Insurable Interest Canadian Insurance Blog

Westland Insurance expands into three new communities Surrey, BC (Mar. 6, 2025) – Westland Insurance, one of Canada’s leading independent insurance brokerages, has acquired Loewen Agencies Ltd. effective March 1, 2025. With this acquisition, Westland gains Loewen Agencies trusted reputation and strong community ties, allowing it to enhance its offerings and serve more clients. Loewen Agencies serves the Radville, Ceylon, and Minton communities with coverage for properties, vehicles, businesses, and farm insurance. Loewen Agencies has been a trusted part of these communities since 1947, built on a legacy of exceptional advice and client service. The integration of Loewen Agencies into Westland’s operations will ensure that clients continue to receive the high level of service they’ve come to expect, while also gaining access to a broader range of insurance products and resources. “I’m extremely pleased to welcome Loewen Agencies to the Westland team,” said Jamie Lyons, Westland’s President & CEO. “This is an exciting step in our growth journey. Supporting rural communities across Canada with their insurance needs is an important part of our business model at Westland. We look forward to welcoming their talented team and to continue providing outstanding service in these new communities that they’ve served for decades.”...

Innovative Technology to Safeguard Homes from Water Damage Flume’s IoT-enabled flow-based monitoring service now available through HSB’s partner ecosystem Water leak detection system provides 24/7 protection for homeowners Real-time mobile alerts help prevent costly water damage Partnership expands Flume’s reach to insurance clients across the country Hartford, CT (Mar. 6, 2025) – Flume, a leader in smart home water leak detection, is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with HSB to offer its advanced flow-based water leak detection service to homeowners through HSB’s extensive network of insurance providers and partners. Flume’s Home Water Protection Service is designed to protect homes from the devastating effects of water damage, a leading cause of property loss. By using a single sensor that straps to a home’s existing water meter, Flume monitors water flow in real-time, immediately detecting leaks and sending instant alerts to homeowners via a mobile app. Through this collaboration, HSB will introduce Flume’s innovative water protection system to its clients, expanding the availability of cutting-edge technology to homeowners seeking to mitigate the risk of water damage. “We’re excited to join forces with HSB, an industry leader committed to integrating the latest technologies into insurance solutions,” said Eric Adler, co-founder of Flume....

Homeowners should consider how they are protecting valuables in their basement Brisbane, CA (May 9, 2023) – Basements have evolved from mere storage spaces to integral parts of many homes, now equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment systems, expensive gym equipment and valuable furniture. However, these spaces remain highly susceptible to flooding, potentially leading to costly repairs. Recent data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada highlights 2024 as the most expensive year for severe weather-related losses in our country’s history, with flooding contributing to over $1 billion in losses. In fact, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada (Allstate Canada) data reveals that water damage is one of the top reasons customers submit a home insurance claim, and the cost to repair a water-damaged basement rose by nearly 20 per cent from 2019 to 2024. According to a recent Léger poll conducted on behalf of Allstate Canada, 80 per cent of Canadians who responded have a basement and one in 10 have experienced basement flooding. The survey also revealed that 61 per cent of responding homeowners have a bathroom, sink or access to running water in their basement, and 55 per cent use their basement to store a spare fridge or freezer. Additionally, 47...

Sedgwick launches ‘Connect 2024’ list of major trends and issues Memphis, TN (Mar. 3, 2025) – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of claims management, loss adjusting, and technology-enabled business solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of a new innovative solution, an AI-generated claims summary feature in viaOne. The viaOne portal is Sedgwick’s digital hub that provides clients with real-time access to their data and visibility into every aspect of their claims. This new feature allows examiners and claims professionals to quickly view a summary of the past 12 months of information for a particular claim at the click of a button. This solution transforms the claims process as it efficiently provides key insights, reserve suggestions, next best actions, interactive settlements, quality assurance, predictive modeling, carrier requirements, and more. By leveraging Sedgwick’s proprietary GenAI technology, new efficiencies are created for examiners when taking over claims or conducting claims reviews, streamlining the process and saving time. This recent advancement in Sedgwick’s technology evolution journey further positions the company as the leading claims administrator in revolutionizing claims management. “The creation of this claims summary feature is a testament to Sedgwick’s commitment to simplifying claims and transforming the industry. We remain hyper focused...

Manulife’s digital capabilities, including AI-enabled enhancements, are expected to generate a threefold return on investment over five years through 2027 Toronto, ON (Mar. 6, 2025) – Manulife is pleased to announce that over 75 percent of its global workforce are engaged with GenAI through learning, immersive experiences and tools, including ChatMFC, its proprietary GenAI assistant introduced in 2024. Manulife has been actively investing in AI tools to embed across its workforce since the AI practice was introduced nearly ten years ago. By democratizing access to AI-enabled solutions, the Company is empowering colleagues to harness its potential in their daily workflows, enhancing efficiency and driving innovation. AI is not a stand-alone function at Manulife, it is an integral part of how the company operates across teams, geographies, and business units. A Culture of AI Democratization and Innovation “AI is transformative, and it is creating efficiencies for how we work, create, and interact with one another,” said Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Analytics Officer, Manulife. “By equipping our teams with GenAI tools, we’re enabling them to work smarter, move faster, and make a bigger impact. We’ve doubled our AI-driven impact by diversifying and expanding solutions, strengthening data and AI platforms, and practicing responsible...