Topic B.C.
New president for national brokers’ association
October 18, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoTraci Boland is the new president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC). Boland is partner and manager at Ontario West Insurance Brokers and Bill Blaney Insurance Brokers. She holds more than over 20 years’ experience in the industry…
Canadian municipalities looking to become ‘spongier’ to build climate resilience
October 10, 2023 by Morgan Lowrie - THE CANADIAN PRESSMONTREAL – From green roofs in Toronto to Vancouver’s rain city strategy, Canadian cities are looking to become “sponges” in order to help mitigate some of the effects of extreme rainfall events. In Montreal, Mayor Valerie Plante announced last week…
Next up in Navacord’s merging spree
October 10, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoNavacord brokerages Allwest Insurance and Waypoint Insurance Inc. will be merging under the Waypoint banner, effective Nov. 1. The two B.C. brokerages are joining forces to combine the strengths and expertises of both companies, Navacord said in a press…
New Aviva Canada partnership targets rent deposits
October 5, 2023 by Jason ContantAviva Canada has partnered with technology company RentHaven Inc. to offer tenants a product that provides an alternative to large upfront security and last month’s rent deposits through a surety bond. Underwritten by Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, the surety…
How much B.C.’s catastrophic wildfires will cost insurers
October 4, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoB.C.’s summer wildfires clocked in as the costliest insured event ever recorded in the province, and the tenth costliest insured event in Canada’s history, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said. Wildfires in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions of B.C. will…
B.C. disaster response outdated and inaccessible for evacuees: ombudsperson
October 4, 2023 by Brieanna Charlebois - THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Emergency support programs for disaster evacuees in British Columbia are outdated, under-resourced, inaccessible and poorly communicated, according to a report by the province’s ombudsperson. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke’s report on the government’s response to wildfires and severe flooding in…
NDP introduces disaster management bill as B.C. legislature opens
October 3, 2023 by The Canadian PressVICTORIA – New disaster management legislation has been introduced in British Columbia on the first day of the fall legislative session that will see four official parties in the chamber. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said Tuesday the legislation will…
State of emergency lifted 1.5 months after McDougall Creek wildfire
September 29, 2023 by The Canadian PressWEST KELOWNA, B.C. – Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has lifted the state of local emergency in West Kelowna, B.C., more than a month after the McDougall Creek wildfire devastated the area. It says it has also rescinded all remaining evacuation…
Fire danger drops as cooler weather eases B.C.’s wildfire season
September 27, 2023 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – The British Columbia Wildfire Service says the fire danger rating across most of the province has dropped to low or very low as cool, damp fall weather arrives. The wildfire service says there have been no new fires…
Brokers: Is your client’s dog “friendly?”
September 25, 2023 by David GambrillWhen two dog owners pass each other while walking their dogs, it is common to hear one ask of the other’s dog, “Friendly?” Perhaps that’s what personal lines home insurance brokers should be asking their dog-owning clients, since lawsuits against…
Environment Canada warns B.C. coast to prepare for heavy winds, rain
September 25, 2023 by Jason ContantRain and a wind storm are expected for much of British Columbia’s coast, bringing gusts as strong as 110 kilometres per hour. Environment Canada warnings cover both northern and eastern Vancouver Island, as well as Victoria, portions of the Sunshine…
Four young B.C. firefighters heading home die in head-on crash on highway
September 21, 2023 by Brenna Owen - THE CANADIAN PRESSFour young men travelling home after helping in the battle against wildfires in central British Columbia are dead after a fiery head-on crash, police and provincial officials said Wednesday. RCMP Cpl. James Grandy said emergency crews responded around 2 a.m.…