Views (March 01, 2005)

The Insurance Institute of Ontario’s 106th Convocation and Awards Night for CIP and FCIP graduates was held at the John Labatt Theatre of Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre recently, with guest speaker two-time Olympic gold-medalist Catriona LeMay Doan. K&K Insurance Group’s Susan Eadie picked up three awards: The RIMS Award, The Centennial Award and The Fellows Award. Rupinder Bhatia of Ontario Insurance Services also took home multiple awards: the First Year Student and The L.L. Rook Memorial Prize. Instructor of the year was Janet Russell of Aviva Canada, while Monica Cain of CAA Insurance won the Award of Merit. And AON Reed Stenhouse CEO Doug Swartout was awarded the Honorary CIP designation for 2004.

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Industry veteran John Raney was honored at a retirement reception at Toronto’s National Club recently. The entire Raney family, including wife Linda, son David, daughter Beth, and Carlie, the eldest of seven grandchildren joined in to celebrate a long career and many friendships developed on the way. Raney’s career began with State Farm in 1967, before moving to Aon in the 1980s, where he rose to the position of senior vice president and national advocacy leader. Family, friends and co-workers spoke of Raney’s love of the outdoors, his hospitality, and his tireless devotion to his clients. A painting of the Raney cottage was presented, along with a barbecue for hosting many celebrations to come.

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The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) spent a busy, and fun-filled February in North Bay, ON sponsoring its first ever “Injury Prevention Month” campaign.

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Elliott Special Risks has become Canada’s first fully accredited Lloyd’s broker. Celebrating the achievement at Lloyd’s in London are, from left, Lloyd’s chair Lord Peter Levene and Elliott Special Risks president David Eastaugh. The accreditation means Elliott can conduct business directly with Lloyd’s underwriters without having to use a London broker. “We are pleased to be the first Canadian broker to be so admitted to Lloyd’s, the most important insurance market in the world,” says Eastaugh.

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The recent 16th Annual KRG Children’s Charities Gala at Toronto’s “The Carlu” raised $120,000 for a host of worthwhile causes including Variety Village, The Hospital for Sick Children, Children’s Aid Foundation, The Jean Tweed Centre, Zareinu Educational Centre and Camp Oochigeas. The event featured gusts hosts Cheryl Hickey and Anwar Knight of Global TV, as well as a surprise visit by Newmarket-Aurora MP Belinda Stronach. The gala also included the “KRG Idol” competition, sponsored by TransAmerica Life Canada. This year’s idol is 15-year-old Lisa Manis of Pickering, ON (pictured in wheelchair, with KRG Children’s Charities chairman Steven Wise in back).

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Accident Support Services International (ASSI) celebrated its 10th anniversary with a cake-cutting ceremony at Toronto’s Queen’s Park recently. ASSI president Steve Sanderson notes that the company has grown from one Collision Reporting Center in North York ten years ago, to 14 today, with the 15th location set to open in Cornwall this April.

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The “Toronto Cares” industry benefit for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami raised $6,000 says organizer Bill Blakeney of Blakeney, Henneberry Murphy. The event, held at Toronto’s Ontario Bar Association Conference Center, featured performances by Andrew Houghton, “Showroom”, and insurance industry band “The Accidental Benefits”, with all proceeds going to humanitarian agency World Vision. Special thanks to the management and staff of the Ontario Bar Association Conference Center for their sponsorship.