Views (June 01, 2006)

“Starlight Starbright make everything all right.”

Over 600 generous guests helped The Fellows of the CIP Society’s 12th Annual Charity Gala exceed its goals – and truly become the event ‘where wishes and dreams can come true’ – with all proceeds going to the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation of Canada. Gala Chair and hostess for the evening, Camille Alexander welcomed guests to the glittering Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto and described, “Our charity of choice for the 12th consecutive year is Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation and we are very pleased to say that our donations to-date have exceeded $1.5 million dollars! These donations have allowed us to place over 30 Bedside Fun Stations in various paediatric hospitals and we have granted 538 wishes to seriously ill children and their families. It is only with the help of all who have participated: the volunteers; committee members; attendees; corporate sponsors; event sponsors; wish sponsors; live and silent auction item sponsors, that we achieve our goals and help Starlight Starbright achieve their goal of brightening the lives of seriously ill children.”

With the help of all involved, a total of $175,000 was raised for Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation. In addition, the evening raised an additional $57,000 specifically for ‘Wishes’ – making the total donation amount for 2006 an astounding $232,000 – the largest annual donation to date!

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The insurance industry’s public image was the focus of the Insurance Institute of Ontario’s Spring Luncheon held in Toronto this April. Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) president Stanley Griffin and Pembridge Insurance Co. president and COO Bob Tisdale spoke to at least 200 people about the importance of public awareness initiatives such as the IBC’s ‘Be Smart, Be Safe’ campaign and Operation Red Nose, which offers rides to people during the Christmas holiday season.

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Kingsway Financial Services president and CEO Bill Star, his wife Lizanne, and more than 100 senior company executives (some from the company’s Chicago and Hawaii offices), celebrated the company’s 2005 year-end results at the Windows SkyDome restaurant in the Rogers Centre. Earlier in the day, at Kingsway’s May 4 annual general meeting, the company announced a 34% increase in net income in 2005, up to US$135 million.

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More than 150 industry veterans attended the 47th Annual Reception of the Quarter Century Club, held May 3, 2006 at the Hilton International in Toronto. Emcee John Cherrie welcomed members and presided over the “roast” of ever-popular Bob Grouchy. The good-natured Grouchy, who more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, is currently the manager of claims at Allianz Global Risks.

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The Insurance Brokers of Toronto Region (IBTR) recently welcomed hundreds of industry guests to their special 15th Anniversary “Friendship Night” event. The annual event, held at Spirale Banquet & Convention Centre in Toronto, brought brokers, underwriters, claims adjusters, support staff, sponsors, CSRs, TSRs, producers, marketers and managers together for a night of networking, refreshments and prizes. Adding zest to the night was Toronto’s finest Mariachi Band, which helped to celebrate the event’s 15th Anniversary.

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A Durham region mother of eight celebrated Mother’s Day early this year when KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation presented her family with a wheelchair-access van. For Kari Murphy, who has seven children with special needs, the van is essential for supporting her family’s day-to-day needs and their continual visits to The Hospital for Sick Children. Her family’s new wheelchair van is big enough to transport the entire family. KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation purchased the new vehicle for the Murphy family through Oakville-based Liberty Motor Company. Steve Wise, chairman of KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation and chairman and CEO of KRG Insurance Group, presented the van to the Murphy’s on behalf of the KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation.

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In an effort to shake away those winter blues, the Property Casualty Underwriters Club (PCUC) heated up the evening of April 20 at its annual Spring-thaw Reception. The event, held at Toronto’s Courthouse Market Grille, brought together members and guests for an evening of socializing and prizes.

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Using Blues to soothe the soul, CCR once again welcomed guests to its 5th Annual Blues Night at Toronto’s Fionn MacCool’s. While great food fed guests mouths, it was the “smokin’ blues and R&B” sounds of Chuck Jackson & the All-Stars that fed their soul. Armed with a “hot blues harmonica,” Jackson is known for his musical performance with acclaimed Canadian TV shows such as Night Heat and Miami Vice.

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Insurance Institute Ontario, Hamilton/Niagara Chapter, hosted its 26th Annual Awards dinner on Feb. 16. The local chapter celebrated the achievements of 89 members who received the Chartered Insurance Professional designation and five members who received the Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional designation. Peter Hohman, president and CEO of the Insurance Institute of Canada, and J.R. (Bob) Tisdale, president of Insurance Institute Ontario, handed out the designation to the recognized members.