Going out on a boat is a favorite pastime for many Canadians. There’s nothing like being on open water, feeling the sunshine and a refreshing breeze. But before you head out on the boat alone or with others, you need to know how to boat safely to avoid any accidents or troubles while on the water.

Learn the ropes of operating a boat

What may seem like the most obvious tip isn’t always one that boat owners do from the beginning: Learn about your boat and how to operate it.

Most provinces require boat operators to pass some form of boating education. Since boating is more than knowing how to steer, shift gears, slow down and dock, a required boating class teaches safety techniques and waterway laws. And of course, you’ll need to know how to operate your specific boat model before you take it out.

Inspect your boat

Before starting the boat, make sure the mechanics are in working order. If you hear any strange sounds or noises that are louder than normal, find out what’s causing them. Check that your life jackets, fire extinguisher, and emergency supplies are on the boat and easily accessible.

Check the weather

Weather can significantly impact water conditions, so check the forecast before leaving the dock. If the forecast calls for strong winds, rain or storms, stay off the water. All of these factors can make a boating experience dangerous.

Wear life jackets

Wearing a life jacket is essential for activities such as wakeboarding or tubing. That’s because these activities are done at high speeds and can cause injury. Even if you’re planning a casual, quiet float on the water, have a life jacket for each person on board. Weather and water conditions can change quickly.

Don’t drink and drive a boat

Drinking while driving a boat isn’t just illegal; it’s also extremely dangerous. In fact, it’s so dangerous that it is a criminal offense to operate a watercraft under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Drugs and alcohol significantly affect motor skills, judgment and reaction time. None of these should be impaired when operating a boat.

Boating under the influence can lead to deadly accidents, expensive fines and even jail time.

Check your surroundings

Enjoying the view of the water and surrounding area makes boating a great experience. But staying aware of your surroundings and what’s in the water is still critical.

Look out for debris in the water, other boats coming too close, people on skis or tubes, and other motorized watercraft like Jet Skis.

Don’t leave any passenger behind

Boating can be full of distractions, from conversations and music on board to and noise from other boats. Always check that your entire party is safely aboard before pulling away from the dock. When taking part in water sports like tubing, swimming and wakeboarding, make sure everyone in the water returns to your boat before you leave.

Understand the ways of the water

Just like on land, there are rules for maneuvering in the water with other boats. Before pulling away from the dock, make sure you know which direction you are required to leave from. It’s important to know which boat has the right of way, where you can and can’t stop, the speed in the wake zone, and more. Understanding the rules of water will keep you and others safe.

Put together safety and toolkits

Be prepared for any event before taking off in the boat. Have a safety kit and a toolkit on board. Include items like a flashlight, a bucket, a first-aid kit and duct tape. Know who to call in an emergency.

Know where you are

Make sure you know where you are and how to get back to your original destination at all times. Even if you do get lost, you need to be able to tell others where to find you.

Power off the engine before entering the water

Before entering, exiting or swimming near the boat, turn the engine off. Once the engine is off, the motor and fast-moving propellers won’t be able to injure anyone who accidentally gets too close.

Follow the rules

Always set and enforce safety rules for your passengers. If a passenger doesn’t follow the safety rules, ask them to leave the boat to ensure the safety of others.

The memories you make boating with your family and friends can last a lifetime. While you’re working on getting your boat ready for the water, check in with us. Finding the right protection for your boat can provide peace of mind, knowing that your big investment is carefully insured.

Starting a new chapter in your life can be exciting, full of new possibilities for you and your family. Unfortunately, the process of getting there isn’t always as enjoyable, especially if it involves moving. Moving is often ranked just behind the death of a loved one and divorce as one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life. However, there are ways to make this stressful time a little easier. They include learning about the moving process and how to avoid surprises.

If you have a lot of belongings, you may want to hire a moving company to transport them. Movers can handle many tasks, including picking up household goods and transporting them to your new location, wrapping and packing items, and unpacking and hauling away moving materials.

What does packing and unpacking entail?

Depending on your home and budget, you may choose to pack none, some or all of your household items yourself. It is important to note that movers are only financially responsible for the items they pack. In other words, if you pack items and they break, the movers are generally not accountable.

Packing services range from self-packing to partial packing to full-service packing. For full-service packing, movers will arrive at your home with all the necessary materials and professionally pack all your items. Plan to be home during the packing to answer any questions and ensure that only the items you intend to move are packed. In addition, keep children and pets out of the movers’ way.

Similarly, unpacking options include self-unpacking, partial unpacking and full-service unpacking. Full-service unpacking usually includes placing furniture, unpacking boxes and hauling away packing materials.

What does loading and transportation involve?

Once your items are packed, they will be loaded onto a truck for transportation to your new home. In some cases, your items may be consolidated with other moves heading in the same direction. This is especially common with long-distance moves. With some movers, you can request a private truck to transport only your items. While this is more expensive, it expedites transportation and reduces the risk of lost or damaged items.

Will you require special movers?

Most of your household goods will be moved without much trouble. However, certain items require special care, and sometimes additional personnel. These items include:

• Pianos
• Safes
• Fitness equipment
• Hot tubs
• Pool tables

If you have any of these items, inform the moving company before your move.

Is there anything you should move yourself?

While almost anything can be packed and moved by professional movers, there are a few key categories to consider when packing up your home. Take daily prescription medications with you. Also consider holding onto any valuable items such as a child’s favorite toy, jewellery or a meaningful photo album.

In general, movers will not move plants, perishable items or hazardous materials.

How can you ensure you get the right movers?

Research reputable movers ahead of your move by reading consumer reviews. Evaluate your moving needs, including packing and unpacking, and consider whether you have any items requiring special care. Get quotes from different movers based on these needs, and ask the companies about any additional expenses you might incur.

While there will always be an element of stress to moving, knowing what your moving company will and will not do will make this process a little easier.

Does your home have carbon monoxide detectors?

Installing carbon monoxide detectors is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself, your family and anyone else in your home.

A detector is designed to warn you before carbon monoxide concentrations reach a dangerous level.

What is carbon monoxide? And why is it dangerous?

Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas.

If carbon monoxide gas escapes into your home, it can easily poison the air before you know it’s there. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause sudden illness or death. That’s why it’s known as the “invisible killer.”

According to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, accidental carbon monoxide poisoning kills approximately 50 people each year in Canada and sends hundreds more to the hospital emergency department.

Sources of carbon monoxide include home appliances and devices that burn fuel, such as gas, oil or coal. Examples include:

• Clothes dryers, ranges and gas refrigerators
• Furnaces
• Portable generators
• Pressure washers
• Space heaters
• Water heaters

If these devices are not well-ventilated and operating properly, carbon monoxide can build up inside the home.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Be aware: Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen at different rates depending on the source and nature of the leak. Poisoning can occur slowly through the release of small amounts of carbon monoxide over a long period. Or it can happen quickly when a large amount enters a home or office space.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can create flu-like symptoms. These include:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting

High levels of carbon monoxide can also cause confusion, loss of consciousness or death.

Breathing in carbon monoxide during your sleep can kill you before you even notice any symptoms.

Protect against carbon monoxide by using detectors

For your safety, use carbon monoxide detectors to signal when there is a leak.

• Select a detector that is battery-operated or contains a battery backup.
• Carefully follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Place detectors on each level of your home and near bedrooms. (You want the alarm to wake you.)
• Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors every six months. Don’t wait until they chirp. Test alarms monthly.
• Replace carbon monoxide detectors every five years or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

If a carbon monoxide detector sounds, leave your home or office immediately and dial 911.

Who needs carbon monoxide detectors?

What if your furnace and other appliances run on electric power, instead of gas, oil or coal? Experts say carbon monoxide detectors are still a good idea.

If you have an attached garage and someone accidentally leaves a car or lawnmower running, the carbon monoxide fumes can enter the home through walls or doorways.

Also, when using gas generators or other appliances outdoors, carbon monoxide can seep inside the house.

Other important precautions

To help prevent accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in your home, take these precautions too:

• Ask a trained service technician to check your furnace; water heater; and gas, oil or coal-burning appliances each year. Make sure they are vented and operating properly. (Read the product safety manuals to learn about carbon monoxide risk.)
• Don’t cook indoors with a barbecue grill or gas camping stove. Keep these items outdoors, away from windows.
• If you use a power generator, place it at least 20 feet away from your house. Keep pressure washers and gas-powered devices away from windows, doors and vents.
• Make sure all fireplaces, grills and stoves are properly vented. Have chimneys inspected annually. (Debris blocking a chimney can cause carbon monoxide to build up inside your house.)
• Make sure space heaters are properly vented.
• Never run a car or lawnmower inside your garage, even if you leave the door open.
• Never use a gas range or oven to heat a house, cabin or camper.
• When you buy gas-powered equipment, look for the seal of a national testing agency, such as Underwriters Laboratories.

With knowledge, you can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.

Several thousand bicycles are stolen every year in Canada, and even more are damaged in accidents. That’s a huge issue if your bike is your primary mode of transportation, and especially if you have invested a lot of money in it.

The only way to protect your investment from thieves, accidents and other unexpected events is to properly insure it. But keep in mind that most home insurance policies only offer limited coverage, so you may not receive the replacement value you’re looking for. Also, talk to us about your deductible and what you can expect to pay out of pocket.

How bike insurance works

You have two options for insuring your bike:

Insure your bike under your home insurance. Home insurance covers all personal property; you just need to make sure you have enough coverage for your bike and all your other items. Your policy should cover your bike, up to the amount stated in the policy. It will help whether your bike is stolen from inside your house or outside your workplace.

The policy should pay for damage, too. As long as you are locking up your bike and taking other precautions to keep it safe, your insurance should cover you.

Purchase scheduled personal property insurance. This type of insurance is extra coverage for your bike. It can help replace your bike if it is damaged or stolen, even if the damage is minor. It can also cover you if you cause a bike crash.

Scheduled personal property coverage is not subject to your deductible, so you’ll get the full coverage to repair or replace your bike.

Insurance for professional bikes

If you use your bike for work, your home insurance won’t cover it. That’s because it isn’t considered “personal property” if it’s part of your profession.

In that case, you’d need bike insurance. This type of insurance covers your bike if it is stolen or damaged. But, like auto insurance, it also covers you in an emergency. For instance, it might cover medical care for an injury you sustain while biking.

Bike insurance covers other related losses

All types of bike insurance cover your bike and bike accessories, such as your lock, helmet, lights, and reflectors. In the case of theft or damage, you can get money to replace these items, too.

To get the most out of your bike insurance, keep all receipts for the bike so you can prove its value. This means receipts for the bike itself and all other accessories or costs.

If you have an expensive bike and use it often, protect it with bike insurance. Whether it is a theft, an open car door or a wreck on the trail, you’ll have what you need to get back on the road. Talk to us about getting the right coverage for you.

Flooding is one of the most common and costly natural disasters in Canada. It also isn’t typically covered by homeowners insurance.

Overland flooding coverage has only been available to Canadians since 2015. According to the catastrophe insurance data firm CatIQ, 55% of Canadian homes have flood insurance. That leaves nearly half the country without coverage.

To protect your primary or vacation home, you need flood insurance. It can cover structures, windows, fuel tanks and contents, such as personal possessions, small appliances and artwork, depending on your policy.

Flood insurance is usually required for homeowners taking out mortgages for properties in high-risk flood zones. But homeowners in lower-risk areas may want to get it, too, because flooding can happen anywhere in the country.

Flood insurance policies

Insurance companies provide homeowners and tenants with overland (freshwater) flooding coverage. You can also get flood insurance for seasonal and secondary homes. Coverage can be expensive or hard to obtain in high-risk areas, but you can mitigate your costs by choosing a higher deductible.

Flood insurance generally excludes saltwater floods, tsunamis, dam breaks, intentional acts and some high-risk areas. Flood coverage is sometimes bundled with sewer backup insurance.

Advantages of flood insurance

Consider the following reasons to get flood insurance for your property:

• You can set your coverage limit to the value of your property to avoid any coverage gaps.
• If you have furs, jewellery, fine art or collectibles that could be damaged by floodwaters, you can insure them separately for the appropriate amount. Ask us for details.
• Flood insurance can be cheap in low-risk areas.
• Flood insurance can offer multiple deductible options.
• Flood insurance can pay for living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable. The extent of coverage is typical of regular home insurance policies.

In this fast-changing environment, now is the time to talk to us about the latest options available to protect your home from floods. Don’t wait until floodwaters rise to understand your flood coverage options.