Year after year, York Region spends considerable time focusing and striving for continuous ways to improve. In 2004, York Region was the recipient of a variety of awards for significant achievement.

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
The Regional Municipality of York was awarded the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) and by the Government Finance Officer Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its 2003 Annual Report: Achieving Results Together. This was the seventh consecutive year that York Region was recognized for its focus on exceptional financial reporting.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
In 2004, the York Region Planning and Development Services Department was recognized by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce with a certificate of recognition for their focus on assisting small and medium-sized regional companies achieve success in the export marketplace. The focus of the 2004 Region’s Export Development Initiative included a series of Global Market Diversification seminars focusing on the markets of Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Emergency Health Services Branch (MOHLTC-EHS) presented York Region Medical Services (EMS) with a three-yearcertification standing. The Ambulance Service Review is conducted every three years and is a peer orientated, quality-based process that assesses the success of each operator in meeting the requirements of the Ambulance Act, its regulations and the standards issued by the MOHLTC when providing ambulance services. Some areas evaluated include: patient care, documentation and security of patient care information; employee qualifications, policies and procedures; vehicles; and communication.

ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING IN YORK REGION
In 2004, York Region received an Investing in Abilities Award from Future Abilities and Creative Employment (FACE), a non-profit organization that champions on behalf of persons with disabilities who are entering or returning to the workforce. The award recognizes the Region’s work through its first Accessibility Plan and its commitment both as an employer and as a promoter of accessibility to give all residents more opportunities in York Region.

Further recognition came from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario who endorsed York Region’s process for establishing its Accessibility Advisory Committee and accessibility planning process as a best practice that can be shared with other organizations.

YORK REGION POLICE SERVICES BOARD COMMENDATIONS
On June 6, 2004, Detective Constable Ross Price and Constables Ross Milne, Angela Ducharme and Robert O’Quinn saved a young victim from further injury and ultimately, may have saved her life.

Working as a team, the officers directed the initial criminal investigation, gathered vital information from emotionally distraught family members and witnesses, launched an intensive ground search with the assistance of AIR 2, located the missing girl and apprehended the suspect. Within 90 minutes of the call to police, York Regional Police officers had a suspect in handcuffs. The fast response and diligent work of these officers led to a quick arrest.