About

The Gilles Demers Award for Excellence in Animal Care recognizes outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions to their institutional animal care and use programs, upholding high ethical standards and practices, and who actively champion the CCAC program within their organization.

This award, named for the late Dr. Gilles Demers, a long-time Assessment Director at the CCAC, highlights the great importance of individuals who have made exceptional contributions to institutional animal care and use programs (e.g., animal care committee coordinators and other members of the committee, community representatives) and the essential role they play in helping the CCAC fulfill its mandate.

Dr. Demers routinely worked with animal care experts across the country, where they collaborated to improve the assessment and certification process and promote high ethical standards of animal care and use. Dr. Demers’ legacy lives on most notably in having spearheaded the creation and implementation of the CCAC Certificate of GAP – Good Animal Practice®, a cornerstone of the CCAC program.

Criteria

• Made exceptional contributions to the goals of the CCAC, their institution, and their institutional animal care and use program.
• Advanced ethical care and use practices (including the Three Rs) of the animals in their charge through dedication, exceptional performance, and ingenuity.
• Empowered and uplifted others within their institution and their field, including in the areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Work in the field of animal care and use, including (but not limited to) animal care staff, animal health technicians, animal care committee coordinators, community representatives, and facility managers.

Previous nomination packages for this award may be resubmitted if they meet all criteria. Active or past members of the CCAC Secretariat, active members of the CCAC board of directors, and those who do not meet the stated criteria are not eligible for this award.

Each nomination package must include a completed nomination form and no more than five (5) pages responding to the nomination questions. All responses must be typed, in an 11-point font, and in PDF format.

The CCAC values diversity in experience, background, knowledge, cultures, and skills. We therefore encourage award nominations for all members of our community that meet the above criteria. Please send completed nomination packages to the CCAC at (nominations will be accepted by email only). All completed nominations must be received by email by March 31, 2024 at 11:59pm (EST).