An insurance Renaissance man who has worked as an adjuster, company man and broker. A dedicated volunteer who has contributed to the Canadian insurance industry, his community and the world. Meet Jim Ball – 2007 Insurance Person of the Year.
Jim was born in Port Hope, Ontario, 66 years ago and has fond memories of an “jdllic” youth. He attended university in the U.S., studying Canadian history in Cleveland and political science in San Francisco. He started his career in 1966, working for the insurer CNA in its Cleveland office as a bodily injury adjuster. He transferred to the company’s Toronto office seven years later where he worked as a claims examiner, reinsurance underwriter and marketing rep.
He became western regional manager based in Vancouver after CNA sold its Canadian operation to Citadel General. He then joined Paragon, the precursor to Axa Pacific, where he managed the marketing set-up and development of its head office, two branch offices and a network of brokerages.
Deciding that he wanted to put down roots in Vancouver, in 1983 he moved over to the brokerage side, taking the position of president of Reliance Insurance; he bought the firm in 1985. The Reliance Group now employs 35 people and includes MGAs Pacific Marine Underwriting in Vancouver and Harbour Insurance Services in Midland, Ontario. Two of Jim’s four children – son Chris and daughter Judy – work at Reliance.
Jim was a very active volunteer in the insurance industry during the 1990s, serving as the 1992/93 president of the Greater Vancouver Insurance Brokers Association, going on to lead of the Insurance Brokers Association of B.C. in 1994 and the insurance Brokers Association of Canada in 1999. He played a leadership role in developing the Broker Identity Program – a national branding initiative that has raised the profile of the broker channel with elected officials and consumers.
In 1992 Jim was part of he volunteer group that started Salute – the annual Insurance Person of the Year award. He has served for the past five years on the committee that organizes the annual R.P. Vickerstaff distinguished-speaker dinner. And he chairs the all-industry BCIT Diploma Committee.