Michel Turcotte recognized with the Donald M. Stuart Award at RIMS Canada conference

Michel Turcotte, senior director of risk management and insurance at Ivanhoe Cambridge, Inc. in Montreal., has been named the recipient of the 2012 Donald M. Stuart Award.

Widely recognized as Canada’s highest honour within the risk management field, Turcotte was presented the award during Horizons: 2012 RIMS Canada Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Sept. 11. The Ontario chapter of RIMS (ORIMS) has bestowed the award on a deserving individual in recognition of outstanding contributions in risk management each year since 1979.

Throughout his career, Turcotte has been called on to construct and implement risk management programs for major corporations in Canada and around the world, including recently at Quebecor Media, Inc., where he created a vast and detailed risk management program from scratch that covers a diversified group of international subsidiaries. “His work changed the risk culture of the organization from one of mere risk transfer to one of the most complex enterprise risk management programs in the country,” notes a statement from RIMS and RIMS Canada Council.

Turcotte, a noted risk management author and lecturer, has made significant contributions to the field of risk management education and is responsible for pioneering French-language risk management education in Quebec. “The role of the risk practitioner has certainly evolved throughout the course of my career and I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of seasoned risk professionals to provide leadership and mentor the next generation of risk managers,” says Turcotte, president of the RIMS Quebec chapter from 2004 to 2006.  

“Michel is an accomplished speaker, instructor and author whose work exemplifies this prestigious award,” adds David Beal, president of ORIMS and director of risk management for the Ontario School Boards’ Insurance Exchange.

Also honoured at the conference was Gareth J. Lewis, manager of claims at HIROC in Toronto, who received the 2012 Fred H. Bossons Award. The award is presented annually to the risk management professional who earns the highest marks on the three courses required to receive the CRM designation.