The Bank of Canada recently named Lethbridge College instructor Bruce Macdonald as the recipient of its 2014 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence. This award was established in 2004 to recognize the work of Canadians in the field of law enforcement in deterring and preventing the counterfeiting of Canada’s bank notes.
Macdonald is being honoured for his remarkable personal initiative in developing and delivering an effective anti-counterfeiting prevention program for criminal justice students. In partnership with the RCMP and the Bank of Canada, Lethbridge College has delivered the Counterfeit Education Module to its justice students since 2007.
As an instructor in the college’s School of Justice Studies program, Macdonald provides a strong foundation in counterfeiting prevention and deterrence to students from across the country seeking a career in law enforcement. To date, more than 1,100 students have taken part in his program.
“Bruce deserves significant credit and recognition for making this partnership happen,” says Centre for Justice and Human Services Dean Marty Thomsen. “With his passion, support and 28 years of policing experience, our justice students receive this important education and many go on to serve as police officers across Canada.”
This is the first time that the award has been given to someone who is not an employee of an accredited police service, underscoring the value the Bank of Canada places on education and the importance of a multi-faceted approach to counterfeit deterrence.
“Bruce’s passion for the counterfeit deterrence program and his devotion to his students make him stand out,” said Richard Wall, Chief of the Currency Department. “The Bank of Canada wishes to highlight the important contribution he has made toward ensuring the safety of Canada’s currency.”
Macdonald was honoured during the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in Victoria, B.C. on Aug. 26, 2014.
Macdonald will be teaching Preliminary Response & Investigation, Criminal Investigative Techniques and Criminal Investigative Theory this fall.