The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and the National Capital, Southwestern Ontario and Toronto Regional Groups of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) are pleased to announce that the 2021 Lieutenant Governor's Medal of Distinction in Public Administration, Ontario's highest honour for public service, has been awarded to Marian Jacko.

Marian is the Acting Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Indigenous Justice Division of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. She previously served as Acting Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Victims and Vulnerable Persons Division in the Ministry of the Attorney General, as well as the Children’s Lawyer for Ontario, becoming the first Indigenous person appointed to that role. Marian has also acted as legal counsel in the Motherisk Commission and for the Ontario Ministry of Attorney General.

As a lawyer trained in both Anishinaabe and Canadian law, Marian endeavours to amplify the voices of historically marginalized communities and vulnerable people in Ontario. Marian's vision and distinctive leadership style, rooted in the Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabe and informed by the Teachings of the Medicine Wheel, has shaped the work of the Ministry of the Attorney General for over 20 years. She has spearheaded many anti-racism initiatives within the Ministry of the Attorney General, including the introduction of mandatory Indigenous cultural competency, anti racism and anti-colonialism education for all staff during her time as Ontario Children’s Lawyer. In recognition of her outstanding career achievements & exemplary leadership, Marian was awarded the Indspire Award for Law & Justice in 2020 and the Law Society of Ontario’s Laura Legge Award.

Marian demonstrates a strong commitment to community service, serving as President of the Little Native Hockey League and as President of the Board of Directors of Anishnawbe Health of Toronto, in addition to coaching several youth hockey teams.

The Lieutenant Governor's Medal of Distinction was presented to Marian Jacko by the Lieutenant Governor at a ceremony in Toronto on October 19, 2022. Since 1990, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario has partnered with the National Capital Region, Southwestern Ontario and Toronto Regional Groups of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada to recognize excellence in public service in Ontario by awarding the Lieutenant Governor's Medal of Distinction in Public Administration.

Contact: Spencer Sandor, Member of the Board of Directors, IPAC Toronto Regional Group at [email protected] for more information.