NEW YORK (September 22, 2008) -- The Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Ontario Chapter earlier today presented the Donald M. Stuart Award to George Simpson, CRM, FCIP, at the 2008 RIMS Canada Conference in Toronto. Created by RIMS Ontario Chapter in 1979, the award is granted annually to a Canadian risk professional in recognition of one's outstanding contributions to the profession. The Donald M. Stuart Award is RIMS highest honor for risk management in Canada.

"Mr. Simpson very much belongs in the company of the many industry leaders who have served the risk management community by inspiring and motivating through support, guidance and perseverance," says Erin Magilton-Morneau, CRM, president of RIMS Ontario Chapter and director of risk management and insurance at Bentall LP. "His determination and integrity sets the standard by which others are measured."

"Receiving the Donald M. Stuart Award is a privilege that I do not take lightly-the list of previous winners contains so many pioneers and leaders in the profession in Canada, many of which were role models and mentors to me early on in my career. To be included in this prestigious group is such an honor," Mr. Simpson said during his acceptance speech.

For more than 35 years, Simpson has been involved in risk management and insurance. He is a senior manager of risk management and insurance in the treasury division at EPCOR Utilities Inc., a $3 billion municipality-owned company with operations in three Canadian provinces and eight states in the United States.

He has served on the board of directors of RIMS Southern Alberta Chapter and RIMS Northern Alberta Chapter, where he also served two terms as president. Additionally, he has served as a member of RIMS Canada Council, playing key roles in organizing two RIMS Canada Conferences.

Simpson is entering his sixth year as a member of the William H. McGannon Foundation board of directors, a Canadian organization that provides financial resources to promote risk management education and research.

Also presented at the 2008 RIMS Canada Conference was the Fred H. Bossons Award, earned by Albert T. Ho, director of property risk management at ING Real Estate Canada; Anand V. Shastri, senior underwriter at Economical Mutual Insurance Group; and Cristian Zamrii, IT manager at CI Investments. The award acknowledges individuals who earn the highest marks on the three courses required to receive the Canadian Risk Management designation.

Complete details on RIMS Canada Conference are available at http://conference.RIMScanada.org.