Backgrounder: National Prosecution Awards 2024
The Outstanding Achievement in a Prosecution Award
Heather Guinn joined the British Columbia Prosecution Service at the Port Coquitlam Office in 2016 and has since conducted numerous trials, including cases involving intimate partner violence and homicide. In 2020, she was assigned to assist with the prosecution of R. v. Coban due to her expertise in disclosure issues and her exceptional interpersonal skills. R. v. Coban was the prosecution of a Dutch man for the online sextortion of Amanda Todd, a young British Columbia girl who took her own life after these offences were committed. Ms. Guinn played a key role in leading the testimony of several critical witnesses in the case and is being recognized for her exemplary work.
Kristin LeNoble joined the British Columbia Prosecution Service in 2020 and has served as a trial lawyer at the Surrey office. She has led numerous serious prosecutions, including cases involving intimate partner violence, firearms offenses, sexual assault, aggravated assault, and possession of child pornography. As a team member on major cases, Ms. LeNoble has navigated complex legal and factual issues, presented expert evidence, and developed and argued innovative legal propositions. She is being recognized for her contributions to the R. v. Coban prosecution team.
Louise Kenworthy has served as Crown Counsel since 2004 and is currently based at the Fraser Regional office in New Westminster. Throughout her career, she has handled numerous complex and significant cases, both as lead counsel and as part of a larger Crown team. She is a mentor to many Crown and defense counsel and frequently lectures on a wide range of topics to Crown and defense lawyers, police, law students, and the public in various forums. In 2023, Ms. Kenworthy was awarded the King’s Counsel designation and is now being recognized for her contributions to the R. v. Coban prosecution team.
Marcel Daigle joined the British Columbia Prosecution Service in 2017 and currently serves as trial counsel at the Port Coquitlam office. He has led numerous serious prosecutions, including cases of sexual assault, kidnapping, dangerous driving, and firearms offenses. Renowned for his outstanding legal expertise and exceptional interpersonal skills, he has also taken on a mentoring role for junior Crown Counsel. He is being recognized for his contributions to the R. v. Coban prosecution team.
Richard Rougeau is a prosecutor with the Bureau de la grande criminalité et des affaires spéciales, Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales in Montreal. He effectively manages the pressure of the various players in the justice system during high-profile cases and navigates public opinion with ease. Nicknamed the “quiet force”, he was nominated following the high-profile “Honorer” case. Mr. Rougeau was the lead prosecutor for this case, which dealt with the fraud and corruption in the city of Laval (Quebec). The trial judge described the case as “one of the worst if not the worst examples of municipal corruption that has been brought before a Canadian court.” The case involved 37 accused and led to two jury trials for one of the accused, Mr. Accurso.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award
Jerilee Ryle is a Crown Attorney for the Manitoba Prosecution Service (MPS) and an Indigenous woman from Lake St. Martin First Nation. She recognizes the impact of colonization on Indigenous communities and the resulting mistrust in the legal system. To address these issues, Jerilee established the Indigenous Advisory Council within MPS and actively promotes the recommendations from the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry.
Kathleen Roussel served as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Deputy Attorney General of Canada from June 2017 to June 2024. She is currently leading the Working Group on Bribery for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). During her tenure as DPP, Ms. Roussel implemented significant changes across the Public Prosecutions Service of Canada, enhancing its mandate and internal operations to promote equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and the use of official languages within the organization.
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INFORMATION:
Amélia Sauvé
Coordinator, FPT Heads of Prosecutions Committee
613-292-3549
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