Western General Insurance -Alberta, Canada

09/16/2022

We are looking for an experienced licensed insurance broker to work with our team at our family owned brokerage of 41 years. Work closer to home in our North or South Calgary office. Level 1 property and casualty license is a must. Not licensed but want to learn general insurance? Apply for our data input position instead. Send your resume to [email protected]. Have a great day.

12/21/2021

Happy Holidays from your Insurance Wizards!

10/10/2019

Stories in the media about cyber attacks tend to focus on huge corporations, but smaller businesses are just as much at risk.

05/27/2019

The Supreme Court has rejected Aviva Canada’s appeal of the court’s decision in a case involving sexual abuse by priests. Last year, the New Brunswick Court of Appeals ordered Aviva to reimburse the Catholic diocese of Bathurst $3.4 million, as the religious organization paid victims of sexual abuse from priests. But Aviva, which served as insurer for the diocese, argued that the church failed to disclose information about the abuse, thus removing the insurer from any liability. According to CBC News, the Supreme Court reached a decision Thursday, saying it would not hear Aviva’s case. “The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for New Brunswick [...] is dismissed with costs,” the decision read. The judgment is final; Aviva will have to compensate the Bathurst diocese for its recompense to abuse victims, plus any legal fees.
What do you think of the ruling?

Article care of https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/breaking-news/court-turns-down-avivas-appeal-of-priest-abuse-case-decision-168160.aspx

Insurer must reimburse church for compensation

05/15/2019

What causes a sewer backup?
A sewer backup occurs when something blocks the normal flow of wastewater from your house to the city’s sanitary sewer, and the sewage starts to back up into your home. There are several factors that can contribute to a sewer backup, including:
Aging sewer systems
Too much rainwater or melted snow entering the sewer system at once
Broken or collapsed sewer lines
A cracked or deteriorated sewer lateral (the pipeline between the city's sanitary sewer main and your home)
Tree roots entering sewer lines
Blockages in city sanitary mains
Blockages in plumbing inside a building
Sump pump failure

Check out the full blog with video
https://www.economical.com/en/blog/economical-blog/april-2019/how-to-prevent-a-sewer-backup?ck=ecocom|blog|p|1|en-CA

05/08/2019

Water damage is the leading cause of home insurance claims in Canada — and there are many ways unwanted water can end up in your home. One common cause of water damage is sewer backup, which happens when water begins to flow backwards into your home. Yes, this is just as unpleasant as it sounds. Not only does exposure to sewage pose a health hazard, but the clean-up process is extensive and costly.

Over the next few days we’ll be focused on sewer backup. How to recognize it, what causes it and how to help prevent it.
How do you recognize a sewer backup?
You may not always recognize signs of a potential sewer backup until it’s too late — but contact a plumber right away if you notice:
Seepage at basement floor drains
A foul smell coming from your drains
Toilets aren’t flushing like they should, and plunging doesn’t help
More than one drain in your house is clogged
When you use one piece of plumbing (like a toilet), water backs up somewhere else
Bubbling after you flush a toilet or when a sink is trying to drain (and it happens more than once)

Learn how to prevent a sewer backup and find out if your home insurance policy would cover a backup if one should occur.

05/04/2019

We have covered what to do before and during a wildfire (see our last two posts to catch up). When local authorities say it’s safe to return to your home, follow these steps to make the transition as smooth as possible:
• Pack some supplies. Before you head home, try to gather these basic supplies:
o Gloves
o Goggles
o Closed-toe shoes
o A cell phone (with a camera) and a charger
o A flashlight
o Bottled water
o Garbage bags
o A first aid kit
• Walk around the perimeter of your home before you go inside. Look for out-of-place electrical wiring, gas smells, or loose debris. If you notice downed power lines or a gas smell, call your hydro or gas company before entering your house.
• Enter your house carefully and turn off the main power breaker before you make your way through the rest of the house. If you have to use a generator, a charcoal grill, or another fuel-burning device, make sure you keep it outdoors, and in a well-ventilated area.
• Don’t drink the water. Stick to bottled water until your local officials have confirmed your tap water is safe to drink, and avoid flushing the toilet until you know that your sewer or septic system is in good working order.
• When in doubt, throw it out. Food and drinks inside your fridge or freezer should likely be tossed if your house lost power for an extended period of time or was exposed to heat, ash, smoke, or any of the chemicals used to put out fires. Canned items that are sealed and don’t appear damaged should be wiped clean in case they’ve been exposed to any harmful chemicals. Bonus tip: Take pictures of anything you’re throwing out. Your home insurance policy could help pay to replace the foods you have to throw away.
• Take photographs of any damage before you begin cleaning up. This can make it easier for your insurance company to process your claim.
• Contact your home insurance broker. If your home has sustained damage, your broker can coordinate with your insurance company to help you get repairs underway. Be prepared to provide some important details about the damage to your broker or the claims representative from your insurance company

Full article, visit https://www.economical.com/en/blog/economical-blog/april-2018/before-during-and-after-a-wildfire

Wildfires (commonly referred to as forest fires) can cause extensive damage to our homes, harm our environment, and put our lives at risk. Take a little time to familiarize yourself with some steps you can take before, during, and after a wildfire to keep your home and family safe and sound.

05/02/2019

Further to yesterday’s post on how to prepare prior to a wildfire, keep these tips in mind when you’re aware that wildfires have begun and are approaching your town or neighbourhood:
• Monitor the local news and obey the authorities. Evacuation notices and other directions from your local authorities should be announced on your local news station. Always obey directions given by your local or provincial government.
• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. If an evacuation notice is issued, you might not have much time to get ready to leave your home. It’s a good idea to pack a bag of items you couldn’t live without (don’t forget medications and important documents), and leave your vehicle parked in a position that will make it easy to drive away quickly.
• Keep your windows and doors closed to limit your exposure to smoke and dust. If you have time, consider covering vents, windows, and other openings with duct tape and plywood.
• Wet your roof and property. Unless local authorities have asked you to limit your water use, consider using a sprinkler to soak your roof and property.
• Save receipts for additional living expenses. If a government authority orders you to evacuate, your home insurance policy could cover out-of-pocket expenses like food and a place to stay. Keep receipts for any costs you wouldn’t normally face while living in your own home.

Wildfires (commonly referred to as forest fires) can cause extensive damage to our homes, harm our environment, and put our lives at risk. Take a little time to familiarize yourself with some steps you can take before, during, and after a wildfire to keep your home and family safe and sound.

05/02/2019

Wildfires (or forest fires) can cause extensive damage to our homes, harm our environment, and put our lives at risk. We will be offering tips care of over the next few days. Take a little time to familiarize yourself with some steps you can take before, during, and after a wildfire to keep your home and family safe and sound.
Consider these tips to prepare for a wildfire before one arrives:
• Keep an eye on the local news. Pay attention to local media during wildfire season and listen for warnings about wildfires that could affect you.
• Learn how to prevent wildfires. While most wildfires occur naturally, many are caused by people — especially during the hot, dry summer months. Learn seven simple things you can do to help prevent a wildfire.
• Map out your escape routes. Create a map of your home and mark an emergency exit from each room (if a window is the best option, make sure everyone knows how to open it from the inside). If you live in an apartment or condo, learn the best ways to get out (including at least one emergency exit that doesn’t require the elevator).
• Keep flammable items away from your home’s perimeter. This means removing flammable curtains and other materials, as well as removing garden debris like dry branches and leaves (don’t forget to clean your gutters regularly, too).
• Practice fire safety techniques. Make sure the whole family knows how to “stop, drop, and roll” in case anyone’s clothing catches fire.
• Make sure your home and belongings are properly insured. If it’s been a while since you’ve updated your home inventory or reviewed your home insurance policy, contact your licensed broker to make sure you have the protection you need. You should also consider asking your broker what kind of coverage for additional living expenses (like food and shelter) is included in your policy in case you need to evacuate.
• Prepare your emergency kit. It should be portable and include at least three days’ worth of supplies for each member of your household (including pets).

Wildfires (commonly referred to as forest fires) can cause extensive damage to our homes, harm our environment, and put our lives at risk. Take a little time to familiarize yourself with some steps you can take before, during, and after a wildfire to keep your home and family safe and sound.

04/29/2019

The Insurance Bureau of Canada has estimated the average cost of a flooded basement to repair- $43,000. Flood insurance can help cover that cost however most traditional flood insurance plans only cover flooding from sewer backup and do not apply when the water comes in through a basement wall or window- commonly known as overland flooding. This is why homeowners need to ensure their policy includes this coverage as well as the cap for damage.

Severe weather caused $1.9 billion in insured damage last year, according to IBCstatistics. It was the fourth-most expensive year on record, even without a single catastrophic disaster like the 2013 Calgary flood or the 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray. Summer storms caused more than $240 million in insured damage across the Prairies last year, IBC says.

A flooded basement could cost you tens of thousands of dollars, even if you think you’re covered by flood insurance.

04/26/2019

Oversharing on social media might be overrated. A study conducted with 50 ex-burglars in the UK found that 78% of them used social media to identify houses whose owners were absent. Troubling? Here’s a little guide of the top mistakes to avoid to help protect you care of

1. Revealing your address- Never post photos of the front of your home or any detail that could give a clear indication of where you live (like the house number).
2. Showing where you are
3. Sharing your vacation photos… while you’re still on vacation
4. Displaying your riches on social media

For all the details, check out the full blog

Sharing a photo of your engagement ring or honeymoon is tempting, but perhaps unwise. Here are 4 top mistakes to avoid on social media.

04/17/2019

Wildfires are natural threats to any forested area or grassland region across the country. Not only do they do a number on our environment, but they can displace thousands of people and do significant damage to their homes. While many wildfires occur naturally (often due to hot, dry weather and lightning strikes), many are caused by people and can be easily prevented.
Here are a few simple things you can do to help reduce the risk of wildfires at home, on the road, at the cottage, or on the campsite:

1. Take fire bans and local laws seriously.
2. Keep candles covered.
3. Contain your campfire. If you’re planning on having a campfire in an area where it’s permitted, keep these tips in mind to prevent it from turning into a wildfire:
• Pick a spot that’s close to a water source and sheltered from the wind, at least three metres away from logs, stumps, trees, branches, or other debris, and 15 metres away from buildings or tents.
• Build your campfire on bare dirt or a rock surface and surround it with a ring of rocks to help keep it contained; remove any debris like pine needles, grass, leaves, or twigs from the area.
• Keep it small — fires smaller than one metre high and one metre wide are easiest to control and put out.
• Before you light your fire, make sure you have a bucket of at least eight litres of water and a shovel on hand to help contain or put out the fire in an emergency.
• Never leave your campfire unattended (not even for a few minutes).
• Before you leave the area or when you’re finished enjoying your campfire, pour lots of water on it, then stir it with a stick or shovel. Then, pour more water on it to make sure it’s out (the ashes should be soaking wet and cool to the touch).
4. Dunk your cigarette butts in water.
5. Steer clear of tall grass.
6. Be careful with fireworks.
7. Skip the yard waste bonfire.

Read the full article

Here are a few simple things you can do to help reduce the risk of wildfires at home, on the road, at the cottage, or on the campsite.