The
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is visiting communities across Alberta to aid residents with understanding their insurance policies and coverage options, as well as to educate them on what to do following a disaster.
The consumer tour follows the devastating Fort McMurray wildfire, which has caused approximately between $4 and $9 billion in damages.
"We continue to hear so many heartbreaking stories from residents of Fort McMurray as they navigate their way through this tragedy," said IBC Vice-President of Western and Pacific Bill Adams. "We want all Albertans, and indeed all Canadians, to have a strong understanding of their insurance policies and how best to prepare for these often-unpredictable disasters. The Fort McMurray wildfire has shown that we all need to be prepared for the risks we face to ensure we can both mitigate the impacts to our family and community, but also expedite the recovery process."
The IBC tour officially began in July 30 in Inglewood. The organisation has since visited St. Albert.
For the next few weeks, IBC representatives will be visiting areas across Alberta to educate consumers on things such as the importance of developing a 72-hour emergency preparedness plan, creating and maintaining a home inventory, and understanding an insurance policy and what exactly it covers.
"The wildfire in Fort McMurray has demonstrated just how resilient Albertans are," remarked Adams. "It also showed us what we as an industry can do to help make sure residents have the tools they need to recover from disasters as quickly as possible."
The tour will stop by the following communities on these dates:
- August 23-27, Lethbridge
- September 4, Calgary
- September 9-10, Chestermere
- September 25, High River
- October 5-7, Edmonton
- October 21-23, Medicine Hat
"We strongly encourage all Albertans to take a few minutes to better understand the risk they face. This includes contacting their insurance representative for information on their policies and what types of coverage best suit their circumstances," Adams urged.
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