The founder of an Ontario insurance broker, based in Belleville since 1977, has died. Employees at Mackay Insurance said late Tuesday: “It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our founder David Mackay. He was in his 78th year.”
 
Mackay got his start in the business in 1965 working for Henry Ward out of Sherbrooke, Quebec. In 1974, Mackay went out on his own and started a brokerage in Sawyerville, Quebec. Due to the political climate in the province, he sold the Quebec operations off in 1977 and opened an office in Belleville.
 
In the early days, he worked out of the basement of his house, with just 25 clients. Today the company has well over 5000 clients and employs 12 full time staff. Bruce Mackay is the president of Mackay Insurance and oversees the day to day operations, while David Mackay was still active in the business and focused on new business sales until shortly before his passing.