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B.C. to get wildfire training and education centre in response to expert task force
April 5, 2024 by The Canadian PressBritish Columbia’s premier says a training and education centre for wildfire fighters will be established in response to recommendations by a task force that looked into last year’s catastrophic wildfires. David Eby says the centre at Thompson Rivers University in…
Spring storm knocks out power to tens of thousands across Quebec, Ontario
April 4, 2024 by The Canadian PressA spring storm across Quebec and Ontario on Thursday knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers, closed schools and blanketed the Montreal area with heavy, wet snow. In Quebec, more than 220,000 homes and businesses had no electricity…
Desjardins president on why the direct writer expanded into the broker channel
March 28, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoDesjardins’ acquisition of The Insurance Company of Prince Edward Island (ICPEI) will enable the direct writer to diversify its distribution model and expand its national reach, Desjardins General Insurance Group president and chief operating officer Valerie Lavoie tells Canadian Underwriter. …
Onlia acquired by PE firm focused on Canadian P&C distribution
March 26, 2024 by David GambrillSouthampton Financial Inc., a private equity firm focused on the Canadian property and casualty insurance distribution space, has agreed to acquire Onlia Insurance from Achmea and Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. Headquartered in Toronto, Onlia is a digital insurance agency that…
Driven by wildfire smoke, Canada’s air quality worse than U.S. in 2023
March 25, 2024 by Jordan Omstead – The Canadian PressCanada’s air pollution levels last year were worse than those in the United States for the first time since an air-quality firm started publishing its assessments in 2018. The sixth World Air Quality report published Tuesday by Swiss firm IQAir…
Alberta town outlines plan ahead of fire season
March 21, 2024 by John Watson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Strathmore Times – The Canadian PressThe Town of Strathmore recently finalized its hazard reduction burn plan, which aims to reduce the risk of grass and wildfires in the local region. According to the town, the plan aims to assess grassland fuels on the landscape within…
Three necessities for Canada’s national flood insurance program
March 21, 2024 by Jason ContantCanada’s upcoming national flood insurance program needs to specify exclusions, phase in risk-based premiums, and provide incentives for flood resilience measures, the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI) says in a recent blog. A low-cost flood insurance program should drive safer decisions…
How Canada’s winter weather predicts 2024 Cat claims
March 21, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoThis winter clocked in as Canada’s warmest winter ever, and adjusters are already sounding the alarm that a winter with no or little snow could mean more wildfire claims over the rest of the year. Snowpack in winter is one…
Active spring wildfire season may be in store for B.C. as drought persists
March 19, 2024 by Ashley Joannou – The Canadian PressBritish Columbia needs a drenching of rain to alleviate the tinder dry conditions that have forecasters worried about the potential for another difficult wildfire season. Cliff Chapman, director of operations for the BC Wildfire Service, said parts of the province…
What commercial and personal lines brokers make in 2024
March 18, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoAcross the country, commercial lines P&C broker executives and commercial lines team leads make more money on average than their personal lines counterparts, Impact Recruitment’s newest data shows. The second iteration of Impact’s annual Insurance Salary Guide shows base pay…
B.C. bridge vulnerable during heavy rain events, mayor says
March 18, 2024 by Roisin Cullen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Pique Newsmagazine – The Canadian PressPemberton’s recent heavy flooding highlights the challenges the area faces, according to Mayor Mike Richman. The Village of Pemberton (VOP) declared a state of local emergency on Jan. 30 due to flooding, and many locals were displaced from their homes…
How winter storms tally this year compared to last
March 15, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoMaritimers were digging out for days after historic levels of snowfall dropped atop Nova Scotia and P.E.I. in early February. The multi-day storm produced nearly 5 feet of snow in Cape Breton, N.S. Then about two weeks later, Nova Scotians…