What’s New: In Brief (December 02, 2009)

More than 1,800 ideas designed to improve Canadian communities were submitted to Aviva Canada Inc.’s ‘Aviva Community Fund’ competition.
The Top 62 now move into the semi-final round.
In the semi-final round, the ideas will continue to vie for votes until Dec. 16, 2009, when the 25 most popular entries will become finalists and move onto the judging phase of the competition.
The judges will announce the winners on Jan. 25, 2010, and allot Cdn$500,000 between the groups to help bring the ideas to fruition.
Of the semi-finalists:
•    four are national;
•    six are from British Columbia;
•    two are from Alberta;
•    four are from Saskatchewan;
•    two are from Manitoba;
•    one is from New Brunswick;
•    15 are from Quebec;
•    one is from New Brunswick;
•    one is from Nova Scotia; and
•    26 are from Ontario.
Interested parties can visit www.avivacommunityfund.org to vote.

Alberta’s Superintendent of Insurance levied a Cdn$10,000 fine against Peace Hills General Insurance Company on Nov. 16, 2009.
The regulator says the fine resulted from Peace Hills allegedly charging private passenger automobile insurance premiums in excess of approved rates.