RBC Insurance partners with Swimming Canada
To raise awareness about the importance of swimming as a lifelong skill, Swimming Canada and RBC Insurance announced a new multi-year partnership this week. RBC Insurance will now become the presenting sponsor of Canada's Swim Team, the movement to teach every Canadian child how to swim.
With this initiative, RBC Insurance and Swimming Canada aim to reach an estimated 700,000 Canadian children and their families over the next three years.
“We know that teaching kids to swim 25 metres can help save lives. As part of our continued commitment to kids, RBC Insurance is thrilled to support Swimming Canada in this important initiative,” says Rino D'Onofrio, head of Canadian Insurance Business with RBC Insurance. “When a child learns how to swim they become more water-safe, healthier and more confident. Learning to swim also opens up lifelong recreational opportunities for children. By supporting Canada's Swim Team, we want to ensure that all children have the opportunity and encouragement they need to participate and learn how to swim at an early age.”
Canadian swimming icon and gold medallist, Mark Tewksbury, along with RBC Olympian and 2012 Olympic finallist Martha McCabe and 2012 Olympic finallist Brittany MacLean were on hand for the announcement at the University of Toronto varsity pool, where a group of local children became the first of 700,000 young Canadians to receive their official ‘Canada's Swim Team’ membership cards.
“We are extremely grateful to RBC Insurance for their support of Canada's Swim Team, which underlines the importance of keeping Canadian kids safe in and around the water,” says Ahmed El-Awadi, Chief Executive Officer for Swimming Canada. “When a child can swim 25 metres, they become an official member of Canada's Swim Team. More importantly, they are developing a valuable life skill that helps them be safer around water.”
Canada's Swim Team is a partnership between RBC Insurance and Canada's leading swimming and safety bodies: Swimming Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, the Lifesaving Society and the Canadian Medical Association. The sponsorship is a part of RBC's Learn to Play Project that is committed to donating $750,000 to community-based organizations across the country to ensure children become happy, healthy and active for life. Canada's Swim Team will be offered by pools that deliver Red Cross or Lifesaving programs. (continued.)
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During the event, the RBC Foundation announced a $10,000 donation to the Junior Blues Adapted Aquatic Program at the University of Toronto for children with physical, mental and developmental disabilities as part of the RBC Learn to Play Project. This program will help ensure all Canadian kids have an equal opportunity to learn to swim and enjoy the water.
AIA classes start in Calgary
Calgary’s new Academy of Insurance of Adjusting training facility is already up and running, with a two-week course looking for students this June.
From June 2 through June 13, AIA Instructor Glenn Smith will offer a two week Basic Adjusting class designed to introduce and teach everything needed to successfully get started in the P&C adjusting profession.
Class sizes are limited to 16 people per session, so the AIA urges those interested to register now.
Courses have already wrapped up on: Roof Damage Recognition, Understanding Composition Shingles and Wood Shingle Applications and Damage.
Established in 2013, the AIA offers hands on, in-depth and ongoing training for all P&C adjusters and related professionals. The mission of this school is to increase the skills and knowledge of all field, desk, cat, independent, and staff claims personnel.
Those looking for more information on course fees or registration can contact Glenn Smith at 405 850-8984 or Jonathan Rice at 251 327-8096.
First year of underwriting profit in six years for U.S. P&C
The United States property and casualty insurance industry recorded an underwriting profit in 2013 for the first time since 2007, according to the latest Swiss Re report.
In 2013, the U.S. P&C industry had an underwriting gain of $15.1 billion, compared to an underwriting loss of $11.4 billion in 2012, Swiss Re reported in its U.S. Property & Casualty Quarter report. While inland marine premiums in 2013 were up 9.4 per cent over 2012 and catastrophe losses during the fourth quarter of 2013 were “way below average for the period from 1995-2013,” with 86 per cent originating from one series of severe storms in mid-November.
All figures are in U.S. dollars. (continued.)
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The industry-wide loss ratio was 66.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2013, down from 79.1 per cent in Q4 2012, Swiss Re reported. The full-year loss ratio was 74.3 per cent in 2012, down from 79.4 per cent in 2011. Swiss Re predicts the loss ratio for the full year will be 68 per cent in 2013 and 70 per cent in 2014.
Across all personal lines, direct written premiums in 2013 were 4 per cent higher than in 2012. The growth in personal lines was 5.3 per cent in 2013 and 4.8 per cent in 2012. According to the report, the growth in 2013 was “supported by rate increases for the homeowners segment.”
