Ontario ombudsman and former Carleton political science student André Marin was awarded Carleton’s highest alumni honour Nov. 1.
Marin, Ontario’s incumbent ombudsman, is the most recent recipient of the A.D. Dunton Alumni Award of Distinction given by the Carleton University Alumni Association. He received his bachelor of arts in political science from Carleton in 1985.
“It’s an incredible honour, something I didn’t ever expect,” Marin said. “Carleton is a fabulous post-secondary institution, one that got me on the right track for success.”
Marin is an “exemplary graduate,” Carleton president Roseann Runte said via email.
“He was inspired to pursue his career because his professor at Carleton shared with him his research about the role of ombudspersons around the world,” Runte said.
Marin credits his personal success to his interactions with professors at Carleton, including professor Donald Rowat, whose expertise in ombudsmen work stirred his students’ appreciation for the role of watchdogs, he said.
Marin said he even continued consulting Rowat throughout his career as an ombudsman.
The Dunton award is distinct from other awards because the committee carefully considers candidates’ accomplishments in their spheres of influence and professional lives, said Jane Gilbert, president of Carleton’s alumni association.
“In our most recent award, it’s most fitting that we’ve awarded it to [Marin] who presents us with a wonderful example of public service, not just as ombudsman but in his previous role as well,” Gilbert said.
The award is given every year when merited, she said, adding it’s dependent on the selection of nominees from year to year.
The association allows alumni to be nominated from its membership of 120,000 worldwide, she said, and nomination requirements remain consistent year to year.
“We try to get a committee that represents the Carleton community and its interests, so we get a real broad section of input of assessing the candidates,” said Heather Theoret, the alumni relations officer.
There are six voting members on the committee, including the current and previous presidents of the alumni association, the vice-president of the association, two members of the alumni association, and Carleton University Student Association president Obed Okyere.
Previous award winners span a wide spectrum of careers, including a senior vice-president at Google, Shona Brown, and the former chief statistician at Statistics Canada, Ivan Fellegi, among others.
Marin said he considers the ability to constantly question yourself and consistency to be keys to success. Too many people who are unsuccessful are happy with mediocrity, not questioning if they are achieving “absolute excellence” in their work, he said.
“Being mediocre just doesn’t cut it. It’s all or nothing.”