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…
What’s the likelihood of an EF5 tornado in Canada?
October 10, 2018 by Jason ContantFollowing the EF3 tornado that struck Dunrobin, Ont. on Sept. 21, should insurers worry about the potential for a powerful EF5 strike on a major population centre in Canada? Probably not. But they should be concerned about tornadic storms in…
The Co-operators acquires personal and commercial lines brokerage in Quebec
October 3, 2018 by Jason ContantThe Co-operators has acquired Robert Poirier & Associés, Courtier d’assurance inc. (Assurance Robert Poirier), a personal and commercial lines brokerage in Gatineau, Que. Guelph, Ont.-based The Co-operators has seen steady growth in Quebec over the past several years, and acquiring…
Watch out for scammers, IBC warns Ottawa-Gatineau tornado victims
October 2, 2018 by Jason ContantIn the wake of the tornadoes that struck the Ottawa-Gatineau region Sept. 21, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has raised another concern: contractors misrepresenting themselves or offering extensive fees for services. One restoration firm representative noted large-scale disasters can…
Will Ottawa-Gatineau insured losses set a record for tornado damage?
September 28, 2018 by Jason ContantOfficial catastrophe estimates will not be ready for awhile following the tornadoes that struck the Ottawa and Gatineau areas Sept. 21, but it will definitely be a cat event, industry observers say. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) defines a…
Tornado damage: View from the ground
September 25, 2018 by Jason ContantClaims adjusters are reporting a wide range of claims from the two tornadoes that tore through the Ottawa-Gatineau area Friday. “The tornado event is considered to be more like a ‘pocket storm,’” Kumar Sivakumaran, vice president of national operations with…
What made the Dunrobin tornado so unique
September 24, 2018 by Jason ContantOne tornado that struck the Dunrobin, Ont. area Friday was only the second EF3 twister to touch down in the province in September or later – and the first during this time period in 120 years, said Glenn McGillivray, managing…
Two confirmed tornadoes blast Ottawa-Gatineau area
September 22, 2018 by David GambrillTwo confirmed tornadoes ripped through the Ottawa-Gatineau area late Friday afternoon, critically injuring five and causing extensive damage to homes, cars and commercial buildings. Environment Canada confirmed Sunday that an EF-3 category twister hit Dunrobin, Ont., a suburb northwest of…
Summer storms in this Canadian region cost over $200 million in insured damage
September 6, 2018 by Jason ContantSummer storms across the Prairies have caused more than $200 million in insured damage so far this year. This brings total weather-related insured damage on the Prairies to $464 million since May 2017. The numbers from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification…
15,000 still without power following heavy rain storm
August 30, 2018 The Canadian PressMONTREAL – About 15,000 Hydro Quebec customers were still without electricity this morning after heavy rain and strong winds caused damage to power lines Wednesday. The utility says its crews worked through the night to restore power to 90 per…
How much this province’s “historic” flooding will cost the industry
August 14, 2018 by Jason ContantSpring flooding in New Brunswick may have been “historic” and “record-setting,” but it didn’t meet the $25-million threshold of a catastrophe event. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification (CatIQ) told Canadian Underwriter Monday the flooding was a “notable event,” meaning it caused…
Frustration after emergency alerts not received before deadly Manitoba tornado
August 7, 2018 The Canadian PressALONSA, Man. – Residents are frustrated they didn’t receive emergency alerts on their cell phones before a strong tornado tore through a small Manitoba community on Friday. The EF4 tornado moved through the Rural Municipality of Alonsa on Friday night…