Posted on: December 4th, 2023 by Ives Insurance Brokers
Trucking Safely in Winter: Tips from Expert Truckers
As the winter season approaches, safe trucking practices become paramount for the countless truck owner/operators navigating challenging conditions. At Ives-Navacord Insurance Brokers, we understand the criticality of ensuring safety and minimizing risks during winter hauls.
Monitoring Weather Updates: Emphasizing the importance of staying updated on weather forecasts and road conditions.
Strategic Stops: Encouraging frequent breaks for rest, especially during adverse weather conditions.
Insurance Protection for Winter Hauls:
Ives-Navacord connects fleet operators, cargo haulers, trucking companies of all sizes and independents to Canada’s top transportation insurers.
Whether you’re serving customers across North America or delivering goods just-in-time between suppliers and manufactures locally, coverage with Ives-Navacord Insurance Brokers will be to your advantage. Request a quote online today to get started.
Safe winter trucking demands a blend of preparation, cautious driving, and informed decision-making. By implementing the insights shared by seasoned trucking experts and securing comprehensive insurance coverage, truck owner/operators can confidently navigate the winter roads, minimizing risks and ensuring a safe journey.
Posted on: November 20th, 2023 by Ives Insurance Brokers
As temperatures begin to drop, walkways can quickly become hazardous due to snow and ice. Winter slips, trips and falls at businesses are common sources of injuries for visitors and employees alike. As an employer, it’s crucial to maintain the safety of your property and keep your employees and visitors safe. Whether you take care of snow and ice removal yourself, or contact with an outside vendor, it’s your responsibility to remove snow and ice in a reasonable amount of time to prevent third-party or employee injuries. Failure to do so may be considered negligence and put you at fault for any falls and injuries that occur on your premises.
Tips for Winter Safety
Be proactive and put a winter safety plan in place before the cold weather arrives. This plan should account for winter slip, trip and fall hazards both outside and inside your business. It may include items related to removing snow, de-icing sidewalks and parking lots, using mats and mops for slippery indoor areas, and creating a dedicated space to stow wet items (e.g., boots and coats). Other tips to consider as a part of your business’s safety plan to enjoy an accident-free winter include:
Mix ice melt with sand to reduce the amount of ice melt you need and to provide extra traction.
Use the appropriate amount of ice-removal product. Too much product can damage concrete and cause additional danger.
Repair damage and perform maintenance to prevent potential winter hazards (e.g., fill in potholes, clean gutters and unblock drainage spouts.
Make sure employees who help with snow and ice removal wear suitable clothes and proper footwear to help them avoid slips or falls. Encourage frequent breaks if the weather is extremely cold.
Ensure employees wear appropriate foot gear with good traction to decrease the chances of slips and falls.
Train employees on winter slip, trip and fall hazards. Ensure that, when walking, employees are aware of any foreign substances on the floor, such as water from wet weather and other common hazards (e.g., sawdust, grease or debris).
Maintaining your business’s safety is especially important in winter when hazardous conditions can cause falls and injuries.
At Ives Insurance, we appreciate that each business is unique with exposure to unique risks. Contact us today for a professional conversation as we get to know your business, your unique business risks and exposures. Our brokers will help you find the best coverage for your business, no matter how small or large. You can request a quote online and Ives-Navacord will contact you within 24 hours.
Posted on: November 6th, 2023 by Ives Insurance Brokers
Since the Ontario government stopped mailing paper licence renewal notices, some brokers have noticed clients’ policies non-renewing because of an expired drivers licence. Read this article by Canadian Underwriter to learn more.
Don’t risk exclusions to your coverage – keep your drivers licence up-to-date. You can click here to visit Service Ontario’s page to renew your drivers licence.
We are available to assist you with a new car, old car, antique car, or possibly a new driver in your household. If you need guidance to understand all the changes to Ontario’s Auto Insurance, you can depend on an experienced Ives Insurance Broker to explain your options and help you make the best choice for your situation!
You can request a quote online today and Ives-Navacord will contact you within 24 hours.
Posted on: January 17th, 2023 by Ives Insurance Brokers
We’ve joined Ives Navacord!
It has been an exciting few weeks at Durocher & Trepanier, and it is our pleasure to formally announce that we have partnered with Navacord—Canada’s fourth largest commercial insurance brokerage and a leader in group benefits, retirement, and risk management solutions.
As we continued our growth journey, we were looking for opportunities where we could scale our business but also maintain the relationships we’ve developed with our partners, associations, and of course, with you—our clients, who we wouldn’t be here without and who have been a vital part of our growth in our community.
As part of this new journey and becoming part of the Navacord Broker Partner network, we will be working closely with fellow Navacord Broker, Ives Insurance. Ives shares many of our values and passions, and understands the importance of remaining dedicated to our local communities and clients. Rest assured, your continuity of care and service will not feel interrupted or broken—in fact, you should feel that it is stronger than ever with the support of Ives’ expert team members.
Joining Navacord represents an important step for us, and one from which we expect our team and our clients to benefit. We’ll now be able to leverage the resources and strength of a national partner as we collaborate, share expertise, resources, and best practices, while still maintaining the local touch and service we provide to our community. We understand how important it is for you to place your risk management with an organization you know and trust—so nothing about who Durocher & Trepanier is at our core is changing. We’re just becoming stronger.
What you can expect going forward:
Rest assured, it’s business as usual. You will continue to receive the exceptional service, knowledge and advice that you have come to expect from Durocher & Trepanier.
In the coming months, you will see a shift in our visual brand as we transition to operating under the Ives Navacord colours, however, this will not impact your client experience or your team. Indeed, it’ll only make it easier for our teams to access and offer a broader range of specialty products and services tailored to fit your needs.
This is a positive development, and I am excited to share more with you soon.
Of course, should you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
Posted on: December 17th, 2021 by Ives Insurance Brokers
It’s almost time to start planning your office holiday party and we have some helpful tips to help you get started! Depending on your location and number of staff, an in-person party might be out of the cards, but don’t worry – there are a ton of virtual activities you can host for your team!
5 virtual holiday party ideas to lift up your team’s spirit
1. Host a holiday watch party
2. Swap the virtual coffee for hot chocolate!
3. Plan a Virtual Holiday Trivia night
4. Decorate Ginger Bread houses or Cookies
5. Invite carollers or add “live” music to your virtual party
Posted on: October 22nd, 2021 by Ives Insurance Brokers
For this week’s #FeatureFriday, we are highlighting Travel Guardian Insurance!
It’s certainly been a long time and we’ve all been waiting to travel again. Travel Guardian offers a wide range of products to meet the needs of Canadian travellers, specializing in #Snowbird travel, as well as Visitors to Canada and Student coverage. With the border set to open on November 8th, make sure you have a Guardian by your side.
CorporateLiveWire named Travel Guardian as the Travel Insurance Specialist of the Year (2020/2021)! Providing many comprehensive Emergency Travel Insurance plans to fit your needs, always committed to finding you the best coverage at the best value and price for whenever “it” – the unexpected – happens.
Get started today! Request a quote for your travel insurance by calling the office at 1-888-831-9338. Be sure to visit their website at www.travelguardian.ca and follow Travel Guardian on Facebook too!
Posted on: May 5th, 2021 by Ives Insurance Brokers
During these times it’s extremely important to support local businesses and here at Ives, we want to see small businesses thrive! If you like to support your local community, here are some ways you can show them you care.
1. Spread the word!
Did you know that 83% of consumers say that word-of-mouth influences their purchases? If a friend said you should check out a new local restaurant because their food was amazing, wouldn’t you at least give it a try? If you like a small business and want to help them out, the best thing to do is tell your friends and family about it.
2. Buy gift cards!
Gift shopping? Consider buying some gift cards from local shops! This is a great way to support small businesses during tough times while also giving the opportunity to shop later. If you know you will personallly need something from a shop or maybe you are planning to go to your favourite local restaurant when things open up – you could always purchase a gift-card for yourself for future plans.
3. Write an online review!
Small businesses will really appreciate a positive review if you can’t shop right now. Positive reviews help the business greatly by increasing their ranking in search engine results on google. Taking a minute out of your day to write a review can really make all the difference.
Did you support local today? Tag us online using #IvesLocal. Is there a small business you want to show some support? On Friday’s, we showcase local businesses on our social media for #FeatureFriday! Message us on any of our social media platforms to nominate your business to be featured.
Posted on: March 31st, 2021 by Ives Insurance Brokers
Lifestyle is a specialized insurance solution for personal lines clients who have high-value assets. Our Lifestyle clients enjoy tailor-made coverage to fit each of their specific insurance needs.
Our lifestyle clients benefit from the expertise of our dedicated team of insurance specialists who provide first-class service, top-level claims experience, and policies that include higher limits of insurance, specialized coverage, and additional extensions. We partner with the top insurers in this area in order to provide a broad range of market options to our clients.
Our brokers have the knowledge required to appropriately address the unique insurance needs of high-net-worth clients. We understand the expectations of our Lifestyle clients and have an availability of products tailored to meet those expectations.
Posted on: March 31st, 2021 by Ives Insurance Brokers
On International Women’s Day, we asked members of our management team to share what our dynamic female staff, brokers, and management bring to Ives:
“Today marks International Women’s Day, an important day to celebrate the social, economical and political achievements of women. We are very proud that we have built and we continue to build and expand our diverse, inclusive and dynamic team at Ives. With 70% of our staff and 60% of our management team being professional, educated and amazing women team members and leaders we foresee a fantastic future.” – Jeff Ives, President.
“I am proud I work for a Brokerage where over 60% of the Sr Leadership team are women. They all have a strong voice and their skills stand out and make our organization successful.” – Paul Hunter, General Manager.
Posted on: January 14th, 2021 by Ives Insurance Brokers
This past year, many businesses and employees have had to make the shift from office to working remotely. Creating an ergonomic work place in your home can help you stay focused and organized from home. Here are some tips to help you build a more ergonomic home office.
Lighting: Your space should be well lit and set up to minimize glare or shadows against your monitor. Make sure your windows have blinds if needed.
Furniture: Your home office should include comfortable and adjustable furniture like an office chair that supports your back. Your desk should be at a height which allows you to work comfortably without hunching over.
Technology: to prevent eye or neck strain, your computer monitor should be at arms length and eye-level. You can use a riser for your monitor to place on your desk to find a comfortable height. If you find yourself at your keyboard often, you may benefit from purchasing an ergonomic keyboard and mouse for your work station.
Did you know – Ives Insurance Brokers Ltd now has digital services available, where you can access and view all of your policy documents and information at the click of a button 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! If you are interested in this service or would like more information, please contact us.
