Views (February 01, 2006)

Operation Red Nose successfully delivered about 6,575 individuals to the safety of their own homes this holiday season. York Region Police Chief Armand La Barge, president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, congratulated Canada’s home, car and business insurers and Ontario Safety League for their sponsorship of the volunteer designated-driver service. Operation Red Nose is designed so that holiday party-people could get themselves and their cars home safely. “Canada’s home, car and business insurers and the Ontario Safety League should be commended for their efforts,” Chief La Barge said. “Together, along with many volunteers, they made the roads safer this holiday season.” Brian Patterson, Ontario Safety League president and general manager, extended thanks to the more than 3,000 volunteers who helped make safe driving operation possible this season. In addition to contributing $29,000 to the Ontario program this year, Canada’s home, car and business insurers supported the program by raising program awareness through paid advertising, mobilizing volunteer drivers from insurance companies, and providing insurance coverage for all Red Nose volunteers. This public awareness campaign was supported by the insurance industry under the “Be Smart. Be Safe.” banner, which is a national injury prevention campaign from Canada’s home, car and business insurers.

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CGI Insurance hit a hole-in-one for the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) at its annual CGI Insurance Business Services Members’ Golf Tournament, held on June 4 at the Cardinal Golf Course in Newmarket, ON. The much-anticipated day proved to be a fantastic event, delivering a mix of activity and excitement. Great weather and fantastic co-worker friendships evoked an atmosphere of pure enjoyment and recreation. A day of great golf, dinner and prizes was enhanced by a special silent auction organized by Leona Charbonneau, Rick Jackson and their enthusiastic committee. A melange of stimulating auction items – including golf packages, a gift certificate for Brix restaurant, a Sheraton Parkway Hotel package and a coveted Australian wine package – stimulated the zeal of bidding participants. Charbonneau and Jackson agree the effects of cancer can touch everyone. This realization helped them decide to support WICC as their charity for the tournament proceeds. WICC is tremendously grateful for the support and the $5,100 raised from the event. The tournament merged team-based activities and fundraising, making it a successful initiative. WICC gave CGI a Certificate of Appreciation.

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This year’s much-anticipated 5th Annual CGI Insurance Business Services Client Conference, dubbed “Get Smart,” was a little different this year. Rather than convene at a single destination to showcase updates to their products, services and technologies, the CGI team traveled to five different cities across Canada. The CGI team taught customers about their new strategies to help manage insurance business through their travels to: Halifax, NS; Montral, PQ; Calgary, AB; Vancouver, BC; and Toronto, ON. Welcoming Toronto patrons, CEO Serge LaPalme gave curious customers an opportunity to discover more about CGI’s insurance products, including new online distribution systems, catastrophic management tools and more.

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The Insurance Group of Cassels Brock welcomed guests to its unique festive celebration dubbed “Under the Tuscan Vines.” Guests sipped and savoured some of Tuscany’s tastiest treats, while Canada’s first Master Sommelier John Szabo provided expert advice and commentary .

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Held at the Old Mill in Toronto, the Honurable Order of the Blue Goose, Ontario Pond’s Annual Christmas Dinner was a grand success, featuring the Tartan Terrors (North America’s Premiere Celtic Comedy Event). Approximately 90 people attended this event and enjoyed an evening of fellowship, great entertainment and fine dining. Approximately $800 was raised for WICC. A special thank you is extended to Jim Cameron of Cameron & Associates for generously donating hockey tickets to auction off for charity. Cameron was also the fortunate winner of the Blue Goose’s 50/50 draw. In the spirit of the season, he donated his prize back to WICC.

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2005-2006 Blue Goose Ontario Pond Executive Team (left to right): Harry Grewal, Morris & Mackenzie (Past Most Loyal Gander); Todd Stewart, Independent Group of Medical Assessments (IGMS) (Most Loyal Gander); Max Brugger, Miller & Associates (Wielder of the Goose Quill & Keeper of the Golden Goose Egg); Jennifer Maloney, 43r Insurance Services (Supervisor of the Flock); Chris Giffin, Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering & Science (Guardian of the Pond); Jack Fitch, Hughes Amy’s LLP (Grand Custodian of the Ganders); and, Alex Walker, Chubb Insurance (Custodian of the Goslings).

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The Canadian Insurance Accoun- tants Association (CIAA) held its annual conference in Banff, AB, in September 2005. Promoting the study, research and development of financial management and insurance accounting, the new 2005-2006 directors of the CIAA includes (Front Row, left to right): CIAA president Annette Pohle, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Colleen Sexsmith, CAS accounting for Insurance Inc.; Sandra Taylor, Ontario School Boards’ Insurance Exchange; Joanne Rebner, Scotiabank; Terri Martin, Deloitte & Touche. (Back Row, left to right): Glenn Taylor, RBC Insurance; Yelena Garber, Ace INA Insurance; Mike Jack, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company; Rick Keeler, Temple Insurance Company; John Kazek, Odyssey America Reinsurance Corp.; Geoff Shields, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada; Dave Paterson, Ayr Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company Absent: Antonietta Montisano, Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Company; and, Ren St. Cyr RBC Royal Bank.

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In response to Canadian Under-writer’s December 2005 Web poll – which asked the question: “Do you think the ongoing regulatory investigations into ‘non-traditional insurance products,’ in addition to the resources required to meet disclosure and transparency obligations, will have the effect of stifling innovation within the insurance industry?’ – just over half of the 208 respondents say that the investigations into ‘non-traditional insurance products’ will not stifle the insurance industry’s innovation. The scale just slightly slipped towards the optimistic side, suggesting the insurance marketplace will not lose all creative ability: 52.88% say innovation will remain a reality of insurance while 47.12% say the industry will lose its creative thinking cap.

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On Oct. 26, 2005, approximately 100 guests from the insurance industry gathered to celebrate Horizon Leipsic Insurance’s 100-year anniversary. Horizon operates out of six locations in Winnipeg . It also does business, under the name Nunavut Insurance Brokers, in Nunavut with an office in Rankin Inlet. Members of the Horizon and Sovereign General teams are featured below (left to right): Peter Parkin (COO, The Sovereign General Insurance Company); Michael Leipsic (CEO, Horizon Insurance); Murray Goertzen (regional manager – Prairie Region, The Sovereign General Insurance Company); Karl Jaikaransingh (office manager – Winnipeg, The Sovereign General Insurance Company); and, Peter Leipsic (executive vice-president, Horizon Insurance).

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The Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association (OIAA) celebrated Christmas in style at its annual festive party on Dec. 15 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto. Grooving to an eclectic mix of tunes spun by EJ Entertainment, the jovial crowd of more than 1,200 people raised $12,600 for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Associations through ticket sales. The OIAA extends its thanks to Winmar Property Restoration Specialists and Enterprise Rent-A-Car for sponsoring the DJ, as well as Matson, Driscoll & Damico Insurance Loss Adjusters, Strone Construction and Vanler Insurance Adjusters for sponsoring the centerpieces at each table. And, not to be outdone, even more appreciation was awarded to the sponsors who provided
prizes for the ‘Benevolent Prize Table’ that was full chock full of Christmas gifts.