Win 4 Tickets to Canada’s Wonderland

As the trees start to bloom, so do our summer plans — and we’ve got an idea to kick off your sunny season: how about a trip to Canada’s Wonderland?

We’re giving away FOUR tickets to Canada’s Wonderland, so you and your crew can spend a day riding roller coasters, making memories, and soaking up the summer fun!

For your chance to win — and for full contest details — visit our Facebook or Instagram page.

Farmland Prices in Ontario

When you think of farmland in Ontario, you might envision the golden rows of corn in Huron County, the rolling soil in Oxford, or the emerging frontier of Grey and Bruce Counties. What you might not know is that between 1985 and 2009, farmland values in Ontario grew by about 4.9% annually — but since 2010, that growth rate has more than doubled to 11.25% annually!

In March, our CEO, Jeff Roy, had the opportunity to attend a seminar led by Ryan Parker, a well-respected voice in Ontario land valuation. Jeff wrote a blog about what he learned from Ryan and others in the room, who painted a compelling picture of where we’ve been, where we are, and where Ontario’s farmland market is headed.

You can read the blog here.

The Defender Difference Program

At Excalibur Insurance, we believe that making an impact goes beyond just protecting our clients—it’s about giving back to the communities and causes that matter to our team. One shining example of this is Kimberly Laidis, a dedicated team member who has put her heart and soul into supporting Boxer Rescue Ontario.

Through Excalibur’s Defender Difference Program, Kimberly was able to combine her love for animals with meaningful action, helping to raise over $20,000 for this incredible organization. Excalibur was proud to support her efforts with a $1,000 donation, but it was Kimberly’s personal dedication—volunteering over 15 hours and leading the charge—that truly made this event a success.

You can watch Kimberly’s Defender Difference video here.

It’s Jersey Day for Brenda, Carla, & Sarah!

You’ve probably heard us mention Excalibur Jersey Day before — it’s one of our favourite traditions!

When a new team member reaches their six-month milestone with Excalibur Insurance, we celebrate by awarding them their very own personalized Excalibur hockey jersey (because really, what’s more Canadian than that?).

Each jersey is customized with the team member’s last name on the back and the last two digits of the year they joined us — a small but meaningful way to show that they’re officially part of the Excalibur team.

Please join us in congratulating Brenda Jamieson, Carla Pawitch, and Sarah Jantzi, who recently received their official Excalibur jerseys!

Read to Ride Program Update!

We’re in the home stretch of our Winter 2025 Read to Ride program — and our four participating classrooms have been crushing it! Together, grade 3 & 4 students from Exeter Elementary School, North Easthope Public School in Stratford, Bluewater Coast Elementary School in Hensall, and Kinnwood Central School in Forest have logged over 3,700 hours of reading so far!

For every 500 hours each class collectively reads, they earn a pizza party! Every class has now earned at least one pizza party, with two classrooms already celebrating twice and one class well on their way to a third! It’s all part of the fun as students read their way toward exciting rewards.

And the best part? In mid-to-late May, each class will be visited by members of the Excalibur Insurance team who will hold a random draw to give away two brand-new bikes – a total of eight bikes will be won across the four classrooms!

Finally, the friendly inter-classroom competition is still on between the 4 schools to see which class will take the top spot for highest average reading hours per student. The winning classroom will get an extra special surprise during their Read to Ride bike draw! We can’t wait to share the final results!

To learn more about Read to Ride, click here.

Looking for a Trailer Quote?

As trailer season approaches, it’s the perfect time to start planning your adventures — or maybe even shop for that new trailer you’ve had your eye on.

Before you hitch up and head out, make sure you’re properly protected. Whether your trailer will be parked for the season or travelling across the province, having the right coverage is key.

Getting a quote has never been easier with our Excalibur & Aviva Trailer Widget. Simply answer a few quick questions and get your trailer insurance quote online — in minutes!

Get a trailer insurance quote here.

Financial Focus: What is a Tax-Free Savings Account?

Welcome back to Financial Focus with Chris Burton!

A segment in our monthly newsletter that features posts discussing financial planning, budgeting, tips for finding a good mortgage rate, managing debt, purchasing life insurance, investing in critical illness insurance, and more.

This month, we focus on “What is a Tax-Free Savings Account?”

According to an RBC Retirement Poll, 60% of Canadians have invested in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). In addition, over 1.5 million Canadians have maxed out their TFSA contribution room, proving that many people see a TFSA as a great way to save for short-term goals, invest for the long term, and grow your money tax-free.

In this guide, we break down how a TFSA works, its benefits, contribution limits, eligible investment types, and tips to maximize your savings account’s potential.

Do you have a question for Chris? Email [email protected] and we will try to answer it in a future edition of Financial Focus!

April’s Defender Spotlight – Kellie Round

April’s Defender Spotlight shines on Kellie Round, the Director of First Impressions for our Exeter office!

Kellie has been a cornerstone of the Excalibur team for nearly nine years — and in that time, she’s become so much more than just the friendly voice you hear when you call our office. She’s a fantastic coworker whose kindness, knowledge, and energy make a difference every single day.

In her role, Kellie continues to master the art of multi-tasking with awe-inspiring ease — whether she’s answering calls, assisting brokers with policy changes, pulling MVRs, setting up new accounts, or handling client requests. Her behind-the-scenes support keeps our operations running like a well-oiled machine. Before we moved to robotic process automation a few years ago, Kellie impressively managed tasks that now require two A.I. robots — all before her second cup of coffee!

Beyond her unmatched efficiency, Kellie is the go-to guru for all things operational. Need to know when a document will download? Where to find the water delivery schedule? How to troubleshoot a stubborn printer? Kellie’s got you covered — usually with a smile and a dash of her trademark humor.

What truly sets Kellie apart is her warmth and quick wit. Clients and teammates alike feel her welcoming spirit and dedication from the very first interaction.

Kellie, thank you for being part of the Excalibur family. Your energy, heart, and hard work make all the difference — and we are so lucky to have you!