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Duliban Insurance Brokers Expands in the GTA Through Acquisition of Insuranceland Inc. 0

Duliban Insurance Brokers Expands in the GTA Through Acquisition of Insuranceland Inc.

Duliban Insurance Brokers has combined operations with InsuranceLand Inc., a respected Personal Lines group insurance brokerage based in Mississauga This marks an important step in Duliban’s growth, expanding our expertise into group insurance while staying true to the client-first culture both our teams have always shared Niagara, ON (Aug. 17, 2026) – Duliban Insurance Brokers Limited, a division of McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited, is pleased to announce that it has combined operations with Insuranceland Inc., a property and casualty insurance brokerage based in Mississauga, Ontario. The acquisition marks another important step in Duliban’s continued growth across Ontario. It expands the brokerage’s presence in the Greater Toronto Area while bringing Insuranceland’s experience and strategic focus in group insurance into the Duliban and McDougall organization. For clients, employees, and partners of both organizations, the combination brings together experienced Ontario insurance professionals with a shared commitment to strong relationships, personalized service, and long-term growth. “This is more than an acquisition, it is an investment in our future,” said Jason Duliban, President, Duliban Insurance Brokers. “Together, we will continue to grow, innovate, and strengthen our position as a trusted advisor to our clients and communities.” Welcoming Insuranceland to the Duliban and McDougall Family Insuranceland...

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Chicago River Bridge Gets Stuck After Lifting for Boat to Pass

Article 0 Comments A major bridge in downtown Chicago remained stuck in the raised position for more than four hours Wednesday after dangerous heat caused its components to expand. The DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge, which crosses the Chicago River at Grand Avenue, became stuck during a scheduled lift to allow a boat to pass underneath around 10 a.m., said Erica Schroeder, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Transportation. The bridge finally lowered and reopened to traffic shortly before 2:30 p.m. “The issue was related to the high temperatures in Chicago, which caused bridge components to expand enough to prevent the two bridge leaves from fully closing,” Schroeder said in an emailed statement. City crews, assisted by the Chicago Fire Department, “made the necessary adjustments” to cool the bridge, Schroeder said. A wave of extreme heat began sweeping across Chicago on Tuesday, prompting the National Weather Service to warn residents on two consecutive days to prepare for “dangerous heat.” The stuck bridge caused traffic snarls downtown as drivers were forced to take other routes. ___ Mayes-Osterman is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that...

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Ross Fire Continues Burning in North Texas

Article 0 Comments Ten days since the Ross Fire broke out west of Fort Worth, responders are still battling one of the largest wildfires in North Texas’ recorded history. And while parts of the region are expected to get some rain and slightly cooler temperatures in the next few days due to Tropical Storm Edouard, it remains to be seen how the changing weather would affect the fire. “The fire is estimated at 90,000 acres so there are going to be portions that may see rain, portions that may not see rain,” Laura Stevens, a public information officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service said on Sept. 1. “It is an ongoing operation, very dynamic, very changing as the weather comes in.” The Forest Service and local law enforcement agencies determined that the fire originated along a road and was sparked by equipment or a vehicle, although the specific source couldn’t be determined. At a Sept. 3 press conference, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said he expected it to take up to two more weeks to fully extinguish the fire. Gov. Greg Abbott promised residents the state would help them rebuild when it was safe to do...

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World Insurance Acquires New Jersey’s Pellechio Family Agency

Article 0 Comments World Insurance Associates announced it acquired the business of Pellechio Family Agency of Parsippany, New Jersey on May 1, 2026. The Pellechio agency was founded in 2107. It offers commercial and personal insurance. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla provided legal counsel to World on the transaction. Castano Quigley Cherami provided legal counsel to Pellechio. World Insurance, based in Iselin, New Jersey, is ranked #14 on Insurance Journal’s Top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Insurance Agencies list. The agency serves clients from more than 250 offices across the U.S. and U.K. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions New Jersey Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it. Submit No Thanks Here are more articles you may enjoy. Interested in Mergers? Get automatic alerts for this topic.

CSIO Recognizes Six Insurers for Achieving Compliance Certification 0

CSIO Recognizes Six Insurers for Achieving Compliance Certification

Toronto, ON (Sept. 2, 2026) – CSIO is pleased to congratulate Howick Mutual Insurance Company, Maple Mutual Insurance Company, Sandbox Mutual Insurance, Stanley Mutual Insurance Company, Westminster Mutual Insurance Company, and Yarmouth Mutual Insurance Company on achieving CSIO’s Compliance Certification. The CSIO Compliance Certification recognizes insurers that have eliminated Z-codes (non-standard coverage codes) from their data exchange with brokers and use only CSIO Standard codes. By adopting standardized codes, insurers help improve data quality and consistency across broker workflows, supporting more accurate reporting, operational efficiency, and a better broker experience. “Congratulations to Howick, Maple, Sandbox, Stanley, Westminster and Yarmouth on achieving CSIO Compliance Certification,” said Kathryn Sinclair, President & CEO of CSIO. “This certification reflects their commitment to using industry standards to improve the accuracy and consistency of data exchanged between insurers and brokers. As more insurers align with CSIO Standards, brokers benefit from straightforward data, more reliable workflows, and a better experience for the customers they serve.” CSIO works with insurers to support the transition from non-standard Z-codes to CSIO Standard codes, helping ensure that information is exchanged consistently across the industry. Insurers can also request new coverage codes through CSIO’s maintenance request process. Submitted requests are reviewed by...

True Digital Sovereignty Is Built by System Design, Not by Borders 0

True Digital Sovereignty Is Built by System Design, Not by Borders

By Deb Pimentel, President, IBM Canada — Recently, I’ve noticed that the discussion in Canada about digital sovereignty mainly revolves around borders. It focuses on where code is written, where data is stored and whether a solution is built domestically. While these factors are important, they don’t form the basis of true independence. Digital sovereignty is not defined by geography alone, but by governance. This includes who manages the technology, who gets access to it and under what circumstances. The danger is that a borders-only view of security can create a false sense of safety while limiting Canada’s access to the innovation it needs to remain competitive on the global stage. In my work across the Canadian technology ecosystem, I’ve seen digital sovereignty move to the centre of the debate. But the terrain is shifting quickly, as AI and cloud systems become increasingly woven into public services, economic infrastructure and national security. This raises the stakes for how these technologies are governed, posing a critical question: how do we build an infrastructure that can evolve with Canada’s needs? No country can afford to independently develop an entirely new technology stack, but governments and commercial entities do require sovereign control over...

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US-Iran Clashes Escalate as Fears Grow of Extended Conflict

Article 0 Comments Fighting between the US and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz intensified after a period of relative calm, triggering a fresh jump in energy prices as fears grow of an open-ended war. The US military carried out a second round of strikes in three days overnight, targeting radar systems and mine-laying capabilities along Iran’s southern coast. Iran retaliated with drone and missile volleys on US bases across the Middle East, in line with a pattern used throughout the six-month war. Tehran accused the US of hitting a wedding ceremony in the southern coastal city of Sirik,with the Iranian Red Crescent Society saying at least four people died while about 67 were injured. The organization, which had previously put the number of fatalities at five, said the total may rise. “The US military never targets civilians,” said US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Centcom, which oversees US forces in the Middle East. Iranian officials likened the incident to a strike on an elementary school in the city of Minab during the early days of the conflict. That attack killed an estimated120 children and is under investigation by the US military. “This cruelty cannot be...

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People Moves: Sunstar Insurance Group Names Ashby as Chief Information Officer

Article 0 Comments Sunstar Insurance Group announced it has hired Tod Ashby as Chief Information Officer, where he will lead the company’s technology strategy, enterprise infrastructure and systems modernization as Sunstar continues to build the scalable platform needed to support its growth. In this role, he will oversee enterprise architecture, cloud and cybersecurity strategy, data and reporting infrastructure and the technology integration of newly acquired agencies, working closely with Sunstar’s executive team to advance Sunstar’s Corporate Infrastructure priorities. Ashby brings four decades of technology leadership experience across the insurance industry, with a focus on enterprise transformation, M&A due diligence and integration, cloud and infrastructure modernization and cybersecurity governance. He has held senior technology roles at AssuredPartners, Prime Risk Partners, HUB International and Van Gilder Insurance Corporation, where he led enterprise infrastructure, compliance and integration programs for organizations scaling to more than $2 billion in revenue. His background as a systems leader, governance architect and CIO across multiple private equity-backed platforms positions him to make an immediate impact. Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what...

As HNW Individuals Embrace Increasingly Fluid, Multi-Phase Lives, Only 17% Have an Integrated Wealth Plan to Keep Up 0

As HNW Individuals Embrace Increasingly Fluid, Multi-Phase Lives, Only 17% Have an Integrated Wealth Plan to Keep Up

New Manulife research finds fragmented planning is creating blind spots as longer lives reshape how wealthy individuals live, work and transfer wealth across generations Toronto, ON (Aug. 18, 2026) – Longer lives are changing what wealth needs to do. As high-net-worth (HNW) individuals expect to remain active for decades beyond traditional retirement age, many are rethinking how they work, invest and use their wealth throughout their lives. Rather than planning for a single retirement phase, they are increasingly preparing for multiple stages of work, reinvention, family responsibilities and new opportunities. This shift is prompting a rethink of traditional approaches to wealth planning. That is the central finding of The New Fluidity (opens in a new tab), new research from Manulife and FT Longitude among 1,000 HNW and mass-affluent individuals across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. While many wealthy individuals are adapting their lifestyles and investment strategies to longer lifespans, relatively few have put in place an integrated wealth plan that connects investments, protection, succession and family governance. Retirement is no longer a finish line Traditional notions of retirement are giving way to more fluid, multi-phase lives — what the Manulife-FT report describes as “portfolio lives”, where HNW individuals continue to...

Alliant Insurance Services to Acquire Nava, Creating an AI-Native Model for the Future of Employee Benefits 0

Alliant Insurance Services to Acquire Nava, Creating an AI-Native Model for the Future of Employee Benefits

This combination brings together connected intelligence, human expertise, and national scale to improve benefits performance every day, not just at renewal Irvine, CA (Aug. 18, 2026) – Alliant Insurance Services is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Nava Benefits, combining Alliant’s advisory depth, analytics, scale, and risk expertise with Nava’s AI-native HQ platform to help define the next generation of employee benefits brokerage. The acquisition comes at an important inflection point for the industry. Technology has long supported benefits brokerage, but artificial intelligence creates an opportunity to fundamentally change how benefits are delivered. Rather than adding another technology layer to a traditional service model, Alliant and Nava intend to create a more connected operating model in which real-time intelligence, technology, and human expertise work together to improve benefits performance for employers and their people. “AI is not an incremental change for our industry. It creates the opportunity to rethink how benefits are delivered from the ground up,” said Kevin Overbey, President of Alliant Employee Benefits. “This acquisition is about leading that transformation and building a model that is more connected, more responsive, and more capable of delivering measurable value for employers and the people...