Canadian Corporate Identity - Logo Design and more

I am preparing to create a political institute devoted to the study of democracy in Canada. Initially, this institute will be focused on publishing academic articles, public policy papers, and regular blog entries on a website, which is still in development. This project is primarily for a logo that will be the face of the institute, and specifically the website. I intend to have the website designed around the logo, so it is critical that it be well done. In addition to the website logo, I need a layout for business cards, envelopes, and letterhead, which will include the logo. For these designs, I need a copy to be in the form of Microsoft Word 2007 templates in addition to whatever format is generally used for printing. The logo and all designs should be in colour, but I will need a greyscale/black and white copy of each. The logo itself should reflect the values of integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness while having a distinctly modern feel. Since the institute is Canadian, it would be nice to have a Canadian flair to it, even if it's just a simple maple leaf. The logo needs to be serious and focused without being boring. It also needs to be vector-based. Needless to say, all ownership and copyright of the logo will belong to me once we are through. This logo is going to be the identity of this institute from its inception into the foreseeable future, so it is crucial that it be done right. I expect 5 different concepts to start out, and if none of them are to my liking I will need 3 more concepts after I provide more direction. Once the logo is chosen, there may be several smaller revision requests before it is finalized. At that point the stationery layout and design can begin, which I expect will be relatively straightforward once we have the finalized logo. Again, I will need a few layouts of each to choose from. This is one of the most important stages in the process of the creation of this institute, so I need someone who is serious, experienced, and committed to my satisfaction, even if it requires a few more concept designs. References and samples of past work are required. The name of the institute will need to be included in the logo, and the name happens to be quite long, which strikes me as a substantial challenge. If you have any samples that demonstrate how you incorporated a long name into a logo, that would be ideal. Finally, for this project it is more important that the job be done right than it is for it to be finished quickly. I expect well-thought out concepts and don't mind waiting several days for them. I prefer to deal with design teams to benefit from the designs and perspective of several people, but I will also consider applications from individuals if you impress me with your samples. Please answer the following in your application, in addition to samples and references: 1. Do you work alone or with a team of designers? 2. Will you make the logo vector-based? 3. Can you design the stationery templates for Microsoft Word 2007 (.dotx files)? 4. In one sentence, tell me your favourite thing (or anything) about Canada.