The Contribution to Evaluation in Canada Award recognizes an individual or individuals who have made a significant contribution to the theory and/or practice of evaluation in Canada.
As a highly respected evaluation practitioner, evaluation scholar and dedicated advocate for the advancement of evaluation practices in our country, Isabelle Bourgeois, PhD, embodies the qualities and achievements worthy of this prestigious recognition.
Isabelle has made significant contributions to the field of evaluation through her exemplary leadership, innovative approaches and tireless commitment to promoting excellence in evaluation practice and scholarship. Her extensive expertise spans various sectors, including government, non-profit organizations, and academia, where she has consistently demonstrated her ability to produce rigorous and impactful evaluations as well as meaningful research on the field of evaluation. These efforts have helped to shape how we think about and study important topics, especially evaluation capacity building (ECB).
Throughout her distinguished career, Isabelle has been instrumental in advancing the evaluation field in Canada through numerous mentorship initiatives. For example, she recently published a French-language textbook in program evaluation with two of her doctoral students – Fondements et pratiques contemporaines de l'évaluation de programmes; established LaboEval and empowered her students to take meaningful leadership roles in its efforts; and co-designed and delivered the first case competition in ECB in Canada and the US.
Isabelle left an indelible mark on the Canadian evaluation community while editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation (2017-2022). Under her leadership, for instance, the Journal became open access. She also worked with colleagues to establish the Practice Notes section of the Journal, making it more feasible for busy evaluation practitioners to share their experiences. In addition, she worked with Indigenous evaluation scholars and practitioners to put into place the Roots and Relations section — the first global example of how evaluation journals can transform in meaningful ways to contribute to decolonizing evaluation.
Congratulations to Isabelle Bourgeois!