Adjusters profiles. Yukon, NWT. Western CanadaAdjuster Locator 2003

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1 Western CanadaAdjuster Locator 2003 Adjusters profiles Alcan Adjusters Inc. Located in Whitehorse, Yukon, Alcan Adjusters is staffed by 4 adjusters with combined 60 years of insurance claims experience. Servicing an extensive territory: the entire Yukon, southeast Alaska, Northern B.C., and the western Northwest Territories. They handle all types of property and casualty losses as well as provide appraisal services. BC - Interior BC: Dease lake YT, NT - Yukon, N.W.T: Inuvik, Whitehorse All Claims General Insurance Adjusters Inc. The Regina-based firm, incorporated in 2000, serves Saskatchewan with the philosophy of investigating, negotiating and concluding settlements in a fair, prompt manner. All Claims specializes in commercial and residential property and casualty, inland marine, agriculture, heavy equipment, automobile and RV appraisals and environmental liability. Member CIAA, CCAIF and the Saskatchewan Association of Insurance Adjusters. Visit SK - Saskatchewan: Regina Allmark Claims Service With over 30 years of insurance adjusting experience, Barry G. Allmark, BA CIP, specializes in all levels and all types of claims. Allmark services the Thompson Okanagan area Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Enderby, Merritt, Kamloops and north to Valemount, from its Kelowna location. BC - Interior BC: Kelowna Ashcroft Insurance Adjusters Leona Ashcroft CIP has managed ICBC offices throughout B.C. for 13 years. She has a strong current knowledge base in all lines of insurance claims. An experienced BI, auto and property claims adjuster servicing towns and cities in the West Kootenay Nelson, Trail, Castlegar, Nakusp, Creston, Grand Forks Leona is an active community-minded citizen. She is a board member of both the City of Nelson youth committee and the seniors committee, a Nelson Rotary Club director and sits on the board of the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. BC - Interior BC: Castlegar, Cranbrook, Nelson, Trail Associated Island Adjusters is a regional chain of four independent, full-service adjusting offices from Victoria to Campbell River serving Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Powell River. The firm specializes in property, liability and marine losses, with an emphasis on high quality, personalized service with integrity. Senior adjusters have many years experience investigating and settling losses of all sizes and complexity. BC - Vancouver Island: Campbell River, Courtenay, Comox, Parksville, Victoria Baker, Bertrand, Chasse & Goguen Claim Services Limited BBCG, established in 1997, is a national firm of insurance adjusters serving all provinces from offices located in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Experienced adjusters focus only on fidelity, surety, errors and omissions claims, with ingenuity, co-operation, results and the highest quality service at competitive rates. They act efficiently, proactively and quickly in handling large, complicated surety and fidelity losses. Adjusters Yukon, NWT Inuvik Alcan Adjusters * st Ave Whitehorse YT Y1A 1A3 Contact: Rick Reaume Tel: Fax: [email protected] Whitehorse Alcan Adjusters st Ave Whitehorse YT Y1A 1A3 Contact: Rick Reaume Tel: Fax: [email protected] Brouwer Claims * th Ave Fort St John BC V1J 5S7 Contact: Sid Belziuk Tel: Fax: [email protected] Yellowknife Shumka Craig & Moore nd St Yellowknife NT X1A 1T4 Contact: Darrell Portz Tel: Toll-free: Fax: [email protected] Summer 2003 Insurancewest 31

2 Steve Holotuk and Jamie O Connor work out of the Vancouver office and service both BC and Alberta. Barnes Craig & Associates Based in Vancouver, provides high quality adjusting, claims and litigation management services for liability claims, specializing exclusively in these fields since the mid-1990s. On-staff lawyers and insurance professionals have experience handling complicated claims, delivering innovative, economical solutions to insurers, self-insurers, reciprocals and insurance managers. BC - Vancouver Island: Victoria Western CanadaAdjuster Locator 2003 Barrett and Associates Adjusters Ltd. Established in 1994 and comprised of a team of seven experienced adjusters. They handle bodily injury, property and liability claims with the assistance of five professional support staff. They provide a top quality product along with prompt, courteous service at a reasonable and competitive cost. AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton Gary Best & Company Adjusters Gary Best, a well-known senior claims adjuster, handles all types of claims. However, he is particularly experienced in major property losses and complex automobile BI cases. Best has been an independent adjuster in Alberta since 1957 and is a past regional president of CIAA, currently a member of AAIA and of Blue Goose. He deals well with senior levels of government and professional and technical specialists such as engineers and lawyers. He and claims associate Joan Talbott service the Edmonton and Sherwood Park areas. AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton, Sherwood Park Brouwer Claims Canada & Co. Ltd. Brouwer Interspect & Associates BC - Vancouver Island: Nanaimo, Victoria BC - Lower BC & Mainland: Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Sechelt, Surrey, Vancouver, Whistler BC - Interior BC: Cranbrook, Creston, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St.John, Golden, Radium, Grand Forks, Houston, Invermere, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson, Penticton, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, Salmon Arm, Smithers, Terrace, Vanderhoof, Vernon, Williams Lake AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lloydminster AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary, Medicine Hat, Red Deer SK - Saskatchewan: Estevan, Lloydminster, Saskatoon, Yorkton MB - Manitoba: Winnipeg YT, NT - Yukon, N.W.T: Whitehorse Charles Taylor Consulting CTC Services (formerly Rush Johnson Associates) is the oldest established energy loss adjusting firm worldwide. A broad range of losses are handled: physical damage and machinery breakdown; business interruption; operators extra expenses/control of well; liability, marine and pollution losses. They employ engineers with oil and gas, aviation, construction and marine experience. Based in Calgary, Halifax, Houston, London, Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Visit AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary Coast Claims Service Ltd. B.C.-based Coast Claims was incorporated in 1970, with offices in all the main communities on Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and in Vancouver, providing services around the clock seven days a week. Services include general claims, including property and casualty; marine losses, hull and cargo; special investigations. Visit BC - Vancouver Island: Campbell River, Chemainus, Courtenay, Comox, Denman, Hornby Islands, Duncan, Gabriola Island, Galiano, Mayne, Saturna Is, Gold River, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Port Hardy, Port Renfrew, Quadra, Cortes Islands, Qualicum, Salt Spring, Pender Islands, Sidney, Sooke, Thetis Island, Victoria BC - Lower BC & Mainland: Powell River, Vancouver Crawford Adjusters Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Crawford & Company, the world s largest independent provider of diversified services to insurance companies, self-insured corporations, and government entities. A few of the many services provided are claims and risk management, loss adjustment, healthcare management, class action administration, and risk information services. Over 85 offices throughout Canada including 24 in Western Canada. Visit their website BC - Vancouver Island: Nanaimo, Victoria BC - Interior BC: Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton, Edmonton AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer SK - Saskatchewan: Regina, Saskatoon MB - Manitoba: Brandon, Winnipeg B.J. Eaton Insurance Adjusters & Co. (Nelson) Ltd. Serving the west Kootenay area of B.C., Brian Eaton, owner/manager, has 38 years experience in all lines of loss adjustment. Monica Spencer BA CIP recently joined the firm and has 13 years experience in Victoria adjusting property losses. BC - Interior BC: Castlegar, Nakusp, Nelson Ergezinger Favero Adjusters Inc. Principals Marcus Ergezinger and Rennie Favero collectively have over 35 years adjusting experience. Along with their staff they are capable of adjusting any aspect of any claim. An adjusting service that is second to none providing cost-effective claims-handling without compromising quality. Keeping quantum control in mind at all times is their philosophy. AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton Excel Adjustco Inc. Since 1988 Excel provides quality adjusting services to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands - liability, surety, auto and property fields. Steve Cruise and George Kemshaw together have half a century of adjusting experience. Dennis Summerhayes, Clifford Chiu, and Dave Yarnell have backgrounds in construction, law, and multi-line claims. Visit BC - Vancouver Island: Duncan, Salt Spring, Pender Islands, Sidney, Victoria Gateway Adjusting Services Ltd. This Prince Albert-based firm was established in 1982 and provides claims adjusting service to all points in northern and central Saskatchewan. Adjusters on staff are: Merv Rocheleau CIP, who has 37 years claims experience, and Dennis Hegedus FCIP, with 29 years. The firm handles all lines; as well they are skilled at auto and farm machinery appraisals. SK - Saskatchewan: Prince Albert 32 Insurancewest Summer 2003

3 Western CanadaAdjuster Locator 2003 H.D. Adjusters Ltd./ H.D. Appraisers Ltd. Harvey L. Herman & Associates Ltd. Herman & Associates of Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Nelson are adjusters with company and independent backgrounds specializing in investigating injury claims. Also certified in fire, smoke and water damage property losses, they have a strong following from the province s largest insurer, and handle losses for nine Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba insurers. Visit their website BC - Interior BC: Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson, Penticton Hawrysh Adjusting Services handles all homeowner, commercial, liability, automobile and heavy equipment claims, with priority given to claims in northern Manitoba from Swan River to Churchill. The firm, started in 1987, specializes in collision appraisal and estimating. Member CIAA. MB - Manitoba: The Pas Horizon Claims provides all-line adjustment and appraisal services from Houston to the Pacific Ocean, and more distant locales on special request. With 7 years company experience and 30 plus years as an independent adjuster, owneroperator Dave Watson has extensive experience in automobile, bodily injury, property, commercial, liability, and transportation losses. BC - Interior BC: Houston, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Terrace Kendal Adjusters Inc. Providing a high quality investigation on all lines of claims for a diverse number of insurers and corporations, Kendal Adjusters has a team of ten adjusters with a combined expertise of over 150 years. Extensive knowledge of the handling of all nature of losses in Alberta, the company has diverse experience handling losses throughout Canada, U.S.A., and the Gulf of Mexico. Full claims support service including bordereaux, claims registers, trust account facilities. Visit them at AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary Kernaghan Adjusters Limited Celebrating 50 years in business as Canada s first privately owned, independent adjusting company, Kernaghan Adjusters have maintained their vision of customer service excellence through continuous improvement of their adjusting service. President Patti M. Kernaghan FCIP CRM, and staff live by the philosophy that knowledge and integrity produce excellence. Serving Canada coast to coast with a high presence in the western region, Kernaghan is a company clients depend on. Please visit BC - Vancouver Island: Duncan, Nanaimo, Victoria BC - Lower BC & Mainland: Abbotsford, Surrey, Vancouver, Whistler AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer MB - Manitoba: Churchill, Flin Flon, The Pas, Thompson, Winnipeg Kootenay Adjusting & Consulting Ltd. Arson investigations, BI settlements, property losses, auto liability claims and vehicle damage appraisals are the A Cure for the Pane Autoglas Maintenance Inc. offers the only real cure, a stand alone automobile window glass insurance policy, for the chronic and costly headache PANE insurers suffer from auto glass claims! What s in it for Consumers? Glass coverage by our policy with a $50 deductible, leaves no reason to carry a physical damage deductible that is less than $500 on an automobile policy. Our deductible is $50 for a replacement claim and $25 for a chip repair claim.this equates to a direct expense savings of at least $150 for the consumer. $50 Deductible What s in it for Insurers? Insurer s chronic and costly headache is gone what a relief! No more nuisance glass claims to write cheques for and no more concern as to the glass claim pricing dilemma.this should leave more time and resources to settle the more urgent claims and improve the bottom line. it is affordable! We can accommodate net premium arrangements or gross premium arrangements that pay you a commission. and it makes sense! You can maintain your current premium for your customers and offer them affordable $50 deductible glass coverage. Underwritten by: What s in it for Brokers? In addition to the 15-20% commission we pay, with all the glass losses taken out of their regular market loss ratios, the brokers should realize an increased contingent profit statement. #200, Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2H5 Tel (780) Fax (780) We ve got your glass covered!...your auto glass, that is! Summer 2003 Insurancewest 33

4 backbone of this adjusting operation which has offices in Trail and Nelson. The firm has been servicing the West Kootenay region for 20 years and has the expertise and background for the most complicated claims assignments. BC - Interior BC: Trail Western CanadaAdjuster Locator 2003 Mercury Adjusters Inc. are independent adjusters servicing Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Founded in 1996, the firm specializes in auto, heavy equipment and injury claims for major Canadian and U.S. insurers. Focuses on providing a full range of adjusting services in a timely and cost-effective manner. Millman Adjusting Services Ltd. Firm specializes in motor vehicle and casualty BI investigations and claims from task assignments to full investigations and litigation management. Principal Bill Millman BA, CIP has been an independent adjuster for seven years, following 14 years with State Farm Insurance in Calgary. The firm s other partner, Gwen Millman, a registered nurse, provides health and liability claims support. Independent claims investigation and settlement with personalized service, honesty and integrity. Member IISA, CIP Society. BC - Interior BC: Kelowna AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary SK - Saskatchewan: Regina Payson Adjusters Limited provides a personalized service for all lines covering Alberta. They specialize in litigation management, BI and liability investigations. George Payson CIP is regional vice chair, western Canada, of the Insurance Institute of Canada. He is a senior experienced claims professional and retired RCMP officer with an extensive background interviewing witnesses and claimants particularly where sensitivity and discretion are required. AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary Plains Adjusters Ltd. is a Medicine Hat-based firm that has served the area for more than 50 years. Service includes general claims specializing in property, liability, and bodily injury losses. The firm endeavors to provide a top-quality product with prompt courteous service. Now servicing southwestern Saskatchewan as well as all of the southern portion of Alberta. AB - Southern Alberta: Lethbridge, Medicine Hat SK - Saskatchewan: Swift Current M.J. Porter & Company Servicing the insurance industry for more than 35 years, Mirlin Porter specializes in commerical and personal property, commercial and personal liability, auto and commercial vehicles, transit and cargo losses, casualty/bi claims, and forestry and heavy equipment. Covering Victoria, southern Vancouver Island, and Gulf Islands 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Electronic reporting provided on request. BC - Vancouver Island: Victoria Larrie Riddell Adjusting Services Larrie Riddell opened her firm seven years ago, and has fourteen years experience handling property and liability losses. She has a Level II certificate from the Justice Institute in Vancouver for traffic accident investigations. Adjustments of all claims are concluded in an expedient and professional manner. BC - Interior BC: Kamloops Rubix Claims & Mediation Serving British Columbia s Peace region, from Mackenzie to Fort Nelson, Rubix Claims and Mediation provides general insurance claims adjusting. Established in 2001, this northeastern B.C. firm also provides negotiation and mediation services to the insurance industry and to general public. BC - Interior BC: Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St.John Shumka Craig & Moore Shumka Craig & Moore Adjusters Canada Ltd., established in 1986, is the largest Canadian-owned independent adjusting firm across Canada. Headquartered in Edmonton, SCM Canada has 34 branches nationwide. Trained claims personnel utilize state-of-the-art technology to deliver professional claims management. I-Adjust, their award-winning Web-based system provides full file management and auditing control online. A 24-hour national emergency claims service is also provided. Visit BC - Vancouver Island: Victoria BC - Lower BC & Mainland: Surrey, Vancouver BC - Interior BC: Kelowna, Penticton, Prince George AB - Northern Alberta: Edmonton, Edson, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Peace River AB - Southern Alberta: Calgary, Canmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer SK - Saskatchewan: Regina, Saskatoon MB - Manitoba: Winnipeg YT, NT - Yukon, N.W.T: Yellowknife Signature Claims Service Specializes in auto, BI and liability claims. J.W. (Jim) Denton AIIC, a pastpresident of the BCIAA has more than 23 years experience as an independent adjuster. The firm services the entire Thompson/Okanagan region: The Coquihalla and Merritt; the Trans- Canada highway Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke and Golden; Kootenays Nelson, Trail and Cranbrook; and south to the border Penticton, Osoyoos. BC - Interior BC: Kelowna Southern Interior Claims Service Inc. In Penticton since Handles all types of general insurance claims in the Okanagan, Princeton and Grand Forks, and larger losses in the West Kootenays. Owner/operator Kerry G. Reid CIP has 35 years in the claims business and expertise in all property and liability losses. BC - Interior BC: Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Princeton Sterling Pacific Insurance Adjusters Commercial property losses with emphasis on strata claims are the specialty of this five-office firm operating from Hope to Vancouver, north to Squamish/Whistler/Pemberton. Sterling Pacific is an amalgamation of Coast Pacific Insurance Adjusters, started 14 years ago in New Westminster and Sterling Adjusters which has serviced the Fraser Valley since The twelve experienced adjusters and appraisers also include senior property and casualty specialists with expertise in auto claims and large property and farm losses. BC - Lower BC & Mainland: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Hope, Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Richmond, Squamish, Surrey, Vancouver, Whistler 34 Insurancewest Summer 2003

5 Western CanadaAdjuster Locator 2003 Triad Claims Service (1994) Ltd. Please see their website to view their service areas and for information regarding their experienced and knowledgeable staff. Emergency service is available by pager; quick response and complete handling is Triad Claims promise. Visit them at AB - Northern Alberta: Barrhead, Westlock AB - Southern Alberta: Banff, Calgary R. Zacharias Adjusting Established in 1999, the offices handle all types of losses. Robert Zacharias, a licensed Level III adjuster, has 13 years experience as a general insurance adjuster and specializes in property and liability. Adjuster Bryan Gale specializes in heavy equipment and appraisals. Services B.C. s central Cariboo country. 24-hour service; mediation available. Member CIAA. BC - Interior BC: 100 Mile House, Kelowna, Williams Lake List your COMING EVENT Ideal for publicizing your insurance-related event: fax LOOK ONLINE The top Services, Suppliers & Trades used by insurers, brokers & adjusters in Western Canada. As advertised in Services, Suppliers LOOK ONLINE Mainline Continued from page 19 ers. The two earlier acquisitions carry on business under the Mainline name. But no decision has been made yet about whether the Kipling brokerage will do business under the Mainline banner. The other brokerages in the group have maintained their own identities and continue to operate as separate, independently-owned enterprises. The nice thing about Mainline, according to Hildebrand, is that the partners don t work together on a dayto-day basis. And that s why it works. When Mainline Don Beattie was formed there were three main issues the shareholders addressed - economies of scale, markets and succession. The shareholders work together whenever the opportunity arises, sharing resources and information, and they run the brokerages they ve acquired. Profits from there are ploughed back into Mainline, building up equity for future expansion. The nice part of our organization is that when we bring someone into our fold, we have first right of refusal on their brokerage. When you want to retire, we have the right to purchase you. That s basically the whole theme of it. It gives you solidarity and succession, Hildebrand says. Dave Schwebius, 56, one of Mainline s original shareholders, recently became the first among the group to sell his own business to the network. Married and the father of four adult children, he d been operating Moose Mountain Agencies Ltd. in Kipling since Schwebius wanted to semi-retire, but no one in his family was interested in getting into the insurance business, so the sale to Mainline was a logical step. As part of the arrangement, his shares in Mainline were purchased by another broker, Bill Martin Bruce Hildebrand of Estevan, and Schwebius will stay on for a while as an employee. Mainline, he says, was a very good experience. I was happy I was part of it. From the point of view that you dealt with people in your own industry, it was good. We didn t have a serious squabble in 10 years. And I got help from the other fellows when I needed it, he says. That was the biggest thing. Two other original shareholders have passed on their interests to family members. In both cases, just as it was with the Schwebius arrangement, approval was required by the other directors, each of whom holds a 20% interest in Mainline. We ve actually made it fairly difficult to get in, Bruce Hildebrand says. There s only going to be a maximum of five directors unless things change quite a bit. And, at this point, say if one of my kids wants to get in, I have to drop out. It s as simple as that. Ron McKay, 61, is another original Summer 2003 Insurancewest 35

6 shareholder who s dropped out. He s sold his shares of R & J McKay Agencies Ltd. of Moosomin, which he started in 1973, and has transferred shares in Mainline to his son Darryl, 35. Ron established R&J McKay (the J is for his wife Judy) when he bought an existing brokerage, located in an old bank building on Darryl McKay Moosomin s main street, for $50,000 lock, stock and barrel. Still actively involved in the family operation, he helps out whenever he s needed. One of the real advantages of being part of Mainline, according to Darryl McKay, is the ability to do business through some of the bigger insurance companies. We re able to band together as a group and use our collective volume to work with the larger insurers where we might not be able to on our own. This allows us to expand our markets, Darryl explains. Up the highway a bit in Indian Head Darren Horsman bought out his father s brokerage in Indian Head three years ago. Darren Horsman, 36, runs Indian Head Agencies Ltd. which has been in the Horsman family since Darren bought out his father Wayne, 64, three years ago and became one of the directors of Mainline. Wayne, like Ron McKay in Moosomin, continues to work in the family business. I m an employee but I m not, he jokes. I stay in the back room. He also has a little more time these days to pursue his passion, which is music. He plays in a jazz band and a steel drum band. Darren Horsman sees a very bright future for Mainline. I m hoping to see Anatomy of a working network Mainline Insurance Brokers Inc. is the brainchild of Bruce Hildebrand, an insurance broker and former marketing executive with Saskatchewan Government Insurance, who runs a general agency in Grenfell, Saskatchewan. Mainline is a tight-knit group, operating a little differently than other broker networks. Acquisitions are self-financed and member brokerages continue to be independently owned. Only purchased agencies are run through Mainline. The company was formally established in 1992 by Hildebrand and four other brokers in southeastern Saskatchewan but did not make its first acquisition until One of the original shareholders dropped out a number of years ago, selling his interest to another broker. The company recently exercised first right of refusal and purchased one of its shareholder s brokerages and brought in a new director as a result of the acquisition. Mainline ownership, which meets Mainline grow by at least another three or four brokerages over the next few years, he says, and we ve discussed the possibility of maybe setting up Mainline investments or Mainline real estate. Some of Mainline s intended expansion will come from within as retiring shareholders sell their brokerages. But, according to Bruce Hildebrand, the company will look also for opportunities elsewhere, maybe in Alberta and British Columbia. We ll do things, but with a lot of thought and planning, just as we have in the past, Hildebrand says. IW monthly, is evenly split among five member brokers, each of whom has a 20% share: Bruce Hildebrand of Grenfell Agencies of Grenfell; Darryl McKay of R&J McKay Agencies of Moosomin; Darren Horsman of Indian Head Agencies of Indian Head; Don Beattie of Broadview Insurance of Broadview; and Bill Martin of Cathedral Insurance Brokers of Estevan, who is the newest member of the group. Hildebrand estimates that the total combined annual premium volume of all the member agencies, including those acquired in the past six years, is about $9 million. Net worth of all the brokerages associated with Mainline is about $2 million. In addition to the brokerages purchased by Mainline in Montmartre, Fort Qu Appelle and Kipling the company also owns a condominium in Kimberley, British Columbia. It s used as a vacation retreat for the shareholders who also make it available to staff members. There are about 30 staffers who work for Mainline and the broker-owners. IW Headache relief across the West Prevent property damage claims from becoming costly headaches. Get an ounce of prevention from First General Services to ensure restoration projects are handled correctly the first time. The restoration specialists who are always available for you. FIRST GENERAL SERVICES Vancouver, BC Medicine Hat, AB Calgary, AB Hinton/Edson, AB Edmonton, AB Winnipeg, MB Saskatoon, SK Canada INTEGRITY SPEED QUALITY EFFICIENCY SERVICE 36 Insurancewest Summer 2003

7 PERSONALITYPROFILE Thirty-something Nipawin broker is a self-proclaimed joiner Growing up in a Saskatchewan insurance family, Nipawin s Michael Van Dorpe has found the industry a natural fit. Despite selling his agency two years ago, it s still very much a familyoriented business. Being involved and helping people in the community is a large part of Van Dorpe s commitment. (photo above) Michael Van Dorpe, at 34, considers himself to be part of the new generation of independent insurance brokers in Saskatchewan - ready to carry on where others are leaving off and ready to embrace the future. Van Dorpe manages Fiddler Agencies Ltd., a general agency in Nipawin, a town of about 5,000 in northeastern Saskatchewan. It was a family-owned business until May 2001 when it was sold to the Western Financial Group (WFG). Being part of a network will make it easier for us to compete with the banks if they ever get into the insurance business, and will give my dad an easier way of settling into retirement, Van Dorpe explains. WFG may own it, but Fiddler Agencies, which has a branch office nearby in the little community of Aylsham and does about $2 million in premium volume annually, is still very much an operation run by the Van Dorpe family. With Michael as manager, he s supported by his father Ray, his mother Charlene, his wife Tammy and his uncle Jim, who have all remained with the business in various capacities. Van Dorpe grew up with insurance. His father Ray bought Fiddler Agencies in 1981 when Michael was just a youngster. Even so, he didn t begin working full-time as a broker until 1993, after a stint in the residential construction industry in British Columbia. It was time to use my brain instead of my body to make a living. Besides, we already had two kids and Nipawin is a great place to raise a family, Van Dorpe says. Looking back on it, he says he s surprised he didn t get into the insurance business sooner. I enjoy it so much. I enjoy being able to help people. I enjoy the challenge of being able to place business and the thanks you get from people through a smile and a handshake. A self-proclaimed joiner, Van Dorpe is very active in the community and with the Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan (IBAS). Over the past few years, he has been president of the local Chamber of Commerce and the local Kinsmen Club, treasurer of the Nipawin Rodeo Association, has served as chairman of the Nipawin Parks and Recreation Board and has been on the board of the local Evergreen Community Centre. I don t want to be the guy who says we should do this and do that and not get involved. I hate that guy. Basically I want to help the Continued on page 40 Summer 2003 Insurancewest 37

8 These top qualified adjusters service 100 cities and towns throughout western Canada Alcan Adjusters All Claims Allmark Claims Ashcroft Adjusters Associated Island BBCG Claim Barnes Craig Barrett & Assoc. Gary Best Brouwer Claims Charles Taylor Coast Claims Crawford B.J. Eaton Ergezinger Favero Excel Adjustco Gateway Adjusting Hawrysh Adjusting H.D. Adjusters LOOK ONLINE and annually in the summer issue of M A G A Z I N E Harvey Herman Horizon Claims Kendal Adjusters Kernaghan Kootenay Adjusting Mercury Adjusters Millman Adjusting Payson Adjusting Plains Adjusters M.J. Porter Larrie Riddell Rubix Claims Shumka Craig Signature Claims Southern Interior Sterling Pacific Triad Claims R. Zacharias Give us a western click Hopkinson Continued from page 17 of bilge, and they sometimes develop problems in this area. After a number of years, the thin, bent oak frames seem incapable of dealing with this amount of bend and they sometimes fail, thereby converting the boat automatically into a hard chine type. Most of the Cubs were built around Two figures detached themselves from a van in the back lane and approached the boat in what were obviously very new suits of oilskin. This is it, announced the larger figure, pointing at the Cub. Introductions were made and I found out that they were a young couple from the Queen Charlotte Islands who had recently purchased the boat from the owner of the property on which we were standing. I looked first at the curve of the bilge. The port side had a nice smooth curve, but the starboard side had the tell-tale angle and the resultant open seam indicating failure of the frames in that area. I have a really neat knife which I use for surveying wooden boats. It s manufactured by a well-known American company and, in addition to retaining its edge for a long time, also has a locking device on the blade which prevents it from closing on the owner s fingers. It opens with a very determined click. The knife passed through the seam with no resistance. Whatever caulking this seam must at one time have had apparently had abandoned ship. Working my way along the seam, I somehow got myself into a position where I could see the seam and the back of the exowner s house at the same time. I was sure I saw the curtains move. I tested the hood ends where the hull planking meets the stem, which is a great place for rot, as rainwater may easily be drawn into the end grain if it is not properly caulked. The knife went right in and may, I suspect, have gone right through had its progress not been impeded by the handle. The rust blossom on the keel looked like the product of an underwater chemistry set and in several Cub sailboat, similar to the Burnaby orchard one he surveyed, when rotten apples plugged both cockpit scuppers. places at the trailing edge went right through. A ladder leaning against the apple tree was used to board the boat. The cockpit was filling with water from the continuing rain. Both cockpit scuppers were blocked with rotting apples, obviously part of last year s crop. After clearing the scuppers, the cockpit slowly drained and I was able to step into it, and from there open the main hatch without getting too wet. The smell that greeted me was one of rot, and lots of it. In describing a smell, you always have to compare it to something, and my description is overripe mushrooms. The knife really earned its keep that day. Rot was found in the clamps, the stem, the hood ends, the heads of many frames, the transom, the deck and the sheer planks. The anchor line was only long enough to moor a boat in 10 feet of water, and that s all. The rudder gland was leaking. The battery was free to move around and would shift when heeled. The compass had no fluid in it. The fire extinguisher was exhausted. The head was inoperative. There was no manual bilge pump. The electric bilge pump discharge line was broken and pumped water back into the boat. Control handles on valves on through-hull fittings were eroded, apparently due to electrolysis while sitting submerged in high bilge water. The valves were also eaten out by electrolysis. The rigging looked like Grandma s knitting, and I fully expected the sailmaker s label to read Noah. The new owners were hot on my heels during this inspection and becoming quite alarmed. The wife was on the point of tears, and the curtains in the house were seen to be in motion every time we glanced in that direction. When did you buy this boat? I asked. Yesterday, the husband replied. How much did you pay? Six thousand dollars, announced the wife quickly, at the same time throwing one of those scornful looks at her husband. You ve paid for it, I assume? Oh yes, the owner insisted on a certified cheque. By this time it was close to four o clock and some rapid thinking had to be done. One could not help but feel sorry for 38 Insurancewest Summer 2003

9 them. The story came out that it was their first boat, and they were planning on sailing it back to the Queen Charlottes. The underwriters, no doubt alarmed by such a voyage in so small a boat, had insisted on a survey before they would place cover. I think it will cost at least $2,000 to put this boat in condition to sail across English Bay, never mind Queen Charlotte Strait, I said, and when you ve spent that money, the boat will still only be worth $6,000, I added. What can we do? they asked. We tried everything. We tried to stop the cheque but the bank wouldn t do it. We tried Ships Registry but that checked out showing the title as belonging to the vendor and no liens against it. We tried my lawyer as they didn t have one, all to no avail. Nothing could prevent their becoming owners of the boat. To cut a long story short, they took Michael Tarr CIP Portage Mutual is pleased to announce the appointments of Michael Tarr, CIP, as Corporate Claims Manager for Western Canada, and Kevin Wallis, FCIP, as Corporate Claims Manager for Eastern Canada. Management and Staff are confident that Michael and Kevin will continue the tradition of fair and equitable claims service for which Portage Mutual has been known in the past. Kevin Wallis FCIP International Loss Adjusters and Surveyors OFFICES THROUGHOUT CANADA Western Branches Allan S. Tole Western Regional Manager [email protected] Cub s rigging looked like Grandma s knitting, says Hopkinson their licks and had the boat removed from the garden. We took it to a reputable boat yard and it was rebuilt for a figure I believe closer to $3,000 than the $2,000 I had guessed. I went into the yard from time to time to see progress, supervise repairs as necessary and to report to the young couple who had returned to the Queen Charlottes. I hope they are now enjoying their boat. They paid enough for it. And in case anyone is planning on writing letters to the editor regarding the high cost of surveys, yes, we stood by our quoted fee despite the additional work we became involved in. Ian Hopkinson is a master mariner and has been a marine surveyor in Vancouver for 35 years. IW BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver Suite 1050, 475 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6B 4M Fax: Toll Free: 1 (888) Manager: Mr. Roger Robinson Vancouver 390, 885 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1N Fax: Toll Free: 1 (866) Manager: Mr. David Porter Fraser Valley Unit D, Mill Lake Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 2A Fax: Toll Free: 1 (888) Manager: Mr. Mike Miles ALBERTA Calgary Suite 300, Macleod Tr. S Calgary, AB T2J 6A5 (403) Fax: (403) Toll Free: 1 (800) Manager: Mr. Tim Ponton Edmonton Suite 202, Springwood Court St. Edmonton, AB T6E 6A1 (780) Fax: (780) Toll Free: 1 (877) Manager: Mr. Martin Moran SASKATCHEWAN Melfort PO Box 1312, Melfort, SK S0E 1A0 (306) Fax: (306) Toll Free: 1 (800) Manager: Mr. James Overend Regina 495 Hoffer Drive, Regina, SK S4N 6E2 (306) Fax: (306) Toll Free: 1 (800) Manager: Mr. James Overend Swift Current PO Box 34, Swift Current, SK S9H 5V5 (306) Fax: (306) Toll Free: 1 (800) Manager: Mr. James Overend Yorkton 38 4th Ave. North, Yorkton, SK S3N 1A2 (306) Fax: (306) Toll Free: 1 (800) Manager: Mr. James Overend 24-HOUR NATIONAL & GLOBAL CLAIMS SERVICE 1 (800) Summer 2003 Insurancewest 39

10 Brokerage for sale South Alberta Lethbridge area 2 locations Owner wishes to retire. Premium volume for 2003 is approximately $10 million. Personal lines and Commercial lines are split 50/50. Large farm book. For information please contact George Perry at or [email protected] Van Dorpe Continued from page 37 community and I want to do my part. And I get the opportunity to learn at the same time. His thirst for knowledge also led to his involvement with IBAS at the provincial Resident Claims Adjuster Lombard Canada is seeking a resident claims adjuster in Calgary. The successful candidate must have CIP/FCIP, and strong skills in interpretation of coverage, investigation and negotiation of claims. You must possess excellent inter-personal skills and be self-motivated. We seek an adjuster with several years experience handling auto B.I. claims, preferably with some experience in property and liability. Fax your resume in confidence to Susana Goncalves at , or her at [email protected] The Network specializes in the recruitment and placement of insurance professionals in permanent positions in Western Canada. We take pride in providing personal and individual service to all of our clients and candidates. With 18 years of experience, Kim can find The Perfect Fit. Suite 1270, 202-6th Ave. SW Calgary, AB T2P 2R9 Tel: (403) Fax: (403) kmckay@ networksearch.net the Kim McKay is your insurance personnel expert. ETWORK CORPORATE SEARCH personnel inc. Van Dorpe s agency office in Nipawin level. Currently a member of the board of directors, Van Dorpe has been appointed to a couple of IBAS committees and hopes to serve as president of the organization a few years from now. I got involved with IBAS because I wanted to be a lot smarter about the insurance industry. I wanted to feel more confident and maybe give something back to the organization, he says. Michael Van Dorpe statistics Married to Tammy and has children Candace, 17, and Christopher,11. The Van Dorpes live in Nipawin but also have a cottage at Marean Lake, about an hour s drive from town. He likes to scuba-dive and spearfish whenever he gets the chance, usually on holidays down south. Started a new hobby recently: restoring classic cars. He s working on a 1955 Chevrolet pickup and a 1968 Camaro. He s completed restoration of a 68 Firebird. Drives a Chevy Blazer and travels at least two days a month to IBASrelated meetings in Saskatoon and Regina. Gets s a day and about 25 phone calls, mostly business-related. Likes building things and is still very interested in carpentry, which he learned prior to his entry into the insurance business. Likes to golf and tries to get out on the links at least once a week during golf season. The Van Dorpes like animals of all kinds; he says they take in strays, or orphans as he calls them, until they can find good homes for them. Their family pet is a Jack Russell terrier. IW 40 Insurancewest Summer 2003