By Donna Collins, FCIRP (ret.)

In any given year, a high percentage of CAIRP’s members volunteer their time and expertise in some capacity. These volunteers have discovered the secret of volunteerism: You get back much more than you put in.  When you volunteer with CAIRP, in addition to the satisfaction you get from contributing to the Association and/or Canada’s insolvency and restructuring system, you develop a network of lifelong friends that stretches from coast to coast.

Each year CAIRP formally recognizes a few extraordinary members. The challenge is identifying the extraordinary among the exceptional. To meet this challenge, CAIRP needs the help of its members and other insolvency and restructuring professionals.

If you know a member that you believe has provided CAIRP with extraordinary service, take the time to nominate him or her for one of CAIRP’s awards: Fellow, Keith G. Collins Memorial Award, New Member’s Award, or an Outstanding Volunteer Award. The detailed criteria for each award along with the nomination forms can be found on the CAIRP website: https://cairp.ca/cgi/page.cgi/awards-and-research.html. If you need assistance completing an application, CAIRP’s staff would be pleased to assist you. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2024.

CAIRP proudly recognized the following members in 2023: 

Fellow Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional (FCIRP)

André Bolduc, CPA, CA, FCIRP, LIT

André is not a professional who is about himself, he is about the profession. He is passionate about CAIRP, its future and its members, and the industry. Since receiving his CIRP designation, André has been very active and engaged within the association. He has been on the CAIRP Board’s Executive Committee since 2019, first as Secretary to the Board, then as Vice Chair, and currently as Chair of the Board. His tenure on the Executive Committee has included having to address the unprecedented challenges created for CAIRP and the industry by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Over the years Andre has volunteered on a broad range of CAIRP committees including the Small Practice Committee, Consumer Standards Committee, Consumer Practice Committee, Governance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and others. This year, André was also the Chair of the Strategic Review Committee and is one of CAIRP’s representatives on several OSB and CRA Working Committees. His deep understanding of policy development and extensive knowledge of the industry has been invaluable.

André is highly regarded within the industry and by government officials. His ability to get to the nub of issues and take different points of view into account is one of his superpowers. He is known as the go-to person to get things done. His responses are well researched and fact based. He is strategic in his thinking, understated, a great listener and a team player. These attributes have served André and CAIRP well throughout his career.

Keith G. Collins Memorial Award

Jean-Daniel Breton, CPA, FCIRP

Jean-Daniel has contributed to the profession and the reputation of the profession through his work and actions over the course of his 30+ year career in the industry. He is known for his high degree of integrity and professionalism. Since becoming a member of CAIRP he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the profession and to the Association through his volunteerism. Jean-Daniel is the immediate past Chair of CAIRP’s Board and served as Vice Chair prior to that. He has volunteered on multiple CAIRP committees including, but not limited to, the NIQP and CQP Committees, the Intervention Committee, Professional Conduct Committee, Governance Committee, WEPP Sub Committee, and Corporate Practice Committee.

Jean-Daniel is passionate about CAIRP’s education program and its students. He has mentored numerous CNIE candidates both from within and outside of his firm. He takes the time to provide background and context on issues to anyone who asks. He is respected by his peers and is regularly sought out as a sounding board and source of knowledge by our members, insolvency lawyers, government officials and academics across the country.

Outstanding Volunteer Award

Simone Carvalho, CPA (US, Colorado), CA (India), CIRP, LIT

Simone has demonstrated her commitment to the industry and CAIRP through her engagement on several CAIRP Committees. She also served on the CAIRP Board of Directors as the Ontario Corporate Representative from 2016-2020, and currently holds the position of Executive-at-Large. Simone has been extensively involved with CAIRP’s education program in recent years as a member of the CQP Committee and Exam Oversight Committee.

In addition to her committee contributions, Simone has participated in a number of stakeholder briefings and roundtables on behalf of the industry. Her balanced views and diplomacy have been valuable qualities when addressing challenging and sensitive issues with government officials. Simone is also well regarded in the corporate practice community across the country.

Vanessa Allen, CIRP, LIT

Vanessa has provided exemplary service to CAIRP across a range of committees and task forces, as well as on the CAIRP Board of Directors including the Executive Committee, where she held the position of Executive-at-Large. She was a member of the Advertising Directive Task Force and Name Review Task Force, but it is her focus on education, including continuing education, where Vanessa’s efforts have particularly shone.

Vanessa is currently the Chair of the CQP Committee, a role she assumed in 2022 after holding the Vice Chair role for 2 years. She has been an active member of that committee since 2014. Vanessa has also been involved in the CQP Marking Centre, the CAIRP Continuing Education Committee, and the CAIRP Conference Planning Committee.

New Member’s Award of Merit

Adam Boettger, CPA, CA, CIRP, LIT

Since becoming a member of CAIRP in 2017, Adam has been consistently ready to volunteer wherever needed in our industry. He is very engaged in CAIRP’s education committees and is currently the Co-Chair of the CNIE Exam Board where he has been making significant contributions. He has also contributed his time and efforts as an OAIRP Board member since 2021.

Furthermore, Adam has contributed to the industry through his involvement with the CRA Portal Website project and the Service Canada WEPP Review Panel. When joining a committee Adam is always fully involved, and is widely recognized as a young champion for our industry. In addition to his volunteerism within the industry, Adam has been an active volunteer with CPA Ontario, the Canadian Open, and the Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games Organizing Committee.

Honourary CIRP

Gail Fayerman, MBA, CPA, CIRP (Hon.)

Gail is a full-time senior lecturer at the John Molson School of Business and Concordia University. She has a professional CPA designation, consults as a CPA, and has spent many years teaching CPA professional education courses.

Gail was deeply involved with CAIRP’s Education program for many years. As a result of her extensive experience and expertise in curriculum and program development for professional education, Gail played a key role in developing learning objectives for the program and in aligning its course material with the examination. Gail was also part of the CQP Committee for many years. Throughout her years working with CAIRP on a volunteer basis, her goal was to ensure that the CQP continuously improved and stayed up to date for future students.

These members deserve your thanks. Please take the time to look in your firm or your professional circle to help CAIRP identify other worthy candidates.