“Fire & Ice”

WICC Ontario held its 11th annual gala dinner on May 5, 2007 at The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. This dinner has become one of the key fundraising events for WICC and has grown tremendously since its inception over 10 years ago. WICC and its industry supporters have come a long way together from the first dinner in the spring of 1997, which had an attendance of less than 200 people. Once again this year the dinner gala was sold out with nearly 650 in attendance.

WICC Dinner Co-Chair and the evening’s emcee, Jean Faulkner, extended a great WICC appreciation to WICC Dinner Co-Chair Marilyn Horrick and all of the ‘simply outstanding’ dinner volunteers, sponsors, contributors, prize and auction item donors, WICC National Sponsors, event producers and all attendees for their unwavering support and commitment in the effort to mobilize the Canadian Insurance Industry in the fight against cancer (full lists of dinner supporters /contributors/ sponsors at: www.wicc.ca)

$300,000 PRESENTED TO CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY – OVER $2.3 MILLION RAISED TO-DATE

WICC co-chair’s Carolyn Horan and Linda Wahrer presented Peter Goodhand, president of the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division with the largest cheque ever from WICC for $300,000! This sum brought the total raised by WICC Ontario to over $2.3 million since its inception in 1996 and one step closer to WICC Ontario’s goal of $2.5 million dollars raised by the end of 2007 and well over $3.5 million across Canada!”

THE GOLD FLAME AWARDS

Over the course of the year, WICC has many companies and individuals that donate in excess of $5,000 per year, in fact some in excess of $50,000. WICC is grateful to every one of these companies and individuals. The Gold Flame Award recognizes some of the people and companies who made substantial contributions to WICC either financially donating in excess of $5,000 or by donating extensively of their time and energy – above and beyond the average call.

This year there were 4 recipients of the Gold Flame Award:

AON REED STENHOUSE

For the past 4 years, Aon Reed Stenhouse has chosen WICC as the beneficiary of monies raised from their Annual Bonspiel and often their Annual Charity Golf Tournament raising over $5700. Accepting on behalf of Aon Reed Stenhouse was Craig Gilmour, Regional Director.

CORDIE TAYLOR EDWARDS

Employee with Royal & SunAlliance, firstly, as a PartyLite consultant, Cordie Taylor Edwards hosts parties during lunch hours 2 or 3 times a year. She brings all the items into the office and with the help of her team sets up and displays items geared to the changing seasons to ensure optimal interest in the products and optimal sales.

Secondly, Cordie’s “WICC Committee” also sells daffodils and solicits sporting event tickets and promotional items for raffles in support of WICC. In addition, in September ’06 her team sold prostate cancer bracelets to raise funds. All of the proceeds of these ventures go directly to the WICC.

MARVIN AND SUSAN KATZ

Marvin Katz, is a former partner of KRG Insurance Brokers Inc.. He is actually the “K” in “KRG”. Marvin Katz and Susan Katz are both former cancer survivors and very big friends to WICC. In the past 3 years, Marvin & Susan have: Raised funds for WICC at Marvin’s 70th Birthday Party in 2004 which raised $3,470; held a book fair at work whereby everyone brought in their old books and sold them for $1; every year continues to make pledges to WICC in honour and in memoriam of friends, family and colleagues; Marvin & Susan attend all WICC functions – they even participated in the 2006 ING Ottawa Marathon; combined, this couple have raised approx $6,000 for WICC!

KRG INSURANCE BROKERS INC.

When ING launched the ING Ottawa Marathon in 2005, KRG “raced” at the chance to invite their employees to create a team. In 2005, 5 employees drove to Ottawa and participated in 2K, 5K, 10K and _ Marathon events. In 2006, the team expanded to 9 members. They each raised pledges from friends and family members – which took WICC’s name into the homes of their friends and families. To date KRG has raised over $17,000 for WICC. Accepting the Gold Flame award on behalf of KRG was Paul Martin, President & C.O.O..

THE LEW DUNN MEMORIAL AWARD

The Lew Dunn Memorial Award is in memory of Lew Dunn, who was President of the former CGU Group Canada, now Aviva Canada, until he lost his battle with cancer in 1999. The award in his honour is presented to the volunteer or company demonstrating significant initiative in raising funds and/or awareness for WICC – in essence, the WICC ‘volunteer of the year’.

ING CANADA – RECIPIENT OF THE LEW DUNN MEMORIAL AWARD

In May 2005, ING Canada was the title sponsor the Ottawa Marathon – where over 27,000 people of all ages, generations, able bodied, disabled and from various countries gathered to partake in the ING Ottawa Marathon! This 3-day event was a sea of activity with numerous events – 2K, 5K, 10K, Marathon and Full Marathon events that could be walked, ran or in-line skated. There was something for everyone! ING launched a challenge to their branch offices in Ontario. Approx 600 ING employees & family members participated, and collected pledges of just over $20,000. In 2006, the number of participants tripled!

ING will once again be sponsoring the 2007 event, and once again has selected WICC as its charity.

Cumulative contributions from the ING Marathon are $69,238! Sandy Dunn, in honour of her late husband Lew, presented this award to WICC’s 2006 recipient of the Lew Dunn Memorial Award – ING Canada. Tracy Laughlin, Regional Vice President, ING Insurance Company of Canada accepted on behalf of ING Canada.

THE WICC HALL OF FLAME

WICC’s next and final award, the Hall of Flame, was created in 2005 to recognize the outstanding success of the ‘Crawford Cares’ program. This award is presented to an organization whose level of financial contribution to WICC is significant, whose employees and/or community are significantly engaged in raising awareness and fundraising and whose commitment of contributions is made over several years. This year’s winner joined the inaugural recipient Crawford & Company (Canada) whose Crawford Cares program has raised over $130,000 since inception 3 years ago.

BILL BLAKENEY – WICC’S 2ND ‘HALL OF FLAME’ INDUCTEE

Bill Blakeney is partner of Blakeney Henneberry Murphy Barristers & Solicitors. Almost everyone in the Insurance Industry knows Bill – a truly outstanding individual:

* Bill was an instrumental member of the WICC Steering Committee. He spent countless “complimentary” hours helping WICC Ontario attain incorporation in 2004.

* For a number of years, Bill chaired the “Night to Shine” which was an annual event of talented insurance professionals who would play different venues each year. This led to the formation of the industry renowned “Accidental Benefits” who have since recorded a total of 4 CD’s that raised over $15,000 for WICC.

* Bill Introduced WICC to Crawford & Company, Honourable Order of The Blue Goose, Fred DeFrancesco, as well as
the “Accidental Benefits” – each of whom have truly embraced WICC’s cause and created impactful WICC Events of their own. Each of these outstanding organizations have been recipients of WICC awards in years past;

* One for a good time, we can’t think of one event that Bill has not attended,

* Today, Bill continues to offer his opinions as WICC’s legal counsel and is joining the WICC Ontario board of directors.