Caradoc Delaware Mutual Fire Insurance Company

Our History

Mr. E. W. J. Sutherland described the beginnings of our company in his history of the first 50 years of operation.

"One day in the spring of 1884, Robert Sutherland, while in the village of Mt. Brydges, met Burley Burch, who had recently moved to the township of Caradoc. During their conversation they discussed the cost of fire insurance. Mr. Burch told of a mutual fire insurance company which was giving satisfactory and cheap service to the farmers of Southwold Township in Elgin County, where he had formerly lived and suggested that a mutual insurance company be organized in Caradoc. William Young, with others, came along the street and Mr. Sutherland requested Mr. Burch to explain the mutual insurance proposition to them. As a result of this chance conversation, a public meeting was called and held in school house No. 5 the following week to consider the advisability of organizing a mutual fire insurance company. Another meeting was held a week later in school house No. 12. when it was decided to organize. Committees were appointed to canvas for members and to make other necessary arrangements."

The Caradoc Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company was formed on June 28, 1884 in the village of Mount Brydges, Ontario. At the time, all Mutuals were required to have to have the word fire in their name because that was the only coverage they were allowed to write.

The first president of the Company was Mr. William Young, who served until 1922. Over the years the Company has grown and expanded to meet the changing needs of our customers. For a complete history of the first 100 years of the Company you might like to read "Neighbour Helping Neighbour" written by former manager Delmar Cobban, (available at local libraries or by contacting us).

Our Company along with all Mutual Companies of Ontario continued to grow. In 1959, due to the increasing size of the risks, the Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan was formed to allow the companies to provide adequate coverage to their policy holders. www.fmrp.com

In 1975 the company changed its name to Caradoc Delaware Mutual Fire Insurance Company to better reflect the base of our policyholders. The 56 Mutuals of Ontario formed the Fire Mutuals Guarantee Fund in 1976. This was Canada’s first Consumer Protection Fund to shelter any policyholder if a Mutual Insurance Company went out of business. www.omia.com/about_guaranteeFund.asp

CARADOC DELAWARE MUTUAL TODAY
Our offices are located at 22508 Adelaide Rd. in the village of Mount Brydges. We have expanded product coverage from just Agricultural to include Residential, Commercial and Liability products. Policyholders are encouraged to attend our Annual Meeting held each year during the month of March. At the annual meeting the financial records of the company are reviewed along with projections for the future.

SECRETARY/MANAGERS

W. E. Sawyer	1884-1915
E. W. J. Sutherland	1915-1951
Delmar Cobban	1952-1982
Ronald Doane	1982-1999
James Ballantine	1999-2001
Alan Phillips	2002-2003
David McNamara	2004-Pres

CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Position	Name	First Elected	Term Expires
Chairman	Conrad Wodrich	2001	2011
Vice Chairman	Brian DeJeu	2003	2012
Director	Terry Neill	2007	2012
Director	John Whiting	2001	2012
Director	Richard Kilbourne	1980	2010
Director	Rick York	2009	2010
Director	Deb VanMepelin Scheppink	2003	2010
Director	Richard Hickling	2005	2011
Director	Harry Clout	2008	2011