Guthrie Insurance Brokers - Get the Right Protection at the Right Premium!

02/19/2024

11/13/2023

The more you know.

06/09/2023

With wildfires causing immense pain and disaster throughout Canada, Spring 2023 has started off with considerable hardship and misery. In our beloved cottage country, we need to do whatever is necessary to prevent similar tragedy. Even if structures are preserved, if surrounding lands and trees were destroyed, our homes, cottages, our investments would be decimated. From an Insurance Brokers perspective I wanted to share some thoughts and some suggestions you may find helpful. First, if your policies have not been reviewed and updated recently, do it now. Make sure all buildings are insured to their replacement values. Taking into account recent labour and material shortages, it may be prudent to add an extra % to be certain there is sufficient coverage in place. Completing a thorough photo/video inventory of all of your buildings and personal property is also highly recommended. Remember to include all structures and their contents such as sheds, garages, boathouses, along with even closets and drawers! Following a major fire (hurricane, etc), it is difficult to remember everything you own to start compiling a list for your insurer Also, consider your options if your home or cottage was destroyed along with many others in the same area. Would you want to rebuild on fire ravaged land? Some insurers will allow flexible options in terms of cash settlements which may allow you to rebuild elsewhere. Check with your insurer whether they would pay the depreciated value of your buildings or replacement cost in cash. If you decide to relocate, the big loss would then be to the value of the land, which unfortunately is an uninsurable risk. Checking the financial capabilty of your insurer is also suggested. Would smaller insurers have the resources and finances to withstand a catastrophe involving hundreds of properties? In the USA, some insurers have already abandoned offering insurance in higher risk communities (fire/flood) and some have withdrawn entirely from Florida and California. Others are teetering on insolvency. We do not know the financial consequences from Canadian insurers yet. Ultimately, make sure you are not caught off guard and take the necessary and important steps to protect your property and finances. There is only one chance to get it right. Getting it wrong is very expensive.

PS There are some who may hold off updating or increasing insurance coverage to see if the danger gets close. Insurers are also aware of this and will absolutely refuse to insure or increase their coverage/risk if fire (flood, hurricane, etc.) is imminent. They are always a few steps ahead. Keep this in mind and don't leave it until the last minute!

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07/29/2022

15 practical actions to reduce your risks related to extreme heat
JUNE 20, 2022
Flood and fire may be Canada’s most costly natural disasters, but extreme heat is the “silent killer”. If an extreme heat event coincided with an extended power outage – with no electricity supply to air conditioners and fans – lack of preparedness could result in widespread fatalities.

Canadians need to begin taking extreme heat as seriously as they do extreme cold.

Facing the heat is a growing challenge in Canada. We all have a responsibility to reduce our own risks from extreme heat, and an opportunity to help protect others.

The good news is the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo has developed practical tips for individuals, home and property owners, and communities at large to reduce the risks related to extreme heat.

Check out some practical actions you can take to reduce extreme heat risks and read the report in full for more details.

Change your behaviour
Actions by individuals to encourage “passive” cooling (cooling that does not use energy):

Work with neighbours, friends and family to plan ahead for the risks of extreme heat
Arrange to receive public heat warnings directly to your smartphone
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s “WeatherCAN” app sends out heat alerts and is free to download.
Learn how to use natural ventilation
Natural-draft ventilation: allow cooler air to enter a building at its base and let hotter air exit through the top. Cross-ventilation: open doors or windows on opposite walls to encourage air currents.
Reduce “waste” heat with energy-efficient appliances and LED light bulbs
Make better use of cooler areas of your home for living, eating and sleeping
Consider spending more time in your basement, lower floors, and rooms that receive less sunlight.
For individuals, investing in extreme heat resilience can result in direct co-benefits such as improved productivity, lower energy bills, and improved comfort, well-being and mental health.

Improve buildings and infrastructure
Actions by property owners and managers to encourage “passive” cooling:

Enhance insulation and airtightness to better regulate temperature
Use concrete, brick, stone and tile finishes that absorb heat
These surfaces help regulate air temperature by retaining heat in winter and staying cool in the summer.
Install temperature and humidity monitors or controls
“Smart” thermostats can automatically activate ventilation when the temperature and humidity reach certain thresholds, and avoid wasting electricity when cooling is not required.
Understand building-scale vulnerabilities to extreme heat
Examine infrastructure, operations, employees and tenants, undertake a climate-vulnerability assessment and then develop a climate adaptation plan.
Provide information, and identify and support vulnerable occupants
Consult with local public health agencies for advice and heat-health educational materials to share through face-to-face discussions, tenant meetings, newsletters, social media and posters.
Property owners and managers investing in extreme heat resilience may enjoy such co-benefits as lower operating costs, better experiences for tenants, higher property values and rent premiums, and lower vacancy rates.

Work with each other and nature
Actions by communities to encourage “passive” cooling.

Reduce artificial surfaces, expand vegetated areas and water bodies, and absorb more water
Use education and outreach to encourage preventive action and set up support programs for vulnerable populations
Provide information for different stakeholders about the risks of extreme heat and preventive measures that can reduce these risks before an extreme heat event occurs.
Provide incentives to increase passive cooling and reduce “waste” heat (e.g. by subsidizing tree planting or home retrofits)
Develop extreme heat emergency plan
Including: the broadcast of public information messages; how to respond to power outages; and “check-in” programs for vulnerable populations.
Expand artificial shade with a variety of structures
Including portable items (such as canopies, tents and umbrellas), canopies and free-standing open-air structures with roofs.
For communities, investing in extreme heat resilience can result in co-benefits such as improved air quality, flood and erosion protection, and improved habitats and biodiversity.

Read the report, Irreversible Extreme Heat: Protecting Canadians and Communities from a Lethal Future, by Joanna Eyquem and Dr. Blair Feltmate, for a complete list of all the practical actions Canadians can undertake to reduce extreme heat risks.

08/04/2021

This is a front-desk position responsible for answering telephones, managing email/regular mail, welcoming visitors, maintaining a professional image and assisting all members in their day-to-day activities.

Employment duties and responsibilities include

- Manages overall communication e.g. email, mail, courier
- Telephone and voice mail management – answer phones, relay messages, manage voice mail.
- Monitoring of all employees and producers schedules and maintain company shared calendar
- Circulating and E-filing of daily bulletins
- Light office/kitchen duties e.g. coffee, dishwasher, keeping area tidy, seasonal decoration
- Managing copier/printing, office supplies, computer room,
- Broker support, data entry, scanning, payments, and understanding and using various computer programs
- Manage office health and safety responsibilities
- Hours 8:30 am to 5:00 pm - Mon to Fri

07/03/2020

Finally. Looks like the scourge on Ontario roadways may come to an end. Soon, hoping there will be no more abuse and high jacking by unscrupulous tow truck operators.

Auto insurers are applauding Ontario’s creation of a new government task force to improve provincial oversight of the tow truck industry, citing the possibility of reducing insurance fraud and associated premium reductions for consumers. “IBC applauds the Ontario government for…

05/29/2020

Anyone who has ever been stuck with a $1500 tow bill to take your car a short tow away should understand what is really going on here.

VAUGHAN, Ont. – Four alleged organized criminal organizations that operated as rival tow truck companies involved in a violent battle for territory in the Toronto area have been dismantled, police said Tuesday. York regional police said the alleged crimes involved…

04/30/2020

We all know that Spring brings out excited drivers such as young people who have just obtained their licenses, ready to start practicing their driving on clear sunny days. As ...

04/30/2020

CYBER LIABILITY During these unprecedented times, millions of Canadians are practicing physical (social) distancing and working from home. These practices are currently the "new normal" in an effort to keep ...