munro received the award on October 1st, 2020, for having gone above and beyond to help IPIC’s IP Administrators Committee create the Patent and Trademark Administrator Programs, therefore helping IPIC achieve its strategic goals. Click on the image below to learn more about Mary's contributions to IPIC.

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Roger T. Hughes Future Leader Award

The Roger T. Hughes Future Leader Award is given to a young professional/future leader member of IPIC who has made significant contributions to an IPIC Committee, Community, or other substantial IPIC initiative during the past year. The individual will have demonstrated significant leadership, commitment, and dedication to increasing awareness of IPIC along with the value and future, of the IP profession in Canada.

2024

Ahmed Elmallah received the Roger T. Hughes Future Leader Award on September 27, 2024, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to IPIC. As Vice-Chair and Chair of the Emerging Leaders Committee (ELC), Ahmed has played a key role in revamping student outreach, renaming the committee, and engaging with IPIC’s Indigenous student outreach initiatives. 

2023

Jean Lee received the award on October 13, 2023, for demonstrating significant leadership, commitment, and dedication to increasing awareness of IPIC along with the value and future, of the IP profession in Canada. 

2022

Tamara Céline Winegust received the award on September 30, 2022, for demonstrating significant leadership, commitment, and dedication to increasing awareness of IPIC along with the value and future, of the IP profession in Canada. 

2021

Meika Ellis is the first recipient of the Institute’s Roger T. Hughes Future Leader Award. Meika received the award on October 14, 2021, for having made significant contributions to IPIC’s Indigenous IP Committee. Click on the image below to learn more about Meika's volunteerism.

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Peter W. McBurney Memorial Award for Professional Excellence

2024

Peter Wilcox received the Peter W. McBurney Memorial Award for Professional Excellence on September 27, 2024, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the IP profession. As lead counsel at Belmore Neidrauer, Peter successfully represented Janssen in patent litigation under the PM(NOC) Regulations involving the drug paliperidone palmitate, securing victories against multiple generic drug companies. Over the past year, his work on multiple appeals to the Federal Court of Appeal raised significant patent law issues concerning infringement, invalidity, and procedure. A renowned patent trial lawyer, Peter’s dedication and leadership in complex intellectual property litigation, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, have earned him consistent recognition as a top IP litigator in Canada.

2023

Heather Mueller received the inaugural Peter W. McBurney Memorial Award for Professional Excellence. She received the award on October 13, 2023, in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the IP profession.

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Members of Distinction

The IPIC Member of Distinction Award aims to recognize IP professionals who have made a significant contribution to the Institute over at least 20 consecutive years. For those with more short-term involvement, the unique and impactful nature of the contribution must be emphasized. As per the IPIC by-law, a Member of Distinction is:

 An individual who will reflect honour and credit upon the Institute may be awarded the title of Member of Distinction if he or she is or has been a member of IPIC. Awarding such Membership shall require a resolution by the Board after consideration of nominations submitted by the Members of the Institute. Members of Distinction shall pay no entrance or other fee but in all other respects shall be subject to the By-laws and Regulations of the Institute. Members of Distinction who have at any time been Fellows shall be deemed for all purposes of the By-laws, except the payment of fees, to be Fellows.

Click here for the list Members of Distinction on IPIC's Hall of Fame webpage.