IBAO is pleased to support the Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) new public service announcement and charitable awareness campaign aimed at communicating the dangers of impaired driving.

During the month of May, OSAID will have branded boxes displayed at the cash check out at all LCBO’s in Ontario. OSAID is hoping that all Ontarians to put a ‘buck in the box’ and donate to their campaign focused on educating students on the dangers of impaired driving. May brings us closer to the summer months - a time filled with social activities for students, such as prom, grad nights, May long weekend and end of school parties. These events find many students placed in compromising positions where impaired driving becomes a factor.

With a partnership that’s lasted over 10 years, IBAO brokers believe in not only educating our current drivers, but the drivers of the future. The number one cause of teen death and injury in Ontario is impaired driving. We proudly support OSAID and this initiative to spread awareness to young drivers of all forms of impaired driving including distracted driving.

In addition, Radio Broadcasting students at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario have created and produced a radio public service announcement (PSA) that will encourage people to support OSAID by donating to the campaign this month. IBAO’s public relations team will be reaching out to regional radio stations around the province encouraging the stations to play the PSA in support of this cause.

For over 25 years, OSAID has managed over 5,000 teen volunteers and has volunteer chapters in over 300 secondary schools in Ontario. OSAID hosts an annual, province wide, motivational leadership conference for students and teachers, holds 6 regional workshops, creates program materials for promotions, education and motivation, and helps prevent teen death and injury. OSAID does all of this with the help of thousands of volunteers.

IBAO, in partnership with the Ontario Safety League is pleased to announce its new sponsorship of Ontario’s chapter of Operation Red Nose!

IBAO’s sponsorship guarantees that all ‘Red Nose’ cars are properly insured for the 2011 season.

Since its start in 1984, Operation Red Nose has helped thousands of Ontarians make the responsible choice of not driving while under the influence. This program provides free and confidential chauffeur services to individuals across the province. 

This national initiative launched today in Québec, and has undoubtedly been responsible for saving many lives as it serves as a truly effective deterrent against impaired driving.

Small community launch events will be held across Ontario during the month of November with the official Ontario-wide launch being held at Queen’s Park on November 23rd with IBAO’s very own, Bryan Yetman as the host.

IBAO wishes all Ontarians a safe and happy holiday season and encourages you to benefit from the Operation Red Nose program in your community!

For a full list of the Operation Red Nose locations and contact information across province, visit the Ontario Safety League’s website – www.ontariosafetyleague.com

IBAO is proud to announce that its 68th President, Mr. Peter Burns, BES has been appointed to the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC)

Peter is a community guy. He is dedicated to countless local causes, various sponsorships and volunteer’s on board committees. IBAO CEO Randy Carroll points out that “his ongoing contributions to the insurance industry in Ontario are incredible to watch and we are all excited to see these contributions extend to the industry as a whole”.

Peter has been a part of our industry since the early 1990’s. He graduated from University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and worked in the community newspaper business. In fact, he was one of the founders of the Tillsonburg Indepenent, a community newspaper now owned by Sun Media.

Peter began his career in insurance when he joined Anderson & Benner, a small, three-person Insurance and Financial Services Brokerage in Tillsonburg. Shortly after, he served on the Board of Directors for the Oxford County Insurance Brokers Association for ten years, five of those being spent as President. In 2005, Peter was elected to the IBAO Board of Directors and in 2010 was elected to the role of President of this same board. He has chaired Education, Membership, Broker Management & Long Range Planning in the past for IBAO and served on the IBAC BIP committee.

Today, Peter is the President of Burns, Demeyere & Associates in Tillsonburg, Ontario.

Mr. Carroll said, “We are pleased to have Peter as our Ontario representative on the IBAC Board for the 2011- 2012 term. It will be exciting to see Peter bring his insight and knowledge to the national level.”

IBAO 91st Annual Convention
Wednesday, October 19 – Friday, October 21, 2011
The Fairmont Royal York

Click here to reserve your room online

IBAO's Annual Convention has set the standard for providing the most powerful networking opportunity available for member insurance brokers, industry leaders and service industry partners! Don't miss this exclusive event hosted in Toronto at the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Click Here to register online NOW!

Click Here to download a full 2011 Convention Program

Please note that IBAO will be using Meeting Management Services Inc. (MMS) again this year to process and manage registrations. Please forward all registration forms and payment to this company. Their contact information is included at the top of the registration form. Should you have any questions regarding registration, please contact colleen@mmsonline.ca.

Exhibitor List

Exhibitor Floor Plan

Don't miss the largest insurance broker event of the year!

The 2011 IBAO Annual Convention is a tweet-friendly event and we are encouraging attendees to tweet-away!! The hashtag for the event is #IBAOConvention11.

Insurance brokers understand the importance of providing kids with every opportunity possible, which is why IBAO has recently extended its annual sponsorship of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) with the launch of a brand new goalie outreach program called, 'The Best Insurance is a Good Goaltender.

“The Best Insurance is a Good Goaltender” in an initiative that will help support kids who have always dreamed of becoming a hockey goalie but may not have had the opportunity to access proper equipment.  Additionally, IBAO will provide minor hockey associations with goaltending resources to aid coaches.

Last night, young hockey players were joined by Kay Whitmore, NHL goaltending supervisor and local insurance brokers to announce the launch. Over forty sets of new equipment will be given to young players across the province!

Supporting youth has always been a priority for brokers.  IBAO is thrilled to be launching this new program with the hockey season officially upon us!

Photo Descriptions

Goalie Launch

(Left to Right) NHL Goaltending Consultant Kay Whitmore with Insurance Brokers Mike Naples and David V. Palermo unveil “The Best Insurance Is A Good Goaltender” Outreach Program for minor hockey goaltenders to obtain loaner equipment to try the position.

Credit: Derek Polowyk, OMHA


Goalie Launch2

NHL Goaltending Consultant Kay Whitmore helps outfit Adam Lalicata with equipment from the “The Best Insurance Is A Good Goaltender” Outreach Program Goalie Kit.

Credit: Derek Polowyk, OMHA

On June 24th, members of IBAO’s administrative team participated in the North York Relay for Life. The IBAO team raised over $30,000.00 for the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual Relay.

Relay For Life is an overnight non-competitive relay that celebrates cancer survivors and pays tribute to loved ones. It's a night of fun, friendship and fundraising to beat cancer.

This year’s Relay took place at the Esther Shriner Stadium in Toronto where IBAO was joined by countless other teams, all participating for this incredible cause.

IBAO is extremely proud to support the Canadian Cancer Society’s crusade and looks forward to continuing that support for years to come.

IBAO was privileged to be presented with the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC)’s Gold Flame Award at the organization’s 15th annual Gala dinner in Toronto last evening.

WICC’s main mission is to mobilize the Canadian insurance industry in the fight against cancer by focusing on cancer research, support and education.

IBAO was awarded in appreciation for selecting WICC as the charity of choice for donations in lieu of speaker gifts at IBAO’s annual convention since 2009, which has contributed $7,100 to help in the fight against cancer. Over the past three years, IBAO has raised over $30,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society through its participation in the Relay for Life event across the province.

Over 600 insurance industry members attended the Gala dinner at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto and Broker Relations & Insurance Support team member, Jim Barnsley accepted the award on behalf of the association.

IBAO is a proud supporter of the WICC and will continue to be in years to come.  WICC’s commitment to educating and supporting people with loved ones suffering from cancer makes it truly an incredible organization.

Team IBAO at the 2010 Relay for Life event - Toronto, ON.

In the ongoing commitment IBAO has to providing innovative programs to broker members, the association is announcing the launch of our new pilot program Beyond Best in Class (BBiC). The new program is aimed at educating brokers in business best practices.

The BBiC pilot program launched in Cambridge, Ontario yesterday, with a group of eight brokerages participating. The focus is to encourage brokers to ‘change the mindset of the traditional broker’ about their employees, clients, insurance company partners and day-to-day business operations.

BBiC is designed to strengthen the skills of the broker community. Educating brokers on the latest business ideas and practices will help to promote a balance between thinking and doing.

Following the pilot group, the program will be opened up to IBAO’s full membership later this year.  IBAO is very excited to offer this new program and provide unlimited access to the best possible educational programs for its membership.

Stay tuned for the full launch of this program in the Fall!

Gore Mutual Insurance Company is the proud sponsor of the pilot group.

Yesterday, the North Bay and Area Insurance Brokers Association proudly presented the North Bay Regional Health Centre with a $250,000 donation and one hundred of their signature purple blankets.

A team of local independent insurance brokerages worked collectively raising funds for the community care facility, and the money raised will benefit the Surgical Inpatient Unit and Burn Suite.100 fleece blankets were also donated by the insurance brokerages and will be dispersed throughout the health centre to serve those most in need and warm the hearts of all.

Congratulations to IBAO brokers who donate thousands of fleece blankets and volunteer their time to a variety of charities across the province each year – a great demonstration of how insurance brokers are tremendously committed and active in their communities.

Bernie Robertson, President of The North Bay & Area Insurance Brokers Association commented on the donation to the hospital, saying that the group of brokers was very proud to present the large financial donation to a centre that continually goes above and beyond for the people in North Bay and the surrounding areas. He mentioned that the centre’s commitment to their patients and the community is truly inspiring.

Insurance brokers are consistent in providing support for local charities and as local independent business owners, the association’s members strongly believe in giving back to their community.

What a great way to start of the new year! This is one of many great stories of how brokers are committed to their communities and keeping Ontarians safe and well. We look forward to sharing more of these great stories with you.