The trade name BSI Insurance Brokers was first used in 1999 and was an acronym from the merger of Barnabe & Saurette Insurance Brokers and Boundary Trails Insurance Brokers (BTI ). The name was formalized in 2002 as the legal name of the company. In 2007 it was decided that all of our brokerages would operate under the common BSI Insurance Broker banner. This has allowed us to better brand ourselves as a symbol of quality service in Southern Manitoba.
Farm Department
Since our very early history we have chosen to specialize in farm insurance and it has been a great choice. Our rural roots and locations have allowed us to expand into this insurance line to the point where we can now service any customer in Manitoba with our team of farm insurance professionals. We are by far the largest farm broker in the province and can boast a larger staff in our farm department then the leading insurer in Manitoba. We have developed two exclusive farm programs for our customers; Farm First Insurance for larger grain farms and seed growers and Specialized Farms Insurance for our livestock producers. These programs have been highly successful and combine our underwriting and risk selection experience with loss prevention services including the exclusive Pig Safe Program. As the industry leader we can provide our customers with the best choices at affordable premiums.
Boundary Trails
Boundary Trails Insurance Brokers began as Hartry Agencies June 1, 1965, when Jim Hartry bought the insurance business from Henry Loeppky. Jamie Hartry joined the business full time in 1978. Jamie took over the business from his dad in 1994 and joined forces with Jack Henwood, Pembina Hills Insurance in Manitou, to acquire Ron Wiebe Agencies in Morden. The name was changed to Boundary Trails Insurance at that time.
In 2000, we purchased the general insurance portion of Gebler Agencies and became part of BSI Insurance.
Barnabe and Saurette
Barnabe & Saurette evolved from humble beginnings in St Jean Baptiste in the early 1960s first as Aime Barnabe Insurance and later with the addition of Paul Saurette as Barnabe & Saurette. Richard Barnabe joined the company in 1979 to replace the retiring Aime Barnabe. The first addition to the brokerage was in 1977 with the purchase of Bernard Ayotte’s business in Letellier. Next came Ste Agathe with the purchase of Maurice Cote’s insurance portfolio in 1987. This was followed by Alexander Agencies in St. Norbert in 1989 and the purchase of Baskerville & Wilkinson in Dominion City in 1992. The last addition was in 1994 when the St Malo book was purchased from La Caisse Populaire de St. Malo (Denis Maynard).
Niverville Insurance
Niverville Insurance was founded in 1975 by local entrepreneur, David Stoesz. In the late 1980's, the business was sold to outside investors, leaving the office management in the hands of Nettie Unger, who later became a shareholder. In 2002, Ray Dowse – who had been with the agency since 1997, and Debra Pearson, who had just joined the office in 2002, purchased the office outright. The business grew significantly, and in less than 5 years it more than doubled in both staff and volume. In July of 2007, Niverville Insurance merged with BSI Insurance Brokers Ltd., with Ray and Deb becoming partners in the larger operation.
Loewen Insurance
Loewen Insurance was established in 1966 by D.H. Loewen, Irv Loewen assumed ownership in 1979. Loewen Insurance has proudly served Altona and the surrounding area ever since. Loewen Insurance merged with BSI Insurance January 1st 2007.
Clearspring Insurance
Originally this insurance office was known as Auto-City Insurance which was established by the owners Albert Friesen and Abe Hiebert back in 1980, when the Clearspring Mall was built. In 2000, Albert’s sons, Tim and Chris Friesen purchased the business and changed the name from Auto-City Insurance to Clearspring Insurance. In 2007, Alvina Dueck purchased Clearspring Insurance and merged it with BSI Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Carman Insurance
The history of BSI Insurance (Carman) started well over 40 years ago, when an individual by the name of Jake Rhymer began selling insurance in the Carman/Sperling/Brunkild areas. The business grew and was soon centered in Carman under the name of R.G. Peters Agencies, then owned and operated by Ron Peters. In 1987 the agency operations were assumed by M. Faye Harms with the brokerage name changing to Carman Insurance Agency Ltd. in the mid ‘90’s. The year 2000 saw Carman Insurance Agency Ltd. join forces with the Barnabe & Saurette Insurance team. Our name is now BSI Insurance (Carman) and we are proud to be part of this energized brokerage.
Rondeau, Barnabe and Saurette Insurance Brokers
Rondeau Barnabe and Saurette Insurance Brokers was purchased in 1986 by Donald and Lucille Rondeau. A small book of insurance business worth $5000 was purchased. From these very humble beginnings we have nurtured into what we stand for today as one of BSI’s 14 offices. We now have a three generation brokerage.
