January/February 2004
Vol. 36, no. 1
ISSN 1492-4676

Peter Duchesne Receives Head of the Public Service Award

Trevor Clayton, Communications

On the evening of his last day in the workforce, Peter Duchesne went to dinner with a friend who, coincidentally, had also recently retired.

"We had a wonderful time discussing our working lives in the past tense," said Mr. Duchesne. "It was a good exercise."

It has been said that this life-altering phase in a person’s life can begin with feelings of anxiety, self-doubt and boredom, but Peter Duchesne has approached retirement as he might have approached one of the countless working groups and committees he either led or in which he was a member—with dedication, compassion, intellect and resolve.

In the course of his 27 years in the public service of Canada, the last 14 of which were spent as collections librarian at Library and Archives Canada (LAC), Peter Duchesne has overcome tremendous challenges both personally and professionally. In recognition of his efforts to improve workplace accessibility and raise awareness of the needs of those with disabilities, and with the support of his library and union colleagues, the LAC Employment Equity and Diversity Working Group (EEDWG) nominated Mr. Duchesne for the Head of the Public Service Award, Valuing and Supporting People. The award was bestowed on Peter Duchesne during a ceremony on December 1, 2003, at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau.

"Mr. Peter Duchesne’s initiative and advocacy have made his co-workers more sensitive to the obstacles faced by people with disabilities," wrote Gabrielle Nishiguchi, past chair of the EEDWG. "His perseverance and enthusiasm have motivated numerous committees and helped to define problems and identify solutions."

Peter Duchesne has personal experience with the challenges faced by those with disabilities. Born in Port Hope, Ontario, Mr. Duchesne, who has cerebral palsy, relied on crutches until an auto accident forced him to use a wheelchair in 1981. He has been severely hard of hearing all his life, and lately has been dealing with the after-effects of a cancer in remission.

None of these things, however, kept Peter Duchesne from obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfred Laurier University) in 1970, completing a Masters Degree in Library Science at the University of Western Ontario in 1973, and then a certificate in Information Processing at Algonquin College in 1974. He worked for Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada and for the National Archives as a cataloguer, and then for seven years as technical services librarian at the National Energy Board before settling at the National Library of Canada (NLC) in 1988.

As a collections librarian for the NLC from 1989 to 2003, Mr. Duchesne was responsible for selecting and evaluating for purchase all Canadiana published both home and abroad between 1868 and 1993, and also Canadiana published abroad within the last two years.

During his career in Acquisitions, in addition to his regular duties, he assumed the responsibilities of Head of the Selection and Searching Section when the need arose. He was involved with the Serials Deselection Committee, acting for a time as its Chair. In 1996, he spent a year working with a group that evaluated damaged materials. His work as a union steward brought him into contact with staff in all parts of the organization, a time he recalls particularly warmly.

"The most interesting part of working in the NL was working with the people—both within and without the Government," said Mr. Duchesne. "My later career in Acquisitions was perhaps the most intensely satisfying part of my career."

Outside of work, Mr. Duchesne has displayed extraordinary energy and diversity. He has addressed disability issues most of his life—"first out of self-interest and then out of concern for others" — and was one of the first members of the Hard of Hearing Club of Ottawa (his home for the last 30 years). By the late ’70s, he was a seasoned lobbyist for disabled issues, and had already tackled Bell Canada and the federal government. He became involved in constituency-level politics, was an active unionist for most of his working career at the local, regional and national levels, and worked with Scouts Canada for 19 years.

"My career from 1984 was balanced by my work with Scouts Canada," affirmed Mr. Duchesne, who was an adult volunteer. "I thoroughly enjoyed teaching outdoor and camping skills to the boys and girls."

Mr. Duchesne admits to being surprised by his nomination and subsequent selection by the Privy Council Office for the Public Service award, however unfathomable his not being recognized would have seemed to friends and colleagues.

"He has inspired us all. He made such a difference to LAC," said Gabrielle Nishiguchi.

Mr. Duchesne’s current retirement projects are to read, travel, sleep and go to the cottage (not that he has one, he points out, but to borrow other people’s); he has just firmed up plans for a two-month trip to Sri Lanka and India beginning in February.

Library and Archives Canada wishes to congratulate Peter Duchesne on his career, his achievements, his retirement and his well-deserved award. He has left an incomparable impression on all those fortunate enough to have worked with him.