The Pace

Valérie Lavoie, President and Chief Operating Officer of Desjardins General Insurance Group and newly-elected IIC Chair started her career 29 years ago at DGIG and says she still loves what she does just as she did from day one.

Valerie started as an actuary, and was promoted to management positions in actuarial services, distribution, sales, and client service, which gave her the opportunity to work on a number of strategic files. Four years ago, she was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Desjardins General Insurance Group.

“Before completing my bachelor's degree in actuarial science, I got a bachelor's degree in biology because I wanted to go into medicine,” says Valerie. “Ultimately, I decided to go into actuarial services because I love numbers. That said, I don't think that my degree in biology was a waste of time. It helped me develop rigour and critical thinking, and it taught me how to take a scientific approach, which still serves me well to this day.”

Community involvement and personal development are very important to Valerie. “I have two grown boys, one of whom has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism advocacy has become a cause that I care about deeply and that I'm actively involved in. This year, I'm campaign chair for Intégration TSA, an organization that provides services to people with autism spectrum disorder.” In addition, Valerie is the vice-chair for the 2023 campaign for United Way for the Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches regions as well as an ambassador for the Desjardins Mentorship Program.

According to Valerie, staying on top of the constant changes in the industry is another important factor for career success. “For those in property and casualty insurance, honing your skills is vital because our priority is working in our clients' best interests. To continue to be relevant and to stand out, we need to keep getting better at meeting their needs.” The biggest changes she sees impacting the property and casualty insurance industry include:

Technology influences our business priorities and will continue to do so. Our clients want to be able to deal with their insurance company in a way that's convenient for them, when they want, without any interruptions to the process and without needing to repeat their information over and over. It's essential that we automate, digitize and simplify the way we do business so we can make things easier for our members and clients with value-added services.

Advanced analytics and AI will continue to be a way to help our members and clients interact with us. It also helps us get to know our members and clients more quickly and accelerate the development of sophisticated business models in various fields, like claims, segmentation and fraud.

Climate change is a major disruptor in our industry. In fact, we're seeing more and more insurance companies working towards meaningful, lasting solutions to fight climate change. At Desjardins, our focus is on resilience and prevention.

 “The world around us is evolving quickly and we need to embrace it’” she says. “Taking an inquisitive approach and keeping our skills sharp are essential. That means trying and sometimes failing, learning from those failures, getting better and then seeking out new experiences. This helps us navigate and adapt to change. Skills such as curiosity and versatility, political acumen and the ability to work with and influence others are valuable in every workplace.”

Valerie believes that career growth and development is the responsibility of each individual. “I don't have a set of rules because I think there are different ways to move a career forward. It starts with doing a good job which may seem obvious, but it's how you demonstrate that you can take charge, and that you care about your work. It shows discipline and a good attitude. You also have to get out of your comfort zone. Curiosity towards your organization and towards others can lead to new opportunities. If you want to stand out, you have to try new things and take on new challenges. It’s important to keep up with industry and market trends to help sharpen your knowledge and critical reasoning, while opening you up to new ideas. Finally, if you want to advance your career, you need to have an open conversation with your managers about your aspirations, and make sure you seize opportunities. “

When she looks back over her own career, Valerie says there are a few things that stand out as especially important. Here are her top tips:

• Love what you do: We spend a lot of time working, so we might as well enjoy it! When you understand the why, and when you really know who you are and what you're passionate about, your work takes on a whole new meaning. For me, it was adding value to our clients' lives; that's what guides my career path.
• Get out of your comfort zone and be curious: I've stepped out of my comfort zone numerous times and I've said it many times: when we face new challenges, we need to focus on what we stand to gain, not what we might lose. It's in those moments that we discover ourselves. Sometimes others see something in us that we didn't know was there. That's another part of it; we have to learn to trust when others believe in us. And always be curious about your organization, about others, and about yourself.
• Surround yourself with good people from various backgrounds and with different perspectives—at work and in your personal life. People are at the heart of everything. The history of a company is the history of the people who built it. DGIG and Desjardins have a great success story. I was able to get to where I am in my career because there were people who trusted me and whom I was able to count on. We're better when we surround ourselves with supportive people who have different perspectives and who valuable insight.

There is a justified and long overdue buzz in the air about careers in the p&c insurance space. Those of us in the industry know just how rewarding, dynamic, people-oriented, and fascinating these careers are. That’s why it’s so exciting to see others catching on. In fact, the Insurance Institute of Canada’s recently released Demographic Analysis of the p&c Insurance space, indicates that 44% of the industry is comprised of millennials. This already begins the unravelling of myths and stereotypes around what a career in insurance is.

The challenge has been, that while our industry has been setting the pace on technology, climate change championship, thought leadership, connectedness with communities/employees, volunteerism, giving back generously, competitive pay/benefits, job satisfaction and equity/diversity& inclusion - we have let others tell our story.

Peter Hohman, MBA, FCIP, ICD.D, President, and CEO of the Insurance Institute of Canada says that “The Institute, in connection with our many industry partners and contributors, is taking our industry’s narrative back. We’ll tell the story of the valuable and interesting careers in our industry, so that many more can find their way to these stable and rewarding roles. And we will continue to share your voices and stories for others to learn from.”

Hohman goes on to say that “Starting in mid-January 2024 the Insurance Institute of Canada will lead a bilingual, national, multi-media advertising campaign, running for two years, that will demonstrate that the industry has something of interest for everyone. The goal of the campaign is to help the p&c industry close the industry talent gap, by attracting net new talent.”

The campaign will properly position careers in the industry through the lenses of youthful energy and forward-looking settings, relatable to a modern workforce. This will be done using a variety of channels, creative approaches and audience targeting methodologies. Campaign tactics will include programmatic video, display, retargeting and paid social media campaigns that will leverage Meta, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, with an Influencer campaign. Assets will include :15s Video, :30s Video, Static Banner Ads, Reels, Stories, Toolkits, and a micro-site to carry on the conversation beyond the first few engagements. Targeting will be aimed at new graduates, newcomers to Canada, and career changers.

Hohman added “we will light the way for those who wish to bring their talent and passion to this industry. In turn, they will find a career for all ages and backgrounds with breadth and depth of roles, having something for everyone.”

Stay tuned to our Social Media channels for more information coming soon!

Property and casualty insurance has a multitude of career opportunities in a variety of settings. And in connecting with insurance professionals, you soon discover that there are almost as many routes through the industry as there are people who work in it.

Continuing our series on the many roles available in the industry we recently chatted with Warren Ting, Vice President, Underwriting at Hamilton Township Mutual Insurance Company.

Getting started

Just before graduating from Western in 2000, I came upon an opportunity at RSA where I was chosen as one of nine graduates for their Underwriting Training Program across Canada. With this program, I would sit in a class for six months, and be provided in-office training for six months in order to fast-track me into the role of an Underwriter. At the time, I didn’t know anything about insurance or what an underwriter does but paid training and the opportunity to excel in a career seemed too good to be true so I thought, “I might as well give it a try!”

I have had the unique opportunity to work on “both” sides of the insurance industry, the insurance carrier side, and the brokerage side. For most of my career, I have been on the company side with various insurance companies but had the opportunity to be Branch Manager of three broker offices for about 5 years. With experience on both sides, I was able to see the industry as a whole, which allowed me to empathize with both insurance carriers and brokerages as I have been able to “walk in their shoes.”

My role

Being VP of Underwriting of a small Mutual insurance company is very different from a larger insurance company as you wear many more hats than you would since you are the main point of reference for anything underwriting from team management, setting rates, rules, and underwriting guidelines to determining underwriting appetite and philosophy. A typical work day for me is definitely a busy one where there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in a day. I usually start off my day tackling the tough things first with underwriting and/or broker relationship challenges. Then I focus on my underwriting team and try to address their questions, referrals and discussions. I usually also have numerous projects going on at the same time in which I try to chip away a little bit each day. I then throw into the mix some broker visits, industry events, teaching some CIP courses… it’s a busy day to say the least!

I think as a leader, the toughest challenge you will face is the management of people. You can learn and absorb all the technical knowledge there is to offer but with insurance being a “people” business, the management of relationships, building employee morale and engagement is probably the toughest challenge to face and will continue facing. It’s not something that you can overcome as new challenges emerge all the time, but my goal is just to become better each day.

Apart from the gradual progression to my current role as VP, one of my career highlights is to be able to give back to the insurance industry to foster and watch the growth of the newer generations over the years with teaching CIP courses at Seneca College and at the Institute. I’m currently a Career Connections ambassador and have been for more than 15 years. I also teach CIP courses in both the Business Insurance program at Seneca College and for the Insurance Institute for 14 years. I feel the most satisfaction seeing the students of my class excel in their careers over time and knowing that I’ve been able to play a part in their growth.

Advice for young professionals

I graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2000 majoring in Public Administration. When I started my insurance career after that, I enrolled and completed my CIP and FCIP by 2005. The CIP courses allowed me to build a solid foundation in my knowledge of insurance and allowed me to excel up the various levels to Senior Underwriter. The FCIP provided me with the skillset to take on managerial and leadership roles by 2007. While I was enrolled in my FCIP, I also completed my CRM. As the role of an insurance professional is one in which one never stops learning, I’m currently completing my Master’s degree majoring in Insurance Management at Columbia University.

My advice is to show your commitment to the insurance industry with continuous learning. Don’t stop taking CIP/FCIP courses as these courses will be your ticket to career growth. Always be positive wherever you work and whatever position you do as this is a small industry and you don’t want to burn any bridges. Remember that it’s always ok to complain as long as you come with a solution. Hone and enhance your people skills because as technical knowledge may be important, a positive “can-do” attitude is the most vital skill that will be the key to a fruitful career.

The new Insurance Institute of Canada website is one of the most ambitious projects the organization has ever undertaken. The complete teardown and rebuild of the website has required the support of expert partner agencies and the contributions of employees from across the organization in an effort to ensure the new site can provide an optimal online experience for Institute members and students alike.

From the start, the goal has been to build a contemporary website that inspires and empowers insurance professionals to achieve their career goals. Consultations were carried out at the start of the project with a broad range of IIC website users to gauge the requirements of the new site. The findings formed the building blocks for an array of visual designs, and once a final design was chosen, it was tested and validated with a second cohort of website users who were given access to an early prototype. Tweaks were made to the design in response to their feedback resulting in a design that was intuitive, visually appealing and easy to navigate.

After a few years of steady work, the website is finally near completion. New graphics reflect the inclusive spectrum of people who work in the evolving world of insurance. The website text has been enhanced to make it more approachable and accessible. A mobile-first approach was applied to the visual design and functionality to ensure online visitors can access features whether browsing the site on a desktop computer, tablet or mobile phone. The website fonts, colours and layout have also been tested to ensure they comply with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) regulations.

It has been a lengthy journey, but the Institute is now counting down the weeks to unveiling the new website. Stay tuned and watch this space.

Losses in business may be common, but some of them are preventable. A new CIP elective course, C27 Introduction to Loss Prevention, explores the key function of loss prevention.

Insurers have a vital interest in reducing or preventing losses. They are in the business of spreading risk and paying losses; but to be profitable, they must ensure that the premiums they receive are enough to pay for the losses that occasionally occur – along with an allowance for expenses and profit.

The fewer and less severe the losses insurers must pay, the more profitable insurers can be and the more affordable they can make insurance for the consumer. Preventing losses also further benefits the consumer by reducing the human suffering associated with losses and accidents.

The work of loss prevention professionals thus offers critical support to the work of those in other insurance roles.

Loss prevention involves using proactive methods and measures to prevent, as much as possible, identified risks from becoming losses.

 A new CIP elective course explores this activity. In C27: Introduction to Loss Prevention, participants will

• learn about the loss prevention function and the concept of hazard,
• explore the standards codes and the regulations used to identify hazards, and
• examine the major areas of concern and the changing environment for loss prevention.

“The course focuses on fire, water, crime, liability, and automobile fleet operations as the major areas of focus for loss prevention,” says John Stathakos, the Institute’s director of academic programs and product development. “It also looks at how technology and climate change are affecting the environment for loss prevention, and considers the use of loss prevention by various types of insurance professionals.”

C27 has been developed not only for loss prevention professionals themselves but also for those who use their services, including underwriters, brokers and agents, and claims adjusters.

Course materials include a comprehensive textbook (provided in both print and eBook formats) and supporting online resources such as study summaries, interactive exercises, and practice questions with feedback.

C27: Introduction to Loss Prevention launches in January 2024. 

Leadership is the ability to guide others to achieve a common goal. Effective leaders have the capacity to empower and inspire their teams, their colleagues, and their communities by demonstrating integrity, empathy, and resilience.

Each year the CIP Society honours leaders working in the p&c insurance industry with a National Leadership Award. The award is given to those who demonstrate excellence, achievement, and a deep connection to their organizations and communities.

Each year the CIP Society honours leaders working in the p&c insurance industry with a National Leadership Award. The award is given to those who demonstrate excellence, achievement, and a deep connection to their organizations and communities.

2023 saw an exceptional group of nominees for this year’s awards and the National Leadership Award Leadership committee was pleased to select three award recipients. This year, John Taylor has been chosen for the Established Leader category. Thea Baird and Ngawang (Noah) Choedon are the recipients in the Emerging Leader category.

For John Taylor, President of the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association (OMIA), the recognition has prompted him to reflect on leadership in Canada’s insurance industry, “It’s a great compliment to be recognized for the prestigious National Leadership Award. In the insurance industry we have many great leaders and even more unsung professionals who hold things together for people when things go wrong. Insurance is a great economic enabler, and to be recognized for contributing to that is an honour. The Award has also caused me to reflect on the leaders who helped me on my way, both inside and outside of insurance. I learned something from every single one of them.”

Thea Baird, Vice President at AON, says that being nominated for a National Leadership Award proves that hard work pays off, “Those who know me, know I am not a person who likes the spotlight. To be considered for and receive a National Leadership Award is truly amazing. I see how my career is soaring and how much I have accomplished is mind-blowing. This award has opened my eyes to my capabilities and what I bring to the table. To know that my industry peers see my passion, see how I contribute to the industry and my community, and see me in such a high regard means so much. I love what I do. I do it because I can and want to. To be recognized for my efforts has provided me with a new sense of pride in my work and everything I do. It shows that hard work pays off and I feel appreciated and that I’m adding value. I’m inspired to do more and hope I inspire others.”

Emerging Leader Ngawang (Noah) Choedon, Senior Environmental Underwriter at Zurich Canada, encourages everyone to lead with empathy, “One of the most important leadership qualities is having empathy towards others, especially as we’re in a people-business. We shouldn’t view our day-to-day interaction as transactional, but instead use it as an opportunity to develop the relationships we have. When you are spending time with someone, be fully present. I also believe each one of us has a responsibility to give back to our community and our industry, and to make it easier for the next generation. This applies to both our personal and professional life. Lastly, I think a great leader should be curious about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. When you don’t understand something, it’s okay to ask. Not only does it foster a culture of trust and learning, but it also enables a leader to keep growing and to be able to share newly acquired knowledge with others.”

All of the National Leadership Award recipients believe that the CIP and FCIP Programs have been valuable training for their career paths. Here’s what they have to say about the program:

John Taylor:

Get started early and stay with it. It’s the best investment you can make in your early professional development. And it’s a way that our industry can demonstrate to the public that insurance professionals are educated, diligent, and principled.

I have always believed that the FCIP needs to be more widely appreciated. It is a tremendous benefit to add the extra layer of management education on top of the CIP, to achieve it with your peers in an industry specific context, and to be accredited by a national body. I’m proud to have both designations.

Thea Baird:

Go for it! It’s worth it! I’m all for education and continued personal and professional growth. I have obtained my CIP and CAIB, and I am now working on my CRM. The more knowledge you have will best equip you for future roles and help create or advance your career. Regardless of the role you hold within your company, these courses give you the skills, knowledge, and strategies to help build your career. The CIP and FCIP courses are well-recognized and highly recommended, and they concentrate on current and future topics that are affecting the industry. These courses also help open your connections with other professionals in the industry. It’s a great opportunity that can lead to a long road to success.

Ngawang (Noah) Choedon:

When I was exploring opportunities during a career change, I saw an article on the commercial insurance industry. After doing research, I found underwriting of most interest to me, which led to enrolling myself in the Insurance Institute of Canada's CIP program.

The program allowed me to develop a strong educational foundation in insurance and grow in my career as an underwriter, opening new doors to progress that I wouldn’t have been otherwise able to explore. Not only that, the classes and Insurance Institute events have been fantastic for networking with other leaders in our industry. Additionally, I'm currently an Insurance Institute career ambassador, representing Zurich Canada, with the aim of creating more awareness of insurance as a viable career. It's so gratifying to think that I might be one small part of introducing someone to a lesser-known field, and refreshing our industry with new talent when we need it most.  

Think insurance is boring? Think again. Check out these fun facts.

• America’s oldest and still active insurer is the Philadelphia Contributionship, founded in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin. The initial design of the company’s insurance was to help Philadelphia’s citizens financially due to fire damage to their homes.
• Some unusual insurance policies have been taken out by celebrities and companies to protect their assets. For example, actress Jennifer Lopez reportedly insured her famous curves for $27 million, and a wine collector allegedly insured his nose for $8 million.

In partnership with MBNA, the CIP Society offers the CIP Society Platinum Plus MasterCard® credit card. Every time you use your account for a qualifying retail purchase, you not only identify yourself as a member of the CIP Society, but you also support the Rhind Bursary program.

Enjoy benefits like:

• No annual fee
• 2 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category
• 1 point‡ for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases
• Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 10,000 Points.
• Receive 10,000 bonus points†† ($50 in cash back value) after your first eligible purchase within the first 90 days of account opening
• Receive 5,000 bonus points†† ($25 in cash back value) once enrolled for e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening
• Redeem points‡ for cash back, brand-name merchandise, gift cards from participating retailers, charitable donations, and travel.
• Standard Annual Interest Rates of 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on balance transfers✪, and 24.99% on cash advances
• Take advantage of an everyday rewards card with no annual fee. Apply now for the MBNA Rewards® credit card.

Apply today!

2023/24 IIC Board of Governors

Chair: * Valérie Lavoie, BASc (Desjardins)

Deputy Chair: * James Russell, BMath, FCIA (TD Insurance)

Vice-Chair — Governor-at-Large: * Stéphane Lespérance, CRM (Aon)

Penultimate Past Chair: * Heather Masterson, BA, BEd, FCIP (Travelers Canada)

Regional Vice Chairs:

*Kerry McLaughlin, CIP, CRM, ACS (Hub International) (Western Provinces)

*Andrew Steen, CIP (Berkley Canada) (Ontario)

*Alex Stringer, FPAA, CRM (DPA Assurances) (Quebec)

*Tricia Hashie, FCIP (PEI Mutual Insurance Company) (Atlantic Provinces)

The chairs of the standing committees in 2023/2024 will be the following:

Executive Committee: * James Russell, BMath, FCIA (TD Insurance)

Academic Division: *Paul Croft, BA, BSc, CIP, CRM, CCIB (Aon Canada)

Professionals’ Division: *Rosalind Staples-Simpson, BComm, FCIP (Intact Insurance)

*= Executive Committee member

The balance of the Board of Governors comprises representatives of local institutes and chapters:

from Newfoundland and Labrador: Tina Rowntree, FCIP, CRM (Wedgewood Insurance)

Thea Baird, CIP, CAIB (Aon)

from Prince Edward Island: Sarah Dawson, CIP (Travelers Canada)

from Nova Scotia: Joe Gariepy, CIP, CRM (Linx Underwriting Solutions)

Kelly Leydon, FCIP (TD Insurance)

from New Brunswick: Marie Clifford, FCIP (Anderson McTague Insurance)

Alison Brown, CIP (Carnaghan Thorne Insurance)

from Quebec: Mathieu Gagnon, FPAA, CRM, RIB (Vézina Assurances

Inc.)

Josée Roy, PAA (Echelon Assurance)

from Ontario: Tracy Krunic, BBA, FCIP (Brokerlink Inc.)

Melanie Muise, BScMath, MBA, FCIP (Navacord)

Dave Penstone, FCIP, CRM, RIB (Kent and Essex Mutual)

Jordan Bilkas, MBA, CIP (Cowan Insurance Group)

Jennifer Hamu, BSoc, CIP, CRM (Travelers Canada)

Raymond Rowe, CIP, CRM (Wawanesa Insurance Co.)

Thomas Watson, CIP (Guardsman Insurance Services)

Steven Moro, FCIP (HUB International)

from Manitoba: Jennifer Scott, CIP, CIM (Manitoba Public Insurance)

Morgan Mackenzie, BA, CIP, CAIB (Western Financial

Group Insurance)

from Saskatchewan: Debra Bachek, FCIP (SGI Canada)

Lori Madsen, CIP (CAA Insurance)

from Southern Alberta: Darius Delon, MBA, FCIP, CRM (Risk Management 101)

Anthony Lim, BA, FCIP, CRM (Peace Hills General

Insurance Co.)

from Northern Alberta: Nicholas Fonseca, FCIP (City of Leduc)

Shelora Lopez, CIP (The Cooperators)

from British Columbia: Vicki Rowan, FCIP, CRM (Optimum West Insurance Co.)

Jason Hall, CIP, CRM

Heather Anderson, CIP, CAIB, CRM (Megson FitzPatrick

Insurance)

Again this year, your Board of Governors comprises members from all parts of the country and all sectors of the industry; it would be difficult to imagine a more representative group.

Recognize the governors who represent you and let them know of any comments you may have about the Institute’s programs. Members must be active in a membership association. We need to hear from you!

The Honour Roll

A CIP designation is impressive enough in its own right. Even more impressive is an Honours CIP—eight of ten CIP courses passed with honours. The following Honours graduates were elected this year:

British Columbia

Andrea Leanne Derhak (British Columbia)

Roberta Hayes

Insurance Corporation of BC (British Columbia)

Gurleen Kaur

Insurance Corporation of BC (British Columbia)

Alison Kathryn Mackay

The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia (British Columbia)

Navjot Singh Paur

WBI Home Warranty Ltd. (British Columbia)

Northern Alberta

Andreea Manuela Oprea (Northern Alberta)

Southern Alberta

Ming Ye Hu

Co-operators (Southern Alberta)

Athalia Larson

Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. (Southern Alberta)

Peter Zhu

TD Insurance (Southern Alberta)

Saskatchewan

Daryl M. Andrew

SGI Canada (Saskatchewan)

Manitoba

Alexandra M. Gravenor

Intact Insurance Company (Manitoba)

Bana Rezene

Intact Insurance Company (Manitoba)

Cody Roy Thomas

Manitoba Public Insurance (Manitoba)

Ontario

Cristian Altobelli

Markel Canada Limited (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Jeffrey Anderson

J.J. McAteer & Associates Inc. (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Sofia Chtchepetova

Zurich Canadian Holdings Limited (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Alexandra De Sousa

Bulk Barn Foods Limited (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Patricia Esther Foster

SCM ClaimsPro Inc. (Ontario – Hamilton/Niagara)

Brian Mitchell Hopkins

Victor Insurance (Ontario – Ottawa)

Dayo Samshudeen Ibrahim

Intact Public Entities (Ontario – Conestoga)

Emily Rebecca Johnson

Desjardins General Insurance Group (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Geneviève Morin-Bezanson

Intact Insurance Company (Ontario – Ottawa)

Kenneth Ka Pui Ng

ClaimsPro Inc. (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Brynn Paisley

Berkley Canada (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Taylor Petricevic

Desjardins General Insurance Group (Ontario – Hamilton/Niagara)

Thushara Vijayenthiran

Intact Insurance Company (Ontario – Greater Toronto Area)

Quebec

Pascale Forget

Intact Assurance (Quebec)

Katherine Patry

Desjardins Assurances générales (Quebec)

Sandrine Tsangué

TD Assurance (Quebec)

New Brunswick

Jamie Swetnam

Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. (New Brunswick)

Congratulations to these outstanding graduates!

Scholarships: lending a helping hand to students

The Institute manages three scholarship programs: the Lloyd King Scholarships, the John E. Lowes Insurance Education Fund, and the Toronto Insurance Conference Scholarships.

Each of these programs offers students a financial boost as they pursue their education. We are pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s scholarships. The board of trustees chose exceptional recipients for the Scholarship Programs. The 2023 award recipients are as follows:

John E. Lowes Scholarship

Joshua Lourenco Owen

Wilfrid Laurier University

Matthew Ford

Mohawk College

Connor Pierce

Mohawk College

Oluwajomiloju Oluwaseyi

Mohawk College

Lloyd King Scholarship

Nora Taylor

Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador

Molly Pomeroy

Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador

Congratulations to this year’s scholarship winners!

Convocation ceremonies

Our graduates have worked long and hard for their designations. They deserve our full recognition. Watch for details on our website of the virtual convocation ceremonies being planned by your local Institutes and Chapters. Mark your calendar and take part in a special occasion. Let’s support our local graduates!

Congratulations to all graduates.

Membership dues—pay to view

Students with unpaid memberships who go to our website to review their student records will find they have no access to them.

If you are unsure whether your membership is current, go to www.insuranceinstitute.ca, then click “Login” and follow the instructions. Once logged in, select “my Profile” from the top menu and then “My Membership Information” from the left-hand menu. If your membership fee has been paid, you should see an expiry date of May 31, 2024 (or later). If your membership fee has not been paid, click “Purchase/Renew Membership” to renew your membership for the current year. Remember to renew your membership each year.

’Tis the season—Exam season, that is!

Since spring 2017, all courses in the CIP and General Insurance Essentials (GIE) Programs have had computer-based examinations. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, examinations for the CIP and GIE Programs have also been virtually proctored.

Starting with the July 2022 exam session (spring semester), students now have the option to write their exams either through virtual proctoring or in person at one of the Institute’s examination centres.

Virtual proctoring works by a live virtual proctor observing you taking your exam through your webcam. The virtual proctor will also help you troubleshoot any technical issues if necessary.

In-person exams can be written at your local institute office or a select few additional third-party centres. Exam centres are selected at the time of exam booking. If you wish to write an in-person exam, book early, as capacity at these centres will be limited.

Once you are registered to write the exam, you can select a date and time from the dates below. Upon registration, a booking confirmation email will be sent to you. Your exam details can be found in the exam portal once you have scheduled your exam.

Examinations in either format will be offered December 1 through December 15. You should schedule your exam immediately after registration.

Three hours are allowed for each CIP subject and two hours for GIE subjects. Good luck!.