IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU MUST SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH SOMEONE IN OUR OFFICE IN ORDER TO BIND OR AMEND ANY INSURANCE COVERAGES. ALL REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR CHANGES IN COVERAGE MUST BE CONFIRMED WITH ONE OF OUR REGISTERED INSURANCE BROKERS. NO ICE IS SAFE We have already heard reports of accidents for snowmobilers travelling on the ice this winter. With the fluctuating temperatures we've experienced NO ICE  CAN BE CONSIDERED 100% SAFE. To avoid ice risks, the OFSC recommends that snowmobilers ride open, land-based,OFSC trails whenever possible. OFSC clubs provide many trails that avoid water crossings altogether and also provide many bridges and culverts to pass over known water safely. If you do make the personal choice to travel on ice by snowmobile, wait until a marked stake line is in place and cross only when you can follow it from shore to shore, without stopping on the ice. While ice crossing is never a sure thing, snowmobilers can also reduce their risk by: • Never travelling on ice because “they” say it is safe. • Understanding that ice conditions can vary from day to day, from hour to hour and from place to place. • Never travelling on ice alone, at night or after consuming alcohol. • Avoiding slushy ice, untracked ice, or ice near moving water. • Staying off ice early or late in the season or after any sudden and pronounced melt,thaw or rain. • Wearing a buoyant snowmobile suit and carrying ice picks. The OFSC is committed to proactive leadership in promoting safe, responsible riding, on and off Ontario snowmobile trails, by building safer snowmobiling knowledge, attitudes and behaviours through rider education, safety legislation development andenforcement. For more information, visit ofsc.on.ca LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW Well the 'weather outside may not be frightfull' but it is winter. We are enjoying milder than normal winter temperatures, but as we know weather conditions can change rapidly in our area.  RSA, one our major Insurance Companies provides some tips to protect your home from damage that winter storms and severe cold can cause. 1.  Water frozen in pipes can cause your pipes to break at their weakest point. To prevent freezing, fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping. 2.  Seal any cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes. 3.  Keep cabinet doors open during severe cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes. 4.  Consider applying an additional moisture barrier along the eaves of the roof to prevent water intrusion. 5.  Ensure the floor of your attic is well insulated to prevent heat from escaping.  No un-insulated recessed lights should be installed in an attic. 6.  Attic doors located in non-air conditioned spaces should be properly insulated, sealed, weather-stripped and all hidden penetrations (e.g. stack vents, partition walls, electrical chases) must be properly sealed and insulated.  Keeping the attic cooler helps prevent the snow from melting & refreezing on your roof. AND VERY IMPORTANT: If you are going to be away from your home during the usual heating season for more than FOUR consecutive days - YOU MUST arrange for a competent person to enter your dwelling daily to ensure that the heating is being maintained, OR you must shut off the water supply & drain all the pipes & appliances.  If this isn't done, your insurance WILL NOT cover damage caused by freezing of any plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, sprinkler system or domestic appliance. IF YOU DO NOTICE ANY SIGNS OF WATER DAMAGE CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE BROKER IMMEDIATELY and take necessary measures to avoid further damage. PREPARING FOR DRIVING IN THE WINTER If you are like a lot of vehicle owners, you may have "all-season" tires on your vehicle. While they are designed to handle most driving conditions, they may not be suitable in heavy snow. Proper tires do make a difference for your safety! All-season tires can begin to lose their grip when the temperature drops below -10°C. Winter tires are made for cold and snowy conditions. They remain more flexible than all-season tires in colder temperatures and the deeper tread pattern allows the tire to clear itself of snow as it rotates. Tips from the experts… Check the condition of your tires and check air pressures regularly. A tire can lose one pound of air pressure for every five-degree drop in temperature. Avoid mixing tires of different tread patterns, construction and size. Replace any that are damaged or have worn treads. It's recommended you install four winter tires, even on front-wheel drive vehicles, for best control in slippery and snowy conditions.     Privacy Policy