CIM

District Distinguished Service Award

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District Distinguished Service Award

For significant contribution to the mineral industry and CIM Branch

Origins & Conditions

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At the instigation of W.M. Gilchrist, CIM President (1974-75), three District Distinguished Service Awards (Western, Central and Eastern District) were created to recognize the contributions on a District level of the many Institute members who have significantly contributed to the development of the industry and the Institute at their local or Branch level.

The District Distinguished Service Award criteria and other information: 

  1. The District Distinguished Service Awards are to be presented to Institute Members in each of the three geographical Districts (Western, Central and Eastern) described in the Institute By-Laws, in recognition of significant contribution to the mineral industry and the Institute in the area designated. The said contributions need not necessarily be of a particular or a special achievement or be related to a technical field of endeavour.
  2. The awards are to be available for presentation yearly, or as conditions warrant.
  3. Endorsements from the Branches' executives and VPs from the three Districts (one nomination by district) are required.
  4. All nominations shall be accompanied by a description of the personal achievement of the nominee.
  5. The candidate will be submitted to a Special Committee composed of the last three living Past Presidents and the current President who will convene the committee, the members will make their recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer.
  6. The Chief Executive Officer shall forward the nominations to CIM Council not later than the last Council Meeting held prior to the next CIM Convention.
  7. No member of the District Awards Committee shall be party to the nomination of any candidate.
  8. The Award shall be presented at the annual CIM Convention, or at some especially arranged official ceremony in the District.

Other

Recipients

There are three recipients of this award every year. This award is solely for individual nominations (no teams).

Winners

2026

Donald Leroux

Donald Leroux is a mining engineer and a globally recognized expert in mineral processing. He is the director of innovation at 1823 Consulting, a CIM Fellow and a CIM Life Member. Throughout his career, he worked in base metals concentrators and technological organizations as well as in engineering and consulting firms.  

Leroux was born and raised in Thetford Mines, Québec. He graduated from Laval University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in mining and mineral processing engineering. He also earned a master’s degree and a PhD from Laval for his research work on mineral liberation conducted in collaboration with CSIRO in Australia. 

Leroux was chair of the Canadian Mineral Processors Society of CIM (CMP) in 2012 and co-chair of the 2016 IMPC (International Mineral processing Congress) technical program. Since 2019, he is the treasurer of the Quebec City Branch of CIM which won the Mel W.Bartley award in 2025. 

2026

Bernie Robertson

Bernie Robertson was a long-standing committee member of the Northern Gateway Branch for many years and was instrumental in the relaunch of the Branch 20 years ago. His experience, his calm demeanor and his “can do” attitude lent itself so well to the culture of the Northern Gateway Branch. 

Robertson chaired the branch’s highly successful annual golf tournament for 18 years, now named in his honour, until his passing in 2024 and served as the branch’s vice chair.  In addition to his role at the local CIM branch, he was awarded a life membership of the Canadian Diamond Drillers Association, recognizing his distinguished service in 2024. 

His support as a branch committee member for two decades played a significant role in the success of the branch, which was awarded the 2024 Mel W. Barkley Outstanding Branch Award and has been recognized for its contribution in communicating the importance of mining to the next generation through innovative programs such as Mining Matters and the Mining Teachers’ Tour. 

In his professional career, Robertson spent over 30 years in the insurance industry, becoming a leading local and international expert in risk management and insurance, specifically for the mining and exploration sectors. He was a highly respected professional and friend to many in the mining industry.

Bernie Robertson passed away on August 19, 2024. In 2026, his family were honoured to accept the District Distinguished Service Award on his behalf.