Blog
A Boost for your 2018 Budget
Happy New Year! That was an expensive holiday season wasn't it? Now, you're probably taking stock of finances and trying to plan for the year ahead. Need some help? Try this simple approach. * Calculate your net earnings for the year...
Read MoreAre You Covered?
Does Your Ontario Auto policy cover you while driving on Vacation? The short answer is yes and no. The first thing to consider is whether you are driving in Canada and/or the U.S. If you are driving your own car while traveling inside...
Read MoreInternational Licensing
An Ontario auto insurance policy only provides coverage if the person operating the vehicle is authorized by law to drive. If they are not authorized by law the Ontario Auto Insurance Policy will not respond for their damages or...
Read More25 Year Club
The Colley Insurance 25 Year Club has expanded once again and the new member, Kim Folkerson, deserves an incredible amount of respect. Primarily because as the Commercial Insurance Manager she has had to work side-by-side with my...
Read MorePedestrian Safety: Stepping it up
To help keep pedestrians safe, as of Jan 1st 2016, all vehicles (including bicycles) must "stop and yield the whole roadway at pedestrian crossovers, school crossings and other locations where there is a crossing guard." The Ontario...
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Millennials & Distracted Driving
As a “millennial” I am constantly being reminded of my generation’s tendency to expect instant gratification, our reliance on technology, and our constant connection to the world around us. For myself and most of my...
Read MoreFort McMurray Fires
I have been asked several times over the last week whether the damage to the homes in Fort McMurray would be covered by home owner’s insurance. The question comes from the belief that natural disasters aren’t covered. Loss...
Read More...featuring Q & A with Elliot Lane
Specializing in the Canadian retail market as a manufacturing representative since 1997. Lane Sales’ refined distribution functions and professional sales support makes them a chief retail partner. After having moved from...
Read MoreStraight from the Horse's Mouth
One of our brokers was recently in a serious car accident. Someone cut her off on Guelph's Hanlon Expressway causing her to roll the vehicle. The vehicle was a write-off. Incredibly she managed to escape without serious injuries but...
Read MoreThe Cart and the Horse
I have a 22 year old daughter. She has graduated from University and lives and works in another city. She doesn’t own a car and is rarely home to drive my car. What would normally happen at this time is I would have her deleted...
Read MoreYou CAN Teach an Old Dog New Tricks!
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Or in this case an old Colley new tricks. Debbie Rogers won’t be very happy that I seem to be referring to her as being old and if you know Debbie you also know that in her case age is truly...
Read MoreWhen I Grow Up I want to be an Insurance Broker
We recently hired two new people at Colley Insurance. Pierce and Abby are both 24 years old and have probably had a similar reaction to what Owen’s friends have in the following video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvfU1NpCJQQ...
Read MoreMentor in Training
We recently hired two 24 year olds, Abby and Pierce. I believe the current term for this age group is Millennials. We have hired Millennials prior to this and things didn’t end well. Either we weren’t able to offer what...
Read MoreMeeting the Future Head On
My brother Brock and I are at that age that we could probably stick it out doing the same thing day in and day out for another 10 years, sell Colley Insurance to the highest bidder and slide into retirement. I don’t know about...
Read More...featuring Q & A with John Van de Kamer
Exceeding client expectations since 1978; offering the best quality diamonds and jewellery, excellent service and professional sales advice. Knar Jewellery was founded in Guelph, Ontario, by brothers Greg and Jeff Buzbuzian. Knar is...
Read MoreHoliday Safety Tips
Ho Ho Hold up… How many days until Christmas?! Whatever it is that you celebrate, the holiday season is quickly approaching! After the decorations, shopping, wrapping, baking (and eating) it may seem like there’s not much...
Read MoreWinterizing your Classic Car
That cold weather is here, and that means it’s time to put away your classic car for the winter. Storing your car for the season helps to prevent problems, but there are a few things that need to be kept in mind to make sure...
Read MoreBrace Yourselves...Winter is coming!
Winter in Ontario often seems to go on forever, and it comes with more than just a slight drop in temperature and light dusting of snow. It also means dangerous driving conditions and unsafe roads for the ill-prepared. And so, we must...
Read More...featuring Q & A with Cindy Robinson
Each month, Colley Insurance will be completing a "Community Faces" profile of either a company or an individual in our community. To kick off our very first Community Face, we would like to introduce you to Robinson Buick GMC. Located...
Read MoreUber in Guelph
Uber is now available in Guelph. Does car insurance provide necessary protection for you whether you are a driver or a customer? The Financial Services Commission of Ontario which regulates the insurance industry has released an...
Read MoreHow will Economical Mutual Insurance Company's Demutualization Affect You?
Recent announcements at the political and insurer level have sparked a number of questions about demutualization and its potential impact on policyholders. The only Mutual Insurance company currently considering demutualization is the...
Read MoreFlood Insurance
Many people feel that Flood Insurance is for homes that are located near the coast or by large lakes or rivers. Nothing can be further from the truth! “BUT I DON’T LIVE IN A FLOOD ZONE” Extreme weather can and will...
Read MoreInsuring your Vacation Property
Even though you don’t live there year-round, it is a smart idea to have good coverage on your vacation property. For the most part, insurance coverage for a vacation property works the same as the coverage on your primary...
Read MoreSpring Home Maintenance
IT'S TIME TO GEAR UP FOR SPRING HOME MAINTENANCE SPRING IS HERE, WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME FOR A THOROUGH, SEMI-ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CHECK OF YOUR HOME. MANY OF THESE SIMPLE TASKS CAN ADD YEARS TO THE LIFE OF YOUR HOME AND PREVENT MAJOR...
Read MoreIs Your Vehicle Used for Business Use?
MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES CLASSIFY VEHICLE USE INTO ONE OF THREE CATEGORIES - COMMUTING TO WORK, COMMERCIAL USE OR PLEASURE AND ERRANDS ONLY. While these categories accurately describe the driving behaviour for most people, some drivers...
Read MoreClear the Snow from your Vehicle
Follow these 5 steps for clearing the snow off your car, and you’ll quickly be on your way. 1. Clean off the roof — all of it. This is critical, since the powder snow on the roof of your vehicle could blow into the path of...
Read Moremy Driving Discount
The my Driving Discount with Intact Insurance Company is a program designed to reward good driving behaviours. Assessment is based on 3 factors, which are evaluated in relation to the number of kilometers driven... 1. Hard braking2....
Read MoreProtecting Business Operations
PROTECTING BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN THE EVENT OF A LOSS No one thinks it will happen to them. You wake up to a ringing phone at 1:30 a.m. A representative from your alarm company has some bad news: “I’m sorry to inform you...
Read MoreDeep Snow is Deep Trouble
EVERY WINTER, MANY ROOFS COLLAPSE DUE TO HEAVY SNOW OR ICE LOADS. ADD RAIN OR HEAVY, WET SNOWFALLS ON TOP AND YOU'VE GOT A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. Often roofs collapse suddenly, giving occupants little, if any, warning to evacuate the...
Read MoreWinter Car Tune-Up Checklist
The side of the road is no place to be stuck during winter’s frigid temperatures. To keep your car humming right along, it is best to schedule a winter tune-up with an auto mechanic you trust. The checklist below outlines the key...
Read MoreHost Liquor Liability
WHAT IS "HOST LIQUOR LIABILITY" AND WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT? Liquor is usually available to most of us on a regular basis. It’s there at dinner parties, barbeques, birthdays, weddings and other special events like...
Read MoreHave a Safe & Happy New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is a night to have fun, celebrate the coming year and reminisce about the year passed. Many people look at it as a fresh start, a time to make resolutions and changes to help you ensure a prosperous and happy year to...
Read MoreTips for a Pet Safe Christmas Tree
Aside from keeping your pets in another room, there is no sure fire way to keep them away from Christmas trees. Be sure to keep your pets as safe as possible by following these tips: Tuck lights and cords deep within the tree –...
Read MoreOh Christmas Tree
According to legend, the Christmas tree was first introduced to Canada in 1781 - long before Confederation. This first tree, decorated with white candles, was a balsam fir cut from the dense forest in the region that is now the city of...
Read MoreChristmas Lights
6 SAFETY TIPS FOR INSTALLING CHRISTMAS LIGHTSJust about everyone loves the look of Christmas lights. Installing them, on the other hand, is not always as simple as it looks. The frustration that comes with a tangled web of lights,...
Read MoreDo You Need Snow Tires?
UNLIKE ALL-SEASON AND PERFORMANCE TIRES, SNOW TIRES ARE DESIGNED TO EXCEL IN THE COLDER TEMPERATURES, SLUSH, SNOW AND ICE THAT MANY OF US EXPERIENCE FOR THREE OR MORE MONTHS A YEAR. THEIR TREADS ARE DESIGNED TO RIDE SOFTER THAN...
Read MoreIce Damming
WHILE DRAFTS AROUND DOORS AND WINDOWS WILL COST A FEW MORE DOLLARS IN HEATING BILLS, HEAT LOSS THROUGH YOUR ROOF CAN RESULT IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. WHY? THE ANSWER IS ICE DAMMING. Ice damming happens when snow on your roof...
Read MoreWinter Weather
PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM WINTER WEATHER A unifying feature of being Canadian is the constant struggle with extreme winter weather. Every winter we brace ourselves for the accompanying heavy snowfall and ice buildups by wrapping ourselves...
Read MoreVacation Precaution
So your bags are packed and you’re ready to go. But are you? Vacations are a great way to relieve stress and get away for a while, but a call to your broker will ensure your trip goes smoothly and you don’t return home to...
Read MoreBusiness Interrupted? Now What?
LET'S SAY YOU OWN A RESTAURANT AND SUFFER A FIRE LOSS. YOU ARE FORCED TO CLOSE FOR TWO MONTHS TO MAKE REPAIRS AND THEN YOU FIND IT TAKES ANOTHER TWO MONTHS BEFORE YOUR BUSINESS RETURNS TO ITS NORMAL LEVEL. HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR...
Read MoreBefore You Start Digging
Your insurance provider requires notification before you start building your new home. Most providers require all information on your home, and will base their premium on the “completed” project. Insurance companies...
Read MoreHosting the Summer Party
HOSTING THAT TIME-HONOURED TRADITION - THE SUMMER PARTYTIPS TO CONSIDER TO MAKE EACH EVENT SAFE AND ENJOYABLE FOR ALL It’s that time of year again when everyone is planning for the warm weather, getting the barbeque out of...
Read MoreRenovating your Home?
How to help protect your home during renovation or construction DID YOU KNOW... A house that is under construction or renovation is more vulnerable to damage or destruction than at any other time in a home’s history. Improperly...
Read MoreDistracted Driving
We have all felt and possibly even given in to the urge to take our eyes from the road for one reason or another. It was only for a second. Maybe your kids were texting you to let you know they got home safely and you took a quick look...
Read MoreRearview Mirror
When you look in the rearview mirror this summer, who will you see looking back at you? Spring is the time of year that we all look forward to getting outside and stretching our legs. A lot of the time we’re hopping in the car...
Read MoreCelebrating 25 Years
Liana Price, our Personal Insurance Manager, is celebrating 25 years with Colley Insurance today! I am a little surprised by the emotions I am feeling as a result of this incredible milestone.It might be because it was me who hired...
Read MoreThe Guelph Lecture
Colley Insurance is proud to be a sponsor of the The Guelph Lecture - On being Canadian. Now in its tenth year, The Guelph Lecture - On Being Canadian has come to be known as a unique community event, inspiring a community conversation...
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