A word from Key Media
Paul Lucas Global Managing Editor Insurance Business
Award Categories
What to expect on the night
2022 Sponsors
The Cansure Award for Insurance Broker of the Year
This glamorous event has been recognized as a leading independent awards program in the industry, honouring the outstanding brokers, brokerages, insurers, underwriters, MGAs, and risk managers for their achievements, leadership, and innovation. In what was the first in-person celebration since the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone was happy to greet old friends, make new ones, and celebrate the successes of peers in the industry.
Event Partner
Award Sponsors
Official Media
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Methodology
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Commemorative Guide
Nominations The call for nominations is open to all insurance professionals and organizations - brokers, brokerages, insurers, underwriters, MGAs, risk managers, and service providers - from across Canada. Nominations were open from May 16 to July 15, 2022 11:59 pm ET.
Excellence Awardees All excellence awardees are then invited to complete a detailed submission, which is an opportunity to address the category criteria in more detail. All submissions will remain confidential unless otherwise marked and will not be shared with any third parties other than the judges. Excellence awardees were officially announced last September 2022 on the website and promoted in Insurance Business Canada magazine and online channels.
Judging All submissions from our excellence awardees are forwarded to the independent judging panel comprising industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel will assess and vote for their winners in each category according to the relevant category criteria.
Winners Using a simple points system to aggregate judges' votes, the finalist with the top score in a category will be named the winner. Winners were announced at the awards event on November 17, 2022 at the Liberty Grand, Toronto and on the awards website.
Find out more
The FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Insurance Industry
The PAL Insurance Brokers Award for Young Achiever of the Year
The Steamatic Canada Award for Woman of Distinction
Business Development Manager of the Year
CEO of the Year
Leader of Change
Underwriter of the Year
The Advocis Award for Life & Health Insurer of the Year
The Armour Insurance Award for MGA of the Year
The Burns & Wilcox Award for Big Brokerage of the Year (100 Staff or More)
The CNA Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility
Seven years of raising the bar: Celebrating excellence in the insurance industry
Hundreds of insurance professionals from across Canada gathered in Toronto’s Liberty Grand on November 17 to celebrate the best and brightest stars in the industry at the Insurance Business Canada Awards 2022 (IBCA).
As global editor of Insurance Business, I would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to the attendees of the Insurance Business Canada Awards. Here at Key Media, we’re proud that the Insurance Business Canada Awards is established as the premier independent awards event for the nation’s insurance industry – and this year we’re thrilled to be bringing you this event in person once more. In recent years, we’ve taken our awards ceremony virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the various lockdown restrictions that accompanied it. I’d like to thank everyone who tuned in remotely to watch those ceremonies and the brilliant line-ups of panelists who brought an educational element to those events – but we must admit, there’s nothing quite like being in person. It is by coming together that we can share stories and experiences. It is by being united that we can discuss the challenges facing the industry and find solutions to overcome them. And it is by celebrating in-person that we can see the joy that each award win brings to such a hugely deserving line-up of the very best this industry has to offer. The last few years have been difficult for all of us. Many of you will have felt stresses at home and in your personal lives, and yet somehow picked yourself up to carry the weight of your clients’ needs on your shoulders. Your effort, your hard work, your inspiration in going above and beyond has not gone unnoticed. Now, we gather to celebrate YOU. We wholeheartedly thank you for joining us and hope that you enjoy the Insurance Business Canada Awards 2022.
The Westland Insurance Group Award for P&C Insurer of the Year
The XN Worldwide Insurance Award for Brokerage of the Year (10-100 Staff)
Best Service Provider – Claims
Best Service Provider – InsurTech
Digital Innovator of the Year
Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Excellence in Claims Service
“Without brokers, we wouldn’t exist” The highly-coveted Insurance Broker of the Year award went to Tiffany Reider of Westland Insurance, who reflected on a “whirlwind” year in which with her family brokerage Reider Insurance was acquired by the national brokerage Westland. The award was sponsored by Cansure, a Vancouver-based MGA, whose president Cameron Copeland praised the work that brokers do “on the frontline of insurance” to “decode” and distribute insurance across Canada. Burns & Wilcox sponsored the Big Brokerage of the Year (100 Staff or More) award, which went to Billyard Insurance Group, also known as BIG. Tyson Peel, VP and director of commercial insurance at Burns & Wilcox Canada, said it was important to the MGA “to celebrate our clients, which are brokers”. He added: “Getting the business from them, and being able to help them provide service, policies, and different solutions for their clients is what we do.” Stephen Billyard, president of BIG, reflected: “We’ve obviously seen exponential growth over the last number of years but the thing that does it for us is we have, I believe, some of the best people in the business. We’re having fun, we’re a family, and everybody’s in this together.” Munn Insurance was named Brokerage of the Year (10 to 100 staff), an award sponsored by XN Worldwide Insurance, whose CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Cesar Moufarrege, said: “We are a Lloyd's coverholder and MGA, so we work with brokers as distributors. They are key for us. The work we're doing, we can't do it without them. We wouldn't exist.” “The future’s looking very bright” CEO of the Year was awarded to Gore Mutual’s Andy Taylor, who has steered the mutual through its three-year “unprecedented” transformation plan. He told Insurance Business: “It’s really a reflection of the incredible leadership team that I have, the supportive board that we have behind us, and, most importantly, the amazing employees that come to work every day at Gore Mutual.” Always one of the highlights at the Insurance Business Canada Awards is the Woman of Distinction Award, this year sponsored by Steamatic Canada. Nancy Raymond, president of Steamatic Canada, shared why the company was so excited to align with the award: “We're the only Canadian property restoration network owned by a woman – a Canadian woman. I think it's our duty and our responsibility to promote female leadership in our industry.” The winner this year was Celyeste Power, the EVP of strategic initiatives and advocacy at the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), who will take over from Don Forgeon (winner of the FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Insurance Industry) as the IBC’s president and CEO, effective January 1, 2023. “I’m thrilled about the opportunity to continue to represent this industry in this new role [at the IBC],” Power said. “The future’s looking very, very bright by the looks of this room tonight.” Vinita Jajware-Beatty, president of the Toronto Insurance Women’s Association, was a judge for the Women of Distinction award. She said: “I've been very privileged to judge that category repeatedly over the years … the calibre of talent that is consistently nominated, and the scope and the breadth of involvement and evolution in that category is wonderful to see.” Another popular award is Young Achiever of the Year, which was sponsored by PAL Insurance Brokers and went to Reygel Robles of JEM Insurance Group. Insurance is “your bread and butter”, said Robles, and to succeed you must learn “not only the products but also the passion for the business”. PAL, a family-owned MGA known for its event liability policies, has sponsored the Young Achiever of the Year award multiple times. Matt Taylor, PAL Insurance general manager, said: “This Young Achiever of the Year award is big, and we love supporting it. We’re proud to support up-and-coming brokers who are leading the way for the future of the industry.” Sukhdeep Kang, Armour Insurance Brokers CEO, was named Leader of Change for her efforts on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Winning the award “gives me more responsibility to bring change, not only in my office but across the industry, and to bring more diversity,” she said. Underwriter of the Year went to Amy Stiller, Northbridge underwriting specialist, who said her “empathy and a willingness to help” made her stand out in a very competitive category. Meanwhile, Asima Zahid, Lloyd’s director of market development and winner of the Business Development Manager of the Year award, said: “Regardless of how a broker fits in with the Lloyd’s proposition, I always try to help them, even going outside of what is required.” Companies “pushing the envelope” Westland Insurance Group sponsored the P&C Insurer of the Year award – a highly contested category every year – which went to Aviva Canada, an insurer that is “constantly pushing the envelope” on sustainability, according to Court Elliott, Aviva SVP corporate affairs. Jamie Lyons, president & chief operating officer at Westland Insurance Group, said he was “thrilled to celebrate Aviva [Canada] as the winner” for 2022. “For us, as a broker, the way insurers are adapting to the marketplace, the way they're working with brokers to add value to what clients are doing, but also for us as brokers and communities, I think it's a really special time in the industry.” The MGA of the Year award went to Burns & Wilcox Canada and was sponsored by Armour Insurance. Rupinder Hayer, president of Armour Insurance, said MGAs are playing a vital role in the hard commercial marketplace in Canada. “The business is tailor-made by the MGAs; they’re the backbone of the industry now … these MGAs are actually supporting the brokers.” A focus on being socially responsible and bringing great service to clients in what can be a challenging environment was also highlighted as winning material. Inclusive cultures, and talent more broadly, were also of importance for winners when weighing up their victory. Enabling people to bring their “authentic” selves to work and putting time into “building an inclusive culture” was key for CNA – winner of the Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion awards – said Terri Mason-Benjamin, CNA VP, marketing and distribution, Canada. Brian Schryer, CEO of family-owned New Brunswick based Kent & White Insurance, winner of the Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility category, said: “I hope this demonstrates that it doesn’t really matter how small or big you are, you can make a difference in your community and around the world.” Greg Pollock, president and CEO of Advocis, shared an important message delivering the Life & Health Insurer of the Year award to Desjardins. He said: “It's the life and health insurance companies in the country that are providing the products that are actually serving the financial health and wellbeing of Canadians. They have a huge responsibility, and getting it right is not easy. We believe this is a very important award for the overall industry, and for the broader Canadian public.”
Research The Insurance Business Canada Awards team will conduct research and draw on knowledge and information gained through Insurance Business Canada to support and supplement nominations received and to ensure that no one deserving of recognition is missed. Excellence awardees will be determined from both pools of information.
Excellence Awardees
METHODOLOGY
JUDGING PANEL
AWARD CATEGORIES
SPONSORS
AGENDA
Brendan Wycks, BA, MBA, CAE
Grant Wainikka
Catherine Smola
Nicole Sinclair
Greg Pollock
Annette Palalas
Steve Masnyk
Keith Martin
Vinita Jajware-Beatty
Nicole Hackney, CIP
Teresa Drijber, FCIP
Carla Blackmore
Thank you to our esteemed judges for lending their time and expertise to help recognize and celebrate excellence in the insurance industry.
2022 Judging Panel
Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada is the largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors in Canada, representing more than 17,000 member-clients and 40 Chapters across the country. Advocis provides a platform of knowledge, advocacy, community and protection, advancing the value and professionalism of financial advisors and planners in the best interest of the consumer. We offer professional designations, continuing education, industry-leading publications and membership in a chapter network with mentorship programs, study groups and practice development resources. For more information, visit www.advocis.ca
Award Sponsor
Armour Insurance Brokers Ltd. is a leading Canadian brokerage, recognized for its expertise in complex risks. Founded in 2010 by Sukhdeep Kang, Armour is headquartered in Mississauga, ON with operations in multiple provinces in Canada. Armour offers all kinds of transportation, commercial, and personal insurance. Armour’s mission is to be the client’s advocate while protecting their assets with a high degree of professionalism, empathy, and respect. Armour is recognized in the industry and among clients for its strong experience, responsive client service, excellent product knowledge, proactive risk management and loss control, and its unique claims advocacy processes. Armour’s strength rests in its diversified, knowledgeable, and courteous staff. Armour is dedicated to its customers and insurance partners and is always looking to strive excellence in professionalism. For more information visit: www.armour-insurance.com.
For over 50 years, Burns & Wilcox has been uniquely focused on the success of the agents and brokers with whom we work. No matter the type of coverage, from the more routine to the large, complex and hard-to place, our 2000+ professionals possess a relentless commitment to applying their expertise to their clients’ needs day in and day out. This results in the right answer, right now for both long-term partners and new relationships. For more information, visit burnsandwilcox.ca.
Red Carpet Sponsor
Cansure is a leading Canadian insurance supplier servicing brokers across the country. As an open market, Cansure is accessible by all licensed brokers in Canada and seek to be a first-choice supplier offering breadth of products to protect both standard and non-standard risks across personal and commercial lines. Known for their creative underwriting solutions and expertise, Cansure continues to sustain strong financial security supported by both global and domestic partnerships. For more information, visit www.cansure.com.
Champagne Sponsor
CNA is one of the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. Backed by more than 120 years of experience, CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialized insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe. For more information about CNA Canada, visit our website at www.cnacanada.ca.
FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada (FIRST Canada) provides the Canadian Insurance Market with comprehensive payment solutions. Brokers, MGAs, and carriers can partner with FIRST Canada and expand their offering to provide more value, choice, and convenience for all their clients. The combined strength of FIRST Canada’s dedicated team, evolved offering, and innovative platform positions its partners to meet the demanding future of the Canadian Insurance landscape. Armed with market-leading solutions for success, FIRST Canada is part of Wintrust (Nasdaq: WTFC) family of companies with more than $50 billion in assets and a part of the largest premium finance companies in North America. Follow FIRST Canada on LinkedIn and Twitter. For more about the company, visit www.firstinsurancefunding.ca.
Brendan Wycks, BA, MBA, CAE Co-Executive Director, Canadian Association of Financial Institutions in Insurance
Grant Wainikka CEO, Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba (IBAM)
Catherine Smola President and CEO, Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO)
Nicole Sinclair Director, Industry Development, Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan
Greg Pollock President and CEO Advocis
Annette Palalas Professor of Insurance, Humber College
Steve Masnyk Managing Director, Canadian Association of Managing General Agents
Keith Martin Co-Executive Director, Canadian Association of Financial Institutions in Insurance
Vinita Jajware-Beatty President, Toronto Insurance Women’s Association (TIWA)
Nicole Hackney, CIP Training and Research Officer, Ontario Mutual Insurance Association
Associate Sponsor
Carla Blackmore Vice President Insurance Consulting Group
Teresa Drijber, FCIP Retired Arbitration Director, CICMA Ontario Chapter Special Projects Director, CICMA National Chapter
A word from our event partner
The Travelers Canada Award for Brokerage of the Year (Fewer than 10 Staff)
In Support of
Social Media Sponsor
PAL Insurance Brokers Canada has been Canada’s leading Specialty MGA for over 25 years. PAL was founded by Bob Morrison in Calgary in 1989 and expanded to include an office in Simcoe, Ontario. PAL is a family business and includes Bob’s wife, two daughters, grandson and granddaughter. PAL’s online platform is very popular with brokers as it allows quick and easy access to many of PAL’s programs. Responsiveness to brokers is one of PAL’s top priorities, whether in providing top-notch customer service to its brokers or in the creation of several programs in direct response to broker demand. PAL can provide Canada-wide coverage for Special Events, Fairs, Festivals, Exhibitions, Weddings, Contents in Storage, Exhibitor / Vendor Booth & Kiosk liability, Caterers, Servers, Performers, Event Planners, Event Cancellation, Prize Indemnity – Hole in One, and Miscellaneous Property, as well as PAL’s newest program, Collectables Insurance. PAL’s younger generation continues to lead PAL into the twenty-first century by responding to shifting customer needs and technological advances. For more infomation visit: www.palcanada.com
Steamatic is a world-renowned company specializing in restoration, disaster recovery and specialty cleaning. The Canadian division, founded more than 50 years ago, benefits from one of the largest franchise networks in the world. The Steamatic trademark (operating under BMS Technologies outside the United States and Canada) has been innovating year after year with representatives in the United States, South America, Europe and Australia. Steamatic Canada is now headed by Nancy Raymond, an elite entrepreneur recognized throughout the province of Quebec for having led her disaster banner for 10 years. Accompanied by her experienced insurance and disaster management team, its goal is to develop the network to become one of the biggest players in the industry at the Canadian level. For more information, visit steamatic.ca
Travelers Canada is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance for home, auto and business across Canada. The Canadian arm of The Travelers Companies, Inc., we are part of an industry-leading organization backed by 160 years of experience and $103 billion of assets. Our expertise and focus on innovation have made us a leader in personal, business and specialty insurance and the only property and casualty company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Every day, our 30,000 employees and 13,500 brokers and agents in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil help deliver peace of mind to our customers. For more information about Travelers Canada, visit our website at www.TravelersCanada.ca or follow us on Twitter at @TravelersCanada.
Westland Insurance Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent property and casualty insurance brokers in Canada. With a national presence of over 190 locations and nearly 2,100 employees, the company continues to expand coast to coast. Westland's brokers provide expert advice to home, business, farm, life and auto insurance clients. Since its founding in 1980, Westland has remained a family-owned company that is committed to supporting its local communities. For more information, visit www.westlandinsurance.ca
Part of the Henner Group as a global leader in the insurance industry; XN has become one of the top MGA’s (Managing General Agent) specializing in niche P&C and A&H international and domestic insurance programs such as international expatriate benefits and property liability insurance solutions. XN is backed by our A-rated carriers known worldwide, including the Lloyd’s of London. For more information, visit www.xn.com
Royal Claims Services Ltd. is a Lloyd's Third Party Administrator dedicated to serving the niche and specialty market. The organization was established to enhance its sister company, Special Risk Insurance Managers, fulfilling a need for a dedicated claims service for its clients. Both organizations maintain a strong focus on service and quality. Since it’s inception as a one person organization, Royal Claims has grown to include over 100 years of claims experience in almost all lines of the industry. The experience shared by the group allows Royal Claims to handle some of the most challenging and diverse losses in the industry. Service and quality are what Royal Claims was built on and continue to be the cornerstones of the company as it grows. For more information, visit royalclaims.ca
With over 65 years of experience, ServiceMaster Restore is your trusted source for full-service restoration in Canada. Our experts are ready to respond to your needs big or small, day or night. We mitigate damages quickly to reduce loss severity for residential and commercial properties following fire, water, vandalism, natural disasters and more. For more information, visit servicemasterrestore.ca
The Nature Force is an action-oriented climate resilience initiative funded by a collective of Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance companies in partnership with leading national non-profit conservation solutions provider Ducks Unlimited Canada. For more information, visit thenatureforce.com.
FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada (FIRST Canada) provides the Canadian Insurance Market with comprehensive payment solutions. Brokers, MGAs, and carriers can partner with FIRST Canada and expand their offering to provide more value, choice, and convenience for all their clients. The combined strength of FIRST Canada’s dedicated team, evolved offering, and innovative platform positions its partners to meet the demanding future of the Canadian Insurance landscape. Armed with market-leading solutions for success, FIRST Canada is part of Wintrust (Nasdaq: WTFC) family of companies with more than $50 billion in assets and a part of the largest premium finance companies in North America. Follow FIRST Canada on LinkedIn and Twitter. For more about the company, visit www.firstinsurancefunding.ca
CNA is one of the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. Backed by more than 120 years of experience, CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialized insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe. For more information about CNA Canada, visit our website at www.cnacanada.ca
Cansure is a leading Canadian insurance supplier servicing brokers across the country. As an open market, Cansure is accessible by all licensed brokers in Canada and seek to be a first-choice supplier offering breadth of products to protect both standard and non-standard risks across personal and commercial lines. Known for their creative underwriting solutions and expertise, Cansure continues to sustain strong financial security supported by both global and domestic partnerships. For more information, visit www.cansure.com
For over 50 years, Burns & Wilcox has been uniquely focused on the success of the agents and brokers with whom we work. No matter the type of coverage, from the more routine to the large, complex and hard-to place, our 2000+ professionals possess a relentless commitment to applying their expertise to their clients’ needs day in and day out. This results in the right answer, right now for both long-term partners and new relationships. For more information, visit burnsandwilcox.ca
Armour Insurance Brokers Ltd. is a leading Canadian brokerage, recognized for its expertise in complex risks. Founded in 2010 by Sukhdeep Kang, Armour is headquartered in Mississauga, ON with operations in multiple provinces in Canada. Armour offers all kinds of transportation, commercial, and personal insurance. Armour’s mission is to be the client’s advocate while protecting their assets with a high degree of professionalism, empathy, and respect. Armour is recognized in the industry and among clients for its strong experience, responsive client service, excellent product knowledge, proactive risk management and loss control, and its unique claims advocacy processes. Armour’s strength rests in its diversified, knowledgeable, and courteous staff. Armour is dedicated to its customers and insurance partners and is always looking to strive excellence in professionalism. For more information visit: www.armour-insurance.com
Joshua Krenus, Alteri
BACK
Thierry Koupaki, Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc.
Rupinder Hayer, Armour Insurance Brokers Ltd
Shahzad Ali, Billyard Insurance Group
Karim Chandani, HUB International
Sheri Clay, J.T. Insurance Services (Canada), Inc.
Morgan Roberts, RH Insurance Inc
Terence Cairns, Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services (Alberta) Inc.
This award of is one of the highest accolades given to an individual in the insurance industry. This award recognizes the most outstanding insurance broker in Canada who has best excelled in pushing the envelope with exemplary service, commitment to clients, innovation and growth.
Rose Freeman, Willow Insurance Corp.
View profile
Westland Insurance
Tiffany Reider
WINNER
3Tree
Calefy Inc.
Equisoft
FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada
FRISS
This is the highest honour at the Insurance Business Canada Awards. This award recognizes and celebrates a leading figure who has contributed much to the advancement of the insurance industry in Canada.
Goose Digital
Policy Ninja
Primaco
Trufla Technology
Vertafore Canada
President & Chief Executive Officer Insurance Bureau of Canada
Don Forgeron
Don Forgero
PAL Insurance Brokers Canada has been Canada’s leading Specialty MGA for over 25 years. PAL was founded by Bob Morrison in Calgary in 1989 and expanded to include an office in Simcoe, Ontario. PAL is a family business and includes Bob’s wife, two daughters, grandson and granddaughter. PAL’s online platform is very popular with brokers as it allows quick and easy access to many of PAL’s programs. Responsiveness to brokers is one of PAL’s top priorities, whether in providing top-notch customer service to its brokers or in the creation of several programs in direct response to broker demand. PAL can provide Canada-wide coverage for Special Events, Fairs, Festivals, Exhibitions, Weddings, Contents in Storage, Exhibitor / Vendor Booth & Kiosk liability, Caterers, Servers, Performers, Event Planners, Event Cancellation, Prize Indemnity – Hole in One, and Miscellaneous Property, as well as PAL’s newest program, Collectables Insurance. PAL’s younger generation continues to lead PAL into the twenty-first century by responding to shifting customer needs and technological advances. For more infomation visit: www.palcanada.com.
Kanwar Bola, A-Kan Insurance Ltd
Celina De Bruge, APOLLO Insurance
Anita Peterson, Axis Insurance Managers Inc.
Monica Alves, Billyard Insurance Group
Somit Seth, Billyard Insurance Group
Tariq Ba'Aqeel, Experior Financial Group
Aneeza Ahmad, KASE Insurance
Raj Chug, Surex
Ian White, Surex
This award of excellence recognizes the outstanding young insurance broker in the insurance industry who has shown the highest potential for greater leadership and has exceled at pushing the envelope with innovation and growth, garnering industry’s attention and the respect of peers.
Reygel Robles
JEM Insurance Group Inc.
Steamatic is a world-renowned company specializing in restoration, disaster recovery and specialty cleaning. The Canadian division, founded more than 50 years ago, benefits from one of the largest franchise networks in the world. The Steamatic trademark (operating under BMS Technologies outside the United States and Canada) has been innovating year after year with representatives in the United States, South America, Europe and Australia. Steamatic Canada is now headed by Nancy Raymond, an elite entrepreneur recognized throughout the province of Quebec for having led her disaster banner for 10 years. Accompanied by her experienced insurance and disaster management team, its goal is to develop the network to become one of the biggest players in the industry at the Canadian level. For more information, visit steamatic.ca.
Angela McKerlich, CapriCMW Insurance Services Ltd.
Cindy David, Cindy David Financial Group Ltd.
Heather Matthews, Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.
Melissa Bajwa, PROLINK Insurance Inc.
Diana Ho, RAISE Underwriting
Tanya Coburn, Trufla Technology
Seema Sharma, Wealth & Estate Financial Canada Inc
Edwina McKennon, Western Financial Group
Jill Lankin, Zurich Canada
This award of excellence goes to the outstanding female trailblazer in the insurance industry whose astounding personal and professional achievements have earned them a place among the industry’s best.
Insurance Bureau of Canada
Celyeste Power
Janu Debalathas, APOLLO Insurance
Maria Mohnachev, Aviva Canada
May Ng, Chubb
April Ravarra, Gore Mutual Insurance Company
Dan Bleiwas, My Insurance Broker
Paul Tegelaar, Northbridge Insurance
Diana Vardy, Travelers Canada
This award recognizes the individual BDM within the insurance space who is pushing the envelope in business development, client service and education, and has demonstrated commitment to brokers and developing knowledge of markets.
Lloyd's Canada Inc.
Asima Zahid
Jeff McCann, APOLLO Insurance
Daphné de Vitton, APRIL Canada
Sukhdeep Kang, Armour Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Jason Storah, Aviva Canada
Dave Partington, Gallagher
Tracy Archer, Knight Archer Insurance
David Crozier, Markel Canada
This award goes to the CEO that has demonstrated exceptional leadership over the last 12 months, bringing their organization to a new level of growth and success and stimulating the insurance industry.
Rick Jaitley, My Insurance Broker
Gregory Markell, Ridge Canada Cyber Solutions
Saad Mered, Zurich Canada
Gore Mutual Insurance Company
Andy Taylor
Troy Moreira, Forward Insurance Managers
Chloe Lyons, APOLLO Insurance
Erin Gattoni, CNA Canada
Ann Hildreth, HSB Canada
Heather Chatham, INTECH Risk Management Inc.
Moira Gill, TD Insurance
Ray Chaaya, Zurich Canada
This award recognises an HR leader who has demonstrated excellence at the executive level over the past 12 months. Eligible finalists were senior-level leaders who report to the CEO and manage an HR team. Finalists were judged on their leadership, communication, strategy, drive and results.
This award celebrates individuals working to build a more diverse and equitable industry through action and driving positive change in Canada’s insurance industry. Open to all insurance professionals in any facet of the industry, nominees will be judged on their industry contributions and their work in driving programs and initiatives to further expand diversity and inclusion in the industry over the past 12 – 18 months.
Armour Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Sukhdeep Kang
Jacqueline Tremblay, Agile Underwriting Solutions Inc.
Catherine Wu, Cansure
Brock McKechnie, CNA Canada
Kevin Lai, Gore Mutual Insurance Company
Mashood Ali, PMU Specialty Managers Ltd.
Tina McKenzie, Totten Group Insurance
Cindy Evans, Travelers Canada
Madison Longmire, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company
Celia Lowe, Zurich Canada
Maureen Sherk, Burns & Wilcox Canada
This award recognizes the underwriter whose expertise and outstanding service to brokers helps ensure proper coverage is placed efficiently and effectively.
Northbridge Insurance
Amy Stiller
Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada is the largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors in Canada, representing more than 17,000 member-clients and 40 Chapters across the country. Advocis provides a platform of knowledge, advocacy, community and protection, advancing the value and professionalism of financial advisors and planners in the best interest of the consumer. We offer professional designations, continuing education, industry-leading publications and membership in a chapter network with mentorship programs, study groups and practice development resources. For more information, visit www.advocis.ca.
Canada Life
Empire Life
Equitable Life
Manulife
Medavie Blue Cross
Sun Life
TD Life and Health Insurance
This award of excellence is presented to the outstanding life and health insurance company in Canada providing top-tier life and health insurance products to consumers and businesses with an exemplary level of client service.
Experiential Education Program (Service, Environmental, Outdoor)
Desjardins
ABEX Affiliated Brokers Exchange Inc.
Agile Underwriting Solutions Inc.
APOLLO Insurance
APRIL Canada
Cansure
CHES Special Risk
PAL Insurance Brokers Canada
This award of excellence is presented to the MGA that offers superb service to brokers and is consistently proactive in educating brokers on products, while maintaining in-depth knowledge of financial markets and the competitive landscape of all product offerings.
RAISE Underwriting
Special Risk Insurance Managers
Totten Insurance Group
Victor Insurance Managers Inc. (Victor Canada)
Burns & Wilcox Canada
Axis Insurance Managers Inc.
BrokerLink
Cowan Insurance Group
HUB International Limited
Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers Ltd.
My Insurance Broker
Surex
Western Financial Group
This award recognises the best brokerage operation with more than 100 staff (or full-time equivalents) in Canada. The number of staff includes all brokers writing business (license holders or authorised representatives) and support staff.
Billyard Insurance Group
Ecclesiastical
Red River Mutual
The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group
This award recognizes the organization whose outstanding contribution of time, leadership and financial support over a sustained period of time, beyond normal expectations, has made significant impacts in the receiving causes or communities.
Kent & White Insurance
Blue Harbour Financial
RH Insurance Inc
Richard McKenzie Insurance
Summit Commercial Solutions
Wells Insurance Services
This award recognizes the best brokerage with fewer than 10 staff in Canada that has displayed excellence over the past 12-18 months. The number of staff includes all brokers writing business (license holders or authorised representatives) and support staff. To be eligible your brokerage must be independently branded and headquartered in Canada.
Fuse Insurance Ltd.
Westland Insurance Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent property and casualty insurance brokers in Canada. With a national presence of over 190 locations and nearly 2,100 employees, the company continues to expand coast to coast. Westland's brokers provide expert advice to home, business, farm, life and auto insurance clients. Since its founding in 1980, Westland has remained a family-owned company that is committed to supporting its local communities. For more information, visit www.westlandinsurance.ca.
CNA Canada
This award of excellence recognizes the most outstanding property and casualty insurance company in Canada providing top-tier property and casualty insurance products to consumers and businesses with an exemplary level of client service.
The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia
Travelers Canada
Wawanesa Insurance
Aviva Canada
Part of the Henner Group as a global leader in the insurance industry; XN has become one of the top MGA’s (Managing General Agent) specializing in niche P&C and A&H international and domestic insurance programs such as international expatriate benefits and property liability insurance solutions. XN is backed by our A-rated carriers known worldwide, including the Lloyd’s of London. For more information, visit www.xn.com.
Ai Insurance Organization Inc.
Alteri
Elk Point Insurance
Insureit Group Inc.
isure insurance inc.
KASE Insurance
Leibel Insurance Group
PROLINK Insurance Inc.
Stanhope Simpson Insurance
This award recognizes the best brokerage with 10-100 staff in Canada that has displayed excellence over the past 12-18 months. The number of staff includes all brokers writing business (license holders or authorised representatives) and support staff.
Munn Insurance
Charles Taylor Adjusting
Contractor Connection Canada
Royal Claims Services
Simply Benefits
This award recognizes the service provider in claims that adds the most value to the business of insurance professionals, allows insurance professionals to maximize their business and help clients achieve their goals and who is making a major contribution to general insurance claims in Canada.
DSB Claims
This award recognizes the service provider in insurtech that adds the most value to the business of insurance professionals, allows insurance professionals to maximize their business and help clients achieve their goals.
Carte Risk Management Inc
Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.
This award is given to the organization that has best harnessed technology and digital solutions to improve their business, aid their staff, and leverage overall client experience over the past 12 months. This category looks at the organization’s use of technology and digital platform/solution/resource/software/s such as (but not limited to) CRM, digital marketing, mobile technology, electronic document management, connectivity platforms, and collaboration tools. Insurtech service/solution providers are not eligible nominees in this category as this is a category for organizations utilizing the service/solution/tool/s
Mackay Insurance Brokers Inc.
Desjardins Insurance
FiduSure Financial
TD Insurance
TruStar Underwriting Inc.
This award recognizes an organization in the Insurance space that has diversity and inclusion at the heart of its business, providing programs for employees from five groups including women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and the LGBTI community.
Markel Canada
This award acknowledges insurances companies, offices and independent adjusting firms with a proven track record of providing their clients with superior support. Whether it is providing best-in-class assistance or reducing turnaround times, customer support is essential for client satisfaction. This award recognizes the industry player that has mastered that service and is number one on all fronts.
