Renfrew Today…
Renfrew Tomorrow…
Renfrew Yesterday…
The Strategy, the Focus, the People
Strategies for the Future
Building for Success
Today, Renfrew Insurance is one of the largest and most sophisticated insurance brokers in Western Canada and is comprised of approximately 100 highly trained insurance professionals, with offices in Calgary and Edmonton.
Jim Royer, B.Sc, CA – Chief Financial Officer Jim brings a strong finance background to Renfrew including extensive experience in acquisitions and debt and equity financing.
Our strategy is to excel in customer service by developing a deep understanding in our customers’ operations and needs to thoroughly address their insurance and riskmanagement needs. We accomplish this by partnering with some of the best insurance companies in the world and specialize in specific industries.
Jeff Peters, CIP – Senior Vice President, Business Development Jeff started in the insurance industry in 1990. With his diverse experience Jeff brings a broad range of specialist capabilities to Renfrew specifically in the areas of energy insurance, energy risk management, enterprise risk management and alternative risk financing.
We have three major operating divisions;
Raymonde Legault-Smith, B.A., LLB – Senior Vice President, Professional and Financial Risks With a background in both law and insurance, Raymonde brings her unique combination of talents to Renfrew with a strong focus on Executive Liability.
1) Commercial/Business Insurance This includes specialization by industry in Energy, General Construction, Heavy Construction, Hospitality, Realty, Transportation and Surety Bonding. 2) Private Client – Personal Insurance This is a superior service proposition which includes highvalue automobile, home and personal liability insurance. 3) Life and Group Benefits Renfrew creates unique Employee Benefit and Group Retirement Programs that complement your specific business model and the needs of your management and staff. We have niche products and Executive Compensation Packages as well as Key Man and BuySell Insurance. We build relationships based on a solid services model that ensures governance and value.
Renfrew Leadership Team Our Renfrew Leadership Team has over 200 years of combined insurance industry experience. Meet our team: Ed Sikorski, CIP – President and CEO Ed began his insurance career in 1975 as an underwriter trainee at Dominion of Canada. In 1975 he moved to Royal & Sun Alliance where he moved through the organization with increased job responsibilities. He ultimately became V.P. of Corporate Marketing and Distribution. Before joining Renfrew in 2008, Ed was the President of Noraxis Capital Corporation. He is a strong believer in putting customers first and going above and beyond to meet their insurance & Risk Management needs. Alanna Hall, CIP, CRM – Chief Operating Officer Alanna holds her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation and has successfully completed the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) academic program. She joined Renfrew in 1996 and oversees the marketing and placement of large accounts and the overall operations of the company.
Cathy McIsaac – Director of Personal Insurance Services Cathy has worked in Renfrew’s commercial marketing department and as a commercial account executive since 1979. She enjoyed building client relationships so much that she chose to specialize in personal account management in the 1980s, a role she still enjoys and excels at today. Denise Higginson – V.P. Employee Benefits Denise joined Renfrew in 1996 and has built a strong clientele. She values her client relationships and excels in creative plan designs, self-funding options, and leadingedge products. Their team’s goal is to bring together the client’s core values and objectives with their expertise, ideas and products to develop exceptional benefit programs. They believe that communication, education and integrity build the foundation of successful business relationships. Sacha Carey, CRM, CIP – Director of Claims Sacha joined Renfrew in 2010, bringing over 10 years of claims experience, including a number of years as an Adjuster for a large international insurance company and as a Claims Consultant with a large international brokerage. Along the way, she has been involved in a wide variety of claims where advocacy was required to achieve successful settlements.
we have a lot to protect
As the world changes, so does the insurance business. Political instability, environmental concerns, board and executive accountability and evolving technology all present new challenges – and opportunities – for Renfrew, its partner insurers and its clients.
Renfrew has been with us every step of the way,” says Yam. “We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
“Our most basic job is to protect our clients’ balance sheets from unexpected events and help them prosper when unforeseen things happen,” explains Jeff Peters, Senior VicePresident of business development. “But the nature of those unforeseen events change and that means we need to be vigilant in keeping up with trends in the marketplace.”
Customers like Yam drive change, and Renfrew’s job is to respond with creative solutions.
With 65 years of experience in a changing marketplace and bolstered by a strong financial position, great relationships with its partners and a solid reputation in the industry, Renfrew is well positioned to take on any challenges the future may bring.
Celebrating 65 Years
“We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
By 1956, Barron had left the business almost entirely in Edelson’s hands. Over the next two decades, he built his brokerage gradually through relationships, mergers and acquisitions. In 1974, Edelson hired a young-but-experienced broker named Doug Hughesman.
“A client can be a two-person company one day and a $50-million corporation the next,” he says. “And if they don’t have advocacy on the insurance side, they can be caught in an unenviable position – that’s where we have been – and will continue to be an important part of our client’s growth and success.”
Our customers have become more sophisticated and are better engaged with the insurance part of their business. There’s more awareness at the senior executive level about the way risk impacts the business and where they need to look for places to mitigate risk – insurance can be the way to do that.
Carlos Yam, CFO for WesternOne – a Vancouver-based construction and infrastructure services company and Renfrew client – can attest to Renfrew’s flexibility and adaptability when it comes to a client’s changing needs in an increasingly global economy.
Renfrew knows what the exposures are and how to respond to that risk.
“When we started with Renfrew, we were a $64-million business; today we’re a $220-million business and
In 1948, his father ran a growing financial brokerage in Calgary and was urging his son to join him at his firm – Edelson was only half convinced, but in late 1948 he headed west – not to join his father’s brokerage, but to build something all his own.
Fortunately Renfrew was able to continue its trend of strong leadership with the appointment of Doug MacIntosh as Hughesman’s successor. McIntosh successfully lead Renfrew until his retirement in 2008 with the appointment of Ed Sikorski.
In 1950 Edelson and Stan Barron, also an insurance man, decided to join forces and worked together building a strong business in the transportation insurance sector as well as the commercial sector.
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
Renfrew will continue to add resources and expertise to create an environment where employees have the opportunities for growth, development and long-term careers with the company. In this way, we will be able to continue our focus on specialized areas and be the best we can be for our clients.
Hughesman would end up taking the reins of the company and lead its strategic path to become a major player in the industry. Renfew’s strategy was not to be the biggest; their goal was to become a recognized leader in the industry by running parallel to its entrepreneurial clients and by being very customer focused.
2013
marks the 65th anniversary of Renfrew Insurance. We are extremely proud of the organization we have built since our inception in 1948. At Renfrew we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service, operating with absolute integrity and a true sense of professionalism.
Under Hughesman’s leadership, Renfrew was poised to take on the future. Over the next three decades, Renfrew took that entrepreneurial spirit and grew a solid base in construction, transportation, property management, hospitality, personal products and more.
I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank three groups of people who have contributed to our success and without whom we would not be where we are today.
In 2001 Renfrew was dealt a painful blow with the passing of Doug Hughesman after a courageous battle with cancer. His friends and business colleagues miss his sage advice, friendly handshakes and graceful generosity to this day.
First and foremost I want to thank our thousands of clients, many of whom have been with Renfrew Insurance for decades. It is an honour and privilege to handle your insurance and risk-management needs. Next, I want to thank all our Insurance company partners. We deal with more than 100 insurance companies from around the world. They facilitate our ability to provide the best possible terms and coverage for our clients.
Ken Richmond, MCP One A+ – Director of Information Technology Ken joined Renfrew in 1996 and is our Director of Information Technology. Ken keeps IT systems running efficiently and is responsible for deployment of the most robust and secure IT structure possible.
We have the right team with the right skill set to handle your insurance and risk-management needs.
Renfrew Insurance’s 65-year history began with the dream of a young man in Winnipeg by the name of Jack Edelson, and culminates as one of Western Canada’s leading brokerages.
300, 334 - 11 Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 0Y2 403 299-1000
www.renfrew-insurance.com
As for Mr. Edelson? Well, he’s 94 this year and can look proudly upon the company that began as a dream for a young war veteran in Winnipeg and became one of Canada’s most exceptional insurance brokerages.
Ed Sikorski | President & CEO
Finally, thanks to all of our loyal and dedicated staff of Renfrew who come to work each day to do the best possible job for our valued clients. th
Calgary Herald building, original site of Renfrew Insurance
In the balance of this profile you will learn more about what distinguishes us from our competition and the value we bring to all of our key constituencies.
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients.” ~ Gary Owcar, President, CNA Insurance
Renfrew Today…
Renfrew Tomorrow…
Renfrew Yesterday…
The Strategy, the Focus, the People
Strategies for the Future
Building for Success
Today, Renfrew Insurance is one of the largest and most sophisticated insurance brokers in Western Canada and is comprised of approximately 100 highly trained insurance professionals, with offices in Calgary and Edmonton.
Jim Royer, B.Sc, CA – Chief Financial Officer Jim brings a strong finance background to Renfrew including extensive experience in acquisitions and debt and equity financing.
Our strategy is to excel in customer service by developing a deep understanding in our customers’ operations and needs to thoroughly address their insurance and riskmanagement needs. We accomplish this by partnering with some of the best insurance companies in the world and specialize in specific industries.
Jeff Peters, CIP – Senior Vice President, Business Development Jeff started in the insurance industry in 1990. With his diverse experience Jeff brings a broad range of specialist capabilities to Renfrew specifically in the areas of energy insurance, energy risk management, enterprise risk management and alternative risk financing.
We have three major operating divisions;
Raymonde Legault-Smith, B.A., LLB – Senior Vice President, Professional and Financial Risks With a background in both law and insurance, Raymonde brings her unique combination of talents to Renfrew with a strong focus on Executive Liability.
1) Commercial/Business Insurance This includes specialization by industry in Energy, General Construction, Heavy Construction, Hospitality, Realty, Transportation and Surety Bonding. 2) Private Client – Personal Insurance This is a superior service proposition which includes highvalue automobile, home and personal liability insurance. 3) Life and Group Benefits Renfrew creates unique Employee Benefit and Group Retirement Programs that complement your specific business model and the needs of your management and staff. We have niche products and Executive Compensation Packages as well as Key Man and BuySell Insurance. We build relationships based on a solid services model that ensures governance and value.
Renfrew Leadership Team Our Renfrew Leadership Team has over 200 years of combined insurance industry experience. Meet our team: Ed Sikorski, CIP – President and CEO Ed began his insurance career in 1975 as an underwriter trainee at Dominion of Canada. In 1975 he moved to Royal & Sun Alliance where he moved through the organization with increased job responsibilities. He ultimately became V.P. of Corporate Marketing and Distribution. Before joining Renfrew in 2008, Ed was the President of Noraxis Capital Corporation. He is a strong believer in putting customers first and going above and beyond to meet their insurance & Risk Management needs. Alanna Hall, CIP, CRM – Chief Operating Officer Alanna holds her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation and has successfully completed the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) academic program. She joined Renfrew in 1996 and oversees the marketing and placement of large accounts and the overall operations of the company.
Cathy McIsaac – Director of Personal Insurance Services Cathy has worked in Renfrew’s commercial marketing department and as a commercial account executive since 1979. She enjoyed building client relationships so much that she chose to specialize in personal account management in the 1980s, a role she still enjoys and excels at today. Denise Higginson – V.P. Employee Benefits Denise joined Renfrew in 1996 and has built a strong clientele. She values her client relationships and excels in creative plan designs, self-funding options, and leadingedge products. Their team’s goal is to bring together the client’s core values and objectives with their expertise, ideas and products to develop exceptional benefit programs. They believe that communication, education and integrity build the foundation of successful business relationships. Sacha Carey, CRM, CIP – Director of Claims Sacha joined Renfrew in 2010, bringing over 10 years of claims experience, including a number of years as an Adjuster for a large international insurance company and as a Claims Consultant with a large international brokerage. Along the way, she has been involved in a wide variety of claims where advocacy was required to achieve successful settlements.
we have a lot to protect
As the world changes, so does the insurance business. Political instability, environmental concerns, board and executive accountability and evolving technology all present new challenges – and opportunities – for Renfrew, its partner insurers and its clients.
Renfrew has been with us every step of the way,” says Yam. “We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
“Our most basic job is to protect our clients’ balance sheets from unexpected events and help them prosper when unforeseen things happen,” explains Jeff Peters, Senior VicePresident of business development. “But the nature of those unforeseen events change and that means we need to be vigilant in keeping up with trends in the marketplace.”
Customers like Yam drive change, and Renfrew’s job is to respond with creative solutions.
With 65 years of experience in a changing marketplace and bolstered by a strong financial position, great relationships with its partners and a solid reputation in the industry, Renfrew is well positioned to take on any challenges the future may bring.
Celebrating 65 Years
“We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
By 1956, Barron had left the business almost entirely in Edelson’s hands. Over the next two decades, he built his brokerage gradually through relationships, mergers and acquisitions. In 1974, Edelson hired a young-but-experienced broker named Doug Hughesman.
“A client can be a two-person company one day and a $50-million corporation the next,” he says. “And if they don’t have advocacy on the insurance side, they can be caught in an unenviable position – that’s where we have been – and will continue to be an important part of our client’s growth and success.”
Our customers have become more sophisticated and are better engaged with the insurance part of their business. There’s more awareness at the senior executive level about the way risk impacts the business and where they need to look for places to mitigate risk – insurance can be the way to do that.
Carlos Yam, CFO for WesternOne – a Vancouver-based construction and infrastructure services company and Renfrew client – can attest to Renfrew’s flexibility and adaptability when it comes to a client’s changing needs in an increasingly global economy.
Renfrew knows what the exposures are and how to respond to that risk.
“When we started with Renfrew, we were a $64-million business; today we’re a $220-million business and
In 1948, his father ran a growing financial brokerage in Calgary and was urging his son to join him at his firm – Edelson was only half convinced, but in late 1948 he headed west – not to join his father’s brokerage, but to build something all his own.
Fortunately Renfrew was able to continue its trend of strong leadership with the appointment of Doug MacIntosh as Hughesman’s successor. McIntosh successfully lead Renfrew until his retirement in 2008 with the appointment of Ed Sikorski.
In 1950 Edelson and Stan Barron, also an insurance man, decided to join forces and worked together building a strong business in the transportation insurance sector as well as the commercial sector.
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
Renfrew will continue to add resources and expertise to create an environment where employees have the opportunities for growth, development and long-term careers with the company. In this way, we will be able to continue our focus on specialized areas and be the best we can be for our clients.
Hughesman would end up taking the reins of the company and lead its strategic path to become a major player in the industry. Renfew’s strategy was not to be the biggest; their goal was to become a recognized leader in the industry by running parallel to its entrepreneurial clients and by being very customer focused.
2013
marks the 65th anniversary of Renfrew Insurance. We are extremely proud of the organization we have built since our inception in 1948. At Renfrew we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service, operating with absolute integrity and a true sense of professionalism.
Under Hughesman’s leadership, Renfrew was poised to take on the future. Over the next three decades, Renfrew took that entrepreneurial spirit and grew a solid base in construction, transportation, property management, hospitality, personal products and more.
I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank three groups of people who have contributed to our success and without whom we would not be where we are today.
In 2001 Renfrew was dealt a painful blow with the passing of Doug Hughesman after a courageous battle with cancer. His friends and business colleagues miss his sage advice, friendly handshakes and graceful generosity to this day.
First and foremost I want to thank our thousands of clients, many of whom have been with Renfrew Insurance for decades. It is an honour and privilege to handle your insurance and risk-management needs. Next, I want to thank all our Insurance company partners. We deal with more than 100 insurance companies from around the world. They facilitate our ability to provide the best possible terms and coverage for our clients.
Ken Richmond, MCP One A+ – Director of Information Technology Ken joined Renfrew in 1996 and is our Director of Information Technology. Ken keeps IT systems running efficiently and is responsible for deployment of the most robust and secure IT structure possible.
We have the right team with the right skill set to handle your insurance and risk-management needs.
Renfrew Insurance’s 65-year history began with the dream of a young man in Winnipeg by the name of Jack Edelson, and culminates as one of Western Canada’s leading brokerages.
300, 334 - 11 Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 0Y2 403 299-1000
www.renfrew-insurance.com
As for Mr. Edelson? Well, he’s 94 this year and can look proudly upon the company that began as a dream for a young war veteran in Winnipeg and became one of Canada’s most exceptional insurance brokerages.
Ed Sikorski | President & CEO
Finally, thanks to all of our loyal and dedicated staff of Renfrew who come to work each day to do the best possible job for our valued clients. th
Calgary Herald building, original site of Renfrew Insurance
In the balance of this profile you will learn more about what distinguishes us from our competition and the value we bring to all of our key constituencies.
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients.” ~ Gary Owcar, President, CNA Insurance
Renfrew Today…
Renfrew Tomorrow…
Renfrew Yesterday…
The Strategy, the Focus, the People
Strategies for the Future
Building for Success
Today, Renfrew Insurance is one of the largest and most sophisticated insurance brokers in Western Canada and is comprised of approximately 100 highly trained insurance professionals, with offices in Calgary and Edmonton.
Jim Royer, B.Sc, CA – Chief Financial Officer Jim brings a strong finance background to Renfrew including extensive experience in acquisitions and debt and equity financing.
Our strategy is to excel in customer service by developing a deep understanding in our customers’ operations and needs to thoroughly address their insurance and riskmanagement needs. We accomplish this by partnering with some of the best insurance companies in the world and specialize in specific industries.
Jeff Peters, CIP – Senior Vice President, Business Development Jeff started in the insurance industry in 1990. With his diverse experience Jeff brings a broad range of specialist capabilities to Renfrew specifically in the areas of energy insurance, energy risk management, enterprise risk management and alternative risk financing.
We have three major operating divisions;
Raymonde Legault-Smith, B.A., LLB – Senior Vice President, Professional and Financial Risks With a background in both law and insurance, Raymonde brings her unique combination of talents to Renfrew with a strong focus on Executive Liability.
1) Commercial/Business Insurance This includes specialization by industry in Energy, General Construction, Heavy Construction, Hospitality, Realty, Transportation and Surety Bonding. 2) Private Client – Personal Insurance This is a superior service proposition which includes highvalue automobile, home and personal liability insurance. 3) Life and Group Benefits Renfrew creates unique Employee Benefit and Group Retirement Programs that complement your specific business model and the needs of your management and staff. We have niche products and Executive Compensation Packages as well as Key Man and BuySell Insurance. We build relationships based on a solid services model that ensures governance and value.
Renfrew Leadership Team Our Renfrew Leadership Team has over 200 years of combined insurance industry experience. Meet our team: Ed Sikorski, CIP – President and CEO Ed began his insurance career in 1975 as an underwriter trainee at Dominion of Canada. In 1975 he moved to Royal & Sun Alliance where he moved through the organization with increased job responsibilities. He ultimately became V.P. of Corporate Marketing and Distribution. Before joining Renfrew in 2008, Ed was the President of Noraxis Capital Corporation. He is a strong believer in putting customers first and going above and beyond to meet their insurance & Risk Management needs. Alanna Hall, CIP, CRM – Chief Operating Officer Alanna holds her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation and has successfully completed the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) academic program. She joined Renfrew in 1996 and oversees the marketing and placement of large accounts and the overall operations of the company.
Cathy McIsaac – Director of Personal Insurance Services Cathy has worked in Renfrew’s commercial marketing department and as a commercial account executive since 1979. She enjoyed building client relationships so much that she chose to specialize in personal account management in the 1980s, a role she still enjoys and excels at today. Denise Higginson – V.P. Employee Benefits Denise joined Renfrew in 1996 and has built a strong clientele. She values her client relationships and excels in creative plan designs, self-funding options, and leadingedge products. Their team’s goal is to bring together the client’s core values and objectives with their expertise, ideas and products to develop exceptional benefit programs. They believe that communication, education and integrity build the foundation of successful business relationships. Sacha Carey, CRM, CIP – Director of Claims Sacha joined Renfrew in 2010, bringing over 10 years of claims experience, including a number of years as an Adjuster for a large international insurance company and as a Claims Consultant with a large international brokerage. Along the way, she has been involved in a wide variety of claims where advocacy was required to achieve successful settlements.
we have a lot to protect
As the world changes, so does the insurance business. Political instability, environmental concerns, board and executive accountability and evolving technology all present new challenges – and opportunities – for Renfrew, its partner insurers and its clients.
Renfrew has been with us every step of the way,” says Yam. “We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
“Our most basic job is to protect our clients’ balance sheets from unexpected events and help them prosper when unforeseen things happen,” explains Jeff Peters, Senior VicePresident of business development. “But the nature of those unforeseen events change and that means we need to be vigilant in keeping up with trends in the marketplace.”
Customers like Yam drive change, and Renfrew’s job is to respond with creative solutions.
With 65 years of experience in a changing marketplace and bolstered by a strong financial position, great relationships with its partners and a solid reputation in the industry, Renfrew is well positioned to take on any challenges the future may bring.
Celebrating 65 Years
“We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
By 1956, Barron had left the business almost entirely in Edelson’s hands. Over the next two decades, he built his brokerage gradually through relationships, mergers and acquisitions. In 1974, Edelson hired a young-but-experienced broker named Doug Hughesman.
“A client can be a two-person company one day and a $50-million corporation the next,” he says. “And if they don’t have advocacy on the insurance side, they can be caught in an unenviable position – that’s where we have been – and will continue to be an important part of our client’s growth and success.”
Our customers have become more sophisticated and are better engaged with the insurance part of their business. There’s more awareness at the senior executive level about the way risk impacts the business and where they need to look for places to mitigate risk – insurance can be the way to do that.
Carlos Yam, CFO for WesternOne – a Vancouver-based construction and infrastructure services company and Renfrew client – can attest to Renfrew’s flexibility and adaptability when it comes to a client’s changing needs in an increasingly global economy.
Renfrew knows what the exposures are and how to respond to that risk.
“When we started with Renfrew, we were a $64-million business; today we’re a $220-million business and
In 1948, his father ran a growing financial brokerage in Calgary and was urging his son to join him at his firm – Edelson was only half convinced, but in late 1948 he headed west – not to join his father’s brokerage, but to build something all his own.
Fortunately Renfrew was able to continue its trend of strong leadership with the appointment of Doug MacIntosh as Hughesman’s successor. McIntosh successfully lead Renfrew until his retirement in 2008 with the appointment of Ed Sikorski.
In 1950 Edelson and Stan Barron, also an insurance man, decided to join forces and worked together building a strong business in the transportation insurance sector as well as the commercial sector.
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
Renfrew will continue to add resources and expertise to create an environment where employees have the opportunities for growth, development and long-term careers with the company. In this way, we will be able to continue our focus on specialized areas and be the best we can be for our clients.
Hughesman would end up taking the reins of the company and lead its strategic path to become a major player in the industry. Renfew’s strategy was not to be the biggest; their goal was to become a recognized leader in the industry by running parallel to its entrepreneurial clients and by being very customer focused.
2013
marks the 65th anniversary of Renfrew Insurance. We are extremely proud of the organization we have built since our inception in 1948. At Renfrew we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service, operating with absolute integrity and a true sense of professionalism.
Under Hughesman’s leadership, Renfrew was poised to take on the future. Over the next three decades, Renfrew took that entrepreneurial spirit and grew a solid base in construction, transportation, property management, hospitality, personal products and more.
I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank three groups of people who have contributed to our success and without whom we would not be where we are today.
In 2001 Renfrew was dealt a painful blow with the passing of Doug Hughesman after a courageous battle with cancer. His friends and business colleagues miss his sage advice, friendly handshakes and graceful generosity to this day.
First and foremost I want to thank our thousands of clients, many of whom have been with Renfrew Insurance for decades. It is an honour and privilege to handle your insurance and risk-management needs. Next, I want to thank all our Insurance company partners. We deal with more than 100 insurance companies from around the world. They facilitate our ability to provide the best possible terms and coverage for our clients.
Ken Richmond, MCP One A+ – Director of Information Technology Ken joined Renfrew in 1996 and is our Director of Information Technology. Ken keeps IT systems running efficiently and is responsible for deployment of the most robust and secure IT structure possible.
We have the right team with the right skill set to handle your insurance and risk-management needs.
Renfrew Insurance’s 65-year history began with the dream of a young man in Winnipeg by the name of Jack Edelson, and culminates as one of Western Canada’s leading brokerages.
300, 334 - 11 Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 0Y2 403 299-1000
www.renfrew-insurance.com
As for Mr. Edelson? Well, he’s 94 this year and can look proudly upon the company that began as a dream for a young war veteran in Winnipeg and became one of Canada’s most exceptional insurance brokerages.
Ed Sikorski | President & CEO
Finally, thanks to all of our loyal and dedicated staff of Renfrew who come to work each day to do the best possible job for our valued clients. th
Calgary Herald building, original site of Renfrew Insurance
In the balance of this profile you will learn more about what distinguishes us from our competition and the value we bring to all of our key constituencies.
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients.” ~ Gary Owcar, President, CNA Insurance
Maurice Tulloch, President |
AVIVA Insurance
“Renfrew is a first-class P&C broker. We are incredibly fortunate in Canada to have them as top tier partners. We want to work with people who are insightful, progressive and always looking for new ways to generate value for their business – brokers who are investing in their future, not simply taking profits out of the business. Renfrew is just such a partner. With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. They’re spectacular. With consistent senior management in Ed Sikorski and his team, Renfrew’s specialization breadth means they can insure just about anything. They demonstrate a true passion and their entire focus is their customers.”
Julie Bertin, President |
Arpi’s Industries Ltd.
“We’ve been dealing with Denise (Higginson, VP of Group Benefits) for years now – she’s like a part of the family. She and her team make a point of understanding our industry and our business and presenting customized solutions that make sense for us. As we grow and evolve, the trust is there that Renfrew has an understanding of where we want to go as new products and services become available in the marketplace. They’ve been very good to us, provided us what we needed and certainly believe they always have our best interest at the forefront.” Specializing in mechanical contracting and residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC, Arpi’s is a family-run business operating in Calgary for 50 years. Arpi’s and Renfrew have been doing business together for eight years.
With 150 years of history in Canada and $3.5 billion in annual gross written premiums, 4,000 employees, Aviva is the second largest property and casualty company in the country. Aviva is also, in fact, a present-day manifestation of the oldest insurance company in the world with more than 300 years of history from its base in London, England. Aviva and Renfrew have been doing business together since August 1, 1976 – 37 years.
Trevor Haynes, President & CEO | Gary Owcar, President |
CNA Insurance
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients. I have found them to be extremely service driven, supported by their superior team of people (customer service consultants, marketers and management), all while fostering a collaborative environment. This makes the process of purchasing insurance seamless to the client. With all the internal focus, the Renfrew team continues to work very closely with their markets which I can tell you are some of the strongest partnerships in the industry. These relationships stem from their knowledge and understanding of our industry and are built on loyalty, trust and integrity. This is why we value Renfrew Insurance as a Trusted Adviser.” Headquartered in Chicago, CNA has offices in Canada, the U.S., and internationally. In these locations, they work with highly professional distribution partners such as Renfrew to ensure customers receive the personal service and attention they look for in a carrier.
Black Diamond Group Ltd.
“Our relationship with Renfrew has evolved as our business has evolved. At the beginning we were a small, entrepreneurial company and Renfrew was flexible in dealing with our needs. They did a great job then and they do a great job now as our needs have changed over the years. Black Diamond has grown significantly and as we do business on several continents, our insurance needs become more sophisticated. We need to protect our risk on the company side through director and officer coverage, plus anticipating and managing more complex risk, like travel risk for executives going into dangerous places in the world. Renfrew’s had to bring in more sophisticated resources to try and keep our business safe – and they’ve been able to match our requirements all the way through.” Founded in 2003, Black Diamond is a TSE-listed public company focused on providing services to the resource sector. Black Diamond provides housing services for labour in remote areas putting roofs over the heads of 12,000 people in Canada and 14,000 globally in Austraila, the U.S. and Canada. Also providing modular buildings for workspace in remote and urban areas, Black Diamond currently has 3,000 buildings in service to oil and gas companies around the world. President & CEO Trevor Haynes has been a client of Renfrew’s since 2001.
Economical Insurance
Jean-Francois Blais, President |
Keg Restaurants
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors. Their long-term employees (and they have many of them) bring expertise, knowledge and a very good understanding of the marketplace. They are customer driven and their longevity is a testament to their success.
They are forward thinkers and while they offer a 65 year history, their perspective is refreshing. They are able to respond in a rapidly changing market and offer much more than off-the-shelf generic advice. They have their finger on the pulse of the industry – we’re the best at what we do and we need the best advice – Renfrew gives us just that.
Renfrew has been in business for 65 years because they care about their customers and are passionate about what they do. Customers can feel confident that with Renfrew, they are working with one of the best brokerages in the business.
While we have known Renfrew for many years, we escalated our relationship in 2010 by moving all of our insurance business to Renfrew. Why? Because they have an incredible outreach team and incredible history and, when the opportunity arose, we were ready to make the change.”
We want to work with broker partners who share the same core values as we do: behaving with integrity, respecting each other, being customer driven, and striving for excellence. We encourage our employees and the brokers we work with to demonstrate these characteristics as we think they are fundamental to providing the customer with an exceptional experience. As well, we look for brokers that have expertise in the product lines we offer.”
Founded in 1971, the Keg owns and operates more than 100 locations throughout Canada and US. Having grown from a single location in North Vancouver, the Keg has built a culinary empire known for its steak, prime rib and the “friendliest staff in the industry.”
Intact Insurance is Canada’s largest home, auto and business insurance company protecting over 4-million customers. Its coast-to-coast presence, fortified by its strong relationship with insurance brokers, means it can provide the outstanding service and stability customers deserve.
Carlos Yam, CFO |
Rowan Saunders, President |
WesternOne Inc.
“When we started with Renfrew in 2008, we were a $26-million in revenue business with five locations. Today, we earn $220 million in revenue with 15 locations plus the manufacturing business – you can appreciate the sheer magnitude of how fast this business has grown and risk management is one of the critical components of what we’ve had to deal with through this growth. Renfrew has helped us every step of the way from single branch property-loss insurance to helping us with the due diligence on our first international business deal in Australia. Renfrew is attentive and proactive. Through our eight acquisitions, they’ve always been right there with the understanding of the implications of growth. As your revenue goes up, your needs change and it’s always been an insightful conversation. Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments.”
We appreciate Renfrew’s professionalism, dedication and focus that our policyholders count on for first-rate service and advice. Renfrew is a broker partner that policyholders can trust to understand their needs and provide them with reliable advice and quality of service.”
~ Jean-Francois Blais, President, Intact Insurance
~ Rowan Saunders, President, RSA Insurance
Since 1871, Economical Insurance has been protecting Canadians with innovative home, automobile and commercial insurance products and a market-leading claims service designed with policyholders in mind. In 2010, Economical announced its decision to become the first federally-regulated mutual property and casualty insurance company to demutualize. Today, Economical is one of Canada’s leading property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies with nearly 2,300 employees at 17 branches and service offices from Halifax to Vancouver. They serve more than one million policyholders across the country through a national independent broker force that demands fresh approaches to meet evolving consumer and business needs. Economical and Renfrew have been doing business together since 1996 – 17 years.
“Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. “
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
~ Maurice Tulloch, President, AVIVA Insurance
The Renfrew Difference
THE CLAIMS ADVOCATE
Sacha Carey, Director of Claims at Renfrew, is the personification of what makes Renfrew different, and how we and our people are regularly recognized by clients and the insurance industry in general. Sacha has been featured in Insurance West Magazine and Top Broker magazine in recognition of how her role, skill set and personality contribute to the success of our clients. Sacha is recognized by her clients and peers as one of the top Claims Advocates in the industry.
RSA Insurance
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments. This allows them a greater level of specialization which has served them very well. Over the years we’ve seen them invest heavily in talent by attracting highly capable and motivated individuals. What’s impressive about the culture at Renfrew is how client-centric they are; they’re strong at getting the job done and their stable of Canada’s top insurance companies ensures lots of choice for their customers. It’s fair to say we have an outstanding business relationship with Renfrew. Strong personal relationships from the executive level right down to traders and front line employees makes for a rewarding and aligned relationship between our two companies.” RSA has been providing insurance in Canada for 180 years. As a national property and casualty insurance company, RSA operates in all provinces and territories and earns more than $3-billion in revenues. RSA’s business has doubled in the last five years and it has gone from the 10th largest company in Canada to the third largest. Offering a full personal and commercial suite of products RSA boasts deep vertical segment expertise in manufacturing, construction, energy and mining. RSA and Renfrew have been doing business together for 44 years.
Jean Guay, Senior Vice-President, Business Development |
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors.”
“At Economical, we are continuing to evolve as we help protect Canadian families and businesses as they grow, change and plan for the future. It is the strength and quality of our relationship with our broker partners like Renfrew that helps provide insight and peace of mind to our policyholders.
Intact Insurance
“Due to their broad product services, and clientele including the Keg Charitable Foundation, the Keg has a diverse set of exposures that requires high calibre risk management and insurance expertise. Renfrew has successfully handled all the various aspects of our business.
Founded in 2006, WesternOne is a publicly-traded company listed on the TSE specializing in construction and infrastructure services. WesternOne has evolved from a tiny equipment rental business of about $28 million to a $400-millon equipment rental giant with 15 locations across Alberta and British Columbia as well as a modular manufacturing and leasing business serving Western Canada, the southern U.S. and Australia. WesternOne and Renfrew have been doing business together since 2008 – five years.
CNA offers a full range of coverage and services for oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and marine clients that leverage its claims, risk control and underwriting expertise. CNA and Renfrew have been doing business together for more than 25 years.
Karen Gavan, President & CEO |
Catherine Chow |
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Craig Johns, Senior Vice President with Renfrew Insurance, always has his customers’ needs in mind. His tireless efforts and expertise are recognized by the CAODC as their recommended broker as well by his clients. Craig recently received The People’s Choice Award from his client Trevor Haynes at the Black Diamond Group GEM awards. Craig’s dedication to his clients is recognized within the industry, by his peers and by his clients.
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Carrie Cline from Kon Construction presenting to Sam Feldman and Chris Sikorski truly demonstrate the strength of teamwork and how this contributes to the ongoing success of their client. Kon awarded the Renfrew Team an award of appreciation for their exemplary customer service and support over the past several years. The team was able to maintain continuity through a difficult market cycle, contributing to the ongoing success of the company.
Standard Life
“One of Renfrew’s greatest strengths from our organizational perspective is the reach they have with their client base. They are able to leverage their large commercial clientele into opportunities on group insurance and pensions. They have strong name recognition in the region, great skills and expertise and are able to help their clients make smart, informed decisions. Renfrew is a high-quality organization and we’re proud to be associated with them. We think we have a good relationship that can only grow in the future by doing more than group insurance and working together to provide great solutions for our customers.” Standard Life relies on brokers for 99.9% of its distribution, so our relationships are very important to us. But we’re not looking to do business with just anyone: we need to share the same values and grow our businesses together focusing on customer satisfaction and business retention. Renfrew shares those values. Standard Life plc is a leading long-term savings and investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Standard Life has around ten million customers worldwide. In Canada, Standard Life has been doing business for 180 years. It is Standard Life’s largest operation outside the UK. With about 2,000 employees, it provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.4 million Canadians, including group benefit and retirement plan members.
INSURANCE EXPERT
Bill Jeffray has spent more than 30 years in the insurance market specializing in real estate insurance, risk management and claims management. An endorsement of his contribution to the real estate insurance market came in the form of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Calgary Residential Real Estate Association. Congratulations Bill!
Maurice Tulloch, President |
AVIVA Insurance
“Renfrew is a first-class P&C broker. We are incredibly fortunate in Canada to have them as top tier partners. We want to work with people who are insightful, progressive and always looking for new ways to generate value for their business – brokers who are investing in their future, not simply taking profits out of the business. Renfrew is just such a partner. With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. They’re spectacular. With consistent senior management in Ed Sikorski and his team, Renfrew’s specialization breadth means they can insure just about anything. They demonstrate a true passion and their entire focus is their customers.”
Julie Bertin, President |
Arpi’s Industries Ltd.
“We’ve been dealing with Denise (Higginson, VP of Group Benefits) for years now – she’s like a part of the family. She and her team make a point of understanding our industry and our business and presenting customized solutions that make sense for us. As we grow and evolve, the trust is there that Renfrew has an understanding of where we want to go as new products and services become available in the marketplace. They’ve been very good to us, provided us what we needed and certainly believe they always have our best interest at the forefront.” Specializing in mechanical contracting and residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC, Arpi’s is a family-run business operating in Calgary for 50 years. Arpi’s and Renfrew have been doing business together for eight years.
With 150 years of history in Canada and $3.5 billion in annual gross written premiums, 4,000 employees, Aviva is the second largest property and casualty company in the country. Aviva is also, in fact, a present-day manifestation of the oldest insurance company in the world with more than 300 years of history from its base in London, England. Aviva and Renfrew have been doing business together since August 1, 1976 – 37 years.
Trevor Haynes, President & CEO | Gary Owcar, President |
CNA Insurance
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients. I have found them to be extremely service driven, supported by their superior team of people (customer service consultants, marketers and management), all while fostering a collaborative environment. This makes the process of purchasing insurance seamless to the client. With all the internal focus, the Renfrew team continues to work very closely with their markets which I can tell you are some of the strongest partnerships in the industry. These relationships stem from their knowledge and understanding of our industry and are built on loyalty, trust and integrity. This is why we value Renfrew Insurance as a Trusted Adviser.” Headquartered in Chicago, CNA has offices in Canada, the U.S., and internationally. In these locations, they work with highly professional distribution partners such as Renfrew to ensure customers receive the personal service and attention they look for in a carrier.
Black Diamond Group Ltd.
“Our relationship with Renfrew has evolved as our business has evolved. At the beginning we were a small, entrepreneurial company and Renfrew was flexible in dealing with our needs. They did a great job then and they do a great job now as our needs have changed over the years. Black Diamond has grown significantly and as we do business on several continents, our insurance needs become more sophisticated. We need to protect our risk on the company side through director and officer coverage, plus anticipating and managing more complex risk, like travel risk for executives going into dangerous places in the world. Renfrew’s had to bring in more sophisticated resources to try and keep our business safe – and they’ve been able to match our requirements all the way through.” Founded in 2003, Black Diamond is a TSE-listed public company focused on providing services to the resource sector. Black Diamond provides housing services for labour in remote areas putting roofs over the heads of 12,000 people in Canada and 14,000 globally in Austraila, the U.S. and Canada. Also providing modular buildings for workspace in remote and urban areas, Black Diamond currently has 3,000 buildings in service to oil and gas companies around the world. President & CEO Trevor Haynes has been a client of Renfrew’s since 2001.
Economical Insurance
Jean-Francois Blais, President |
Keg Restaurants
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors. Their long-term employees (and they have many of them) bring expertise, knowledge and a very good understanding of the marketplace. They are customer driven and their longevity is a testament to their success.
They are forward thinkers and while they offer a 65 year history, their perspective is refreshing. They are able to respond in a rapidly changing market and offer much more than off-the-shelf generic advice. They have their finger on the pulse of the industry – we’re the best at what we do and we need the best advice – Renfrew gives us just that.
Renfrew has been in business for 65 years because they care about their customers and are passionate about what they do. Customers can feel confident that with Renfrew, they are working with one of the best brokerages in the business.
While we have known Renfrew for many years, we escalated our relationship in 2010 by moving all of our insurance business to Renfrew. Why? Because they have an incredible outreach team and incredible history and, when the opportunity arose, we were ready to make the change.”
We want to work with broker partners who share the same core values as we do: behaving with integrity, respecting each other, being customer driven, and striving for excellence. We encourage our employees and the brokers we work with to demonstrate these characteristics as we think they are fundamental to providing the customer with an exceptional experience. As well, we look for brokers that have expertise in the product lines we offer.”
Founded in 1971, the Keg owns and operates more than 100 locations throughout Canada and US. Having grown from a single location in North Vancouver, the Keg has built a culinary empire known for its steak, prime rib and the “friendliest staff in the industry.”
Intact Insurance is Canada’s largest home, auto and business insurance company protecting over 4-million customers. Its coast-to-coast presence, fortified by its strong relationship with insurance brokers, means it can provide the outstanding service and stability customers deserve.
Carlos Yam, CFO |
Rowan Saunders, President |
WesternOne Inc.
“When we started with Renfrew in 2008, we were a $26-million in revenue business with five locations. Today, we earn $220 million in revenue with 15 locations plus the manufacturing business – you can appreciate the sheer magnitude of how fast this business has grown and risk management is one of the critical components of what we’ve had to deal with through this growth. Renfrew has helped us every step of the way from single branch property-loss insurance to helping us with the due diligence on our first international business deal in Australia. Renfrew is attentive and proactive. Through our eight acquisitions, they’ve always been right there with the understanding of the implications of growth. As your revenue goes up, your needs change and it’s always been an insightful conversation. Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments.”
We appreciate Renfrew’s professionalism, dedication and focus that our policyholders count on for first-rate service and advice. Renfrew is a broker partner that policyholders can trust to understand their needs and provide them with reliable advice and quality of service.”
~ Jean-Francois Blais, President, Intact Insurance
~ Rowan Saunders, President, RSA Insurance
Since 1871, Economical Insurance has been protecting Canadians with innovative home, automobile and commercial insurance products and a market-leading claims service designed with policyholders in mind. In 2010, Economical announced its decision to become the first federally-regulated mutual property and casualty insurance company to demutualize. Today, Economical is one of Canada’s leading property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies with nearly 2,300 employees at 17 branches and service offices from Halifax to Vancouver. They serve more than one million policyholders across the country through a national independent broker force that demands fresh approaches to meet evolving consumer and business needs. Economical and Renfrew have been doing business together since 1996 – 17 years.
“Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. “
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
~ Maurice Tulloch, President, AVIVA Insurance
The Renfrew Difference
THE CLAIMS ADVOCATE
Sacha Carey, Director of Claims at Renfrew, is the personification of what makes Renfrew different, and how we and our people are regularly recognized by clients and the insurance industry in general. Sacha has been featured in Insurance West Magazine and Top Broker magazine in recognition of how her role, skill set and personality contribute to the success of our clients. Sacha is recognized by her clients and peers as one of the top Claims Advocates in the industry.
RSA Insurance
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments. This allows them a greater level of specialization which has served them very well. Over the years we’ve seen them invest heavily in talent by attracting highly capable and motivated individuals. What’s impressive about the culture at Renfrew is how client-centric they are; they’re strong at getting the job done and their stable of Canada’s top insurance companies ensures lots of choice for their customers. It’s fair to say we have an outstanding business relationship with Renfrew. Strong personal relationships from the executive level right down to traders and front line employees makes for a rewarding and aligned relationship between our two companies.” RSA has been providing insurance in Canada for 180 years. As a national property and casualty insurance company, RSA operates in all provinces and territories and earns more than $3-billion in revenues. RSA’s business has doubled in the last five years and it has gone from the 10th largest company in Canada to the third largest. Offering a full personal and commercial suite of products RSA boasts deep vertical segment expertise in manufacturing, construction, energy and mining. RSA and Renfrew have been doing business together for 44 years.
Jean Guay, Senior Vice-President, Business Development |
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors.”
“At Economical, we are continuing to evolve as we help protect Canadian families and businesses as they grow, change and plan for the future. It is the strength and quality of our relationship with our broker partners like Renfrew that helps provide insight and peace of mind to our policyholders.
Intact Insurance
“Due to their broad product services, and clientele including the Keg Charitable Foundation, the Keg has a diverse set of exposures that requires high calibre risk management and insurance expertise. Renfrew has successfully handled all the various aspects of our business.
Founded in 2006, WesternOne is a publicly-traded company listed on the TSE specializing in construction and infrastructure services. WesternOne has evolved from a tiny equipment rental business of about $28 million to a $400-millon equipment rental giant with 15 locations across Alberta and British Columbia as well as a modular manufacturing and leasing business serving Western Canada, the southern U.S. and Australia. WesternOne and Renfrew have been doing business together since 2008 – five years.
CNA offers a full range of coverage and services for oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and marine clients that leverage its claims, risk control and underwriting expertise. CNA and Renfrew have been doing business together for more than 25 years.
Karen Gavan, President & CEO |
Catherine Chow |
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Craig Johns, Senior Vice President with Renfrew Insurance, always has his customers’ needs in mind. His tireless efforts and expertise are recognized by the CAODC as their recommended broker as well by his clients. Craig recently received The People’s Choice Award from his client Trevor Haynes at the Black Diamond Group GEM awards. Craig’s dedication to his clients is recognized within the industry, by his peers and by his clients.
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Carrie Cline from Kon Construction presenting to Sam Feldman and Chris Sikorski truly demonstrate the strength of teamwork and how this contributes to the ongoing success of their client. Kon awarded the Renfrew Team an award of appreciation for their exemplary customer service and support over the past several years. The team was able to maintain continuity through a difficult market cycle, contributing to the ongoing success of the company.
Standard Life
“One of Renfrew’s greatest strengths from our organizational perspective is the reach they have with their client base. They are able to leverage their large commercial clientele into opportunities on group insurance and pensions. They have strong name recognition in the region, great skills and expertise and are able to help their clients make smart, informed decisions. Renfrew is a high-quality organization and we’re proud to be associated with them. We think we have a good relationship that can only grow in the future by doing more than group insurance and working together to provide great solutions for our customers.” Standard Life relies on brokers for 99.9% of its distribution, so our relationships are very important to us. But we’re not looking to do business with just anyone: we need to share the same values and grow our businesses together focusing on customer satisfaction and business retention. Renfrew shares those values. Standard Life plc is a leading long-term savings and investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Standard Life has around ten million customers worldwide. In Canada, Standard Life has been doing business for 180 years. It is Standard Life’s largest operation outside the UK. With about 2,000 employees, it provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.4 million Canadians, including group benefit and retirement plan members.
INSURANCE EXPERT
Bill Jeffray has spent more than 30 years in the insurance market specializing in real estate insurance, risk management and claims management. An endorsement of his contribution to the real estate insurance market came in the form of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Calgary Residential Real Estate Association. Congratulations Bill!
Maurice Tulloch, President |
AVIVA Insurance
“Renfrew is a first-class P&C broker. We are incredibly fortunate in Canada to have them as top tier partners. We want to work with people who are insightful, progressive and always looking for new ways to generate value for their business – brokers who are investing in their future, not simply taking profits out of the business. Renfrew is just such a partner. With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. They’re spectacular. With consistent senior management in Ed Sikorski and his team, Renfrew’s specialization breadth means they can insure just about anything. They demonstrate a true passion and their entire focus is their customers.”
Julie Bertin, President |
Arpi’s Industries Ltd.
“We’ve been dealing with Denise (Higginson, VP of Group Benefits) for years now – she’s like a part of the family. She and her team make a point of understanding our industry and our business and presenting customized solutions that make sense for us. As we grow and evolve, the trust is there that Renfrew has an understanding of where we want to go as new products and services become available in the marketplace. They’ve been very good to us, provided us what we needed and certainly believe they always have our best interest at the forefront.” Specializing in mechanical contracting and residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC, Arpi’s is a family-run business operating in Calgary for 50 years. Arpi’s and Renfrew have been doing business together for eight years.
With 150 years of history in Canada and $3.5 billion in annual gross written premiums, 4,000 employees, Aviva is the second largest property and casualty company in the country. Aviva is also, in fact, a present-day manifestation of the oldest insurance company in the world with more than 300 years of history from its base in London, England. Aviva and Renfrew have been doing business together since August 1, 1976 – 37 years.
Trevor Haynes, President & CEO | Gary Owcar, President |
CNA Insurance
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients. I have found them to be extremely service driven, supported by their superior team of people (customer service consultants, marketers and management), all while fostering a collaborative environment. This makes the process of purchasing insurance seamless to the client. With all the internal focus, the Renfrew team continues to work very closely with their markets which I can tell you are some of the strongest partnerships in the industry. These relationships stem from their knowledge and understanding of our industry and are built on loyalty, trust and integrity. This is why we value Renfrew Insurance as a Trusted Adviser.” Headquartered in Chicago, CNA has offices in Canada, the U.S., and internationally. In these locations, they work with highly professional distribution partners such as Renfrew to ensure customers receive the personal service and attention they look for in a carrier.
Black Diamond Group Ltd.
“Our relationship with Renfrew has evolved as our business has evolved. At the beginning we were a small, entrepreneurial company and Renfrew was flexible in dealing with our needs. They did a great job then and they do a great job now as our needs have changed over the years. Black Diamond has grown significantly and as we do business on several continents, our insurance needs become more sophisticated. We need to protect our risk on the company side through director and officer coverage, plus anticipating and managing more complex risk, like travel risk for executives going into dangerous places in the world. Renfrew’s had to bring in more sophisticated resources to try and keep our business safe – and they’ve been able to match our requirements all the way through.” Founded in 2003, Black Diamond is a TSE-listed public company focused on providing services to the resource sector. Black Diamond provides housing services for labour in remote areas putting roofs over the heads of 12,000 people in Canada and 14,000 globally in Austraila, the U.S. and Canada. Also providing modular buildings for workspace in remote and urban areas, Black Diamond currently has 3,000 buildings in service to oil and gas companies around the world. President & CEO Trevor Haynes has been a client of Renfrew’s since 2001.
Economical Insurance
Jean-Francois Blais, President |
Keg Restaurants
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors. Their long-term employees (and they have many of them) bring expertise, knowledge and a very good understanding of the marketplace. They are customer driven and their longevity is a testament to their success.
They are forward thinkers and while they offer a 65 year history, their perspective is refreshing. They are able to respond in a rapidly changing market and offer much more than off-the-shelf generic advice. They have their finger on the pulse of the industry – we’re the best at what we do and we need the best advice – Renfrew gives us just that.
Renfrew has been in business for 65 years because they care about their customers and are passionate about what they do. Customers can feel confident that with Renfrew, they are working with one of the best brokerages in the business.
While we have known Renfrew for many years, we escalated our relationship in 2010 by moving all of our insurance business to Renfrew. Why? Because they have an incredible outreach team and incredible history and, when the opportunity arose, we were ready to make the change.”
We want to work with broker partners who share the same core values as we do: behaving with integrity, respecting each other, being customer driven, and striving for excellence. We encourage our employees and the brokers we work with to demonstrate these characteristics as we think they are fundamental to providing the customer with an exceptional experience. As well, we look for brokers that have expertise in the product lines we offer.”
Founded in 1971, the Keg owns and operates more than 100 locations throughout Canada and US. Having grown from a single location in North Vancouver, the Keg has built a culinary empire known for its steak, prime rib and the “friendliest staff in the industry.”
Intact Insurance is Canada’s largest home, auto and business insurance company protecting over 4-million customers. Its coast-to-coast presence, fortified by its strong relationship with insurance brokers, means it can provide the outstanding service and stability customers deserve.
Carlos Yam, CFO |
Rowan Saunders, President |
WesternOne Inc.
“When we started with Renfrew in 2008, we were a $26-million in revenue business with five locations. Today, we earn $220 million in revenue with 15 locations plus the manufacturing business – you can appreciate the sheer magnitude of how fast this business has grown and risk management is one of the critical components of what we’ve had to deal with through this growth. Renfrew has helped us every step of the way from single branch property-loss insurance to helping us with the due diligence on our first international business deal in Australia. Renfrew is attentive and proactive. Through our eight acquisitions, they’ve always been right there with the understanding of the implications of growth. As your revenue goes up, your needs change and it’s always been an insightful conversation. Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments.”
We appreciate Renfrew’s professionalism, dedication and focus that our policyholders count on for first-rate service and advice. Renfrew is a broker partner that policyholders can trust to understand their needs and provide them with reliable advice and quality of service.”
~ Jean-Francois Blais, President, Intact Insurance
~ Rowan Saunders, President, RSA Insurance
Since 1871, Economical Insurance has been protecting Canadians with innovative home, automobile and commercial insurance products and a market-leading claims service designed with policyholders in mind. In 2010, Economical announced its decision to become the first federally-regulated mutual property and casualty insurance company to demutualize. Today, Economical is one of Canada’s leading property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies with nearly 2,300 employees at 17 branches and service offices from Halifax to Vancouver. They serve more than one million policyholders across the country through a national independent broker force that demands fresh approaches to meet evolving consumer and business needs. Economical and Renfrew have been doing business together since 1996 – 17 years.
“Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. “
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
~ Maurice Tulloch, President, AVIVA Insurance
The Renfrew Difference
THE CLAIMS ADVOCATE
Sacha Carey, Director of Claims at Renfrew, is the personification of what makes Renfrew different, and how we and our people are regularly recognized by clients and the insurance industry in general. Sacha has been featured in Insurance West Magazine and Top Broker magazine in recognition of how her role, skill set and personality contribute to the success of our clients. Sacha is recognized by her clients and peers as one of the top Claims Advocates in the industry.
RSA Insurance
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments. This allows them a greater level of specialization which has served them very well. Over the years we’ve seen them invest heavily in talent by attracting highly capable and motivated individuals. What’s impressive about the culture at Renfrew is how client-centric they are; they’re strong at getting the job done and their stable of Canada’s top insurance companies ensures lots of choice for their customers. It’s fair to say we have an outstanding business relationship with Renfrew. Strong personal relationships from the executive level right down to traders and front line employees makes for a rewarding and aligned relationship between our two companies.” RSA has been providing insurance in Canada for 180 years. As a national property and casualty insurance company, RSA operates in all provinces and territories and earns more than $3-billion in revenues. RSA’s business has doubled in the last five years and it has gone from the 10th largest company in Canada to the third largest. Offering a full personal and commercial suite of products RSA boasts deep vertical segment expertise in manufacturing, construction, energy and mining. RSA and Renfrew have been doing business together for 44 years.
Jean Guay, Senior Vice-President, Business Development |
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors.”
“At Economical, we are continuing to evolve as we help protect Canadian families and businesses as they grow, change and plan for the future. It is the strength and quality of our relationship with our broker partners like Renfrew that helps provide insight and peace of mind to our policyholders.
Intact Insurance
“Due to their broad product services, and clientele including the Keg Charitable Foundation, the Keg has a diverse set of exposures that requires high calibre risk management and insurance expertise. Renfrew has successfully handled all the various aspects of our business.
Founded in 2006, WesternOne is a publicly-traded company listed on the TSE specializing in construction and infrastructure services. WesternOne has evolved from a tiny equipment rental business of about $28 million to a $400-millon equipment rental giant with 15 locations across Alberta and British Columbia as well as a modular manufacturing and leasing business serving Western Canada, the southern U.S. and Australia. WesternOne and Renfrew have been doing business together since 2008 – five years.
CNA offers a full range of coverage and services for oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and marine clients that leverage its claims, risk control and underwriting expertise. CNA and Renfrew have been doing business together for more than 25 years.
Karen Gavan, President & CEO |
Catherine Chow |
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Craig Johns, Senior Vice President with Renfrew Insurance, always has his customers’ needs in mind. His tireless efforts and expertise are recognized by the CAODC as their recommended broker as well by his clients. Craig recently received The People’s Choice Award from his client Trevor Haynes at the Black Diamond Group GEM awards. Craig’s dedication to his clients is recognized within the industry, by his peers and by his clients.
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Carrie Cline from Kon Construction presenting to Sam Feldman and Chris Sikorski truly demonstrate the strength of teamwork and how this contributes to the ongoing success of their client. Kon awarded the Renfrew Team an award of appreciation for their exemplary customer service and support over the past several years. The team was able to maintain continuity through a difficult market cycle, contributing to the ongoing success of the company.
Standard Life
“One of Renfrew’s greatest strengths from our organizational perspective is the reach they have with their client base. They are able to leverage their large commercial clientele into opportunities on group insurance and pensions. They have strong name recognition in the region, great skills and expertise and are able to help their clients make smart, informed decisions. Renfrew is a high-quality organization and we’re proud to be associated with them. We think we have a good relationship that can only grow in the future by doing more than group insurance and working together to provide great solutions for our customers.” Standard Life relies on brokers for 99.9% of its distribution, so our relationships are very important to us. But we’re not looking to do business with just anyone: we need to share the same values and grow our businesses together focusing on customer satisfaction and business retention. Renfrew shares those values. Standard Life plc is a leading long-term savings and investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Standard Life has around ten million customers worldwide. In Canada, Standard Life has been doing business for 180 years. It is Standard Life’s largest operation outside the UK. With about 2,000 employees, it provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.4 million Canadians, including group benefit and retirement plan members.
INSURANCE EXPERT
Bill Jeffray has spent more than 30 years in the insurance market specializing in real estate insurance, risk management and claims management. An endorsement of his contribution to the real estate insurance market came in the form of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Calgary Residential Real Estate Association. Congratulations Bill!
Maurice Tulloch, President |
AVIVA Insurance
“Renfrew is a first-class P&C broker. We are incredibly fortunate in Canada to have them as top tier partners. We want to work with people who are insightful, progressive and always looking for new ways to generate value for their business – brokers who are investing in their future, not simply taking profits out of the business. Renfrew is just such a partner. With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. They’re spectacular. With consistent senior management in Ed Sikorski and his team, Renfrew’s specialization breadth means they can insure just about anything. They demonstrate a true passion and their entire focus is their customers.”
Julie Bertin, President |
Arpi’s Industries Ltd.
“We’ve been dealing with Denise (Higginson, VP of Group Benefits) for years now – she’s like a part of the family. She and her team make a point of understanding our industry and our business and presenting customized solutions that make sense for us. As we grow and evolve, the trust is there that Renfrew has an understanding of where we want to go as new products and services become available in the marketplace. They’ve been very good to us, provided us what we needed and certainly believe they always have our best interest at the forefront.” Specializing in mechanical contracting and residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC, Arpi’s is a family-run business operating in Calgary for 50 years. Arpi’s and Renfrew have been doing business together for eight years.
With 150 years of history in Canada and $3.5 billion in annual gross written premiums, 4,000 employees, Aviva is the second largest property and casualty company in the country. Aviva is also, in fact, a present-day manifestation of the oldest insurance company in the world with more than 300 years of history from its base in London, England. Aviva and Renfrew have been doing business together since August 1, 1976 – 37 years.
Trevor Haynes, President & CEO | Gary Owcar, President |
CNA Insurance
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients. I have found them to be extremely service driven, supported by their superior team of people (customer service consultants, marketers and management), all while fostering a collaborative environment. This makes the process of purchasing insurance seamless to the client. With all the internal focus, the Renfrew team continues to work very closely with their markets which I can tell you are some of the strongest partnerships in the industry. These relationships stem from their knowledge and understanding of our industry and are built on loyalty, trust and integrity. This is why we value Renfrew Insurance as a Trusted Adviser.” Headquartered in Chicago, CNA has offices in Canada, the U.S., and internationally. In these locations, they work with highly professional distribution partners such as Renfrew to ensure customers receive the personal service and attention they look for in a carrier.
Black Diamond Group Ltd.
“Our relationship with Renfrew has evolved as our business has evolved. At the beginning we were a small, entrepreneurial company and Renfrew was flexible in dealing with our needs. They did a great job then and they do a great job now as our needs have changed over the years. Black Diamond has grown significantly and as we do business on several continents, our insurance needs become more sophisticated. We need to protect our risk on the company side through director and officer coverage, plus anticipating and managing more complex risk, like travel risk for executives going into dangerous places in the world. Renfrew’s had to bring in more sophisticated resources to try and keep our business safe – and they’ve been able to match our requirements all the way through.” Founded in 2003, Black Diamond is a TSE-listed public company focused on providing services to the resource sector. Black Diamond provides housing services for labour in remote areas putting roofs over the heads of 12,000 people in Canada and 14,000 globally in Austraila, the U.S. and Canada. Also providing modular buildings for workspace in remote and urban areas, Black Diamond currently has 3,000 buildings in service to oil and gas companies around the world. President & CEO Trevor Haynes has been a client of Renfrew’s since 2001.
Economical Insurance
Jean-Francois Blais, President |
Keg Restaurants
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors. Their long-term employees (and they have many of them) bring expertise, knowledge and a very good understanding of the marketplace. They are customer driven and their longevity is a testament to their success.
They are forward thinkers and while they offer a 65 year history, their perspective is refreshing. They are able to respond in a rapidly changing market and offer much more than off-the-shelf generic advice. They have their finger on the pulse of the industry – we’re the best at what we do and we need the best advice – Renfrew gives us just that.
Renfrew has been in business for 65 years because they care about their customers and are passionate about what they do. Customers can feel confident that with Renfrew, they are working with one of the best brokerages in the business.
While we have known Renfrew for many years, we escalated our relationship in 2010 by moving all of our insurance business to Renfrew. Why? Because they have an incredible outreach team and incredible history and, when the opportunity arose, we were ready to make the change.”
We want to work with broker partners who share the same core values as we do: behaving with integrity, respecting each other, being customer driven, and striving for excellence. We encourage our employees and the brokers we work with to demonstrate these characteristics as we think they are fundamental to providing the customer with an exceptional experience. As well, we look for brokers that have expertise in the product lines we offer.”
Founded in 1971, the Keg owns and operates more than 100 locations throughout Canada and US. Having grown from a single location in North Vancouver, the Keg has built a culinary empire known for its steak, prime rib and the “friendliest staff in the industry.”
Intact Insurance is Canada’s largest home, auto and business insurance company protecting over 4-million customers. Its coast-to-coast presence, fortified by its strong relationship with insurance brokers, means it can provide the outstanding service and stability customers deserve.
Carlos Yam, CFO |
Rowan Saunders, President |
WesternOne Inc.
“When we started with Renfrew in 2008, we were a $26-million in revenue business with five locations. Today, we earn $220 million in revenue with 15 locations plus the manufacturing business – you can appreciate the sheer magnitude of how fast this business has grown and risk management is one of the critical components of what we’ve had to deal with through this growth. Renfrew has helped us every step of the way from single branch property-loss insurance to helping us with the due diligence on our first international business deal in Australia. Renfrew is attentive and proactive. Through our eight acquisitions, they’ve always been right there with the understanding of the implications of growth. As your revenue goes up, your needs change and it’s always been an insightful conversation. Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments.”
We appreciate Renfrew’s professionalism, dedication and focus that our policyholders count on for first-rate service and advice. Renfrew is a broker partner that policyholders can trust to understand their needs and provide them with reliable advice and quality of service.”
~ Jean-Francois Blais, President, Intact Insurance
~ Rowan Saunders, President, RSA Insurance
Since 1871, Economical Insurance has been protecting Canadians with innovative home, automobile and commercial insurance products and a market-leading claims service designed with policyholders in mind. In 2010, Economical announced its decision to become the first federally-regulated mutual property and casualty insurance company to demutualize. Today, Economical is one of Canada’s leading property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies with nearly 2,300 employees at 17 branches and service offices from Halifax to Vancouver. They serve more than one million policyholders across the country through a national independent broker force that demands fresh approaches to meet evolving consumer and business needs. Economical and Renfrew have been doing business together since 1996 – 17 years.
“Renfrew provides exactly what we’re looking for: not only do their people have a deep knowledge of the industry, they also come to us when they see we need to elevate the business relationship to the next level – to ensure our risk is covered.”
“With obvious succession planning, we are encouraged by brokers that are training and supporting the development of the next generation of talent and with Renfrew, their greatest strength is their people. “
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
~ Maurice Tulloch, President, AVIVA Insurance
The Renfrew Difference
THE CLAIMS ADVOCATE
Sacha Carey, Director of Claims at Renfrew, is the personification of what makes Renfrew different, and how we and our people are regularly recognized by clients and the insurance industry in general. Sacha has been featured in Insurance West Magazine and Top Broker magazine in recognition of how her role, skill set and personality contribute to the success of our clients. Sacha is recognized by her clients and peers as one of the top Claims Advocates in the industry.
RSA Insurance
“Renfrew has a very clear business strategy that’s unique from the average broker in that it focuses on commercial lines in clearly defined market segments. This allows them a greater level of specialization which has served them very well. Over the years we’ve seen them invest heavily in talent by attracting highly capable and motivated individuals. What’s impressive about the culture at Renfrew is how client-centric they are; they’re strong at getting the job done and their stable of Canada’s top insurance companies ensures lots of choice for their customers. It’s fair to say we have an outstanding business relationship with Renfrew. Strong personal relationships from the executive level right down to traders and front line employees makes for a rewarding and aligned relationship between our two companies.” RSA has been providing insurance in Canada for 180 years. As a national property and casualty insurance company, RSA operates in all provinces and territories and earns more than $3-billion in revenues. RSA’s business has doubled in the last five years and it has gone from the 10th largest company in Canada to the third largest. Offering a full personal and commercial suite of products RSA boasts deep vertical segment expertise in manufacturing, construction, energy and mining. RSA and Renfrew have been doing business together for 44 years.
Jean Guay, Senior Vice-President, Business Development |
“Renfrew has some of the best people in the industry and this is what differentiates them from their competitors.”
“At Economical, we are continuing to evolve as we help protect Canadian families and businesses as they grow, change and plan for the future. It is the strength and quality of our relationship with our broker partners like Renfrew that helps provide insight and peace of mind to our policyholders.
Intact Insurance
“Due to their broad product services, and clientele including the Keg Charitable Foundation, the Keg has a diverse set of exposures that requires high calibre risk management and insurance expertise. Renfrew has successfully handled all the various aspects of our business.
Founded in 2006, WesternOne is a publicly-traded company listed on the TSE specializing in construction and infrastructure services. WesternOne has evolved from a tiny equipment rental business of about $28 million to a $400-millon equipment rental giant with 15 locations across Alberta and British Columbia as well as a modular manufacturing and leasing business serving Western Canada, the southern U.S. and Australia. WesternOne and Renfrew have been doing business together since 2008 – five years.
CNA offers a full range of coverage and services for oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and marine clients that leverage its claims, risk control and underwriting expertise. CNA and Renfrew have been doing business together for more than 25 years.
Karen Gavan, President & CEO |
Catherine Chow |
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Craig Johns, Senior Vice President with Renfrew Insurance, always has his customers’ needs in mind. His tireless efforts and expertise are recognized by the CAODC as their recommended broker as well by his clients. Craig recently received The People’s Choice Award from his client Trevor Haynes at the Black Diamond Group GEM awards. Craig’s dedication to his clients is recognized within the industry, by his peers and by his clients.
CLIENT RECOGNITION
Carrie Cline from Kon Construction presenting to Sam Feldman and Chris Sikorski truly demonstrate the strength of teamwork and how this contributes to the ongoing success of their client. Kon awarded the Renfrew Team an award of appreciation for their exemplary customer service and support over the past several years. The team was able to maintain continuity through a difficult market cycle, contributing to the ongoing success of the company.
Standard Life
“One of Renfrew’s greatest strengths from our organizational perspective is the reach they have with their client base. They are able to leverage their large commercial clientele into opportunities on group insurance and pensions. They have strong name recognition in the region, great skills and expertise and are able to help their clients make smart, informed decisions. Renfrew is a high-quality organization and we’re proud to be associated with them. We think we have a good relationship that can only grow in the future by doing more than group insurance and working together to provide great solutions for our customers.” Standard Life relies on brokers for 99.9% of its distribution, so our relationships are very important to us. But we’re not looking to do business with just anyone: we need to share the same values and grow our businesses together focusing on customer satisfaction and business retention. Renfrew shares those values. Standard Life plc is a leading long-term savings and investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Standard Life has around ten million customers worldwide. In Canada, Standard Life has been doing business for 180 years. It is Standard Life’s largest operation outside the UK. With about 2,000 employees, it provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.4 million Canadians, including group benefit and retirement plan members.
INSURANCE EXPERT
Bill Jeffray has spent more than 30 years in the insurance market specializing in real estate insurance, risk management and claims management. An endorsement of his contribution to the real estate insurance market came in the form of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Calgary Residential Real Estate Association. Congratulations Bill!
Renfrew Today…
Renfrew Tomorrow…
Renfrew Yesterday…
The Strategy, the Focus, the People
Strategies for the Future
Building for Success
Today, Renfrew Insurance is one of the largest and most sophisticated insurance brokers in Western Canada and is comprised of approximately 100 highly trained insurance professionals, with offices in Calgary and Edmonton.
Jim Royer, B.Sc, CA – Chief Financial Officer Jim brings a strong finance background to Renfrew including extensive experience in acquisitions and debt and equity financing.
Our strategy is to excel in customer service by developing a deep understanding in our customers’ operations and needs to thoroughly address their insurance and riskmanagement needs. We accomplish this by partnering with some of the best insurance companies in the world and specialize in specific industries.
Jeff Peters, CIP – Senior Vice President, Business Development Jeff started in the insurance industry in 1990. With his diverse experience Jeff brings a broad range of specialist capabilities to Renfrew specifically in the areas of energy insurance, energy risk management, enterprise risk management and alternative risk financing.
We have three major operating divisions;
Raymonde Legault-Smith, B.A., LLB – Senior Vice President, Professional and Financial Risks With a background in both law and insurance, Raymonde brings her unique combination of talents to Renfrew with a strong focus on Executive Liability.
1) Commercial/Business Insurance This includes specialization by industry in Energy, General Construction, Heavy Construction, Hospitality, Realty, Transportation and Surety Bonding. 2) Private Client – Personal Insurance This is a superior service proposition which includes highvalue automobile, home and personal liability insurance. 3) Life and Group Benefits Renfrew creates unique Employee Benefit and Group Retirement Programs that complement your specific business model and the needs of your management and staff. We have niche products and Executive Compensation Packages as well as Key Man and BuySell Insurance. We build relationships based on a solid services model that ensures governance and value.
Renfrew Leadership Team Our Renfrew Leadership Team has over 200 years of combined insurance industry experience. Meet our team: Ed Sikorski, CIP – President and CEO Ed began his insurance career in 1975 as an underwriter trainee at Dominion of Canada. In 1975 he moved to Royal & Sun Alliance where he moved through the organization with increased job responsibilities. He ultimately became V.P. of Corporate Marketing and Distribution. Before joining Renfrew in 2008, Ed was the President of Noraxis Capital Corporation. He is a strong believer in putting customers first and going above and beyond to meet their insurance & Risk Management needs. Alanna Hall, CIP, CRM – Chief Operating Officer Alanna holds her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation and has successfully completed the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) academic program. She joined Renfrew in 1996 and oversees the marketing and placement of large accounts and the overall operations of the company.
Cathy McIsaac – Director of Personal Insurance Services Cathy has worked in Renfrew’s commercial marketing department and as a commercial account executive since 1979. She enjoyed building client relationships so much that she chose to specialize in personal account management in the 1980s, a role she still enjoys and excels at today. Denise Higginson – V.P. Employee Benefits Denise joined Renfrew in 1996 and has built a strong clientele. She values her client relationships and excels in creative plan designs, self-funding options, and leadingedge products. Their team’s goal is to bring together the client’s core values and objectives with their expertise, ideas and products to develop exceptional benefit programs. They believe that communication, education and integrity build the foundation of successful business relationships. Sacha Carey, CRM, CIP – Director of Claims Sacha joined Renfrew in 2010, bringing over 10 years of claims experience, including a number of years as an Adjuster for a large international insurance company and as a Claims Consultant with a large international brokerage. Along the way, she has been involved in a wide variety of claims where advocacy was required to achieve successful settlements.
we have a lot to protect
As the world changes, so does the insurance business. Political instability, environmental concerns, board and executive accountability and evolving technology all present new challenges – and opportunities – for Renfrew, its partner insurers and its clients.
Renfrew has been with us every step of the way,” says Yam. “We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
“Our most basic job is to protect our clients’ balance sheets from unexpected events and help them prosper when unforeseen things happen,” explains Jeff Peters, Senior VicePresident of business development. “But the nature of those unforeseen events change and that means we need to be vigilant in keeping up with trends in the marketplace.”
Customers like Yam drive change, and Renfrew’s job is to respond with creative solutions.
With 65 years of experience in a changing marketplace and bolstered by a strong financial position, great relationships with its partners and a solid reputation in the industry, Renfrew is well positioned to take on any challenges the future may bring.
Celebrating 65 Years
“We recently completed a deal in Australia and Renfrew helped us with risk-related due diligence on our first international business deal. They have a very deep knowledge and a lot of initiative.”
By 1956, Barron had left the business almost entirely in Edelson’s hands. Over the next two decades, he built his brokerage gradually through relationships, mergers and acquisitions. In 1974, Edelson hired a young-but-experienced broker named Doug Hughesman.
“A client can be a two-person company one day and a $50-million corporation the next,” he says. “And if they don’t have advocacy on the insurance side, they can be caught in an unenviable position – that’s where we have been – and will continue to be an important part of our client’s growth and success.”
Our customers have become more sophisticated and are better engaged with the insurance part of their business. There’s more awareness at the senior executive level about the way risk impacts the business and where they need to look for places to mitigate risk – insurance can be the way to do that.
Carlos Yam, CFO for WesternOne – a Vancouver-based construction and infrastructure services company and Renfrew client – can attest to Renfrew’s flexibility and adaptability when it comes to a client’s changing needs in an increasingly global economy.
Renfrew knows what the exposures are and how to respond to that risk.
“When we started with Renfrew, we were a $64-million business; today we’re a $220-million business and
In 1948, his father ran a growing financial brokerage in Calgary and was urging his son to join him at his firm – Edelson was only half convinced, but in late 1948 he headed west – not to join his father’s brokerage, but to build something all his own.
Fortunately Renfrew was able to continue its trend of strong leadership with the appointment of Doug MacIntosh as Hughesman’s successor. McIntosh successfully lead Renfrew until his retirement in 2008 with the appointment of Ed Sikorski.
In 1950 Edelson and Stan Barron, also an insurance man, decided to join forces and worked together building a strong business in the transportation insurance sector as well as the commercial sector.
~ Carlos Yam, CFO, WesternOne Inc.
Renfrew will continue to add resources and expertise to create an environment where employees have the opportunities for growth, development and long-term careers with the company. In this way, we will be able to continue our focus on specialized areas and be the best we can be for our clients.
Hughesman would end up taking the reins of the company and lead its strategic path to become a major player in the industry. Renfew’s strategy was not to be the biggest; their goal was to become a recognized leader in the industry by running parallel to its entrepreneurial clients and by being very customer focused.
2013
marks the 65th anniversary of Renfrew Insurance. We are extremely proud of the organization we have built since our inception in 1948. At Renfrew we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service, operating with absolute integrity and a true sense of professionalism.
Under Hughesman’s leadership, Renfrew was poised to take on the future. Over the next three decades, Renfrew took that entrepreneurial spirit and grew a solid base in construction, transportation, property management, hospitality, personal products and more.
I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank three groups of people who have contributed to our success and without whom we would not be where we are today.
In 2001 Renfrew was dealt a painful blow with the passing of Doug Hughesman after a courageous battle with cancer. His friends and business colleagues miss his sage advice, friendly handshakes and graceful generosity to this day.
First and foremost I want to thank our thousands of clients, many of whom have been with Renfrew Insurance for decades. It is an honour and privilege to handle your insurance and risk-management needs. Next, I want to thank all our Insurance company partners. We deal with more than 100 insurance companies from around the world. They facilitate our ability to provide the best possible terms and coverage for our clients.
Ken Richmond, MCP One A+ – Director of Information Technology Ken joined Renfrew in 1996 and is our Director of Information Technology. Ken keeps IT systems running efficiently and is responsible for deployment of the most robust and secure IT structure possible.
We have the right team with the right skill set to handle your insurance and risk-management needs.
Renfrew Insurance’s 65-year history began with the dream of a young man in Winnipeg by the name of Jack Edelson, and culminates as one of Western Canada’s leading brokerages.
300, 334 - 11 Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 0Y2 403 299-1000
www.renfrew-insurance.com
As for Mr. Edelson? Well, he’s 94 this year and can look proudly upon the company that began as a dream for a young war veteran in Winnipeg and became one of Canada’s most exceptional insurance brokerages.
Ed Sikorski | President & CEO
Finally, thanks to all of our loyal and dedicated staff of Renfrew who come to work each day to do the best possible job for our valued clients. th
Calgary Herald building, original site of Renfrew Insurance
In the balance of this profile you will learn more about what distinguishes us from our competition and the value we bring to all of our key constituencies.
“I can tell you that in all the years I have been working with Renfrew Insurance I have found them to be extremely customer focused. Their producers are experts in their chosen niche classes of business and they share the same passion for the business as their clients.” ~ Gary Owcar, President, CNA Insurance