The 2025 Insurance Business Canada Awards
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Resilience, trust and the human core of insurance take centre stage at the 2025 IBC Awards
The 2025 Insurance Business Canada Awards marked a milestone year for the industry, celebrating a decade of recognizing excellence across Canada’s insurance ecosystem. As brokers, insurers, MGAs and service providers gathered for the 10th annual gala, the evening’s strongest message was clear: performance matters, but people matter more.
Across categories spanning life and health, claims, underwriting, cyber and digital innovation, winners consistently returned to the same point. Performance matters, but it is people — clients, teams and partners — who ultimately shape success.
Sun Life’s recognition as Life & Health Insurer of the Year reflected that balance. The insurer has continued to invest in modernizing advice and solutions while keeping client needs front and centre, particularly as Canadians navigate affordability pressures, longevity planning and evolving health priorities.
Accepting the award, senior vice-president of retail advice and solutions Rowena Chan highlighted execution over ambition. “We always put the client first, and that will always drive the right action to deliver the right results for Canadians,” she said. The acknowledgement reinforced the importance of alignment between strategy, talent and purpose in a complex national market.
That same clarity of purpose defined The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia, named P&C Insurer of the Year. Operating within a mutual structure, the organization has leaned into its values rather than away from them, positioning mutuality as a competitive strength. Its approach prioritizes long-term stability, partner collaboration and accountability to policyholders — a model that resonated strongly with judges amid continued volatility in the P&C landscape.
Claims excellence emerged as one of the evening’s most prominent themes, underscoring where trust is ultimately tested. Crawford & Company (Canada), awarded Best Claims Management Firm, was recognized for consistently delivering technical rigour alongside empathy. President Greg Smith described claims as the moment where insurance moves from concept to commitment. “Settling a claim often happens in one of the most difficult moments a client may experience,” he said, reinforcing why emotional intelligence remains critical even as systems become more advanced.
Travelers Canada, which received Claims Team of the Year – Insurer, was similarly recognized for scale without compromise. The insurer highlighted collaboration across regions and disciplines as central to maintaining consistency nationwide. While digital tools support efficiency, the award reflected the organization’s emphasis on decision-making, responsiveness and accountability — particularly in high-stress situations where clients rely on clarity and reassurance.
Leadership awards reinforced the idea that influence in insurance is defined less by hierarchy and more by stewardship. CEO of the Year Jean-François Chalifoux of Beneva spoke to leadership as a responsibility extending beyond performance metrics. “Leadership is more than a title,” he said. “It’s a responsibility to create purpose and share a vision.” His remarks reflected the increasing expectation that leaders articulate not only where organizations are going, but why — particularly as insurers address sustainability, workforce transformation and community impact.
That human-centred leadership philosophy was echoed in Donna Mulligan’s recognition as Woman of Distinction. As head of middle market at Zurich Canada, Mulligan has been a vocal advocate for inclusive leadership and authenticity in senior roles. “Leadership with heart goes beyond the bottom line,” she said, framing leadership as both responsibility and example. Her recognition highlighted the growing emphasis on culture, mentorship and representation across the industry.
Despite ongoing conversations around automation, broker winners were unequivocal that insurance remains deeply relational. Canadian Insurance Broker of the Year Jason Di Vincenzo of Insureit Group traced his success to decades of direct engagement with clients. “Clients want to talk to people,” he said. “There’s no automated system that can replace that connection.” His perspective reflected a broader truth reinforced throughout the evening: while technology can streamline processes, trust is still built through availability, presence and long-term relationships.
Innovation nonetheless played a meaningful role across categories. Applied Systems, named Best Insurtech Firm, was recognized for enabling insurers and brokers to modernize end-to-end policy workflows, while cyber specialist BOXX Insurance demonstrated how Canadian expertise is being leveraged to build globally relevant products. In both cases, technology was framed as an enabler — supporting better outcomes rather than replacing human judgement.
Community impact also featured prominently. APRIL Marine, recipient of the Excellence in Philanthropy & Community Service award, linked its environmental commitment directly to its role in the marine sector. “We’re not just an insurer,” said claims manager Stacey Buckley. “It’s important for us to be part of the community and protect the environments our clients depend on.”
As the industry looks towards 2026, the 2025 Insurance Business Canada Awards offered a grounded but confident outlook. Amid economic pressure, evolving risk and accelerating change, the sector continues to return to what has always sustained it.
Insurance, the evening made clear, remains a people business — built on trust, strengthened by relationships and defined by its ability to show up for customers when it matters most.
2025 tested the sector in very real ways. Record-breaking severe weather events led to billions in insured losses, climate risk continued to reshape underwriting and pricing models, and regulatory expectations around consumer protection and transparency continued to evolve. At the same time, talent shortages, rising claims complexity, and increasing customer expectations placed even greater pressure on teams across the country.
And yet, the industry delivered.
Across Canada, insurers, brokers, claims professionals, and leaders stepped up when it mattered most. Communities relied on you during moments of loss and disruption. Businesses depended on your expertise to stay resilient. And clients looked to you for clarity and reassurance in an increasingly unpredictable world. The responsibility is immense and you carried it with professionalism, integrity, and care.
We also saw meaningful progress. Investment in technology accelerated claims processing and improved customer experience. Data and analytics played a larger role in risk assessment and fraud prevention. Collaboration across the industry strengthened, proving that innovation and adaptability are no longer optional but essential to long-term success.
The 2025 Insurance Business Canada Awards were a moment to pause and recognize these efforts. They celebrated the organizations and individuals who didn’t just respond to change, but led through it, setting new standards for excellence, leadership, and impact across the Canadian insurance landscape.
So take this moment to reflect on what you’ve achieved. Your work goes far beyond policies and premiums. It supports economic stability, protects livelihoods, and helps Canadians recover and rebuild when it matters most.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, and thank you to everyone who continues to move this industry forward. Your contribution in 2025 made a real difference and it deserves to be celebrated.
Global Managing Editor – Insurance Business
View the full photo gallery here.The 2025 Insurance Business Canada Awards
FEATURED AWARDEES
AWARD CATEGORIES
BEST CLAIMS MANAGEMENT FIRM
WINNER
- Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Apex Expertise
- ClaimsPro
- Royal Claims Services
- Specialty Claims Canada
BEST INSURTECH FIRM
WINNER
- Applied Systems
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- 3Tree
- Apollo Insurance
- Cognition+
- Foxquilt
- Guidewire Software
- PolicyMe
- ProNavigator
- Quandri
- QuickFacts
- Quotey
- Rival Insurance Technology
THE BURNS & WILCOX AWARD FOR BIG BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR (100 STAFF OR MORE)
WINNER
- Westland Insurance
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Axis Insurance Managers Inc.
- BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc.
- InsureLine
- Oracle Insurance Risk Management Services Inc.
- Orbit Insurance Services
- OVC Inc.
- Western Financial Group
- Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services Inc.
THE PREMIER CANADA ASSURANCE | PREMIER MARINE AWARD FOR BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR (FEWER THAN 10 STAFF)
WINNER
- ELCO Insurance
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- All-Risks Insurance Brokers Limited – Bolton
- Atlas York Insurance
- Kilgour Bell Insurance
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- Jason Court
Travelers Canada
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Alannah Doxtater
Allianz Global Assistance - Derek Anderson
Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company - Isabelle Gagne
HSB Canada - Kiarash Soltani
Special Risk Insurance Managers - Kristina Snelgrove
Max Insurance - Marius van Reede
Trinity Underwriting - Sam Capone
South Western Insurance Group - Shamin Khan
Intact - Victoria Hanson
Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.
CEO OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- Jean-François Chalifoux
Beneva
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Aly Kanji
InsureLine - Amanjot Sidhu
Diamond Insurance Group - Brenda Gibson
Red River Mutual - Brett Graham
Agile Underwriting Solutions - Cameron Copeland
SPG Canada - Carmela Marino
Ferrari and Associates - Chris Huebner
Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers Ltd. - David Palermo
Insureit Group - Kirk Purai
Carte Risk Management Inc. - Marie-Eve Paquette
APRIL Marine - Nancy Raymond
Steamatic Canada Inc. - Sarah Johnston
Atlas York Insurance
CLAIMS TEAM OF THE YEAR – INSURER
WINNER
- Travelers Canada
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Aviva Canada’s Claims Team
- Co-operators Claims Team
- Desjardins General Insurance Group
- Red River Mutual
- Sandbox Mutual Insurance
CYBER INSURANCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- BOXX Insurance
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Beazley
- Coalition
- HSB Canada
- Zurich Canada
DIGITAL INNOVATION IN A BROKERAGE
WINNER
- Solutions Insurance Group
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Boardwalk Insurance
- Cornerstone Insurance Services Incorporated
- InsureLine Brokers Empire
- InSureU! Brokers Inc.
- Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP)
- Sharp Insurance
- ZAG Insurance
EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
WINNER
- Definity
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Beyond Insurance Inc.
- Ecclesiastical Insurance PLC
- Gallagher
- Red River Mutual
- Securian Canada
- SPG Canada
- Tokio Marine Canada
- Western Financial Group
- Zurich Canada
INSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR (REGIONAL – AB & BC)
WINNER
- Maureen Crockett
Axis Insurance Managers Inc.
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Derek Henneberry
Westland Insurance - Fardin Ahmed
Link Insurance Glenbrook - Jack Schmidt
Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services (Specialty) Inc. - James Clay
Axis Insurance Managers Inc. - Jamil Karimani
BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. - Joseph Xu
InsureLine Brokers (Platinum) - Simran Bath
Sharp Insurance - Terence Cairns
Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services Inc.
INSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR (REGIONAL – EASTERN)
WINNER
- Jason DiVincenzo
Insureit Group
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Adrian Obeyesekere
Billyard Insurance Group – Mississauga East - Alexander Hutchison
Caldwell Insurance Services - Aslam Abdulla
Billyard Insurance Group – Mississauga East - Karim Zein
HUB International - Kathy Dang
Surex - Morgan Roberts
RH Insurance Inc. - Omar Nizam
Insureit Group - Tara Khodaparast
Connect Insurance
INSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR (REGIONAL – PRAIRIES & MARITIMES)
WINNER
- Rose Freeman – Willow Insurance Corp
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Bjorn Ostlund
Axis Insurance Managers Inc. - Bobbee Wood
Atlas York Insurance - Brayden York
BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. - Denis Landry
Wilson Insurance Ltd. - Jonathan Hines
Wilson Insurance Ltd. - Kayla Thompson
Atlas York Insurance - Leah Jurgens
Atlas York Insurance - Mark James
HUB International - Ronald Reider
Kilgour Bell Insurance - Tanner Pateman
InsureLine Brokers (Cornerstone)
LIFE & HEALTH INSURER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- Sun Life
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Assumption Life
- Canada Life
- Medavie Blue Cross
- Primerica Canada
- RBC Insurance Services Inc.
- Securian Canada
MGA OF THE YEAR (50 STAFF OR MORE)
WINNER
- Agile Underwriting Solutions
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- APRIL Canada
- ARAG Legal Solutions Inc.
- Burns & Wilcox Canada
- CHES Special Risk
- Premier Canada Assurance | Premier Marine
- South Western Insurance Group
- Special Risk Insurance Managers
- SPG Canada
- Victor Canada
MGA OF THE YEAR (FEWER THAN 50 STAFF)
WINNER
- PAL Insurance Brokers Canada
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- ABEX Affiliated Brokers Exchange Inc.
- Apollo Insurance
- APRIL Marine
- Aurora Underwriting Solutions
- Modern Specialty Insurance
- NovaRisk
- PMU Specialty Underwriting Managers Ltd.
- SIGNAL Underwriting Inc.
SECURIAN CANADA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
WINNER
- Northbridge Insurance
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- APRIL Marine
- Axis Insurance Managers Inc.
- BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc.
- Empire Life
- InsureLine Brokers Empire
- Medavie Blue Cross
- Modern Specialty Insurance
- Primerica Canada
- Red River Mutual
- Western Financial Group
- Zurich Canada
P&C INSURER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Aviva Canada
- CNA Canada
- Desjardins General Insurance Group
- Ecclesiastical Insurance PLC
- Northbridge Insurance
- Sandbox Mutual Insurance
- Sovereign Insurance
- Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company
THE CNA CANADA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY & COMMUNITY SERVICE
WINNER
- APRIL Marine
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Assumption Life
- Ecclesiastical Insurance PLC
- Gore Mutual Insurance Company
- Insureit Group
- Northbridge Financial Corporation
- Red River Mutual
- Sharp Insurance
- Western Financial Group
- Zurich Canada
THE FIRST INSURANCE FUNDING OF CANADA AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY
WINNER
- Glen MacRae
Wilson M. Beck Insurance
THE FIRST ONSITE PROPERTY RESTORATION CANADA AWARD FOR CLAIMS TEAM OF THE YEAR – MGA
Winner
- Agile Underwriting Solutions
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- APRIL Marine
- ARAG Legal Solutions
- Specialty Claims Canada
THE PAL INSURANCE BROKERS AWARD FOR YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- Morgan Mackenzie
Western Financial Group
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Amanpreet Kaur Jakhar
Armour Insurance Brokers Ltd. - Brayden York
BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. - Brendan Nickles
BrokerLink Inc. - Iqra Ahmed
KASE Insurance - Jeff Logan
Mitch Insurance Brokers - Liliana Alexeeva
Sharp Insurance - Matthew Calvin
PROLINK Insurance - Michelle Allemang
Burns & Wilcox Canada
THE SPG CANADA AWARD FOR CANADIAN INSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- Jason DiVincenzo
Insureit Group
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Maureen Crockett
Axis Insurance Managers Inc. - Rose Freeman
Willow Insurance Corp
THE STEAMATIC CANADA AWARD FOR WOMAN OF DISTINCTION
WINNER
- Donna Mulligan
Zurich Canada
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Alexandra Kindbom
Marsh - Andrea Aitken
Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. - Julia Baumann
AIG - Kathryn Britnell
- Lex Engel
Westland Insurance - Lisa Giannone
BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. - Melisia Judge
BrokerLink Inc. - Nicole Sinclair
Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan - Nirali Shah
Gallagher - Rowena Chan
Sun Life - Sheri Clay
Axis Insurance Managers Inc. - Susan Williams-Bonet
Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
THE TRAVELERS CANADA AWARD FOR BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR (10–100 STAFF)
WINNER
- Strong Roots Insurance Brokers Ltd.
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. (BMS)
- Boardwalk Insurance
- Leibel Insurance Group
- Munn Insurance
- Oegema, Nicholson & Associates Insurance Brokers Ltd.
- Sharp Insurance
UNDERWRITER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
- Avi Mali
Zurich Canada
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Andre Prasad
CHES Special Risk - Deanne Taylor
Burns & Wilcox Canada - Mashood Ali
PMU Specialty Underwriting Managers Ltd. - Megan Peters
Sovereign Insurance - Michael Kilroy
Burns & Wilcox Canada - Nirmal Binnag
Mutual Fire Insurance and Four Points Insurance - Ruth McCann
Axis Insurance Managers Inc. - Sam Khanna
Intact - Stacy Goddard
Agile Underwriting Solutions - Stephanie Banning
HSB Canada - Virginie Boucher
CHES Special Risk
Methodology
Stage 1 – Nominations
The call for nominations was open to all insurance professionals and organizations – including brokers, brokerages, insurers, underwriters, MGAs, risk managers, and service providers – from across Canada.
Nominations were open from May 5 to July 25, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.
To submit a nomination, participants were directed to the Nominate page of the website, where they provided the nominee’s contact details and a brief reason for nomination within a 300-word limit. There was no fee to submit a nomination.
Stage 2 – Research
The Insurance Business Canada Awards team conducted research and drew on knowledge and information gained through Insurance Business Canada to support and supplement nominations received, ensuring that no deserving candidates were overlooked. Excellence Awardees were determined from both the nominations received and the research conducted.
Stage 3 – Excellence Awardees
Once all nominations were reviewed and research was completed, Excellence Awardees were selected in each category (excluding the Lifetime Achievement category) and notified via email or phone.
All Excellence Awardees were then invited to complete a detailed submission, providing an opportunity to address the category criteria in greater depth. All submissions remained confidential unless otherwise marked and were not shared with any third parties other than the judges.
Excellence Awardees were officially announced in August 2025 on the website and promoted through Insurance Business Canada magazine and online channels. Promotional packages to leverage the achievement across marketing and promotional activities were made available for purchase.
Stage 4 – Judging
All submissions from Excellence Awardees were forwarded to an independent judging panel comprising industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel assessed and voted for winners in each category according to the relevant criteria.
Voting commenced in September 2025. The judging process was impartial, balanced, incisive, and fair, with any judge declaring a conflict of interest recusing themselves from judging the relevant category.
Stage 5 – Winners
Using a points-based system to aggregate judges’ votes, the finalist with the highest score in each category was named the winner.
Winners were announced at the awards ceremony on November 13, 2025, and published on the website. They were also promoted through Insurance Business Canada. Promotional packages to leverage the achievement across marketing and promotional activities were made available for purchase.
2025 Judging panel
-
Rachel Aarons
President
Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP) -
Vinita Jajware-Beatty
President,
Toronto Insurance Women's Association -
Dionne Bowers
Co-Founder/Chair,
Canadian Association of Black Insurance Professionals (CABIP) -
Leslie Campbell
Past President
Canadian Association of Insurance Women -
Michael Craig
Chief Operating Officer
Connex Insurance Brokers Ltd. -
Nicole Hackney, CIP
Team Leader Business Operations,
Farm Mutual Re -
Jody Lohr
Past President of the IBAA, and the PYIB of Alberta and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.
VP, Operations of Excel & Y Insurance Services -
Brett McGregor
President-Elect
Insurance Brokers Association of Canada -
Keith Martin
Executive Director,
Canadian Association of Financial Institutions in Insurance -
Steve Masnyk
Managing Director,
Canadian Association of Managing General Agents -
Lindsey Schroeder
President,
Edmonton Insurance Association -
Julie Skelton
Executive Director
Insurance Brokers Association of BC -
Colin Simpson
CEO
Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario -
Becci Taylor
Executive Director
Insurance Brokers Association of New Brunswick -
Jhnel Weller-Hannaway
CEO
Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta -
Nina Zec
Senior Director
Insurance Institute of Ontario
2025 SPONSORS
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