Hello all, This month delighted to share with you an announcement from APRIL Group about the acquisition of Benecaid – a Canadian Managing General Underwriter, based in Toronto, developing Health and Benefits solutions targeted at small and medium sized companies in Canada. Benecaid are a very impressive organization, with an excellent proposition in their market […]
When your landlord customers suffer a fire or major water damage on their rental property, their tenants can’t live in their home until it’s repaired possibly leaving them without any rent coming in for months. But they still need to pay their rental mortgage, taxes and utility bills. Now it is possible for your clients […]
Dear all, This month, I’m penning my introduction from France. After spending a week in the UK, it makes sense to catch-up with my colleagues in France as we look to leverage ideas from across the Globe to support the Canadian insurance market. As many of you will be aware, we’re celebrating our 30th birthday […]
APRIL Canada has been protecting insureds with residential insurance for over 10 years. Through this we have built a wealth of experience on these risks. We have used this to pull together some recommendations on how insureds can minimise their risks to have the best possible experiences. With cutting edge AirBnB insurance since its […]
What should a business do in case of a cyber attack? Here are 4 considerations a business should think about if it is in the unfortunate position of suffering a hit. 1. Privacy – You must start with privacy. Who has been affected by the breach? Which data is compromised: client, vendor or employee data? […]
Dear all, I hope you are all well. 2018 is now in full swing, and at APRIL Canada our teams have been busier than ever across Canada. One area of activity has been in recruitment, where we are continually active in the market looking for talented people to join our teams. In the last week […]
I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce myself and the Apollo Syndicate in general to APRIL’s broker audience through the newsletter. Apollo Syndicate 1969 commenced trading in January 2010 with the primary aim of building a first class privately owned underwriting platform operating at Lloyd’s. Since formation, Apollo has grown from an original […]
Dear all, I hope you are well, and are already back up to full pace for a busy 2018! I’m writing this note on an airplane to France for a corporate meeting of the APRIL Group, as we’ve got a big year ahead of us. 2018 marks the 30th Anniversary of APRIL – which started […]
Cyber Insurance is still misunderstood. APRIL Canada’s broker panel discovered that 44% of brokers sell Cyber Insurance to most of their clients, however 18% haven’t even started trying to sell it. ‘Next to Earthquake coverage I think the most talked about but least purchased coverage of today is Cyber Insurance” states Karen Roller, Underwriting Director […]
Dear all, It was great to see many of you in Ottawa in late October for the IBAO convention. It’s always a fantastic opportunity to meet lots of brokers in rapid succession, listen to their stories and also get feedback on the market in general. Given that brokers are our clients, we like to dedicate […]
Dear all, I hope that like me, you enjoyed our spectacular weather in September. Last week, I was in a series of product development ‘check point’ meetings. Our teams are doing a lot of work right now on developing some really exciting product offers in two new niches. As you might expect, this has involved […]
Sometimes our risk of the month can be a bit more of a risqué risk of the month! This month the risk we are highlighting is a building that turned out to be in fact a massage parlour with a twist. Jean David Michaud, the underwriter who worked on this risk said: “Its not every […]
A leader within the Lloyd’s market for more than 80 years, Atrium is unrivalled in underwriting and claims expertise. Having a worldwide presence with offices in Canada & the U.S. our network reaches much further than the Lloyd’s building in London from which we are based. Over the years, Atrium has built a reputation of […]
Dear all, As summer draws to a close, I am sure that like me, many of you are busy ensuring that your goals for 2017 are on track whilst looking ahead to 2018 and beyond to ensure that your business remains relevant and preferred by your clients. Our world continues to be highly competitive and […]
“When Nick Kidd invited me to contribute to APRIL Canada’s newsletter, I was delighted to have the chance to introduce Ascot Underwriting Ltd. to APRIL’s broker network. I have the highest respect for the team at APRIL and together we are building a strong book of business focused on delivering the best results for clients. […]
As everyone knows, this year here in Canada we are celebrating Canada`s 150th anniversary with events all over the country. As part of these celebrations the worlds largest rubber duck was used in many towns. April Canada is proud to have been able to provide the insurance for the transportation of this duck in the […]
We are delighted to launch our new YouTube channel. This will be a great opportunity for us to talk to you about APRIL Canada and our activities in more depth. You will be able to meet the team to learn more about our activities, thoughts and perspectives. Who are we really ? And what do we do?… Come and […]
In an evolving world where more than 3 million people have internet access, getting Cyber Insurance against cyber attacks is becoming a more important consideration. The world is changing very quickly, resulting in new ways of working and the diversification of risks. Furthermore, we are all witnessing a real amplification of cyber-attacks over the last few […]
Dear all, I wanted to take the opportunity this month to wish all our brokers, supporters and readers a happy holiday this summer. The second half of the year is in full swing, and we’re truly grateful for all your support so far this year. From our perspective, it’s been a very busy, but also […]
Dear all, Earlier today I was reading the latest story where someone predicted the death of the smaller, independent broker. We’ve all heard this story so many times over the years and I can only imagine the aim is to provoke some kind of response in the market (or generate lots of clicks onto various […]
For insurance brokers, a move is a good time to talk to policyholders and adjust the protections included in the insurance policy. When making a big move, policyholders want to know: BEFORE MOVING 1. Should my insurer be told about a move, even if I’m renting? Whether you are a tenant or owner, it is […]
As many of you know, we launched our commercial marine department two years ago, and from there we have continued to expand our focus into many associated lines. Recently we have developed and launched a capacity for stock throughput – providing global coverage for stock and cargo for multi-national companies, importers and exporters, moving goods […]
Last month, one of our commercial Underwriters Anne Permesurdin was approached by a broker looking to insure 99 member doctors. More specifically, the broker wanted to cover the cyber exposure of her clients, who owned an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, operated under a joint venture with shared costs. This class of business is particularly […]
Dear all, Last month I shared with you some thoughts around the diversity of our industry across Canada as we enter the broker conference season in Winnipeg as I’m writing this note. This has really got us thinking in our business, and led to some subtle but important changes that we’ve made in the last […]
APRIL Canada, the largest independent MGA in Canada, revealed exciting insights it obtained about the MGA market through an online survey carried out recently. The survey, carried out by the independent Montreal based market research agency, Callosum, revealed how brokers choose their MGA partners and the key attributes they look for from an MGA. […]
Dear all, Spring is upon us, and that means the start of the annual broker conference season! The Manitoba broker’s conference is fast approaching, with BC and Alberta coming up pretty quickly afterwards and then out to the Atlantic. My team and I really enjoy our attendance at all of the Provincial broker conferences each […]
APRIL Canada is delighted to celebrate the month of April with an excellent and simple online promotion. Recommend APRIL to a colleague during the month of April and the 3 brokers identified as having referred the greatest number of correctly labeled online submissions will win a Visa gift card to the tune of $200. All you […]
Getting a quote to insure a vacant building under renovation can be a lot of work. At April, you can get a vacant homes insurance quote very quickly with a few smart moves. There are many requests for quotes on vacant buildings undergoing minor renovations. In fact, it’s the most common request at APRIL. Each […]
Your employees gather personal information from customers, and your company stores this confidential information. Therefore, you are exposed to risk! These violations have targeted confidential data of a personal and commercial nature, exposing companies, employees, business partners and their customers to potential risks. All organizations are exposed to direct risks, such as the risk of […]
APRIL Canada writes the full spectrum of marine risks: spanning Hull & Machinery, Protection & Indemnity, Cargo, Marine Liability and Marinas. Our offer here can apply to your clients both large and small, and wherever they may be within Canada. Since the launch of the department headed up by Claude Deslage in 2015 APRIL has […]
I’m a small-town boy, born and raised in Southern Ontario and after college I ventured out West to see what Calgary had in store for me. Like many of people in the Insurance Industry out there I sort of just fell into insurance; I found a job as a Marketing Rep for Canada Worldwide […]
Dear all, Last month here at APRIL we held another hugely successful annual company conference. You may have been aware of this by receiving an out of office from one of our underwriters in mid February. Whilst indeed it is a big commitment to reduce our service delivery for one day of the year, I […]
Dear all, This blog and newsletter has now been running for 1 year. In that time, it’s been by far the most subscribed, opened and read piece of communication that we produce, and it’s a pleasure to write every month. I try to cover a range of subjects relevant to our industry, and of course, […]
Though it has seen a few setbacks of late – notably in a few major cities with strong hotel lobbies – the homestay industry pioneered by Airbnb and a few other firms looks poised to remain a major part of the commercial travel and tourism market. As more and more homeowners rent their houses, apartments, […]
Dear all, I’ll start with a customary Happy New Year to all our brokers and partners in the market! I hope you managed to spend the holiday season with your loved ones and recharge your batteries… 2017 is going to be another busy year! New years always give us the opportunity sit back, reflect and […]
Every year, Santa Claus waits for your letters and takes the time to read each one, but this time he also wanted to send you a little message. We hope you take the time to read it carefully. Press release For immediate distribution “I’m a professional just like you!” “Each year, I handle requests that […]
As risk prevention specialists, brokers offer coverage that meets policyholder needs while also giving valuable advice. These tips can prevent a risk and significantly reduce any damage, as well as ensuring the compensation process has a satisfactory outcome. APRIL Canada has interviewed home insurance professionals to put together a list of the five best tips […]
Lucie Lee Frappier, one of our Residential Team leaders, was approached this month by a broker in Ontario to insure a home with a rather bizarre twist: two completely fire proof incinerators on premises for burning of religious books. The sole purpose of these buildings are for a religious ceremony that is held once every […]
Dear all, I hope that you are all well, and beginning the wind down to the holiday season. Whilst that is my hope, I’m sure that like me, you are all pushing hard right until the end of the year! I’m constantly impressed by the professionalism of this industry and the never-ending desire to ensure […]
Rising home prices have been an issue across Canada for sometime now, especially in some of the nation’s hottest markets.
Dear all, I’m writing this note during what feels like a rare visit to my office in Toronto. October has been an extremely busy month including broker conferences in Halifax, Regina and most recently, Toronto – not to mention the more typical business travel and broker meetings that fit in-between these conferences somehow. In fact, […]
Homeowners insurance is vital for anyone who owns their property, whether that’s an actual house or a condominium.
We are very excited to attend this year’s IBAO convention, and to meet all our broker partners. To add a little fun and let you get a chance to win an Apple Watch, we’ve created an online contest! How does it work? Simple: the more actions you complete; such as visiting our website, or interacting […]
On October 20, 2016 at 10:20am, Quebec and British Columbia are preparing to face ”The Great ShakeOut” Don’t panic! It’s only an international earthquake preparation exercise. APRIL Canada is participating in the Emergency Preparedness Week by emphasizing the importance of preparing ourselves in case of natural disaster, whether it’s a tornado, torrential rains or an […]
Dear all, Welcome to this 9th note of my mini-blog. We receive some fantastic feedback and ideas from many of you about this note and our newsletter – so please keep them coming! One such idea was for me to write about a typical day in the life of an APRIL underwriter, so I’ll rise […]
To help you protect your homeowner clients, we have improved our payment plans. Affordable, flexible and easy to susbscribe, those plans also allow you to include your fees to save you from any collection. You can now: Choose between 4 different plans to adapt to your clients needs Choose between 4 payment means Decide of the […]
There are many different ways in which marinas can allow people across Canada to have a good time in the summer, or even earn a living year-round.
While many people may think of the food service industry as being mostly about restaurants and even food trucks, there are plenty of businesses in the field that don’t fit into those boxes.
Each year Insurance Business Canada asks you to rate your top MGA partners in Canada through the Brokers on MGAs survey. This survey is a great opportunity for us to better understand what you value and expect from an MGA, and for you to have your say on how MGAs could improve. Please show your support […]
Dear Brokers, I hope you have all enjoyed your summer, and managed to get some time away with friends and family. I spent some time back in the UK with my family and managed to get some fantastic R&R combined with a few days meeting our various Lloyds partners in London and a day in […]
APRIL Canada’s ability to underwrite hospitality risks of all types across Canada goes from strength to strength! In the last month APRIL has successfully underwritten a number of accounts, which other markets have tossed out or passed on due to their severity and frequency of loss history. By reviewing the claims history and delivering the […]
Every business faces certain types of risk in the course of their daily operations, and this may be especially true for jewellers.
There may be many reasons why people in Quebec have to pay more for their auto insurance than people living in most other provinces.
Many Canadians – especially those who tend to travel a lot – may occasionally decide to put their homes up for short-term rentals on sites like Airbnb.
Every kind of business faces unique challenges and risks that others do not, and those in the food production or manufacturing industries likely know this all too well.
Most transportation companies can go long stretches of time without having one of their drivers get into an accident, because they are typically well-trained and very professional.
Dear all, I wanted to take the opportunity this month to wish all our brokers, supporters and readers a happy holiday this summer. We’ve been having some truly amazing weather over the last couple of months, and I hope that unlike me, you’ve managed to spend most of your time outdoors enjoying it! The second […]
Across Canada, “sharing” services like Airbnb, Uber, and Lyft are quickly gaining popularity.
Le mois dernier, une partie de l’équipe dirigeante d’APRIL Canada et moi-même avons eu le plaisir de participer à la conférence annuelle du groupe APRIL qui se tenait au siège social à Lyon, en France. Le thème de cette année étant Ambition 2018, le plan stratégique de croissance du groupe pour les prochaines années. Cette conférence a […]
When dealing with elderly residents on an ongoing basis, long-term nursing facilities or retirement homes have a lot to consider.
Many people across Canada love to live the snowbird lifestyle, enjoying the beautiful summers, but heading down to the Southern U.S. when winter rolls around.
While the U.K.’s decision to leave the European Union in the near future may seem like a relatively localized problem, its economic impact has reverberations worldwide, and likely will continue to do so for some time to come.
Each quarter, our consultant Raymond offers his advice to help transport companies improve safety. Cell phone use while driving Demerit points on a PEVL file and accidents due to cell phone use while driving are frequent. Therefore, it is important to raise drivers’ awareness on this subject and have a written policy forbidding any driver to […]
Life sometimes has nasty surprises in store for us and no one is immune to accidents. In Quebec, if anyone is injured, if there are damages caused by a collision or in the event of a criminal act, a police report is necessary. If no one is injured, it is possible to fill out a […]
Accidents happen in any business, and when they do, companies need to be prepared for the fallout that can accompany them.
Any business, large or small, faces challenges in its daily operations, but some are more considerable than others.
In the last month, I and some of the senior members of APRIL Canada had the pleasure to attend an annual conference at APRIL’s global head office in Lyon, France. This year the theme of the conference was the company strategy for growth in the coming years. It was a truly inspiring event. Not only were […]
When companies are called in to handle storage tank spills and other cleanup efforts, there is obviously a risk inherent to that.
Across Canada, many consultants regularly do good, hard work for their clients and rarely encounter hiccups.
Anyone who works in a brewery knows full well that they’re more hazardous than many people might expect.
When homeowners are renovating their houses, the process can be a long and rather expensive one.
Dealing with lawsuits is hopefully not a problem that many personal trainers will encounter in the course of doing their jobs, but for some, it’s an unfortunate reality.
Do you wish to expand your client portfolio by offering Pleasure Craft Insurance? APRIL Marine can help you. Expert in the field of marine insurance for more than 40 years, APRIL Marine works with more than 15 000 broker partners worldwide; an essential partnership allowing us, among other things, to accompany the dream of […]
This month, rather than focusing on one particular risk, we decided to show you a range of our more varied risks across our commercial team. In the last month we have worked on the following: Commercial General Liability for an insured that manufactures railway products including freight car and locomotive parts. Site Environmental Impairment Liability […]
This summer again, many Canadian homeowners will rent their home or apartment on a short-term basis through platforms such as AirBnB or HomeAway. Short term rentals have become more and more popular among property owners, but few landlords measure the actual risks involved: theft, property damage, personal liability. That is why we’re delighted to offer our […]
Dear partners, Over the last few weeks, you may have seen some communication about our new website. Better still, you are now visiting the site yourself! A lot of time and energy was put into this new website in an effort to ensure that it better reflects the current look and feel of our business, […]
Small business owners across Canada know that, while it is uncommon, disaster can strike at any moment.
No one wants to have their car stolen, but that is just an unfortunate reality that many Canadians face every year.
Burst pipes represent a nightmare scenario that many homeowners across Canada have unfortunately faced.
As many in the health care industry know full well, medical mistakes can happen at any time.
Many veterinarians across Canada go about their business with little difficulty, as things run relatively smoothly in the daily operations of their practices. However, things do occasionally tend to go wrong in unpredictable ways, and when they do, that can sometimes be construed by pet owners as being the result of malpractice. As such, it’s […]
When most people hear the word “malpractice” they think of doctors who make a mistake in diagnosing or treating a person’s problem, and the attendant lawsuits that typically follow.
Across Canada, there are a large number of traffic accidents every day, and a fair number of them involve vehicles that are in some way involved in the process of shipping goods from one part of the country to another. This unfortunate reality is unavoidable, and it’s something that freight brokers know all too well. […]
The oil and gas businesses messy ones, as contractors who work in those fields can attest.
Across Canada, millions of small business owners, regardless of the field in which they operate, know that it’s vital to have a good insurance plan in place in the event of any number of potential issues. This is certainly true for used car dealerships, because of the value of the inventory they typically hold, and […]
Homeowners face many risks that may not be all that common, but which can have a devastating impact on their properties when and if they happen.
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the popularity and widespread use of drones, and while these devices can be useful in many ways, they have been creating a bit of a liability headache for insurance companies. As such, the Canadian government is addressing these issues, and continues to progress toward a solution […]
Across Canada, many homeowners and entrepreneurs know the problems that can be associated with cold weather. And while it’s easy to predict that winters can get very cold indeed, coupling that fact with other issues can lead to major problems for their properties. For instance, one area a few hours north of Toronto recently learned […]
Most small business owners know that having the right insurance coverage for their various and specific needs is crucial to the successful operation of their company. However, many also end up learning the hard way that the policies they’ve had for years may not be adequate to the needs that have evolved over time. As […]
Have you recently been visited by APRIL Canada? Over the last three months, employees of APRIL Canada have been out to meet and listen to over 150 brokerage firms to get their views on the market, understand their strategies, and identify ways in which we can improve our business to help brokers achieve their goals. […]
Risk of the month Last month, our Casualty and E&O Manager, Manuela Ziemer, was contacted by a Broker trying to place a very special risk. Their client Munch Baby, a manufacturer of a baby teething mitten, was looking for coverage after they got the opportunity to sell their products to Toys “R” Us in the […]
Hello everyone, As always, I hope that this note finds you well, and that your businesses are thriving. This month, I wanted to share some news about how we have developed a loyalty scheme specifically for you, our broker partners, to build relationships and make us truly more broker centered. As I’ve mentioned before, we […]
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) policy which enables brokers to offer comprehensive coverage for any pollution and environmental damage that may arise from a client’s properties and associated business activities. As environmental regulations tighten, business owners in all sectors are under increasing pressure to adopt green […]
In May, we will be giving away a Kindle Voyage to the Broker who will bind the most Short Term rentals business in dollars with APRIL. To learn more about this home insurance solution, click here. If you have any question, please contact us at: Email: residential@april.ca Phone: 1-855-745-1010 Good luck to all!
Across Canada every spring and summer, millions will take to the nation’s waterways, lakes, and oceans to have a little bit of fun.
Around the world, most construction companies have long since abandoned the use of asbestos in their building efforts, but that still obviously leaves a lot that needs to be removed.
Bowling alleys, arcades, pool halls, and the like are fun places for people of all ages to meet and hang out for a while, but as with just about any other business, there’s a risk that something goes wrong. Accidents happen, as any small business owner knows, and those can sometimes create liability issues that […]
Dear all, As always, I hope this e-mail finds you well. I also hope that you enjoyed our April Fool`s joke last Friday about the launch of our new ‘Prank Protection Plus’. The team certainly enjoyed pulling it together! Whilst this was, of course, a light-hearted idea, we do take our product development activities very […]
Today is 1st April, the beginning of an important month for APRIL Canada, and the date where, in many countries, people participate in April Fools day.The 1st April is known as the day of creating elaborate pranks or hoaxes to fool others. Over the years, there have been many elaborate and fantastic hoaxes perpetrated on […]
Did you know that APRIL Canada has a commercial marine offering for brokers in answer to the expertise gap emerging within the market? Since August 2015, Claude Deslage has been heading up the new unit as the National Director of Commercial Marine. “We felt it was a good time for someone to come in and […]
During the month of April, we are saying “thank you” to our broker partners for their support. You can earn reward gifts based on the amount of new business that you place with APRIL this month.Starting at just two new policies bound in the month of APRIL, you will automatically be rewarded with aBluetooth Speaker. […]
Our risk of the month This month we bound a particularly interesting Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) policy – including contractors Pollution Liability and Site Pollution Liability. This new coverage line for APRIL Canada, was placed for a company in Southern Alberta that has a mobile system for applying different types of treatments and coatings to seeds […]
Seasoned small business owners across Canada likely know full well the value of continually monitoring their insurance needs to ensure that the policies they control are keeping up with their actual needs.
Across Canada, there are many construction firms of various sizes who may deal with issues from time to time related to pollution.
Millions of small business owners across Canada may be aware of the many risks which would require an insurance claim their companies can face over time.
Across Canada, millions of property owners may now be considering getting in on the fad of renting to temporary visitors through services such as Airbnb.
Millions of first-time homeowners across Canada have what they may think is the right kind of home insurance coverage, but the issue is they may occasionally face incidents which challenge those beliefs.
Each year, plenty of contractors all across Canada take on jobs both large and small, and some of them may come with some amount of environmental risk.
For decades, there hasn’t been much personal property insurance regulation by the Canadian government, insofar as things like pricing and underwriting are concerned. However, there has been a significant shift in recent years toward greater regulation of the insurance industry, and it could be that this sector is no different. While nothing is guaranteed at […]
In the U.S., there has been a slow but steady adoption in recent years of so-called “usage-based” auto insurance that involves vehicles being tracked electronically. In theory, this allows consumers who are relatively safe drivers – those who don’t speed, avoid stopping short, and generally drive more defensively – to reduce their auto insurance costs […]
Canadian manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers have experienced consistent growth driven by a strong economy. To place their products on retailers’ shelves they are also required to carry their own property and liability insurance. APRIL Canada is proud to introduce a new manufacturer’s insurance product to specifically answer these needs. Kent Pitkin National Director Commercial at […]
Each year, millions of Canadians may be concerned with their auto insurance costs, and want to know all the factors that go into setting those premiums. While the obvious things like the make, model, age of the car, or the person’s driving record will obviously come into the picture, what many people might not know is […]
Any traffic accident that results in a death is tragic, but when those accidents involve children, the results are even more shocking and sad. And unfortunately, these kinds of accidents are all too common in Canada and other parts of the world. Now, though, a Swedish company has developed an app aimed at reducing these […]
Across the country, millions of consumers may be worried about their rising auto insurance premiums over the last several years. However, some experts now believe that a better situation for all Canadian drivers could come if local police officers get a little more aggressive about punishing bad driving habits. And while this may or may not […]
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