UPCOMING EVENTS: FOR A COMPLETE LIST VISIT www.canadianunderwriter.ca AND CLICK ‘MY EVENTS CALENDAR” ON THE HOME PAGE

1 In the most recent

canadianunderwriter.ca poll, we asked readers: ‘Could risk managers have done anything to prevent the events leading to the global financial crisis?’ In a very close vote, 52.08% responded ‘yes’ and 47.92% of respondents said ‘no.’

2 The Economical Insurance Group (TEIG) has become a development partner of the RMS insurance-to-value data validation service. The company has committed Cdn$150,000 towards the research and development of the ITV utility. In addition, the company will work closely with RMS during the developmental phases of the project. “We believe the RMS solution will provide brokers with a practical, common-sense approach that will dramatically enhance accuracy in regards to insuring to value,” Noel Walpole, president and CEO of TEIG, said in a release. “Clearly, no one in Canada has as much data on regional construction features and the accurate cost of claim amounts of total loss reconstruction than RMS.” TEIG is the first insurance company partner to come forward to support RMS in the development of the new project, the release notes.

3 Zurich in Canada has appointed Bob Fellows as senior vice president of distribution, marketing and communications for Zurich’s business in Canada. Fellows has 30 years of experience working in the Canadian insurance industry. In his distribution role, he will be responsible for driving Canada’s distribution strategy. In particular, he will be called upon to accelerate the progress of the Canada Top 50 Broker Program. In his marketing role, Fellows will be accountable for continuing to build on Zurich’s Help-Point brand positioning in the Canadian market. Fellows joins Zurich after working for eight years at St. Paul Fire and Marine (Travelers Canada), where he served as president and chief agent.

4 The Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta (IBAA) launched a bricks and mor-tar education centre at its new office in Edmonton. “With our own education centre, the IBAA can cost effectively maximize our team’s resources and offer more programs to our members,” said Ginny Bannerman, IBAA’s CEO. In 2008, IBAA provided its members with 1,489 hours of classroom instruction, a number expected to increase. One new program is a ‘Lunch & Learn’ series, in which participants attend monthly seminars during the lunch hour. The association is also producing an online video training series for both the personal and commercial insurance areas.

5 Manitoba-based brokerages Horizon Insurance and Ryan Gateway Insurance Brokers have announced a merger of operations. A release describes the merger as “the coming together of the oldest and the largest local insurance brokers in Manitoba.” Ryan Gateway Insurance Bro kers has provided service to 25,000 clients since it was founded in Winnipeg in 1903. Horizon will have 18 locations in Manitoba as a result of the merger. It will feature a newly expanded 11,0000-square-foot head office and employ more than 180 people. Horizon will be doing more than Cdn$50 million in home and business insurance, as well as handling more than 75,000 Autopac registrations annually. Bryan Alsop, president of Ryan Gateway Insurance, will join Horizon’s board of directors. Horizon president Michael Leipsic cited steady change in the marketplace as the main reason for bringing the two companies together. “Customers now expect us to bring a higher level of product expertise as well as the ability to present to them with greater opportunities to meet their needs. We want to be seen as a trusted advisor, and a merger like this will allow us to provide that unprecedented level of personalized service.”

6 JEVCO Insurance Company will assume the assets and liabilities of Kingsway General Insurance Company (KGIC), effective Oct. 1, 2009, subject to regulatory approval. Both KGIC and JEVCO are subsidiaries of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (Kingsway). JEVCO will be Kingsway’s marketing brand in Canada. All new and renewal business will be written on JEVCO paper as of Oct. 1, the company noted in a statement. Serge Lavoie [6] will continue as president and CEO of the combined Canadian company. “We believe that JEVCO’s 20-year track record of profitability gives us a strong foundation for achieving greater financial stability in our Canadian business portfolio,” Colin Simpson, president and CEO of Kingsway, said in the statement. “The consolidation of Kingsway’s Canadian business is a key component of our business plan to rebuild Kingsway’s reputation and deliver greater value to our shareholders and business partners.” The consolidation of Kingsway’s Canadian operations is expected to contribute to a reduction of the company’s operating expenses.

7 Western Financial Group has agreed to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Winnipeg- based Hayhurst Elias Dudek (HED) Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Securican General Insurance Company. The transaction has been approved by all applicable regulatory bodies and was scheduled to close on or before Sept. 30, 2009. Western Financial Group currently owns 49% of HED and has been a minority shareholder for almost three years. HED is one of Canada’s largest independent insurance brokerages. Its head office is in Winnipeg and it also has a service office in Laval, Quebec. The brokerage specializes in commercial insurance and employee benefit products specifically designed for Canadian independent businesses and government entities that are aligned with associations or buying groups. Securican is an underwriter of pet health insurance through its own brand name, PetSecure, as well as a number of white label agreements with national brand name companies. In announcing the deal, Western Financial noted it owned a network of more than 100 insurance brokerages in Western Canada. “While Western [Financial]’s focus has been in the West, we welcome and embrace HED’s cross-Canada business model of serving client group member firms’ needs across the country — including not only the West, Ontario and Quebec, but reaching all the way to Atlantic Canada,” the company said in a statement.

8 Douglas A. Coll has been appointed chief commercial officer of Aon Consulting Canada. Coll started in the newly created role on Sept. 8 in Toronto. The chief commercial officer is focused on generating revenue growth, according to an Aon release. Coll will lead sales and business development across Canada, working closely with business development colleagues and the leadership team, Aon said. Most recently Coll was vice president of sales and relationship management with PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP.

9 The Co-operators and the University of Guelph have launched The Co-operators Centre for Business and Social Entrepreneurship. The centre, dedicated to preparing new business leaders committed to community engagement and sustainability, will be supported over the next five years by a Cdn$400,000 contribution from The Cooperators. “Business students and faculty will work with social purpose organizations on a broad range of collaborative initiatives that have tangible benefits for everyone involved,” according to The Co-operators. “Along the way, students will gain management and economic experience, create and launch new ventures and develop a sense of social responsibility and leadership. There will also be opportunities for faculty and graduate student research.

10 Friends and colleagues of the late Ciaran Shannon can now make donations or purchase tickets online for a tribute evening being held on Oct. 23, 2009 in Toronto to raise funds for the education of his children. Details of and tickets for the event can now be purchased for $25 online at ciaranshannoncanadatribute.com. Those wishing to donate directly to the fund can do so through the site, as well. Corporate sponsorships, silent auction prize donati
ons and any help offered would be much appreciated.