Views (April 01, 2006)

Member firms of the national adjusting service Canadian Adjusters Network (CAN) attended the client/partner reception at Toronto’s Design Exchange on Feb. 16. CAN is made up of nine independently owned adjusting firms across Canada; through CAN, they serve their particular jurisdiction, while at the same time sharing their expertise and knowledge with other members nationally. CAN member firms include: Central Canada: Maltman Group International, Demers Zajac Vena Adjusters Inc.; Western Canada: Pitchard Woodall & Associates; Leonard French & Co. Ltd., Dahlman Adjusters, Brompton Adjusters; Atlantic Canada: Plant Hope Adjusters Ltd., Marsh Adjustment Bureau Ltd., DeLong & Associates Inc.; Northwest Territories: Arctic West Adjusters Ltd.

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PPG Canada’s CertifiedFirst program came up aces with its sponsorship of the Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School’s 2005 Scorelite Racer, which came third in its class at the 2005 Baja 1000 road race in Ensaneada, Mexico. The prepared race car was showcased to secondary school students at the Toronto-based Centennial College’s Industry Career Day tour of the College’s newly refurbished autobody lab. The college opened its autobody training and apprenticeship facility to students and shop visitors between on Feb. 28 as part of a day-long student autobody awareness and evening industry dinner program. With over 400 young people sending in applications for autobody training, the future looks bright for the college and students learning the autobody and collision repair trade. Centennial College’s Ashtonbee campus (at Warden Ave, Toronto) is the site of an almost $1 million remodeling of the autobody training and apprenticeship facility.

Christmas came late for the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC), which celebrated once again on Feb.24 when they received a cheque for $4,213.50 from Operation Red Nose. The cheque, presented by Canada’s P&C insurers, the Ontario Safety League, and Operation Red Nose, represents funds raised last Christmas by Operation Red Nose’s Halifax, NS and Newmarket, ON chapters. Operation Red Nose is a designated-driver service that offers a way for holiday party goers to get themselves and their cars home safely. The service is free but charitable donations are welcomed. “Canada’s home, car and business insurers sponsored this excellent program in 15 communities across Ontario, Alberta and the Maritimes,” Mary Lou O’Reilly, vice-president, public affairs and marketing, Insurance Bureau of Canada, said. “But it was in Halifax and Newmarket where we made the greatest impact because many industry employees also donated their time as volunteers.” O’Reilly says a majority of the donations raised by Red Nose is allocated to local charities. “We wanted to give special recognition to WICC,” O’Reilly said. “On top of serving an excellent cause, WICC is an inspiring success story from within our own industry.” WICC co-chair Carolyn Horan said 100% of the funds donated will go directly to cancer research. “WICC is now in its 10th year and has raised more than CD$2.2 million across Canada,” Horan added. “Our dream is that one day the property and casualty industry will be known for its contribution to cancer research. We are particularly excited by the synergy with Operation Red Nose and we’d like to thank IBC for choosing WICC as the charity for Operation Red Nose.”

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The Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) and ING are once again teaming up again at the 2006 ING Ottawa Marathon after raising a record $20,300 at last year’s ING Ottawa Marathon. The duo challenges brokers, employees and industry members to form teams and run or walk in an event and collect pledges for cancer research. Events include a 2K, 5K, 10K, 21.2K (half marathon) and 42.2K (full marathon). Participants can rollerblade the half and full marathons. Support can also be offered by sponsoring any colleague or team. On-line pledges can soon be made at www.wicc.ca. Updates will be posted at www.wicc.ca and www.canadianunderwriter.ca. ING has supported distance running since 2003 through the ING Globerunners Team. This year, the team will also participate in events in Amsterdam, Brussels, Edmonton, Luxembourg, Miami, New York, Taipei and Thailand.

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The Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) – recently held a National Sponsor Appreciation Breakfast and Focus Group in Toronto. The opportunity was taken to present each WICC National Sponsor with a special National Sponsor Recognition Plaque and thank them for their strong and ongoing commitment to support WICC. WICC’s seven platinum-level national sponsors include Canada Brokerlink, Crawford Adjusters Canada, McKellar Structured Settlements Inc., Royal & SunAlliance Canada, Lombard Canada, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company and CertifiedFirst Network of PPG Canada Inc. Carolyn Horan, WICC Co-Chair presented a representative from each ‘Platinum Level’ National Sponsor Company with a WICC Recognition Plaque (absent was Platinum National Sponsor: The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company).

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Joining the club at the annual 2006 CIP Ontario Pub Night, the CIP Society’s newest CIP graduates celebrated their accomplishments alongside friends and family. Dozens of 2005 graduates and supportive guests gathered Mar. 22 at Montana’s Mustang Lounge in Toronto for the annual event.