The Chronicle: Issue 2011-28, July 12, 2011
Distribution
Policy Works and SGI CANADA enable real-time access to policy, billing and claims inquiries.
July 7, 2011 - SGI CANADA and Policy Works Inc. have made it easier for mutual broker customers to manage their commercial business. SGI CANADA brokers using the Policy Works Commercial Management System are now able to access their SGI CANADA clienteles? policy, billing and claims inquiries from directly within the Policy Works system.
Rhodes & Williams Insurance Brokers offer "A Broker in Your Pocket" Service.
July 6, 2011, Ottawa, ON - The use of mobile devices has skyrocketed in the past few years with the speed that few technologies, if any, have enjoyed. So, with so many important details that need to be accessed or documented when you have an accident...what's the answer?
Claims Information
IBC: Slave Lake Fires Second Costliest Insured Disaster in Canadian History.
EDMONTON, July 5, 2011 - Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reports that the insured damage caused by wildfires that ravaged much of the town of Slave Lake, Alberta, in May amounts to more than $700 million, making it the second costliest insured disaster in Canadian history. The most expensive insured disaster in Canadian history remains the ice storm that hit Quebec and Ontario in 1998, which cost over $1.8 billion (figure adjusted for inflation).
Marketing and the Market Place
Co-operators new website serves clients on their terms.
GUELPH, ON, July 6, 2011 - The Co-operators today unveiled its completely rebuilt website: www.cooperators.ca. The fully bilingual site offers new services and features, along with a fresh look and feel, giving clients a new way to experience The Co-operators. The rebuilt site is highly consumer driven, allowing users to quickly find the information and services they want. The site is easier to navigate, with more up-to-date information and new interactive services.
eMarketer: Search, Display Trends Push Online Ad Spend Past $31 Billion.
JULY 5, 2011 - Growth for US online ad spending will crest this year at 20.2% and remain solidly in double digits through 2014, eMarketer forecasts. By 2015, total online ad spending will approach $50 billion. Several factors support the overall upshift in online ad spending. Search remains a major source of ad dollars, and will gain $2.38 billion in new spending this year.
Insurance-Canada.ca Mini-Survey
How much are we into social media? Mini-Survey (Ongoing and Report).
Ten more days during which you can add your contribution. Just how much are people in Canada who are involved with insurance - practitioners, suppliers, providers - playing in this new spocial media space? It is important to hear from everyone, whether you are an active or casual participant in social media, or do not socialize this way at all.
Whether you do or you don't, take the survey here. Only six questions and see the current results when you finish.
After one week, a few points from the responses and a preliminary summary report have been posted. Have an early look here. More analysis to come.
Customer Service
Equitable Life of Canada's Health Assessment Tool: Assessing Employee and Workplace Health.
WATERLOO, ON, June 29, 2011 - Equitable Life of Canada® has taken the next step in its health and wellness solutions that matter™ strategy by introducing an online Health Assessment Tool to help Plan Members better understand and manage their health.
eBusiness and Technology
Gartner Special Report Examines How to Leverage Pattern-Based Strategy to Gain Value in Big Data.
STAMFORD, Conn., June 27, 2011 - Many IT leaders are attempting to manage "big data" challenges by focusing on the high volumes of information to the exclusion of the many other dimensions of information management, leaving massive challenges to be addressed later, according to Gartner, Inc.
Reference and Statistics
Kanetix.ca rate study says Auto insurance rates rise 6.4 per cent in Ontario.
TORONTO, July 5, 2011 - Online insurance quote comparison service, Kanetix® , announces their quarterly year-over-year auto insurance rate study results for Q2 2011 for Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. When consumers are feeling strapped for cash because of rising gas prices and insurance rates, they may be able to relieve some of the strain on their wallets by reviewing their auto insurance policy.
Business of Insurance
Sun Life Financial Announces Board and Executive Appointments.
TORONTO, July 4, 2011 - The Board of Directors of Sun Life Financial Inc. today announced that Donald A. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, will retire on November 30, 2011. Mr. Stewart will also retire from the Sun Life Board in accordance with Company policy.
Dean A. Connor, Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Connor will work closely with Mr. Stewart until Mr. Stewart's retirement, and be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective December 1, 2011.
EIOPA: European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority Results of its Second European insurance Stress Test.
Frankfurt, 4 July, 2011 - The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) announced today the results of its second European insurancestress test. The exercise confirms that the insurance market in Europe covered by the stress test is robust.
Our People
Economical wins high praise for pandemic preparedness.
July 5, 2011 - Toronto, ON - The Economical Insurance Group® (TEIG®) cinched highest praise for its pandemic preparedness strategy two years running on June 21 at the World Conference on Disaster Management in Toronto. The APEX Award, co-sponsored by Marsh Canada Limited and Roche Canada and designed to honour private or public organizations that build, execute and continually improve top-notch pandemic preparedness programs, was handed to TEIG for the property and casualty insurer's industry-leading work in updating and improving its award-winning pandemic plan.
Consumer Information
Manitoba Public Insurance partners with cycling groups.
July 4, 2011 - July is the worst month for bicycle/motor vehicle collisions, according to claims statistics released by Manitoba Public Insurance. On average annually, there are 266 bicycle victims in Manitoba - 18 per cent of those victims are injured in July.
ICBC: Summer CounterAttack reminds drivers to plan ahead.
June 29, 2011 - The Province, police and ICBC kicked off the summer CounterAttack campaign today with a reminder to plan ahead and choose a designated driver to get home safely. The summer CounterAttack campaign is designed to help remind people to take personal responsibility and think before they drink.
IBC: Ontario auto insurance reforms leading to stability and affordability for province's drivers.
TORONTO, July 5, 2011 - Recent claims that auto insurance rates may be rising dramatically are neither accurate nor supportable. Ontario's recent auto insurance reforms are addressing cost pressures and working to stabilize the province's auto insurance system, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's (IBC) Ontario region.
Insurance in the Community
Foresters awards 85 scholarships to Canadian students committed to academics and their communities.
TORONTO, ON, July 07, 2011 - The financial burden of a post-secondary education just got a little lighter for 85 Canadian students with the help of ForestersTM Competitive Scholarship Program. Foresters, a life insurance provider committed to the well-being of families, has helped offset the high costs of a post-secondary education by awarding 350 renewable scholarships across North America to eligible members and their families.
from Doug:
Last week we saw a performance of The Railway Children. Set in a tent over a section of railway track by the John Street Roundhouse near the CN Tower in Toronto, the scene represented an English town railway station. A story for a family audience, it was well acted. A highlight was the dramatic entrance of an 1893 steam engine, pulling a passenger car, into centre stage. It reappeared three more times during the course of the play, to rather dramatic effect. A neat piece of staging; an enjoyable evening's entertainment.