Best of the Best
BY DALE WOODARD LETHBRIDGE HERALD
Even in a past year of the COVID-19 pan- demic, Westland Insurance has continued to give their clients the best guidance and options in uncertain times. That ability to adapt that has earned West- land Insurance the 2020 Best of The Best Award for Best Insurance Company. "We really appreciate that our customers think that much of us,” said Westland Insur- ance branch manager Lea Vadnais. “We're grateful to be where we are. Obviously, 2020 was difficult. We appreciate we've done that good of a job for our customers that they've showed that appreciation back." Paul Vanderhooft, manager, commercial lines for Westland Insurance noted their cus- tomers trust them to advise them through a host of life situations, especially in the past year.
"2020 was obviously a very challenging one for everybody,” he said. “People were facing unexpected life issues and all kinds of challenges people and families never thought they would have to face in their lifetime. Whether it's home or auto insurance or small business insurance, there are a lot of questions and uncertainty. We spend the time with our clients to answer their ques- tions the best we can. We don't know every- thing, but we're always happy to go hunting for that information and I think our clients respect us for it and appreciate it." Westland Insurance brings a rich history to its clients, formerly Hunt Insurance, a local business that dates back to 1915. Today, Westland Insurance is one of West-
ern Canada's leading independent insurance brokers, offering personalized insurance services from B.C. to Manitoba. “We became part of Westland Insurance in 2014,” said Vadnais. “Westland Insurance started as a family-owned business in B.C. and has been growing in B.C., into Alber- ta and now across Canada. So we're very fortunate to be part of an amazing organi- zation that is still very family-friendly and employee-focused. It's a great organization to
Friday, February 26, 2021 - Prairie Post West - 3 2020 Best of The Best Award for Best Insurance Company
the various rules as well as dealing with various relief programs. "We're often called as one of those groups
Photo by Dale Woodard
be a part of and that has afforded us access to insurance companies and opportunities to serve our clients better." The past year, however, has brought chal- lenges as Westland Insurance's clients made adjustments in the face of the pandemic. "I think for the majority of insurance consumers the biggest issue has been con- cerns around cost of insurance and how to maintain the best coverage possible and pay the least, not because they don't see value in good coverage, but because they're facing financial difficulty because a spouse may be unemployed or under-employed than previously,” said Vanderhooft. “So there are financial constraints. Or, they've had to choose to work less so they can be home because kids are at home doing school. There are a number of challenges and challenges our employees have had to work through as well. We're not untouched by all of the same things. I think from that perspective, that has probably been the biggest challenge on the personal insur- ance side."
On the business side, Vanderhooft point- ed to small businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector such as restaurants and small retail, facing challenges based on the various waves of shutdowns and
of professionals along with their accountant or lawyer about what types of things their business should do to make it through and what coverage can they reduce or eliminate or what can they do to make themselves more attractive to an insurance company to get their prices down,” he said. “When your revenue is cut by 50 per cent or more your expenses shine brighter. And you have more time to pay attention to it because you're not as busy doing what you would normally be doing." With the calendar turning to 2021 and the world still dealing with COVID, Vadnais said Westland Insurance will continue to provide their award-winning services.
"The reality is we're going to keep doing what we do. We have great people who work here and we're going to keep helping people with their insurance and keeping people safe. We limit how many people are in the office. We'll just try to get through COVID like everybody else."
"I think 2021 will see us continue with what has become more normal with working from home and leveraging other technology pieces to do our job a little more seamlessly with clients without having to be face-to-face in the office,” added Vanderhooft. “Leth- bridge is always the smallest big city I know. So a lot of customers want and miss the ability to come in and be face-to-face, but there is a lot of technology where we can still do face-to-face even if we can't do it right in person. I think we'll adapt more to that so we can keep doing the important things."
Lealta Building Supplies’ owners have proud history
BY TIM KALINOWSKI LETHBRIDGE HERALD Founded by Eugene Modrzejewski in 1959, Lealta Building Supplies has long enjoyed a reputation for quality and ser- vice in Lethbridge. It is a legacy current co-owners, Dave Jackson and Laurie Scheurkogle, are proud to have inherited. “I think there is a recognition of service and quality,” says Jackson. “We have been a stalwart in what we do, and how we do things. I used to work for a high volume company, and when I moved over here I knew to be competitive and change-- how I was brought up doing business was to go after the service and the quality aspect first, and then make pricing the third thing on the totem pole.” The company also believes in giving back to the community in any way it can, says Jackson.
“I think being a part of your communi- ty, whether it be from the standpoint of being involved in the community or also being philanthropic in the community is a key element of being successful in any business,” he states. A lot has changed in his over 42 years in the local building supply industry with large builders sometimes constructing up to 60 homes per year in Lethbridge nowadays, says Jackson, but Lealta’s commitment to quality, service and com- munity remains as unwavering as ever despite this increased volume. “I believe the relationship with the customer base we do have is a very loyal following of people we do business with, and being with us long term,” he says. “I think how we conduct ourselves in business and outside of business in the community attracts companies that feel the same way.”
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