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May 30, 2022

TIPI Group of Companies is Reconciliation in Action

By Industry West Staff


Canada is in the midst of a critical chapter in its history. The country is coming to terms with how it came to be what it is today and who was tragically and brutally impacted by the creation of the nation we call home. As we collectively acknowledge and address what can be done to rectify the past and move forward together, there is a company that has always embraced its inherent Indigeneity while serving its clients and living its Indigenous values every day.


Humble beginnings

Today known as the TIPI Group of Companies, the venture got its start in 1999 as an insurance brokerage working with traditionally underserved First Nations in Manitoba. “We identified that Indigenous communities were often underrepresented, oversold or had poor access to insurance,” says Janice Gladue, COO at TIPI Group of Companies. “The work began with Swampy Cree Tribal Council as a partner to start to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and provide stronger access to insurance markets and coverages. Building capacity in the sector and creating wealth for First Nations were also key goals.” Little did they know that the idea would be revolutionary.


Fixing the gaps


TIPI and TIPI-IMI Insurance Partners worked to address the gaps in the insurance market to serve Canada’s Indigenous communities and peoples by embracing their culture. The company’s products and services are developed for and by the people who want them—whether you need a conventional policy or not, they can help.


“Traditional insurance coverage did not address the needs of Indigenous people,” says Gladue. “We sought the changes needed to make it work.” For example, typical insurance coverage requires that a property be rebuilt in the same location within one year of a loss such as fire or flood. In Indigenous communities, that is unrealistic for both cultural and logistical reasons. Indigenous culture does not look favourably on rebuilding on the exact spot of a loss, and often, materials and labour needed to rebuild take longer to arrive in communities. “We worked with industry partners to have these changes made to policies to allow for this,” says Gladue. “Some simple modifications made insurance coverage possible.”


The company also built capacity in the insurance sector for Indigenous insurance professionals to start and build careers in the industry. “Having professionals who are Indigenous providing services to Indigenous communities and families is also huge part of what we do as a company,” says Gladue. “Plus, our success always goes back to our community owners. We’re majority Indigenous-owned, and our profits go back to the people we serve to create even more success.”


Standing tall

TIPI has evolved over the last 20 years into the TIPI Group of Companies it is today. Part of the TIPI Group of Companies, TIPI Insurance Partners and TIPI-IMI Insurance Partners are the only Indigenous full-line insurance operations offering group pension, group benefits and property and casualty insurance in Canada. “We owe a lot to our original experienced, industry partners who shared their capacity to get us off the ground and sacrificed a lot to help us get going,” says Gladue. “Plus, our Indigenous partners kept their doors open to us and were always willing to have tough conversations.” TIPI Group also acquired Legacy Bowes, the well-known Manitoba-based human resources and recruitment firm in recent years—its latest move to build capacity while holding strong to its foundations as an Indigenous business leader.


Knowing what matters

Through all its growth, the company has held strong to its core values of trust, compassion, friendship, social responsibility and professionalism. “It’s hard to describe how we live our values because it’s just part of who we are. It’s in our DNA,” says Gladue. “I think of all of them, friendship is the one that makes us stand out. It’s part and parcel of our Indigenous roots.” TIPI’s commitment to friendship is more than building a relationship with a client. It’s about being there through the peaks and the valleys, and knowing that no matter what, you’re there for each other. “Friendship is when you’re there for the most difficult times, and in insurance, that’s when you’ll likely be dealing with us,” she says. “It’s just the way we do business.”


“We’re proud of our story so far, and I believe our clients are too,” says Gladue. “Everyone is welcome to engage and do business with us and to play a part in the next phase of the TIPI Group of Companies story. We’re built to serve and work with everyone.”

Top fire safety tips for your home

By Kendra Hinton • 29 Nov, 2023
Learning how to prevent fires is one of the most important things you can do for your home and your community. Many homes and buildings are lost or damaged in communities due to negligence, which could be anything from being careless with discarding cigarette butts or not cleaning your dryer lint traps after each load. Read on for some fire safety tips to help you protect your home and communities from preventable fires. Extinguish and discard cigarettes properly. Make sure to completely extinguish before discarding. Cigarettes and other smoking materials that are not properly extinguished can still burn undetected and smoulder for days before starting a fire. The most common cause of fires from cigarettes have started from incorrectly extinguished smokes in planters around the house. Limit use of outlet extenders or plug-in power bars. Too many electronics plugged into to an outlet or power bar can quickly overload an electrical circuit. This can cause sparks, smoke, and lead to a fire that can do much damage to your home. Never plug in a space heater into a power bar or extension cord. Remove lint from your dryer filter after every use. A clogged filter and lint trap make your dryer less efficient, reduces the airflow needed to keep heat from building up in vents, and forces lint onto the heating coils. Store towels, rags, and containers of cooking oil well away from the stove, and always turn off the stove before you leave the room. Be sure to keep anything flammable away from the stove, especially if it is turned on. Never leave the room with the stove left on. Have your chimney cleaned at least twice a year if you have a fireplace or wood stove. Without regular cleaning, tar-like byproducts of burning wood—called creosote—can build up in the chimney. Creosote is highly flammable, so the more creosote build-up in your chimney, the higher risk there is for chimney fires. Reduce risks when burning candles. Never leave burning candles unattended. Always extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to bed. Never burn candles on or near anything that can catch fire (e.g. curtains, bedding, clothing, etc.). Always keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and always somewhere they cannot be knocked over. Purchase a fire extinguisher for your home. You should have the right tools handy in the event of a small fire before it grows to something bigger and out of control. When purchasing, always check for certification marks (such as ULC), the size of the fire it is designed for, and ensure that you can comfortably hold and operate it. To use, remember the order of operations: P.A.S.S. P ull – the pin A im – at the base of the fire S queeze – the trigger S weep – back and forth at the base of the fire vigorously Reducing the risk of fire now can help prevent the loss of your home and/or belongings. It is so easy for a fire to catch when we are not paying attention, so be sure to stay vigilant and follow the safety tips above. Want to learn more about property insurance and how to reduce risk in your community? Visit our Property & Casualty page: https://www.tipionline.ca/property-and-casualty

Closing the gap: How DEI enriches the fabric of an organization

04 Aug, 2023
By Madeleine Bote for Industry West Magazine

Commonly asked questions about disability insurance

21 Jun, 2023
By TIPI Staff Disability insurance helps protect your economic wellbeing. If you’re unable to work because of illness or an accident, this coverage can replace some of your earnings with a monthly benefit to help you pay your expenses. But how does it work exactly? Read on for some frequently asked questions our team receives from clients! Frequently asked questions What is the purpose of disability insurance? What does disability insurance cover? How do I apply for disability insurance? How do I submit my disability claim? How much do I receive from disability insurance? How long can I stay on disability insurance once I’m approved? My family member is sick, and I need to stay home to take care of them. Can I use disability insurance for this purpose? My spouse is on my plan and is unable to work, can they apply for disability under my plan? Why is my case manager asking for medical information? Do the short-term disability insurance premiums continue once an employee is approved for short-term disability? When completing forms what do I put as the last day worked and first day absent? Will I receive my benefits on the same pay schedule as my job? What is the difference between "own occupation" and "any occupation" in disability insurance? Answers to your questions about disability insurance What is the purpose of disability insurance? Disability insurance is a wage replacement benefit. Its purpose is to support employees if they are unable to work due to illness or accident while they recover with a goal of them returning to work. Disability insurance is not meant to be used as a lifetime support. What does disability insurance cover? There are many illnesses and injuries covered through disability, but it is important to determine whether the illness or injury prevents you from performing the duties of your job. In order for your coverages to be approved, you must meet the definition of disability as defined in your group policy. This information can be found in your benefit booklet, which can be obtained from your employer’s Plan Administrator, or by accessing the Plan Details section of the TIPI Care Plan Portal . How do I apply for disability insurance? If you are unable to work due to an illness or injury, you can start your disability claim by calling our office and speaking to one of our disability client service representatives. They will guide you through the process of applying for disability through your disability insurance provider. There are typically three forms that need to be submitted as part of your claim: an employer statement, an employee statement, and an attending physician’s statement. Some providers may require additional forms. How do I submit my disability claim? You can submit your claim through our office by emailing [email protected] or by faxing your claim to 204-949-3503. How much do I receive from disability insurance? The amount of income replacement you would receive depends on your group benefit plan and your regular salary. It is a specific percentage of your pre-disability earnings determined according to your group benefit plan. This information can be found in your benefit booklet, which can be obtained from your employer’s Plan Administrator, or by accessing the Plan Details section of the TIPI Care Plan Portal . How long can I stay on disability insurance once I’m approved? Once approved for disability, you will continue to receive benefits provided you continue to meet the definition of disability. This is determined by your condition, severity of symptoms, and the provisions of your group benefits plan. Short-term disability and long-term disability both have a maximum length of time you can receive benefits. This varies from plan to plan, and this can be found in your benefit booklet, which can be obtained from your employer’s Plan Administrator, or by accessing the Plan Details section of the TIPI Care Plan Portal . My family member is sick, and I need to stay home to take care of them. Can I use disability insurance for this purpose? No, disability insurance can only be used when the employee is sick or injured. Compassionate care may be an option and is available through the federal Employment Insurance program. My spouse is on my plan and is unable to work. Are they able to apply for disability under my plan? No, the disability insurance provided under the group plan only applies to the employee. Why is my case manager asking for medical information? After your claim has been approved, a case manager will be assigned to you. As you go through your recovery process, they may request additional medical information to assess your progress, determine whether you continue to meet the definition of disability, and determine whether additional supports can be provided. Do the short-term disability insurance premiums continue once I am approved for short-term disability? Yes, the premiums for short-term disability are charged throughout the short-term disability period. Once the employee is approved for long-term disability, the premiums for short-term disability are waived. When completing forms what should I put as the last day worked and first day absent? Your last day worked is the day that the employee was last performing the duties of their job. Your first day absent is the first day they were scheduled to work but were unable to work because they had become disabled. If your employer paid you sick or vacation time after you were last at work, there is also a place to enter this date. Will I receive my benefits on the same pay schedule as my job? Your payment schedule is determined by the date you became disabled and your waiting period according to your plan. What is the difference between "own occupation" and "any occupation" for long-term disability insurance? On most benefit plans, for the first two years of disability, you are insured based on the " own occupation " definition, which means your specific job duties that you had been performing up to the time you became disabled . After two years , pending medical evidence, the insurance provider will assess if your disability prevents you from being gainfully employed in any job which provides you with an income of at least 50% of your monthly earnings before you became disabled. Your disability claim may be extended if you cannot do any job as noted above within a pre-determined distance from your home city, as determined by your benefit plan and/or provincial legislation. Don’t see your question here? Reach out to our team by email at [email protected] , or by phone at 1-855-266-TIPI (8474).
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