Peace of Mind During the Christmas Holidays

Whether leaving the Canadian winter to spend the holidays under the sun or simply driving a few hours to get together with family, these simple measures can help you keep your home safe while you are away:

• Friends or trusted neighbours should check on your home - An occasional car in the driveway and a mailbox that is not overflowing may signal to a potential burglar that someone is home
• Social media? Sharing holiday plans on social media might lead to an empty house getting unwanted attention
• The thermostat should be set at 60 degrees Fahrenheit /15.5 degrees Celsius  and there should be enough oil in the storage tank to ensure that your house stays heated during cold winter days
• Open bathroom vanity and kitchen cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to the plumbing
• When it's time to put on snow tires, it also signals the time to turn off outdoor taps!

For more tips and useful information, visit Chubb's Risk Conversation blog!

An Evening With Architect Jack Diamond - November 26th, 2013

I've had the good fortune to attend a community meeting with guest speaker World Renowned Architect Jack Diamond. Mr. Diamond is well known for his design of the Four Seasons Centre Home of the National Ballet and Canadian Opera Company in Down Town Toronto. The evening consisted of slide presentation, commentary and a question and answer period with Mr. Diamond. He touched on three specific areas of development in Toronto and gave his thoughts on sustainable development. The Toronto Casino Project behind the scenes look, the Subway extension to Scarborough, the Toronto Island Airport extension and the Transit Link to the Lester B. Pearson Airport. He also commented on water front development which was of particular interest to the members of this audience. I asked Mr. Diamond what one can do to control the proliferation of ugly Buildings in the GTA, his response " Controlling the Development and site densities would get a desired effect, rather than trying to control aesthetic design". Should you have the opportunity of hearing Mr. Diamond speak I would suggest that you indulge yourselves.

101 Grey Cup Football Final - November 24th, 2013

The Rogers Centre hosted the Eastern Conference Finals with the Toronto Argonauts Losing to the Hamilton Tiger Cats 36-24. This was a pretty disappointing result for all the Toronto Argonaut Fans given that it was only a year ago that we won the 100th Grey Cup.

 The Eastern and Western Final was held in Regina with the Saskatchewan Rough riders trouncing the Hamilton Tiger Cats 45- 23. I can only say to those who supported Saskatchewan that the cup is temporarily on loan in Regina and it will shortly find it's way back to its proper home in Toronto during the 102nd Year Season. Argo Forever!

The National Ballet of Canada-November 22nd, 2013

The National Ballet of Canada hosted the opening night of Innovation. Innovation consist of four ballets, all unique. The First was Water Shed, Choreographed by Jose Navas. The Second was Being and Nothingness (Part 1) Choreographed by Guillaume Cote. The Third Part of the Programed was titled Unearth Choreographed by Robert Binet. Certainly the first three were experimental and of interest to those looking outside the traditional ballets. The Final Ballet Black Nights Bright Day Choreographed by James Kudelka was by far the best of the evening in my opinion, there was a long standing ovation and the company deserved all the applause for their performance.

On a particular note the Soprano Dame Emma Kirkby and the Countertenor Daniel Taylor gave an excellent performance, something I have not witnessed in all the years I have been attending the ballet. The National Ballet is using the world renowned Four Seasons Center designed by architect Jack Diamond.

Should you have an opportunity to catch this performance I would suggest that you do so before the program finishes for the season. The support of the Arts is important for any World Class City, these Arts Organizations rely on our Support. Please Patronize and give generously.

Noche De Cine Club Hispano - November 15th, 2013

The Club Hispano show cased the Movie La Misma Luna directed by Patricia Riggen, produced in 2007. Those Interested in Spanish cinema will find the club showcasing monthly a different film for the viewing by it's members and others by invitation. This program has been running successfully for a number of years and it is highly recommended especially for those who prefer a small cinema setting.

Further Inquiries about upcoming films can be obtained by contacting the club directly for their monthly listing.

Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary Induction Evening-November 7th, 2013

Recently at The Old Mill Inn, the ESHF held their 20th Anniversary Induction Evening. This Year's Inductee's were Reade Baker, Doug Fox, Bob Nadin, Gerry O'Flaherty, Sami Jo Small and James Sturino. This is a very popular event showcasing top sports talent from Etobicoke, the Hall of Fame is located in the Mastercard Centre at 400 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke, ON, M8V 3L1.

The evening was well attended with great food, excellent slide presentation and humorous Speeches. I will strongly urge those visiting Toronto to visit this Hall of Fame.

ICTA AGM - NOVEMBER 5TH, 2013

The Inter County Tennis Association Annual General Meeting was held at the Miele gallery. Miele as you know have been great sponsors of tennis in Ontario, the highlight of the meeting in my opinion was the 10 point super tie-break rule. This has streamlined the way our team matches are played through the summer seasons. The preferred way to go in determining a tie-break match, less rescheduling, less disputes and quicker results posted on the tenniscores website.

 I would recommend if you have a chance drop into the Miele Gallery and visit their high-end kitchen appliances designs.Those interested in the Inter County results for the past season, you can visit the tenniscores website for all statistical rankings by team and player.

Protect Your Roof - Tips for Dealing with Heavy Snowfall

Be prepared for snow - no matter the month. Snow loads on roofs depend on the amount and type of snow, wind, air temperature, amount of sunshine; and roof variables including shape, thermal properties, exposures, and surrounding environment. Of all these variables, wind likely has the greatest influence on drifts and the damage they can cause.

• If your building is located in an open and particularly windy location, pay special attention to the accumulated snow from drifts.
• Pay special attention to low lying roof areas - ensure excessive snow on these areas is quickly removed. During the course of snow removal, snow from upper roof areas should not be moved to a lower roof level. Care should be taken to avoid removing snow within 2 inches of the roof covering to avoid damaging the shingles.

Understand what factors increase snow load. Although most roof designs can handle snow loads of between 20 and 40 lbs per square foot, the consistency of the snow impacts the overall load on the roof. Modern commercial building codes require a roof to withstand a minimum of 30 pounds per square foot. The design allows for a specified amount of bending typically 1 inch over a 20 foot span.

• It is the weight, not the depth of the snow, which is cause for concern. Light and fluffy snow may weigh between 5 - 20 lbs per square foot, packed snow between 20 - 40 lbs, and moisture laden snow upwards of 45 pounds per square foot. The removal of wet snow should be your priority!

Know what to look for. Signs that the snow load on your building is cause for concern include:

• doors that suddenly start to stick, particularly upstairs doorways on interior walls;
• cracks that become visible in drywall; and
• cracks in plaster around door frames.

If you suspect there's a problem, call a professional. If you suspect that your roof may have an excessive accumulation of snow, the safest decision is to hire a professional roofing contractor or professional snow removal contractor. Visit thedominion.ca to find one o four preferred vendors in your area. Before you hire a contractor, verify that they carry current liability insurance coverage - as to see their current certificate of insurance. It's important to review the certificate to ensure the policy terms and limits are adequate. You may be legally responsible for any damages that occur outside of what is stated in the policy.

Should you decide to clear some of the snow yourself, never climb onto the roof. Use a long handled rake with an expandable handle, likely available from your hardware or home improvement store.

• Keep your employees, customers, and building safe.

Equipment Failure Recommended Practices

Machinery...

...It's wonderful to shut it all off and enjoy the simpler things in life...

...But there's little to enjoy when your building's crucial systems such as boilers, air conditioning, elevators and electrical equipment break down.

A preventative maintenance program is our client's best bet to help combat equipment breakdown. Start with our Preventative Maintenance Program overview, found in our knowledge centre at thedominion.ca - help our clients stop a problem before it escalates, saving them time and money.

A few key equipment failure facts to start:

• Most equipment failure is the result of human error. Have processes and procedures in place that ensure the correct use of equipment.
• Trust your eyes and ears. Keep an eye open for any irregularities with machinery and listen for noises that don't sound right. If you detect something, call a licensed professional to take a look.
• For equipment new or old - be sure to check with the manufacturer for their recommendations regarding the type and frequency of maintenance.
• In addition to your annual checkup - make sure to get a service contract so you receive prompt emergency service for key equipment such as air conditioning.

Looking for more? We have the information you need in the format our clients want:

• Visit thedominion.ca to view our key tips for preventing equipment failure - easily copied and then sent to our clients.
• Visit thedominion.ca to view our Heating Boiler Start-Up Overview - relevant for this time of year. Our client can quickly access and start using these tips today to help protect their building! Send them to The Dominion's YouTube channel or link to the checklists to our website.
• Send our clients our video: the Keys to Business Protection for Preventing Equipment Failure.
• Send our clients helpful hints and tools branded by The Dominion and our brokerage.

MAKE SURE OUR CLIENTS ARE COVERED

Our Building Owner's Advantage Product offers insurance coverage for buildings and contents to ensure our commercial clients are covered. Peace of mind built just for them, in one convenient package. This product has many unique features to meet the needs of our clients - and not just forour realty accounts. This product was developed with all building owners in mind. For more information on our Building Owner's Advantage Product, speak with our underwriter.

Sturino & Associates Insurance Brokers Ltd.
7 Jopling Avenue South
Etobicoke, ON  M9B 3P4

Slips & Falls Recommended Practices

Slips and Falls...

While the cartoons and comedy movies we've seen over the years have used slips and falls to make us laugh...

...it's not that funny if it happens on a property you're responsible for.

Winter is slip and fall season!  Snow, freezing rain, ice, and slush are the most common weather elements leading to slips and falls.  You can help our clients develop a Slip & Fall program using our Business Protection Series.

What's in it for our clients?

- Safer business premises;
- Reduced frequency of slips, trips and falls occurring on their business premises;
- Enhanced reputation and public image; and
- A documented paper trail of what they have done in the event of an accident.

Start with our Monthly Slip & Fall Prevention Checklist, found at http://track.thedominionkeepingintouch.ca/trakcing/t.c@yuub-ifcx-1edau8.

START THE CONVERSATION

A few key slip and fall facts to start the conversation:

• Slips, trips and falls most often occur on: icy roads and sidewalks, uneven pavement, potholes, stairs with no railings, changes in elevation, obstructions, or spilled liquid.
• Proactively maintain your premises. Minimize slip and falls by implementing a preventative maintenance program.
• What should you do when you discover hazards?\
• Post It: post signs to warn tenants and guests of potential dangers
• Prevent:  prevent access; erect barriers
• Remove: remove hazards
• Eliminate: repair or replace to eliminate hazards
• Concrete and asphalt may crack, shift or change shape overtime. Make sure to monitor the condition of your sidewalks, parking lots and entrance ways.  Repair as soon as possible; clearly mark hazard until repair is done.

Looking for more? We have the information you need in the format our clients want:

• Go to http://track.thedominionkeepingintouch.ca/tracking/t.c?yuub-ifcy-1edaut9 to view our key tips for preventing slip and falls - easily copied and then sent to our clients.
• Go to http://track.thedominionkeepingintouch.ca/tracking/t.c.?yuub-ifcz-1edauto to view our Winter Weather Tips Sheet - our client can quickly access and start using these today to help protect their building. Send them to The Dominion's YouTube channel or link to the checklists to your website.
• Send our clients our video: The Keys To Business Protection for Preventing Slip & Fall.
• Send our clients helpful hints and tools branded by The Dominion and our brokerage.

MAKE SURE OUR CLIENTS ARE COVERED

Our Building Owner's Advantage Product offers insurance coverage for buildings and contents to ensure our commercial clients are covered. Peace of mind built just for them, in one convenient package. This product has many unique features to meet the needs of our clients - and not just for your realty accounts. This product was developed with all building owners in mind. For more information on our Building Owner's Advantage Product, go to http://track.thedominionkeepingintouch.ca/tracking/t.c.?yuub-ifdl-1edaut8 or speak with our underwriter.

Sturino & Associates Insurance Brokers Ltd.
7 Jopling Avenue South
Etobicoke, Ontario  M9B 3P4