Why this $3-million subrogated fire claim against corporate tenant failed
December 10, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe British Columbia Court of Appeal has ruled against an insurer in finding the parent company of a restaurant intentionally set on fire is not liable. In Austeville Properties Ltd. v. Josan, a ruling in a subrogated $3-million claim released…
Thousands displaced by this apartment fire won’t go home this year
November 18, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMore than 1,000 residents displaced by a major electrical fire in 2018 will not be moving back into their apartment building this year. A fire broke out Aug. 21, 2018 in the electrical room of 650 Parliament Street, a high-rise…
What surprised forensic engineers about massive Toronto propane explosions
October 24, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAfter the deadly Sunrise Propane explosions caused a massive evacuation in north Toronto, the central focus of regulators came as a surprise to some engineers who investigate such disasters. Pumping propane from one truck to another was identified as a…
Fire damages historic Winnipeg building that’s being turned into a hotel
October 1, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSWINNIPEG – Firefighters were forced to remain outside a blaze at a historic Winnipeg highrise on Sunday due to renovations that have been underway to turn the building into a Hyatt Place hotel. The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to…
Multiple homes evacuated after Winnipeg fire destroys warehouse
July 22, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSWINNIPEG – A central Winnipeg warehouse that covers a full city block has been destroyed by an overnight fire. Emergency officials say the flames had spread through a large part of the building by the time crews arrived shortly before…
Extensive fire damage to 29-unit PEI apartment building
July 18, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSCHARLOTTETOWN – A pre-dawn fire has extensively damaged a three-storey apartment building in downtown Charlottetown displacing more than 50 people. The Canadian Red Cross says most of the tenants in the 29-unit complex on 10 Harley Street are seniors. The…
Cool weather calms B.C. wildfire, traffic disrupted
June 24, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – A small wildfire is burning just above the highway connecting Vancouver and Whistler. The fire along Highway 99, the Sea-to-Sky corridor, broke out early Sunday morning on a steep, rocky slope between Horseshoe Bay and Lions Bay. The…
Quebec’s third biggest P&C insurer working on merger
June 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachLa Capitale General Insurance and LEDOR Assurances could combine if a plan announced Wednesday is approved by regulators. The two property and casualty insurers “have embarked on an initiative to amalgamate,” Quebec City-based La Capitale Insurance and Financial Services said…
This social media risk lacks a mainstream insurance product
June 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWant to place insurance that covers a client whose revenue suddenly plummets because of a disinformation campaign? This might be easier said than done, but one commercial insurer with a Canadian branch is hoping to change this. Right now, there…
Cause of large B.C. hotel fire still under investigation
June 11, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – Councillors in Victoria are being asked to authorize demolition of what remains of the Plaza Hotel after a fire that burned for four days in the city’s downtown last month. The three-storey, 108-year-old vacant structure had been designated…
Will a hard market fuel or stall M&A?
June 11, 2019 by Adam MalikMergers and acquisitions during a hard market are likely to play out differently depending on whether you’re looking at things as a broker or a carrier. On one side, a hard market may be the fuel to keep the fire…
Is your client covered from business interruption arising from terrorism?
June 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhat if a terrorist attack interrupts your client’s business, but causes no actual injuries or damage to that client? Some insurers today are covering non-damage costs and loss of attraction. This could come into play if there is a terrorist…