Jennifer Goodine Inspirational Leadership Award
Honouring Courage, Compassion, and Leadership in the Face of Adversity
The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) is proud to present the Jennifer Goodine Inspirational Leadership Award—a distinguished honour recognizing a member who exemplifies extraordinary leadership rooted in integrity, compassion, and perseverance, especially when confronted with personal or professional challenges.
This award celebrates the spirit of turning adversity into opportunity—uplifting others, strengthening organizations, and inspiring positive change across local government. It reflects the qualities that define Jennifer Goodine’s enduring leadership and legacy: kindness, professionalism, courage, and an unwavering commitment to others.
ABOUT JENNIFER GOODINE
Jennifer Goodine has proudly served as the Executive Director of CAMA for more than twenty years, where her leadership has helped shape the future of municipal administration across Canada.
When Jennifer first became involved with CAMA in 2005, the Association was at a turning point. Through her vision, dedication, and collaborative leadership, she helped revitalize the organization, strengthening its governance, modernizing operations, and expanding its national reach. Her efforts laid the foundation for the thriving, connected community of municipal leaders that CAMA represents today.
With an almost 30-year career at the City of Fredericton, Jennifer brings deep-rooted experience in local government, having started as a Committee Clerk before becoming Executive Assistant and ultimately serving as the Office Administrator to the Mayor and CAO. Over nearly three decades, she supported five Mayors, two CAOs, three Deputy CAOs, and seven City Councils.
Jennifer’s dedication to excellence and professionalism in local government has been recognized nationally and regionally. She is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and the Community Builder Award from the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (2023). Her outstanding service and leadership inspired the CAMA Board to establish this national recognition—the Jennifer Goodine Inspirational Leadership Award—to honour her two decades of exceptional contribution to the Association and the profession.
AWARD OVERVIEW
Who Should Be Nominated?
Nominees should be CAMA members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and resilience in their professional or personal journey, embodying the values that inspire those around them.
Specifically, nominees will have shown excellence in the following areas:
- Resilience – Navigating adversity with strength, optimism, and professionalism.
- Inspirational Leadership – Motivating and empowering others through compassion, clarity, and integrity.
- Public Service – Dedication to the betterment of their municipality and local government as a whole.
- Kindness and Integrity – Demonstrating humility, empathy, and ethical leadership, even in difficult circumstances.
Eligibility and Nomination Process
- Nominations must be submitted by a peer, colleague, or elected official within the local government sector.
- Self-nominations are not accepted.
- Individual CAMA Board members may not submit nominations independently.
Each nomination must include:
- A completed nomination form.
- A summary of up to 1,000 words describing: the personal or professional challenge the nominee faced; how they demonstrated inspirational leadership and resilience; and the lasting impact they made on their municipality, organization, or community.
- One or two letters of support from individuals who can speak to the nominee’s character and contributions.
Review and Selection Process
All nominations are handled with the utmost confidentiality.
- The CAMA Board of Directors, in consultation with the Executive Director, will review all submissions.
- The final recipient will be confirmed through a vote of the Board.
- Only one recipient will be selected each year.
- Unsuccessful nominations will not carry over automatically; nominators are encouraged to reapply in future years.
If no nominations are received, the Board may, at its discretion, identify a worthy recipient from among the membership.
Evaluation Criteria
Each nomination will be reviewed based on the following weighted criteria.
To be eligible for consideration, nominees must achieve a minimum overall score of 80 points. Meeting this threshold confirms eligibility but does not guarantee selection.
| CRITERIA | WEIGHT |
| Demonstrated resilience in adversity | 25% |
| Inspirational impact on others | 25% |
| Leadership excellence | 15% |
| Contribution to local government | 20% |
| Character and integrity | 15% |
Deadline and Presentation Details
- Nomination Deadline: January 30, 2026
- Presentation: The award will be presented at the CAMA President’s Dinner during the 2026 Annual Conference.
This prestigious award reminds us that leadership is not only about achievements—it’s about heart, courage, and the quiet strength to rise above adversity while inspiring others to do the same.
Submit all materials electronically to:
