Ice Damming Prevention Tips

After several heavy snowfalls (and now above-zero temperatures!) in Ontario, it’s crucial to stay ahead of potential winter hazards. Excess snow and ice buildup can cause roof collapses, water damage, and dangerous conditions, but a few proactive steps can help keep your home safe.

• Inspect Your Roof: Watch for heavy snow accumulation, sagging, or unusual creaking sounds.
• Clear Snow Safely: Use a roof rake or hire a professional to remove snow before it causes structural damage.
• Check for Ice Dams: Icicles along your eaves can signal poor insulation or potential water blockages in your eavestrough. Clear excess snow before ice dams form.
• Monitor Your Property: Overloaded gutters, downspouts, and windows can suffer under the weight of snow. Clearing buildup can help prevent costly damage.
• Keep Pathways Safe: Shovel driveways and sidewalks early and often to prevent slips and falls.

Read our blog for more tips on how to prevent ice damming this winter.

Win 2 Tickets to the London Knights’ Final Home Game!

Don’t miss your chance to cheer on the London Knights as they take on the Windsor Spitfires in their last home game of the regular season! The action hits the ice on Friday, March 21st, at 7:00 p.m. at Canada Life Place—and you could be there!

Time is running out to enter, so head over to our Facebook or Instagram for all the details.

Excalibur Team Meeting

Earlier this month, we hosted our annual Excalibur Team Meeting at The Bruce Hotel in Stratford. We were even joined by some of our friends from McFarlan Rowlands Insurance, whose organization we merged with last year.

It was an eventful afternoon spent reviewing each department’s accomplishments in 2024 and setting goals for the year ahead. We remain committed to continuously improving the client experience and service standards, using both innovative technology and personalized advice from our trained and experienced team of Defenders.

We look forward to further learning, training, and growth as a team, and we remain committed to the never-ending improvement of Excalibur Insurance. A big thank you to our team for their hard work and dedication in all that they do!

Back Row: Noah Jacques, Kellie McCarney, Christa O’Neil, Jason Schneider, Brenda Jamieson, Kellie Round, Katrina Clark, Una Roy, Christopher Burton, Kelsey Bennewies, Jennifer Kramer, Cindy Pym, Amanda Wood, Jeff Roy, Josh Mall

Front Row: Jodi Prouse, Sydney Wettlaufer, Krista Rose, Darlene McCowan, Sarah Jantzi, Carla Pawitch, Sarah Gingerich, Leigh Crawford

Absent: Carol Bailey, Cassandra Colquhoun, Justin Damsma, Ken Colquhoun, Kenneth Rios, Kimberly Laidis, Lane Ferguson, Laura Nixon, Nerena Goud, Savannah Nigh, Selina Consitt, Stacy Smith

Our $2,500 Referral Program Winner

Did you know? Every time you refer a friend to Excalibur Insurance, you receive a $20 Tim Hortons gift card! You’re also entered in our monthly draw for $100 and our annual draw for a $2,500 grand prize.

That’s right! In 2024, we had over 300 referrals to our brokerage, and we genuinely appreciate the trust our clients have in our team.

Pierre Malette & Dalia Dimitri referred a friend to Excalibur Insurance and won our 2024 grand prize draw for $2,500!

Thanks again for your referral, Pierre & Dalia! To learn more about our referral program, click here.

Welcome to the Team, Carla & Sarah!

We’re excited to welcome Carla Pawitch and Sarah Jantzi to the Excalibur Insurance team!

Carla Pawitch – Personal Lines Account Manager (Clinton Office)

Carla joins us after spending over 18 years in the esthetics industry and earning a personal training certificate before making the leap into insurance. She obtained her Registered Insurance Broker of Ontario (RIBO) license in 2022 and now helps clients navigate their personal insurance needs with confidence.

Originally from a dairy farm outside of Belgrave, Carla still enjoys helping out with her family’s cow-calf operation whenever needed. She now calls Clinton home, where she lives with her two dogs.

When she’s not assisting clients, you’ll find Carla staying active—she plays broomball in the winter and ball hockey in the summer. She’s also recently picked up crocheting and is loving the challenge of a new hobby!

Sarah Jantzi – Director of First Impressions (Clinton Office)

Sarah is the new friendly face and voice you’ll encounter when calling or visiting our Clinton office! With eight years of experience in the healthcare industry, she brings a deep passion for helping people and providing excellent customer service.

Born and raised in Seaforth, Sarah still calls it home today. She comes from a big family—she’s the youngest of six siblings and has one child of her own. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and spending summer nights around the campfire at her sister’s farm.

Sarah is a big fan of the TV show “Full House” and has too many favourite books to list.

Please join us in giving Carla and Sarah a warm welcome to the Excalibur team!

Financial Focus: How to Write a Will

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 are focusing on “How to Write a Will.”

According to Canada Life, half of Canadians don’t have a will. In addition, one-quarter of people without a will say they are simply too young to worry about creating one. With those statistics in mind, you would assume that writing a will is difficult, but it does not have to be. In Ontario, the process of creating a will is relatively straightforward and can even be done without the assistance of a lawyer. This guide walks you through the essentials of drafting a will and explores how insurance can be leveraged as an asset after your death.

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

February’s Defender Spotlight – Kenneth Rios

February’s Defender Spotlight shines on our Broker Support expert, Kenneth Rios!

Kenneth has been part of the Excalibur Insurance team since February 2021. Kenneth serves as a Broker Support professional, playing a crucial role in ensuring seamless operations and outstanding service for our clients.

Kenneth’s commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of his work. His job includes emailing new client letters and policy renewals, attaching documents to customer files, and onboarding new clients onto our mobile app. His dedication goes beyond his job description, as he readily extends a helping hand to his co-workers whenever needed.

One of Kenneth’s standout qualities is his exceptional attention to detail. Team members often commend him for his keen eye in spotting and correcting typos, underlining his commitment to delivering polished and error-free materials to our brokers and clients.

We’re thrilled to have you as part of the team, Kenneth!