What’s New: In brief (March 01, 2006)

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) is holding a Friday Forum workshop on March 24, 2006 from 1:30pm to 3:00 pm at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, which will feature Staff Sergeant Robert Cousineau of the Ontario Provincial Police. The focus of the workshop relates to an initiative that was created in response to a “horrific” car crash that occurred on Sept. 3, 1999 on Highway 401 near Windsor when a “heavy fog suddenly blanketed the busy highway.” One recommendation that followed the incident resulted in OPP Provincial Communications Centres (PCC) establishing active communications with Environment Canada by way of a program called Project OPPortunity. This endeavour allows PCC staff to report severe weather and/or atmospheric conditions in real time to the Environment Canada Severe Weather Office based on field reports. In 2003, Staff Sergeant Robert Cousineau a 23-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police who oversees Centralized Communications for a large portion of Southern Ontario began promoting the implementation of Project OPPortunity within the Ontario Provincial Police Communications Centres. All O.P.P. Provincial Communication Centres in Ontario are now participating in this worthwhile endeavor. Attendance is limited in order to ensure participants can directly contribute to the discussion so in order to participate in this workshop RSVP Tracy Waddington at (416) 364-8677 or twaddington@iclr.org. The cost is $75 ($150 for non-members, if space permits) for each forum however the $75 member fee is waved for first-time attendees. Business casual dress.

Gavin Watson has been appointed to the position of vice president and general manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Atlantic region. In his new role, Watson will oversee all regional rental car operations for Enterprise in the Atlantic provinces comprising 34 locations and more than 255 full- and part-time employees. Enterprise has grown considerably in the Atlantic region, adding 15 locations in past 5 years with 15 % increase in rentals in the past year alone. Under Watson’s leadership, the company will continue to open new locations in the region in 2006. Watson began his career with Enterprise more than 16 years ago in Orlando, Florida, in Enterprise’s management training program. This program recruits and trains employees from entry-level to management. Almost 100% of Enterprise managers have been through the program. Most recently, Watson held the position of regional vice president in Alabama.