It is my honour and privilege to serve as the President for the upcoming year. The Hamilton Chapter of the Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association was founded in 1976. The first elected president was Bob Coughlin. The Chapter was incorporated in 1999 under the leadership of Susan Kirkwood. I recently reached out to Susan to ask about her experience. At that time the chapter held monthly social and educational events, including a Curling Bonspiel and ski trips to Ellicottville and a hosted a Meeting/Tradeshow with over 500 attendees and 100 exhibitor booths.

Hamilton’s thriving arts scene, scenic waterfront, and rich history make it a fantastic place to live, work, and connect. Hamilton is a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Known as the “Waterfall Capital of the World,” Hamilton boasts over 100 waterfalls, many of which are nestled along the picturesque Niagara Escarpment. As a city with a strong industrial past, Hamilton is now undergoing an exciting transformation, blending its rich heritage with modern innovation. This dynamic spirit aligns perfectly with our mission of promoting excellence, education, and collaboration in the ever-evolving insurance claims industry.

Our Chapter has been proud to support the Ronald McDonald House of Southwestern Ontario, donating proceeds from 50/50 tickets and raffle ticket sales at our yearly golf tournament in August. Save the date for next year’s tournament which will take place August 21, 2025, at Flamborough Hills Golf Club. We also donate funds to the Hamilton/Niagara Chapter of the Insurance Institute for the top FCIP students.

There has been some significant turnover with our board this year resulting in a bit of a late start to this year’s activities. We are in the planning stages of several events that will take place beginning in 2025. The first event will take place on January 24, 2025, at Shoeless Joe’s in Burlington—details to follow. Please sign up for our mailing list and follow the Hamilton OIAA on LinkedIn to be kept up to date about our upcoming events.

I’d also like to thank our industry partners who have donated funds and attended our events. We would not have the budget to host events without their generous contributions. We are always looking for ways to attract more claims and insurance professionals to our group and hope to partner with some other insurance organizations for future events.

We are looking for new Directors & Social Directors. Please reach out to me at christine@sageclaims.ca to learn more about these positions or to provide feedback or ideas for future events. I would also love to hear from any past presidents of the Hamilton OIAA that I have not already connected with.

Christine Andrews

President