Views (May 01, 2007)

The Georgian Bay Chapter of the Insurance Institute of Ontario celebrated its 30th anniversary in Barrie, Ontario with a ’70s theme night. The chapter was formed on Apr. 20, 1977, at an inaugural meeting in Barrie. Members immediately set about organizing classes throughout a very large territory; the chapter now has more than 660 members. To celebrate the chapter’s 30th anniversary, people rocked the night away listening to The DeSotos playing classics such as The Monkees‘ ‘I’m a Believer,’ while downing slices of an anniversary cake. The current chapter council executive includes chair Michael Downer and vice-chair Marlene Bell.

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The Honourable Order of the Blue Goose International, Ontario Pond held its 7th annual Scotch Nosing on Apr. 5 at the St. Andrew’s Club in Toronto. More than 150 noses attended, including an esteemed panel of judges. Throughout the evening, guests sampled some of Scotland’s finest single malts and enjoyed the expertise and humorous delivery of Ed Patrick, one of Scotland’s finest international Scotch whiskey experts and the president of the Companions of the Quaich Whisky Appreciation Society. Proceeds of the event were donated to the Sean Corner Benefit Fund. Max Brugger, wielder of the Goose Quill and keeper of the Golden Goose Egg, was on-hand to tell Sean Corner, who was in attendance, that Cdn$30,000 had been raised for his benefit fund from the event. Prior to this announcement, Brugger announced that Cdn$12,000 had been raised. At that point, Marcus Snowden of Blaney McMurtry Barristers & Solicitors stood up and announced that, on behalf of the partners in his law firm, he was making a matching donation for the Cdn$12,000 raised. Snowden’s generosity sparked a spontaneous session of live donations, quickly bringing the grand total to Cdn$30,000. The event was sponsored by: Blakeney Henneberry Murphy Barristers & Solicitors; Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering & Science; Matrix Loss Adjusters; Service-Master and Blouin Dunn LLP.

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The Risk Management Counsel of Canada (RMC), a national network of law firms that works with the insurance industry, recently held its 10th anniversary celebration in the form of a charity casino event at the Docks’ “Next Level” in Toronto. According to the RMC, a decision was made to turn its annual Toronto spring seminar into a more celebratory social evening. “As we contemplated this notion of a 10-year anniversary, we felt that it would be appropriate to give something back to the insurance industry as well as the community at large which has supported us,” RMC said in a statement. WICC (the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade) was chosen as natural partner for this event. For each person that accepted their invitation to participate, the RMC donated a certain amount to WICC. Domenic Venturo, a partner with RMC member firm Scott Hall LLP, spoke to the audience about the RMC’s 10th anniversary and decision to turn the event into a benefit for WICC. On behalf of the RMC member firms, Venturo presented Michael Butler, WICC board member with a cheque for $10,000.