Anderson, Davenport receive country’s highest honor

Former Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) president George Anderson is about to receive the nation’s highest honor, the Order of Canada. Anderson retired from the IBC earlier this year, after ten years in the top spot.”It is overwhelming to receive this kind of an honor and to be included in such a small group of people,” Anderson says. “This is a very special occasion.”Anderson began his career with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation in 1971, and followed this in 1983 as vice president for the National Trust Company. He returned to CMHC in 1986 as president and CEO, before joining the IBC in 1992.He has served as chair of several organizations including Central Guaranty Trust, the Toronto Civic Employees Pension Fund, as well as other public and private pension funds. He is also a board member for several other organizations.Anderson has been active in the community, as a United Way campaign chair, chair of the National Mental Health Fund, founding chair of Best Buddies in Canada and a member of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and the National Crime Prevention Council.The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) is also celebrating the naming of one of its board members to the Order of Canada. Dr. Alan Davenport is research director for the ICLR, as well as a board member and chair of its Research Advisory Committee.”Alan is internationally renowned for his pioneering work in wind engineering and disaster safety,” says ICLR executive director Paul Kovacs. “He is a wonderful humanitarian, and tireless in his determination to make a positive contribution in Canada and on the international stage.””Dr. Davenport has helped to engineer some of the most challenging structural projects ever built in Canada, including the CN Tower and the Confederation Bridge. An expert in seismic activity and wind loads on tall buildings, he led the research at the University’s wind-tunnel, which resulted in design improvements to maximize resilience to earthquakes, high winds and improved public safety. Building codes in Canada and abroad are based on work that has evolved from his leadership. As well, he forged important partnerships which led to the formation of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction,” noted Governor General Adrienne Clarkson in the citation of the award.