Views (August 01, 2006)

Cameron & Associates Insurance Consultants Ltd. and130 guests celebrated the company’s move to 55 York St. in Toronto with an Open House on May 31, 2006. James Cameron, president of Cameron & Associates, said the move “accommodates growth and better facilitates serving our clients.”

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Assured Automotive recently held a Charity Boat Cruise to raise money for Erinoak, a treatment centre supporting children and youth with physical, developmental and communication disabilities. The charity cruise, held at the Toronto harbor, brought out more than 400 automotive and insurance industry guests. Everyone helped raise money by purchasing Mardi Gras-themed beads. Des Browne, the director of insurance relations and business development at Assured Automotive, capped off the evening by announcing that Assured Automotive had raised CD$2,000 for Erinoak. The evening was co-sponsored by Enterprise Rent-a-Car and CertifiedFirst Network of PPG Canada Inc.

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CGI’s Insurance Business Services division held their annual golf tournament at Cardinal Golf Club in Newmarket, ON, on June 3, 2006. Despite the rain-soaked day, CGI members and their guests enjoyed some great golf, dinner, prizes and some good laughs. At the tournament, a silent auction helped raise funds for Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC). As a result of the success of this year’s fundraising efforts, CGI proudly donated CD$5,200 to WICC.

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Swiss Re Group welcomed more than 70 executives, representing Canada’s largest property and casualty and life and health insurance companies, to a cocktail reception on June 14 held at Toronto’s York Club. The event, hosted by Swiss Re CEO Jacques Aigrain, was organized to coincide with the annual Swiss Re Group board of directors and executive board meetings taking place this year. Jean-Jacques Henchoz, president and CEO of Swiss Re Company Canada and Brenda Buckingham, president and CEO of Swiss Re Life & Health Canada, joined Aigrain as local hosts of the event. Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Joseph Cordiano attended the reception and praised Swiss Re for its economic contributions to both the province and Canada. During the reception, Aigrain stressed the company’s commitment to the Canadian market; he invited guests to fully leverage the combined value proposition that Swiss Re now offers following its acquisition of GE Insurance Solutions.

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Industry revelers joined industry claims veteran Doug Hurlbut to celebrate the second annual “Dougstock,” held June 8 at Toronto’s Pilot Tavern in Yorkville. The evening’s entertainment, featuring a variety of bands and artists, reached its apex when Hurlbut himself graced the stage. Proceeds of the event went to the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC). Michael Butler, chair of WICC’s Chapter & Industry Relations Committee, and national insurance and services manager for CertifiedFirst Network of PPG Canada Inc., was on hand to thank Hurlbut for the generous donation to WICC.

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On May 16, 2006, the Toronto Insurance Women’s Association (TIWA) elected its officers for its 2006/2007 term. The new officers are pictured in the photo as follows: (from left, front row) Zina Tofano, first vice president; Dalia Sabour, president; Mary Lisi, second vice president; and Pauleen Ferguson, historian (from left, back row) Cheryl Morton, immediate past-president; Lori Duclos, CAIW Director; Nancy Carnahan, recording secretary; Bonita Kearns, parliamentarian; Susan Wallis, executive officer; and, Cathy Ramsunder, executive officer.

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Numerous reinsurance and insurance executives played in the 14th Annual Erinoak Charity Golf Tournament and also sponsored the ‘Circle of Friends’ event. The industry tournament, held at Lionhead Golf & Country Club, supported Erinoak in response to the sudden passing of reinsurance executive Kerry Friel 14 years ago, according to tournament founder Bob Lee. Friel’s daughter was a client of Erinoak, a children’s treatment centre that has provided therapy and support services to young people with physical, developmental and communication challenges for more than 30 years (www.erinoak.org). PartnerRe Canada received a special award for its long-term sponsorship of the tournament. Other industry sponsors/supporters of this year’s event included: ACE INA Insurance; Global Reinsurance Company; RELCorp Ltd.; Transatlantic Reinsurance Company; Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc.; Odyssey Re Canada; and Swiss Reinsurance Company Canada.

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Employees of the Canadian operations of XL RE, XL Capital, XL Insurance and XL Design Professional recently participated in the Global Day of Giving. This initiative was part of XL’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations. XL staff worldwide – about 3,500 people in total – spent one business day working to benefit their local communities. Globally, they donated more than 20,000 hours of service in more than 20 locations worldwide. XL president and CEO Brian M. O’Hara said: “The Global Day of Giving fits with our overall CSR [Corporate Responsibility Program], in which we aim to support initiatives and programs within the communities that we operate, increase our support for employee volunteerism and raise awareness of social issues. It also reflects XL’s core values: respect, ethics, excellence, development and teamwork.” Education was the primary focus for Global Day of Giving activities. The final selection of projects was ultimately driven by employee ideas and the assessment of needs in each location. In Toronto, XL assisted the Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, an after-school program for children. Volunteers helped restore the club, provided books, designed a craft workshop and outfitted and cleaned its gymnasium. In addition, XL employees planted gardens and provided patio furniture for Humewood House and painted, cleaned and provided curtains for a drop-in center at Sprucecourt Public School in Toronto. Established in 1912, Humewood House in Toronto helps pregnant and parenting young women aged 13 to 21 build safe and stable lives for themselves and their children.

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McKellar Structured Settlements Inc. held its Annual McKellar Charity Golf Day on June 19, 2006. This annual event raised CD$12, 450 for WICC in their fight against cancer. The event was held at Rebel Creek Golf Club in Petersburg, Ontario. Eighty-three participants enjoyed morning clinics and an afternoon featuring an 18-hole round of golf.

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Swiss Reinsurance Company Canada recently held its annual June Golf Tournament and Dinner at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham, ON. Dozens of insurance and reinsurance industry guests enjoyed the day, which was organized by Swiss Re’s Rob Mittertreiner.