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New, revised CAIB expected by fall

January 10, 2019 by Jason Contant

The Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) is hoping to be able to present a new, revised Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) program to the broker community by this fall. The new content will address 10 broad broker competency areas

News BrokersInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

McDougall merges with Barrie, Ontario brokerage

January 9, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

McDougall Insurance Brokers of Belleville, Ont. announced Tuesday it has merged with Barrie-based Dusome Insurance Brokers. The combined firm has 34 offices, including Kingston, Peterborough, Deep River, Pembroke, Orillia, Trenton, Cornwall and Oshawa. Dusome’s 11 employees will join McDougall as

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Hub acquires Canadian employee benefits firm

January 8, 2019 by Jason Contant

Chicago-based global brokerage Hub International announced Tuesday it has acquired British Columbia-based employee benefits and pension brokerage TRG Group Benefits and Pensions Inc., the 13th such acquisition since last year. “Hub continues its strategy of assembling best-in-class capabilities and entrepreneurial

News BrokersInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Jones Brown acquired by large international brokerage

January 8, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

Canadian brokerage Jones Brown Inc. has been acquired by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Itasca, Ill.-based Gallagher announced Tuesday. Jones Brown, which places both commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Hamilton. “The

News BrokersInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

The Co-operators acquires Quebec independent brokerage

January 4, 2019 by Jason Contant

The Co-operators announced Thursday it has purchased Quebec-based independent brokerage Assurances Madelein Inc., its 16th office in the province. The Laval, Que.-based brokerage’s portfolio includes personal and commercial insurance lines, as well as life, disability, health and mortgage insurance, and

News InsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Private equity firm to acquire 50% interest in western Canadian insurer

December 19, 2018 by Jason Contant

An Alberta-based private equity company announced Tuesday it has entered into a letter of intent to acquire a 50% interest in a western Canadian-based property and casualty insurance company for $2 million. The Western Investment Company of Canada, a publicly

News Insurance

Focusing on sales may be hindering your social media strategy

December 16, 2018 by David Gambrill

Most brokers see social media as a way to increase sales and generate leads, according to a new study by Aviva Canada, but social media are more effective for brand awareness, building an online community and retaining customers, according to

News BrokersInsuranceMGAsProfessional Development

How some brokerages and MGAs attract talent

December 13, 2018 by Jason Contant

What’s the best way of attracting qualified talent to your brokerage? Some brokerages and managing general agencies (MGAs) have cited looking outside the insurance industry or recruiting from local community colleges. McConville Omni Insurance Brokers, a personal and commercial lines

News BrokersInsuranceMergers and AqcuisitionsTechnology

Why your brokerage needs a lead management system

December 12, 2018 by Jason Contant

Brokerages going through a major transformation such as a merger should consider a lead management system, recommends the CEO of a brokerage that underwent a merger in 2015. “Really focus on a lead management system because otherwise you’ll have no

News BrokersInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Brokerage M&A deals heat up in Winter

December 5, 2018 by Jason Contant

Brokerage mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are ramping up in Canada, with two separate deals in Ontario and Saskatchewan announced Tuesday. In Ontario, Burrows Insurance Group Inc., located in Peterborough and Oshawa, Ont., joined BrokerLink. In Saskatchewan, Andrew Agencies Ltd. acquired

News BrokersInsuranceMGAsTechnology

An insurer’s take on the multi-solution era of data exchange

December 3, 2018 by David Gambrill

An old adage states that a broker must be able to communicate with clients in the way in which the clients wish to communicate – be it through online portals, telephone, email, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. Similarly, in a multi-solution era

News BrokersInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Public sector expertise factors into brokerage’s merger with Aon

November 30, 2018 by Jason Contant

A Montreal-based commercial brokerage will soon join Aon Canada’s public sector practice. Aon reported Tuesday that Lemieux, Ryan and Associates will join the practice in Montreal as of Jan. 1, 2019. Lemieux, Ryan and Associates is a licensed general insurance