Nunavut insurance broker thanks clients

Thirteen years ago, when I moved back up north to Arviat, one of the most frustrating things I had to deal with was the extreme difficulty in obtaining insurance.

I had to deal with someone outside of the territory who basically had a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Since then, I thought there had to be a better way for people like me to obtain insurance in an easier, less frustrating way, with someone in your own part of the territory who understood the uniqueness of our environment.

After several years of pondering the idea, I decided to try and do something about it. I entered into an agreement with Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd., which at the time was owned by Arctic Co-operatives Ltd., IDC and Mones and Associates, to open an office here in Iqaluit. I became the only licenced insurance broker in Nunavut.

A few years later, ACL and IDC were bought out by Mones and Associates based out of Edmonton, Alberta. Over the last eight years, many Nunavummiut and Nunavut-based businesses were able to obtain their insurance with me as their broker.

I have really appreciated the opportunity that your business and loyalty have brought me over the years. It was a pleasure to help and serve you all.

On the evening of July 23, 2006, I was informed by the general manager of Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd. that they had decided to restructure and that I was no longer part of their structure. I immediately went to my computer to try and email the owner of Mones and Associates for an explanation and discovered that I had already been locked out of their email system.

I would guess that this information is something that Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd. would not let you know voluntarily and I feel strongly that you the customer have a right to know.

While I am no longer with Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd., I am certain that I will be able to partner with another insurance brokerage firm before very long and start fresh all over again.

Again, I sincerely thank you all for you patronage and support over the last eight years, and hopefully soon will be able to do business with you again.

Thank you.

Hunter Tootoo
Independent Insurance Broker
Iqaluit