“As you know, secure ID management is not for the faint-of-heart,” Johnston says. “Everyone works extremely hard. It is hard to imagine rising above bars that have been set so high, but our winner has. I would like to point out that many of us have, for a very long time, reaped the benefits of Mike’s knowledge, commitment, and unparalleled generosity. I am sure that he does not know how many people appreciate him or how much he has contributed to their success and to the success of secure ID.

“He has been a champion for secure ID in Canada, helping us understand both the issues and the possibilities,” she adds. “Moreover he has shown us that it can be done and that is invaluable, because if you think it is hard to do with a Presidential Directive, imagine how hard it is to do it without one. He is an effective advocate, a campaigner and a supporter, all definitions of a champion.”