In Memorium: Art Despard

RIBO past president Art Despard has passed away at the age of 72. He served on RIBO Council from 1994 to 2000 and contributed thereafter as a chairperson of RIBO’s discipline committee.
Despard had more than 50 years of insurance industry experience. He began his career working for an insurance company at an early age. He then switched to the brokerage side in 1965, when he became a registered insurance broker.
Much of his career was spent working for Aon Reed Stenhouse.
Over the past few years, Despard worked for various brokerages and legal firms in consulting capacity.
His volunteer work within the industry was both extensive and impressive. In 2000, he received the Insurance Institute of Canada’s Award of Merit for outstanding service by a volunteer of the Insurance Institute of Canada. He served as both the president of the Society of Fellows and the past president of the Insurance Institute of Ontario.
A frequent speaker on insurance matters, Despard was often a media representative for the industry. His work has been published in various insurance journals and trade publications throughout North America and Britain.