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| Could
This
Happen
To
You? |
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| The
following
is
a
true
story
provided
by
a
member
of
our
Association.
It
illustrates
how
important
it
is
to
be
prepared
for
emergencies.
Our
hydro
went
out
last
March,
when
the
ice
storm
hit.
High
winds
and
severe
cold
weather
hampered
the
efforts
of
the
workmen
who
were
braving
the
elements
to
repair
service
to
the
affected
areas.
We
were
reasonably
prepared
for
the
blackout,
with
a
woodstove
for
warmth
and
candles
to
light
our
way.
However,
our
nightmare
began
after
I
took
our
dog
out
for
a
walk.
Coming
back
into
the
house,
I
found
that
the
candle
in
my
living
room
had
fallen
over
and
our
couch
was
ablaze.
Unbelievably
calm,
I
remembered
the
fire
extinguisher.
As
I
pulled
the
extinguisher
out
of
the
cupboard
where
it’s
buried,
I
yelled
for
my
children
to
hurry
downstairs
and
put
on
their
coats.
I
thought:
“This
cannot
be
too
difficult,
can
it?”
As
I
hurried
back
to
the
living
room,
(a
matter
of
90
seconds
had
passed)
I
observed
the
curtains
were
on
fire,
the
carpet
was
burning,
and
the
couch
was
fully
engulfed
in
flames.
The
room
was
quickly
filling
with
acid
smoke
from
the
burning
upholstery
and
flames
were
licking
at
the
walls
and
across
the
ceiling.
Shaking
as
I
held
the
fire
extinguisher,
I
pulled
the
pin
and
managed
to
squeeze
the
trigger.
Unfortunately,
the
small
extinguisher
lasted
long
enough
to
put
out
only
half
the
flames
on
the
couch.
My
eyes
were
watering
profusely
and
I
realized
that
this
was
beyond
my
capabilities.
I
dropped
the
extinguisher
and
ran
out
the
door,
directing
the
children
ahead
of
me.
It
didn’t
take
long
before
I
felt
the
bittercold
of
the
night,
as
I
was
wearing
my
bedroom
slippers
and
no
coat.
Horrified
and
cold,
my
children
and
I
watched
as
the
high
winds
fed
the
fire
and
one
window
after
another
exploded
in
the
night
air.
Although
the
volunteer
fire
department
arrived
after
only
11
minutes,
all
that
was
left
of
our
house,
within
an
hour,
was
a
blackened
hulk.
The
second
floor
had
fallen
in
on
the
first
floor
and
everything
was
gone.
Fortunately,
no
one
was
hurt.
But
now
with
no
home,
no
clothes
and
a
family
huddled
in
the
cold,
we
needed
help.
I
called
our
insurance
broker
who
calmly
offered
advice,
suggested
a
place
to
stay
and
assured
me
we
were
adequately
covered.
He
helped
make
our
horrible
experience
a
little
more
bearable.
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| Prepare
for
an
Emergency
What
started
out
as
a
simple
power
outage
for
the
above
family,
ended
in
catastrophe.
When
disaster
strikes
you
may
not
have
much
time
to
act.
Learn
how
to
protect
yourself
and
your
family
in
an
emergency.
First
discuss
emergency
planning
with
your
family
and
develop
a
plan
that
suits
your
needs.
Public
Safety
and
Emergency
Preparedness
Canada,
a
Federal
agency
offers
a
series
of
self-help
advice
brochures
for
families
and
individuals
to
help
you
prepare
for
emergencies.
Visit
www.ocipep.gc.ca
to
learn
more.
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Return
to
top
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| Tips
for
Identifying
Car
Insurance
Scams |
|
|
 Insurance
fraud
is estimated
to cost
insurers
over
$2 billion
annually.
You
can
help
eliminate
automobile
insurance
scams
–
and
help
lower
car
insurance
premiums
–
by being
an informed
consumer.
The
Financial
Services
Commission
of
Ontario
(FSCO)
has
released
a
brochure
entitled:
“Tips
for
Identifying
Car
Insurance
Scams.”
It
describes
how
some
scams
work,
offers
tips
on
dealing
with
tow
truck
drivers,
paralegals,
and
healthcare
providers,
and
lets
you
know
what
to
do
if
you
suspect
fraudulent
activity.
This
brochure
is
available
by
visiting
FSCO’s
website
at
www.fsco.gov.on.ca,
or
by
calling
FSCO’s
24-hour
information
line
toll-free
at
1-800-668-0128
(in
Toronto
call
416-250-7250).
Only
you
can
prevent
fraud.
Know
your
rights
and
take
action
to
make
sure
only
legitimate
payments
are
paid
under
your
policy.
It’s
up
to
you.
|
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| Referral
fees
are
illegal!
It
is
illegal
for
tow
truck
drivers
to
be
paid
a
fee
to
refer
accident
victims
to
a
particular
paralegal
or
a
repair
shop.
It
is
also
illegal
for
paralegals
to
refer
accident
victims
to
a
particular
healthcare
provider
for
a
fee.
If
you
suspect
this
is
happening,
report
it
to
us,
and
contact
the
police.
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Return
to
top
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| When
All
You
Have
Left
is
Your
Insurance! |
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| Insurance
is a
complicated
and
sometimes
frustrating
purchase
that
you
make
each
year
to protect
your
vehicle,
property,
personal
possessions,
or business.
These
important
purchases
cannot
be taken
lightly!
Why
deal
with
an
independent
insurance
broker?
- Independent
insurance
brokers
offer
added
value
for
your
premium
dollars
by
giving
you
choices,
quality
products,
sound
advice,
and
local
personal
service
–
something
you
can’t
readily
get
from
a
call
centre,
or
direct
writer!
- Independent
insurance
brokers
are
trained
professionals
who
understand
your
personal
insurance
needs
and
the
specific
needs
of
your
business.
- Independent
insurance
brokers
act
as
your
insurance
buyer.
We
“shop”
the
insurance
marketplace
to
make
sure
you
get
the
broadest
possible
coverage
at
a
competitive
premium.
This
is
a
tremendous
advantage
to
you,
and
is
not
available
from
agents
who
only
sell
for
one
insurance
company.
- Finally,
as
part
of
your
community,
independent
brokers
contribute
everyday
by
dealing
locally,
volunteering,
sponsoring,
supporting,
and
getting
involved
in
activities
that
benefit
everyone.
You
deserve
peace
of
mind
We
sincerely
hope
you
never
experience
a
loss,
either
minor
or
catastrophic,
but
if
you
should,
your
coverage
is
critical.
When
all
you
have
left
is
your
insurance,
it’s
reassuring
to
know
your
insurance
coverage
will
be
there
to
put
you
back
in
the
position
you
were
in
prior
to
the
loss!
It’s
also
comforting
to
know
that
someone
will
be
there
to
guide
you
along
the
way.
That
someone
is
us.
That’s
why
we
proudly
say:
Your
best
insurance
is
an
Insurance
Broker!
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Return
to
top
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| Guests,
Alcohol,
and
Your
Liability |
|
|
