Views (December 01, 2005)

Boys, girls and ghouls alike gathered this ghastly October, with canned food offerings in claw, at the York Event Theatre to celebrate All Hallows Eve at Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s 4th annual Halloween costume party. Not only was the night a fabulous fright of great prizes, food and music, it also scared up a generous delight of edible offerings to the Toronto Food Bank.

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Wining and delectable dining on suitable cheeses was on the menu for SCOR, as they invited guests to join them for a civilized reception that celebrated the 2005 Beaujolais Nouveau Wines. Guests enjoyed the chic surroundings of Toronto’s Acqua Ristorante E Bar and industry banter as the sipped on the newly released bounty of beaujolais.

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Past, present and future insurance players alike enjoyed a truly regal Ontario Insurance Adjuster’s Association celebration honouring the OIAA’s 75th Gala and Past President’s Night. Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle Hotel set the stage for the stately scene that commemorated the association’s history and honoured its past presidents and honorary members. Festivities for the OIAA’s 75th Anniversary climaxed with a special DVD, which highlighted each chapter and focused on past and present members who have all contributed to the association’s continued success. Special thanks were bestowed upon committee members including: Spencer Bailey, Jim Cameron, Kim Cameron, Norman McGlashan, Laurie Walker and Christina Welton.

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Breaking through barriers, WICC Ontario commemorated its 8th Annual Breakfast for Cancer by acknowledging the hushed health concern of prostate cancer. The early morning initiative highlighted the story of theatre critic for the Toronto Star and prostate cancer survivor Richard Ouzounian. Ouzounian spoke eloquently about his battle against prostate cancer with the ultimate purpose of educating and encouraging individuals to stay aware and informed of the health risks cancer may pose against fathers, brothers, sons and husbands alike. Held at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre, the bountiful breakfast satisfied taste buds while the heartfelt speeches satisfied the emotional devices that evoked well-placed awareness among attendees.

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Once again Aon Re Canada reveled in the success of its annual Rendezvous, which welcomed an energetic entourage of around 200 guests representing at least 90 organizations including reinsurance and insurance company’s as well as media and rating firms. The event, held in Mississauga at the Delta Meadowvale Resort & Conference Centre, boasted a chock-full agenda of informative speakers and client and reinsurer meetings as well as a pub night featuring a “Texas Hold’em Poker” Tournament and jovial entertainment featuring the likes of Gemini Award-wining comic Russell Peters. Kicking off the three day meeting was keynote speaker Greg Case, president and ceo of Aon Corp., who made a special trip from Chicago to speak to the eager group about issues such as the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the reinsurance industry as well as Aon’s strategic move toward corporate restructuring.

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The specialty provider of technology and BPO solutions to the insurance industry MFX has been awarded an outsourcing contract to act as Statistical Reporting Agent for Arizona-based Trans City Casualty Insurance Company – a carrier that provides automotive dealerships with standard property and casualty lines. Following Trans City Casualty’s move to add Workers’ Compensation coverage to its product offering in 2004 and under the terms of agreement, MFX will take full responsibility for submitting Unit Statistical reporting to the NCCI (National Council of Compensation Insurers). “Through ProcessSure, MFX was able to develop a turnkey solution for Trans City Casualty and therefore eliminate the administrative headache and investment required to develop a back office for highly regulated NCCI reporting,” Ginny Ritchie, executive vice president of MFX, reported. “BPO, or business process outsourcing, is one of the fastest growing trends in the IT sector and is no longer simply a fix for overloaded resources. It’s an aggressive and innovative strategy being adopted by many companies who choose to concentrate on their core competencies. In developing ProcessSure at MFX, we have assembled a team of BPO experts with an average of 20 years industry experience each, and provided them with the technology to ensure timely submissions to bureau and state regulators.”

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The staff of Integro (Canada) Ltd. (see group shot, above) welcomed industry colleagues for the launch of their much awaited Toronto Office. A buzz from the more than 300 guests filled the newly established suite with enthusiastic meetings and greetings. Honouring the event were co-founder and ceo of Integro Ltd. Roger Egan as well as co-founder and president Peter Garvey, who flew in from New York to attend the celebratory launch.

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The Arcadian Court in Toronto set the stage for RIBO’s (Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario) 24th Annual General Meeting. The November meeting welcomed members in good standing who voted on matters deliberated at the meeting. Attendees discussed general business and took the opportunity to meet and talk with RIBO’s Council members, incoming members and senior management for 2005.

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Norm Angrove has been appointed to the position of national manager of the Canadian CertifiedFirst Network for PPG Canada. Angrove will assume overall responsibility of the Canadian CertifiedFirst Network of collision repair shops and represent PPG at industry events nationwide. Angrove has an extensive background in the collision repair industry, including expertise in OEM parts marketing, automotive PBE distribution, collision center marketing programs, collision repair banner networks and collision center consolidation. “Norm is recognized as one of Canada’s leading executives in the collision repair industry,” Lee Smith, director, Refinish, PPG Canada, says. “He has held senior management roles with respect to development, promotions, marketing programs, training, and education.” Angrove’s office will be located at PPG Refinish headquarters in Mississauga, ON.

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The resounding theme at CertifiedFirst Network Advisory Council’s third meeting, held in Ottawa in October 2005, was ‘Taking CertifiedFirst Network To The Next Level.” This theme focused on improving communications within the Network, building marketing systems, facilitating Network growth, monitoring program compliance and developing value added programs. In its move to build the network, CertifiedFirst also elected Mina Bajric from Fineline Collision, ON, as the new chairman and Ron Thomson from Boyd’s Autobody & Glass, BC, as vice chairman. Newly appointed national manager Norm Angrove initiated his position with the network by addressing the council for the first time at the meeting.

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With its “best foot forward” Chubb Insurance Company of Canada ran with the admiral pack of racers in the nationwide CIBC Run for the Cure 5K through its CARE Campaign. Ellen Moore, president and ceo of Chubb spearheaded the newly created CARE Committee in organizing the Company’s first ever National Chubb team for the CIBC Run for the Cure. The team included runners and walkers from each of Chubb’s four Canadian branches. The CARE Committee in each branch helped raise awareness for the event and encouraged employees to come out and bring their friends and family. By race day, Chubb participation reached four times what it had been in 2004. Next year, on Sunday, October 1, 2006, Chubb Insurance is determined to set a new personal best at CIBC’s Run for the Cure with greater involvement, more funds raised and more fun for employees.