ORIMS honours Mark Day with the 2016 Donald M. Stuart Award at RIMS Canada Conference

CALGARY — Mark Day, executive director of risk management and insurance for the Government of Alberta’s Treasury Board and Finance, has had his many years of service and dedication recognized, becoming the latest recipient of the Donald M. Stuart Award.

Mark Day, executive director of risk management and insurance for the Government of Alberta’s Treasury Board and Finance, latest recipient of the Donald M. Stuart Award

Presented during Tuesday’s awards luncheon at the 2016 RIMS Canada Conference in Calgary, Day was bestowed what is widely regarded as Canada’s highest risk management honour, reports RIMS, the risk management society.

The award, given out annually since 1979 by the RIMS Ontario Chapter (ORIMS), is meant to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions in the risk management profession and advancing risk management in Canada.

Day is currently responsible for the overall delivery of risk management, risk control, risk financing and risk identification to all departments of the Alberta government, most provincial corporations, all of its committees, public and elected officials and its thousands of volunteers, notes the RIMS statement.

Day is an integral member of Alberta’s Assistant Deputy Minister Recovery Task Force, which has been instrumental in guiding the province through a number of recent natural disasters.

RIMS Ontario Chapter (ORIMS) President Tina Gardiner, provides remarks before presenting the Donald M. Stuart Award to Mark Day

He has also initiated a quarterly newsletter that provides an update on the latest risks having an impact on the provincial government and the region, thereby helping to promote a risk-aware culture across the governmental enterprise.

Beyond his work-related accomplishments, Day has a long history of volunteering within the risk management community.

Among other things, he has served as president of the Northern Alberta RIMS Chapter on two occasions, held several chapter officer and RIMS Canada Council positions, been a member of the National Education Sub-Committee of the Canadian Risk Management Council, was the catalyst for the University of Alberta’s decision to offer the CRM course, and has shared his considerable expertise as a conference speaker, educator, author and mentor.

“Just like others did for me, I found it to be crucially important, and perhaps even my responsibility, to give back to the risk management community,” Day says in the RIMS statement.

The 2016 Donald M. Stuart Award which was presented to Mark Day

Humbled to be recognized “for a lifetime of work that I have felt so passionate about,” he adds that “the value of the risk management function continues to gain traction and it has been exciting to be a part of this momentum.”

ORIMS president Christina Gardiner notes that “to keep the risk management profession vibrant and integral to organizational success, we rely on industry leaders, like Mark Day, to generously share their invaluable career experiences.”

Day, Gardiner adds, “has had a profound impact on the careers of countless practitioners and has demonstrated a true commitment to the future of risk management in Canada.”

Also during the awards ceremony, David Chipp, project consultant of people performance and culture for Halifax-based Efficiency Nova Scotia, was announced as the recipient of the Fred H. Bossons Award.

The award recognizes the risk management professional who earns the highest marks on the three courses required to receive the CRM designation.

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