Why Barrie’s 2021 tornado damage was “largely preventable”
May 4, 2022 by Jason ContantMore than 35 years after a deadly tornado in Barrie, Ont. – the site of another strong tornado last year – the industry is still looking for modernizations to the Ontario Building Code and tornado protection construction practices. “Since before…
New twist on underwriting flood risk: human-altered stream flows
March 11, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoHuman-altered stream flows, such as dams, canals or areas of heavy urbanization, are at a greater risk of flooding, new research finds. And this could potentially impact flood risk ratings, P&C industry experts say. A study by researchers at the…
What insurers aren’t passing on to their clients
March 9, 2021 by Adam MalikCanadian consumers are still foggy about the purpose and content of their home, auto and business insurance, and the onus is on the industry to help them understand, a pair of industry executives said during a recent webinar. Discussions with…
How (and when) to turn a post-earthquake fire Cat into a kitten
March 3, 2021 by David GambrillHuge insurance bills for natural disasters such as fire following earthquake could be substantially reduced by paying for improvements that amount to a fraction of the damage estimates. But timing is everything when recommending how to “build back better,” says…
Lessons learned from ‘the toughest Cat season’
March 2, 2021 by Adam MalikThe COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult at times for insurers to work through natural catastrophes, said a Wawanesa executive during a recent web conference. But they’ve learned a few lessons because of it. As Cats stormed through Alberta to the…
Webinar: Standing on guard for thee — Adjusting Canadian NatCats
September 1, 2020 by Canadian UnderwriterTo view Canadian Underwriter’s full webinar series, please fill in the following information for immediate access: Webinar Access Name* First Last Email* Zip/Postal Code* Phone*Organization* Job Title* What is the business of the organization you work for?*Choose One…Independent Insurance BrokerageInsurance…
How high cat losses could go this year
August 4, 2020 by Adam MalikAlberta has become the epicentre for cat losses this year as combined insured damage could reach, if not exceed, $2 billion in the province alone after multiple natural catastrophes have hit various regions over a four-month span. The calculations come…
Why insurers cross their fingers after microburst storms in Toronto
July 15, 2020 by Adam MalikOld infrastructure and combined sewer systems mean that severe thunderstorms like the one seen last week will continue to leave basements flooded for years to come, leaving insurers and claims professionals busy, according to an industry expert. “When you get…
Flash storm hits same areas of Toronto as in 2013 Cat event. Was the damage the same?
July 9, 2020 by Adam MalikToronto is drying out from another sudden thunderstorm, but claims professionals may have dodged an even bigger workload thanks to the storm quickly moving out. “We’ve seen worse,” Glenn McGillivray, managing director at the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR),…
The home insurance coverage your clients don’t know about
November 27, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMost home insurance clients don’t know they could be covered for identity theft, Top Broker Summit attendees heard Monday. “On the personal lines side, there have been a number of companies in Canada that have offered identity theft coverage for…
The burning question: where is Canada’s national wildfire plan?
October 1, 2019 by Adam MalikEnough talk about wildfire risk has taken place, says Zurich Canada’s risk boss. Now there needs to be real action around building a national strategy on wildfires. It’s been three years since the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alta., for which…
Were the Ottawa-Gatineau tornadoes the costliest in Canadian history?
October 17, 2018 by Jason ContantThe tornadoes that struck the Ottawa-Gatineau area on Sept. 21 cost the industry $300 million in insured damage, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said Wednesday. Of that, $200 million was for insured damage on the Ontario side, and $100…