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| Ombudsman G. B. (Gord) Button |
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G. B. (Gord) BUTTON - ALBERTA OMBUDSMAN
G. B. (Gord) Button was appointed on September 15, 2003 as the seventh Ombudsman
for the Province of Alberta.
Born and raised in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Mr. Button received a Bachelor of Arts
degree, majoring in Sociology and Psychology, at the University of Saskatchewan.
Mr. Button joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1971 and following recruit
training, was posted to Alberta. He served in a variety of operational and administrative
roles throughout Alberta, which included postings at Fort McMurray, Viking, Edson,
Didsbury, Forestburg and Edmonton. In 1990, Mr. Button was appointed to the rank of
Inspector and transferred to Newfoundland. Mr. Button was transferred to Ottawa in
1999 where he was promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent as the Director General
of Organizational Renewal and Effectiveness. In November of 2001, Mr. Button was
transferred back to Alberta where he held the position of Officer in Charge of Criminal
Operations for Alberta until his retirement in 2003. Throughout his career in the RCMP,
Mr. Button was a champion of the development of the Community Based Policing model
of service delivery and gained extensive training and experience in dispute resolution and
grievance administration. He possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills, as
well as an extensive background in management and human relations. In 2001,
Mr. Button was recognized for his achievements and dedication to public service by
being awarded the RCMP Commander’s Commendation for Outstanding Service and
Accomplishment. Mr. Button has been very active in the communities where he served
coaching minor sports teams and participating in numerous sporting activities. He has
also contributed his time and energies to many community activities and volunteer
efforts. As a result of his significant contribution to Canada, his communities and fellow
Canadians, Mr. Button was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2003.
Mr. Button believes very strongly in the principles of Natural Justice and Administrative
Fairness as standards to be practiced in the delivery of services to the citizens of Alberta.
The Ombudsman is an independent reviewer of administrative decisions which
significantly impact a person. He can only initiate an investigation after all other appeals
and avenues of resolution have been exhausted. The duties, responsibilities and
jurisdiction of the Alberta Ombudsman are legislated in the Ombudsman Act, Revised
Statutes of Alberta.
Mr. Button and his wife, Barb, reside in Edmonton. They enjoy golfing, camping and
curling. Gord and Barb have raised two children. Their son, Chris, is employed as a
computer engineer. Their daughter, Sarah, has a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree and
postgraduate certificate in Athletic Therapy. Chris and Sarah both reside in Ottawa, Ontario.
Mr. Button has been honoured with election to positions giving him an opportunity to
contribute to the evolution of the Ombudsman model in Canada and around the world.
He is a past President of the Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman, which is an
umbrella council that supports provincial and territorial Ombudsman offices in Canada.
More recently, he was reelected to the Board of Directors of the International
Ombudsman Institute (IOI), and appointed to the position of Treasurer. The IOI is made
up of Ombudsman offices in countries around the world and has a very large and diverse
membership. It is his pleasure to contribute to the future of such an honourable
profession through these appointments.
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