B.C.’s broker regulator fined a broker $2,000 and his former brokerage $2,500 for sending out an incorrect declarations page to a client that was modelled after a dec page issued by an altogether different brokerage. Questioned about the error by the Insurance Council of B.C., the broker, Amanprit Singh Ghaug, said he did not know […]
By David Gambrill | February 12, 2024
4 min read
Hub International Ltd. has enhanced its personal, commercial and employee benefits services with the acquisition of Ontario brokerage Mitchell Sandham. Located in Oakville, Ont., Mitchell Sandham is one of the oldest and largest independently owned insurance brokerages in the Greater Toronto Area, Hub said in a press release Monday announcing the deal. The acquisition includes […]
By Jason Contant | February 12, 2024
2 min read
British Columbia-based brokerage AMC Insurance Services Ltd. is looking to expand outside its home province, the brokerage’s vice president told Canadian Underwriter recently. “We realized in our core business strategy that if we want to continue to be a provider in this space, that it was essential to be able to build upon what we […]
By Jason Contant | February 9, 2024
2 min read
Brokerages in Ontario are rapidly embracing bots to automate repetitive tasks, the provincial brokerage association told Canadian Underwriter. “Like all new technology, it takes time to drive awareness and articulate value, but the adoption curve seems to have accelerated more quickly than other technologies,” Norah Black, vice president of marketing and communications at the Insurance […]
By Jason Contant | February 1, 2024
3 min read
McDougall Insurance Brokers Ltd. announced Thursday it has merged with MHK Insurance Inc., a 110-year-old independent brokerage based in Alberta. MHK is a full-service brokerage offering home, auto, and commercial insurance products and services, specializing in more than 12 business insurance lines — including construction, hospitality, oil and gas, retail property management, technology and retail […]
By David Gambrill | February 1, 2024
2 min read
Although the industry is trying to pump the brakes on auto theft across Canada, the national crisis is bound to get worse before it gets better, industry sources predict. It means higher premiums for consumers who are already feeling the effects of inflation. “Consumers are at a tipping point, and they will soon feel […]
By Alyssa DiSabatino | January 30, 2024
2 min read
Acera Insurance Services Ltd. announced its latest deal with KRS Insurance Brokers Ltd., a specialized commercial brokerage based in Newmarket, Ont. “This partnership supports Acera Insurance’s longstanding dedication to build scale and strengthen the independent brokerage model to provide truly customized, comprehensive and competitive insurance and risk management solutions to Canadians,” the brokerage said […]
By Alyssa DiSabatino | January 29, 2024
1 min read
A new teammate once asked me how to succeed in our industry. My response was simple: Ask questions, show humility, and it’s amazing how much people will help you. This is a close-knit industry. You’d be surprised at how many people from all levels of different organizations are happy to connect, share, and provide perspectives […]
By Phil | January 23, 2024
3 min read
Smaller brokerages in the Canadian P&C insurance space can benefit from sharing best practices and platforms with other brokerages while still remaining independent, said the president of a family-owned brokerage in Nova Scotia. Earlier this month, Halifax-based Keyes Insurance became a member of the Canadian Broker Network (CBN), a national alliance of independent insurance brokerages […]
By Jason Contant | January 23, 2024
3 min read
Westland Insurance issued an internal email dated Jan. 15, announcing the layoff of about 30 employees, citing the inability to meet its 2023 financial targets, as well as salaries and expenses that exceeded plan. “Today, I’m sharing some very difficult news with you,” Westland president and CEO Jamie Lyons says in the Jan. 15 email, […]
By Alyssa DiSabatino | January 19, 2024
2 min read