Pages 51 - Insurancewest Media Ltd.

risk management, legal and compliance
and corporate development teams. He will
also support the creation and execution of
growth strategies.
Helen Bozinovski has been named senior
VP, human resources. Formerly holding
a VP position at Heart and
Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Bozinovski has also
held leadership titles with
Manulife Financial and the
Bank of Montreal.
Bozinovski
In other news at Aviva,
about $283,000 was raised
recently to help fight colon cancer at the
eighth annual Lew Dunn Charity Golf
Classic held at The Club at Bond Head
in Toronto.
The tournament, hosted by the insurer
and the Lew Dunn Memorial Foundation,
uses proceeds to pay for surgical scholarships in colon cancer.
Dunn, a former president and CEO of
the insurer, passed away from the disease
in 1999.
WFG PICKS UP BANK, BROKERAGES
Alberta’s High River-headquartered
Western Financial Group
and its Bank West subsidiary have acquired Ubiquity
Bank from B.C.’s Prospera
Credit Union.
“The credit union no
Tannas
longer needed the banking
licence, so they put it up for
sale,” said Scott Tannas, WFG’s busy president and CFO. “It was more of a portfolio
acquisition than any strategic thing. We get
$93 million in new loans, so it’s a nice added
benefit. We also get the online capability.
We’re going to keep that going and see if
it resonates with our customers.”
WFG also acquired two more agencies in
northwestern Alberta – Younger & Holmes
of Peace River and Fimac Insurance of
Fairview.
“That sure gives us a nice block of coverage up there,” Tannas added.“We’re in good
shape there and we’re really pleased. They’re
good businesses in leading communities.”
WFG is now operating in more than 80
communities across Western Canada.
burn Beaudin & Lang continues to beef up
its insurance law division with the addition
of Megan Nodwell as an
associate. A law school grad
of the University of B.C. and
Queen’s University, Nodwell
taught high school English
and French before taking
Nodwell
up the law…
THIS & THAT
The Vancouver law firm Alexander Hol-
Murta
Continued on page 54
Peace Hills Insurance is proud to announce...
Gail Routh, R.O.C. Branch Manager of Peace Hills Insurance,
is pleased to announce the appointments of Melanie Powers
and George Boulay.
Melanie Powers cip
George Boulay
b.comm fcip crm
HANG UP ALREADY
Add Washington state and California to the growing list of U.S. jurisdictions fully or partially prohibiting
the use of handheld cellphones while
driving, increasing to 19 the number
of states with such restrictions.
The only province in Canada banning the practice is Newfoundland,
which made it illegal in April 2003.
The Washington and California
laws go into effect in July 2008. In May
2007, Washington became the first
state to ban driving while texting. A
few other states are said to be considering similar measures.
Driving while using a handheld
cellphone is fully or partially restricted
in 47 countries. IW
www.insurancewest.ca
James Murta
has assumed the presidency
of the Canadian Institute of
Actuaries. Before retiring
last year he worked for the
actuarial consulting firm
Jackie Filewich fcip crm
Melanie Powers, CIP, has been appointed to the position of
Business Development Advisor of Manitoba, Saskatchewan,
NWT, Nunavut and Yukon Territories.
Melanie brings 13 years’ experience in both personal and
commercial underwriting to this new role, along with a personality and enthusiasm that will fit well into our corporate culture.
She will continue to reside in Brandon, Manitoba where she will
have a small office.
George Boulay, B.Comm, FCIP, CRM, has been appointed to
the position of Underwriting Manager of Personal & Commercial Lines for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, NWT,
Nunavut and Yukon Territories.
He has held various positions at Peace Hills since 1988, including Commercial Manager and most recently Commercial
Business Analyst.
With George’s experience, positive attitude and knowledge of
the industry, he will be a huge addition to the R.O.C. and is excited to reacquaint himself with our broker partners.
Daryl Kochan, B.C. Regional Manager of Peace Hills Insurance, is pleased to announce that Jackie Filewich, FCIP, CRM has
been appointed to the role of Business Development Advisor for
B.C. Jackie graduated from the Insurance and Risk Management
program of Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton, in the fall of
2005. Jackie has worked in both Personal and Commercial Lines
departments for Northern Alberta and R.O.C. branches with
Peace Hills Insurance. Most recently Jackie has completed her
FCIP designation, specializing in Risk Management.
Jackie brings to the position graphic design and sales experience from prior careers. Along with her personality and enthusiasm, she is eager to start building relationships and promote
Peace Hills in B.C.’s insurance industry.
Peace Hills Insurance is a Western Canada Company writing in excess of $140 million
in property and casualty business in four western provinces and the territories.
November 2007 Insurancewest 51
stan Sauerwein techwatch
Policy Works inks commercial
lines deals with Aviva, R&SA
This column is a grab bag as I clear
out my clip files and make room for an
upcoming look at how voice data is being
used to catch claims cheats. You might be
surprised at who’s already using voice-risk
analysis. Coming soon to this white space.
In the meantime, I’m starting with news of
huge deals signed recently by
Policy Works.
The Calgary-based firm’s
agreement with Aviva Canada means that in the nottoo-distant future (early next
Regner
year perhaps?) Policy Works’
Dykeman commercial lines systems will
be used by more than 3,000
Aviva-affiliated brokers. Brokers marketing
Royal & SunAlliance products in Canada
will also be added to that list.
It was just a few weeks after our annual
Technology issue landed on brokers’ desks
across Canada that Linda Regner Dykeman, senior VP national commercial lines
at Aviva Canada, contacted me about this.
The deal to exchange commercial lines data is aimed
at developing an efficient
broker systems integration
for Aviva brokers.
“We are very excited,” RegFitzgerald ner Dykeman said.“The data
exchange between Fastrax
and Policy Works will be a huge benefit to
our broker partners by eliminating duplication of effort.”
The integration, she said, will provide
Aviva brokers the ability to upload commercial lines risk and rating detail directly
from the Policy Works CMS (commercial
management system) into Fastrax (Aviva’s
web-based application). When it’s done,
brokers will be able to quote
and bind business online.
Aviva sees the deal as a
helpful boost for the company in the market as well.
“The implementation of
DeSantis
this data exchange will make
it easier for brokers to do
business with Aviva and will strengthen our
position as the market of choice for small
commercial business,” said Bob Fitzgerald,
Aviva’s executive VP and COO.
Shawn DeSantis, senior VP at R&SA,
52 Insurancewest November 2007
feels the same way. Policy Works’ CMS will
be integrated with R&SA’s Rapid eQuote
web-quoting tool by early next year.
“By working with Policy Works,” he says,
“we will have a streamlined and simplified
data-transferring process that will improve
our quoting-turnaround time.”
The integrations will use the most current
version of the CSIO (Centre for the Study
of Insurance Operations) commercial lines
– not a computer – the report provides a
10-point job-compatibility rating that allows managers to quickly understand the
motivators, strengths and hidden areas of
concern.
It can also be used to profile current
staff in a non-threatening way. The service
determines traits possessed by exceptional
performers while noting traits underperforming employees lack. The Omnia Profile
includes an easy-to-complete
adjective checklist that measures
preferred workplace behaviour.
An eight-column graph indicates
the subject’s level of assertiveness, risk-avoidance, persuasion,
analytical mindset, pace, patience,
independence and attention to
detail.
Neumayer has supplied me
with a short list of a few of his
Canadian broker customers. I’ll
be checking in with them over the
next few months to see if hiring
by the numbers, as opposed to gut
instinct, has proven worthwhile.
In the meantime, you can get a
Policy Works’ Kevin Campbell sees the CSIO
taste of the profiling techniques
XML standards as the universal language.
with an audio seminar called Indispensable Interviewing. Omnia
XML standards. Kevin Campbell, presiclaims it will help cut through the fluff.
Contact Neumayer directly to purchase
dent of Policy Works, sees the CSIO XML
standard as the universal language through
a copy of the CD, which goes for $70 US,
which data exchange is spoken. He set up the
shipping and handling included, at www.
CDEP (Certified Data-Exchange Partner)
omniagroup.com.
F F F
program to ensure that commercial data
Our chances of being involved in a car
is exchanged in an accurate, reliable and
accident just went up.
secure manner.
F F F
Ford recently introduced Sync (for now,
Nothing escapes technology, especially
only available in the States). It’s a handsthat which used to be relegated to gut
free calling, voice-activated music-selection
and voice-text messaging system powered
instinct. Profiling applicants for jobs is a
good example.
by software that can be upgraded to mesh
I met Sean Neumayer of the Omnia
with new generations of cellphones, digital
music players and other devices. So far it’s
Group at the last IBABC trade show. He
showed me how his Florida-based firm
only being installed in the Focus, which also
happens to be Ford’s most inexpensive car.
is helping brokers make more informed
job-hiring decisions. Its service, called
The B.C. Automobile Association has said
the Omnia Profile, is used before hiring
that even hands-free devices divert a driver’s
attention from the road and contribute to
an employee to determine the candidate’s
“fit” with the duties of the job and the
accident risk. The last thing we need is an
18-year-old having a conversation with his
workplace. Candidates fill in the forms and
Omnia supplies a report to the employer
car instead of driving it. Here’s hoping Sync
for a fee. Written by professional analysts
gets sunk in Canada. IW
www.insurancewest.ca
®
advertiser
Amac.................................................. 28
ind ex
Aon....................................................... 4
Other
Axa Pacific......................................... 22
B.C. Insurance Directory...................... 9
Bank of Montreal................................ 18
Services & Suppliers............................ 6
Barclay Restorations.......................... 19
Website Links..................................... 53
Canada Worldwide............................... 3
Western Canada’s Insurance
Website
Links
To list your website here, please contact Linda Helme:
manager@insurancewest.ca
Accountants
Berris Mangan...berrismangan.com
BDO Dunwoody.................bdo.ca
LBC International........ lbcintl.com
Matson Driscoll........mddcda.com
Paterson.... patersonjamieson.com
Cookson Walker................................... 8
Litigation
Forum
Crawford Adjusters............................. 53
Bull, Housser & Tupper...................... 34
Custom Software............................... 23
Carfra & Lawton................................. 39
Group Medical Services..................... 24
e2i2 Consulting.................................. 35
Guardian Risk Managers................... 19
Guild Yule........................................... 32
Assns, Government
ING Insurance Co. of Canada........... 56
Harper Grey....................................... 42
Kingsway General................................ 2
Lindsay Kenney................................. 36
Monarch Insurance.............................. 6
Matson, Driscoll.................................. 44
On Side Restoration........................... 14
McDougall Gauley.............................. 43
Optimum West................................... 55
MEA Forensic Engineers................... 43
Pacific Marine..................................... 47
Michael O’Meara & Co....................... 45
Peace Hills Insurance.................. 26, 51
Nelson Engineering............................ 38
Portage Mutual................................... 16
Paine Edmonds.................................. 40
ReClaim/Best Buy................................ 9
S.K. Engineering................................ 33
Special Risk Insurance...................... 47
Senez Reed Calder............................ 41
Totten Group Insurance..................... 50
Singleton Urquhart............................. 45
Winmar Restoration........................... 11
Richard van Leeuwen........................ 31
Accredited.........marinesurvey.org
Advocis.........................advocis.ca
BC Adjusters................ bciaa.com
BC Fellows................... bcsof.com
BC Risk Management..... rims.org
Block Watch........blockwatch.com
Blue Goose....... bluegoosebc.com
Brokers Alberta............. iibaa.com
Brokers BC.....................ibabc.org
Brokers Manitoba......ibam.mb.ca
Brokers Sask. . ............ ibas.sk.ca
Brokers Canada................ibac.ca
Cdn. Life & Health............ clhia.ca
Credit Union Assoc..... cuisa.com
CSIO................................ csio.com
Financ Institutions.... fic.gov.bc.ca
Fire Commiss.....gov.bc.ca/mcaws
Gama.................gamacanada.com
Indep Adjrs........ ciaa-adjusters.ca
Institute BC.......................iibc.org
Institute Canada............ iic-iac.org
Insurance Bureau............... ibc.ca
Insur..... insurancecouncilofbc.com
Marine Investig.....iamimarine.org
Marine Surveyors........amsbc.org
Natl Ins Women............... naiw.org
Natl Marine Surv....nams-cms.org
Supt of Ins...................... gov.nt.ca
ULC......................................ulc.ca
Chubb Insurance.......................... 13, 20
Adjusters
Barnescraig........barnescraig.com
BCAC.................. bcadjusters.com
CGI Adjusters................... cgi.com
Coast Claims......coastclaims.com
Crawford....crawfordandcompany.ca
Cun Lind.... cunninghamlindsey.com
Kernaghan............kernaghan.com
Pritchard..... pritchardwoodall.com
SCM Adjusters.................. scm.ca
Automotive, Glass
Auto Retailers................ara.bc.ca
Companies, Markets
Aurora......auroraunderwriting.com
Aviva..................avivacanada.com
Axa Pacific.........................axa.ca
Beacon.................beacon724.com
Can WW.....canadaworldwide.com
Can North Shield............... cns.ca
Can-Sure..................can-sure.com
CFI..................... cfiunderwriters.ca
Chubb.......... chubbinsurance.com
Coast Underwriters...coast-uw.com
Creechurch..........creechurch.com
Elite....................avivacanada.com
Elliott.......................... elliottsr.com
Encon..............................encon.ca
Family......................familyins.com
Gore Mutual............goremutual.ca
Group Medical Services...gms.ca
Guar Co NA...................gcna.com
Guardian.......... guardianrisks.com
Hud................... hudinsurance.com
ICBC................................ icbc.com
ING Insurance...... ingcanada.com
Kingsway...kingsway-general.com
Media/Profess.......mediaprof.com
Metrix.............................mpib.com
Monarch.............. monarchins.com
Morgex.......................morgex.com
Optimum W.....optimumwest.bc.ca
Pacific Marine.... pacificmarine.ca
Pal Insurance....... palcanada.com
Portage...........portagemutual.com
Premier Marinepremiermarine.com
Royal & SA...royalsunalliance.com
South Western............swgins.com
Special Risk.......................srib.ca
www.insurancewest.ca
Sports-Can..............sports-can.ca
Swiss Re....................swissre.com
Totten Group.......tottengroup.com
TWIG Wholesale................ twig.ca
Wawanesa............wawanesa.com
WUM...... westernunderwriting.com
Consultants
Amac............ amacconsultants.com
Contents Replacement
ReClaim/Best Buy........ bestbuy.ca
Education
Cookson W... cooksonwalker.on.ca
Financial, Premiums
Access Premium..............apfin.ca
AIG Credit................... aigcredit.ca
Bank of Montreal...........bmo.com
IFS Financial........ ifs-finance.com
Investigation
Whitehall....... whitehallcanada.com
Jewellers
Harlings.................... harlings.com
Object..... objectdesigngallery.com
Lawyers
Carfra & Lawton............ carlaw.ca
Gowlings.................gowlings.com
Guild Yule............... guildyule.com
Lindsay Kenney...............lklaw.ca
Miller Thomson.. millerthomson.com
Paine Edm....paine-edmonds.com
Singleton Urquhart....singleton.com
Media
BC Broker.......... insurancewest.ca
Can Und... canadianunderwriter.ca
Canadian Ins.............. cdnins.com
Insurancewest....insurancewest.ca
Thompsons...thompsonsnews.com
Medical
Westernmedicalassessments.com
Personnel, Hiring
Harcourt...................... harcourt.ca
Network...........networksearch.net
Restoration
Barclay....... barclayrestorations.ca
Belfor............................belfor.com
Canstar... canstarrestorations.com
On Side................. www.onside.ca
ServiceMaster... servicemaster.ca
ServiceMaster of Lethbridge
The clean you expect.
The service you deserve.
........ servicemasterlethbridge.com
Total Restoration...totalrestore.ca
Winmar......................... winmar.ca
Risk Managers
Aon......................................aon.ca
Salvage
Liquidation...liquidationworld.com
Surplus Herb.... surplusherbys.com
Security
Vigil GPS...................vigilgps.com
Tech, Systems
Applied Sys....appliedsystems.com
Compu-Quote...compu-quote.com
Custom Softw........cssionline.com
Grapevine.......... grapevinecs.com
Keal Technology............ keal.com
Policy Works....... policyworks.com
PowerSoft.............power-soft.com
November 2007 Insurancewest 53
streetTalk
tradetalk
Continued from page 51
Towers Perrin in Calgary. Murta
also formerly served as chief
actuary with Wawanesa… Peter
Walker has been
appointed executive VP of the
Munich Reinsurance Company of
Canada and to
the same posiWalker
tion with Temple
Insurance Company. Both companies are part of the Munich Re
Group. Walker joined Munich
in 1978… Andrew Janzen,
with Mardon &
Campbell Insurance Brokers
in White Rock,
south of Vancouver, has been
Janzen
elected president
of the Insurance
Institute of B.C.’s governing council, a one-year position previously held by Carol
Kuzyk, VP with the Vancouver
brokerage HKMB… ING has
moved its Victoria office from
Tolmie Avenue to 246-2401C
Millstream Rd., V9B 3R5. The
telephone number remains
250-978-5242… Darlene McBride, the former marketing
manager of Premier Marine,
has resurfaced as a business
development specialist at Aviva
Elite & Traders in
Vancouver.“It’s a
more comfortable fit for me,”
said McBride,
who previously
had worked with
Erwin
CGI for 14 years.
“It was meant to happen.” She
can be reached at 604-8955637 or by e-mail at darlene_
mcbride@avivacanada.com…
Lyne Erwin, a 25-year veteran of
Aon, has joined Marsh Canada
in Toronto as a
senior VP. The
architect of major group insurance programs
designed for
Hall
franchises and
associations, Erwin will be responsible for
national business development
54 Insurancewest November 2007
By Linda Helme
W
Taking risks
hen Nowell Seaman tells you that his
He’s particularly proud of his involvement
career is his passion, “this amazing,
with the William H. McGannon Foundation,
dynamic discipline,” as he refers to it,
the non-profit society that provides grants and
he’s not talking about an earlier incarnation as
scholarships to post-secondary students and
a guitarist with MidSouth, the Grammy-nomihelps promote risk management awareness
nated New Country band based in Nashville
in Canada.
in the 1990s.
Seaman’s enthusiasm for the calling hasn’t
No, the Edmonton-born Seaman, 50, though
gone unnoticed. At the 2007 RIMS Canada
still a practising minstrel, is talking about risk
conference in Halifax, he was named the remanagement, which is his day job
cipient of the Donald M. Stuart
at Saskatoon’s 20,000-student
Award, Canada’s highest honour
University of Saskatchewan, his
in risk management. Stuart, now
employer since 1995.
retired from Canada Packers, was
Seaman launched a brokering
a pioneer in the field in Canada.
career – which, he admits, he
In presenting the award, Erin
initially considered “mysterious”
Magilton-Morneau, the presi– in 1983 with Fiddler Agencies
dent of RIMS Ontario and direcin Nipawin, Sask., a respite from
tor of insurance risk management
musical touring.
for Manulife Financial, said, “If
“I never had any delusions
you go through the list of previous
about where I’d go with music.”
Seaman
recipients of the award, you will
So he stuck with insurance,
find the names of our industry
earned his industry credentials and became a
leaders, mentors and trail blazers. (Seaman)
partner in a Saskatoon brokerage.
very much belongs in the company of these
Seaman has been involved in a lengthy list
individuals.”
of risk management initiatives. He was RIMS
Receiving the accolade in Halifax also had
Canada Council chair 2003-2005 and he
significance for Seaman. Though he was raised
chaired the RIMS Canada conference held in
on the Prairies, his mother and father were
Saskatoon in 2002 – anything to enhance the
born in New Scotland, and his family farmed
profile of the risk management profession.
in the province for 200 years.
He’s made presentations about risk manageSuch honours have been known to make
ment and taught it at the provincial insurance
some individuals insufferable. Not, it would
institute. He’s written columns about risk manseem, Nowell Seaman.
agement. The father of five has even presented
“I have received,” he insists, “far more than
seminars on the subject in Russia.
I have given.” IW
for commercial programs and
associations… Danial Hall ,
with 18 years’ experience in risk
management in Canada and the
States, has been appointed VP
client executive at BFL Canada.
Previously with
Aon and a specialist in financial
institutions and
E&O programs,
Hall works out of
the firm’s VictoSimard
ria office. Also at
BFL, Jacques Simard has been
named VP risk management,
eastern region for BFL’s newly
created Risk Management
Group. Simard, who previously
worked for Aetna Casualty, Axa
Global Risks and
Willis, works out
of the Montreal
office… Shawn
Doherty has
Doherty
been appointed
senior VP finance and CFO
of Ace Canada. Doherty’s insurance career spans 15 years
and includes management
stints with leading insurers.
Most recently he was VP actuary at Ace… John Bjornson,
Wawanesa’s always agreeable
VP marketing and property
underwriting, is retiring from“a
good career with
a great company”
to devote more
time to cruising,
golfing, curling
and grandkids.
The 57-year-old Bjornson
began working
with the Prairie mutual in 1968,
the day after he graduated high
school. IW
www.insurancewest.ca
Top 3 reasons
YOU CHOSE US
Service, service, service!
We’d like to thank our brokers for choosing Optimum West as one of the top
three insurance companies in BC. IBABC’s survey, “How Brokers Rate their
Insurance Partners,” rated Optimum West as the third best company overall.
When our brokers are happy, everyone wins!
national strength.
hometown values. ®
www.insurancewest.ca
BC Branch: (604) 688-1541
www.optimumwest.bc.ca
® trademark of optimum group inc. used under license.
November 2007 Insurancewest 55
ING Rely Network
Help Your Customers
Get More From ING
Making a claim is never easy, but at ING we are committed to
making the process as painless as possible. We know our
customers want priority service and quality repairs. That's
why we've introduced the ING Rely Network™ - a carefully
selected group of qualified auto repairers. When you
choose a Rely repair shop, here's what you can expect:
• FASTER REPAIRS - Rely shops can begin work
immediately, without waiting for an ING adjuster
to physically inspect the vehicle.
• PRIORITY SERVICE - Repair shop staff will
review the work order with you, arrange a
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(and meet it), and clean your vehicle
inside and out before returning it.
• A LIFETIME GUARANTEE - we unconditionally
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long as you own your vehicle.
We hope your customers never need to make a claim
but if they do, the ING Rely Network is there to help.
INSURANCE
56 Insurancewest November 2007
www.insurancewest.ca