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 The Wawanesa Insurance executive office building, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. | |
| Company type | Mutual |
|---|---|
| Industry | General insurance |
| Founded | September 25, 1896; 129 years ago (1896-09-25), inWawanesa, Manitoba |
| Founder | Alonzo Fowler Kempton |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg, Manitoba ,Canada |
Area served |
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Key people |
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| Services | |
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| Total assets |
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Number of employees | 5,900 (2020) |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Website | wawanesa.com |
| Footnotes / references [1] | |
Wawanesa Insurance—officially TheWawanesa Mutual Insurance Company,[2] also known asWawanesa Mutual or simplyWawanesa—is a Canadianmutual insurance firm, as well as among Canada's ten largestproperty andcasualty insurers.[1][3]
The company's head office is located inWawanesa, Manitoba, with its executive office inWinnipeg and regional offices across Canada; it also previously operated in the US states of California andOregon until April of 2024.[4][1] As of 2020, it has assets of over $11.3 billion and over two million policies in force.[5][3]
Wawanesa Insurance wholly owns two subsidiaries: Wawanesa Life, itslife insurance subsidiary; and Trimont Financial Ltd.,[6] which provides direct support to localbrokers.[5] Wawanesa Insurance and its subsidiaries compose acorporate group called The Wawanesa Group of Companies.[7]
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company was established on September 25, 1896, as a farmers'mutual insurance carrier inWawanesa, Manitoba. It was founded by Alonzo Fowler Kempton, who started the company using money invested by local farmers. After two weeks, Charles Kerr, Alonzo's partner, completed the company's first policy, insuring a thresher for $600 at a premium of $24 for three years.[8][9]
A small room was rented above a local drugstore. The staff consisted of Kempton as the secretary-manager, and Charles Kerr as thebookkeeper. Seven of the 20 original investors were named directors. Wawanesa issued its first policies without apremium payment because farmers did not have cash until after harvest.[8]
In 1901, Wawanesa moved to a new building overlooking theSouris River valley, and the number of employees increased to five. By 1910, the company had become the largest mutualfire insurance company in the country.[10] Several years later, the company diversified its coverage in 1926 to includeprivate buildings, and in 1928 toautomobiles.[9][11]
The company was subsequently granted a Dominioncharter on May 1, 1929, allowing it to offer coverage in all provinces of Canada.[9]
During theGreat Depression, Wawanesa expanded, fueled by largecash reserves and new offices inVancouver, Toronto,Montreal, Winnipeg, andMoncton; however, the company was forced to cut director's salaries by 20 per cent, and on corporate visits, the company directors shared beds.[12]
Wawanesa Mutual Life Insurance Company was introduced as amutual company in 1961, and sold its firstlife insurance policy.[9][11]
In 1975, Wawanesa's United States branch was established under the laws of California,[13] making it the first Canadian general insurance company to successfully enter the US. The office was opened inSan Diego in April that year.[9]
On October 1, 1993, the Wawanesa Mutual Life Insurance Company was converted from a mutual company to a wholly ownedstock subsidiary of the general insurance company, with its name changed toTheWawanesa Life Insurance Company.[9][14]
In the year 2000, Wawanesa began offeringautomobile insurance in the US state ofOregon.[9]
In 2016, Wawanesa Insurance signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with theCanadian Hockey League,Ontario Hockey League, andQuebec Major Junior Hockey League to become their Official Auto/Home Insurance Company.[15]
On July 1, 2017, Wawanesa completed the purchase of Western Financial Group, Inc and Western Life Assurance fromDesjardins Financial Corp via its subsidiary, Trimont Financial.[16] Western Financial Group is a full service brokerage, serving most of Western and Northwestern Canada. Western Life Assurance was later rolled intoThe Wawanesa Life Insurance Company.
In 2020, Wawanesa opened a head office for the San Diego location, although they also write automobile policies in the state ofOregon.[17] Also that year, Wawanesa opened aclaims office in the state ofColorado.[5]
In 2024, Wawanesa sold its US operations to the Automobile Club of Southern California to focus on the needs of its Canadian members.[18]
In 2025, Former CEO Jeff Goy retired and a new leadership team was appointed, including a new CEO & President Evan Johnston, Chief Commercial Lines Officer Anna McCrindell and Chief Personal Lines Officer Kimberly Palatnick.[19]
TheWawanesa Life Insurance Company, orWawanesa Life, is thelife insurance arm of Wawanesa Insurance.[1][3][7] It is licensed in allprovinces of Canada, as well as in theNorthwest Territories.[14]
The company was introduced in 1961 as theWawanesa Mutual Life Insurance Company, amutual company.[9][11] On October 1, 1993, the company was converted into a wholly ownedstock subsidiary of Wawanesa Insurance, with its name changed toTheWawanesa Life Insurance Company.[9][14]
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