Acera Insurance Services Ltd. has strengthened its British Columbia footprint through a new partnership with Pemberton Insurance Corp., one of Vancouver’s oldest independent brokerages.
The agreement, finalized on Sept. 2, 2025, marks Acera’s first location in downtown Vancouver and builds on its existing presence in Burnaby and Surrey.
Founded in 1887, Pemberton Insurance is Canada’s second-longest tenured Lloyd’s coverholder and specializes in commercial and high-net-worth personal lines, with expertise spanning high-value homes, commercial property, and general liability. The 13-member team will join Acera as part of the company’s growing national network of independent brokerages.
Andrew Kemp, executive vice president, P&C, and chair of Acera Insurance, said the partnership supports the company’s continued growth on the West Coast while maintaining its independent, Canadian-owned model.
Meanwhile, Roger Finnie, Pemberton’s president, noted that joining Acera allows the firm to adapt to industry changes, access scale, and strengthen its technology capabilities while preserving its legacy of client-focused service built over 138 years.
The partnership adds to a series of moves by Acera aimed at expanding regional reach and reinforcing its independent ownership structure. Over the past two years, Acera has brought in several firms across Canada, including Merit Insurance Services in Edmonton, alongside earlier acquisitions in Ontario.
The deal also highlights an increasingly competitive environment in Canada’s brokerage sector. Large players such as Westland Insurance, BrokerLink, and Navacord have accelerated their acquisition activity to grow distribution scale and product specialization.
Against this backdrop, Acera’s partnership-driven approach underscores its strategy of combining local expertise with broader national resources. The firm continues to position itself as a counterbalance to corporate consolidators, aiming to preserve community-based brokerage relationships while gaining the operational efficiency needed to compete in a rapidly consolidating market.
With ongoing M&A activity reshaping the distribution landscape, analysts expect more mid-sized and family-owned brokerages to seek similar partnerships.
