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Together 125 Contest
This year we’re celebrating our 125th anniversary, and a century and a quarter of dedication leaves behind more than a few stories. We’re inviting our clients to share moments big and small where The Standard Insurance played a part. It could be a funny conversation with your broker, your experience insuring your dream home, or thoughts on your time dealing with us. Send photos if you’d like: The heartwarming, the humorous, the inspiring — we’re ready for it all.
Along with stories and moments, we are also on the hunt for historical pictures, the oldest policy document we can find, and artifacts such as old brochures, signs, or newspaper articles. If you find something that you believe is a fit – submit it and you could win!
Let’s celebrate the journey we’ve taken together.
The grand prize winner will receive $1,250 in gift cards to businesses in their community. Plus, three more winners get one $125 gift card each. See contest rules here.
Community Moments
Our passion for community shines in every place we operate, and our team’s passion and character have built a warm and welcoming company culture. Below is a space for clients and employees alike to share their stories and activities in the community.

This year, each employee of The Standard was given $125 to donate to a local charity or cause of their choosing. Throughout the rest of the year, we will be sharing some of their My 125 donation stories.
Patrick from our Kenora office is happy to share his My 125 donation in support of Light Up Central – the campaign to rebuild the Central Community Club and rink in Kenora.

This ad was on the front page of the Daily Miner & News on May 2nd 1934. Most ads prior to this were focused on property insurance. However, big changes were coming to Northwestern Ontario in the months following.
The first section of the Trans Canada Highway 17 to open was between the Manitoba town of Whitemouth and Kenora. On July 1st 1932, an inter-provincial ceremony was held in Kenora to dedicate the new route. The next link would connect the highway through Kenora with the rough road connecting Vermilion Bay, Dryden and Dyment and opened in early 1933.

On June 15th 2022, our Dryden team held their first annual BBQ since 2019. All funds raised went to the local Dryden Food Bank.

Our Thunder Bay team participated in the EcoSuperior Spring Up to Clean Up this month to help pick up litter around the community.

It may look different these days, but our Kenora branch has always operated out of 319 Second Street South.

In 2018, The Standard and Wawanesa Mutual Insurance teamed up to donate $50,000 to the Dryden Regional Health Centre. The donation was given in support of the Dryden Regional Health Services Foundation CT Scan Fund.

The Standard is proud to continue the legacy of the Oldfield Kirby Esau Insurance brand in Manitoba. In 2020, The Standard and Oldfield Kirby Esau who were partners for almost a decade, merged into one entity. The Manitoba-based firm was originally called Oldfield, Kirby and Gardner and was founded in 1881. In 1909, the business moved to occupy what is now a historical site in Winnipeg, 234 Portage Avenue. While The Standard’s Winnipeg office has been on St. Mary Ave for a number of years now, the significance of Oldfield Kirby Esau’s influence on Winnipeg is cemented in the history of its original building on Portage Avenue.

It may be surprising to some to hear that The Standard sold real estate for many years in Northwestern Ontario. This ad in the local newspaper from 1934 is selling a dream deal – an island on Lake of the Woods for only $425!!!

Before it became our office, our Dryden location was the home of Ross Hamilton. The Hamilton family arrived in Dryden by train in 1925 and Mr. Hamilton entered a partnership to operate the Dryden Pharmacy at its present location until his death in 1952.

In 1997, The Standard received this Grandfather Clock from an insurance partner to commemorate 100 years of service. The clock is still a fixture of our Kenora office and can be found in our reception waiting area. The clock requires a weekly winding that is completed by our dedicated reception team. Tick tock tick tock tick tock – time marches on.

In May, we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of opening our office in Sioux Lookout. Pictured in this photo are Sharon Sayers (Left), Jennifer Alcock (Centre) and Jenni Blanchard (Right). All three have been with The Standard for all 25 years of our time in Sioux Lookout.

Julie Johnson helped her nephew, Brian Ingo, former CEO/President celebrate The Standard’s 100th Anniversary as they cut the cake together. The Standard was founded by Julie’s father, George Toole in 1897. The photo captures the lineage from the the Toole family to the Ingo family. Brian retired in 2013.