2024-2025 Annual Report
GIO is pleased to announce that this year’s Annual Report is now available! For the second consecutive year, GIO has surpassed its highest number of contacts, responding to over 7,300 consumer inquiries. This marks the GIO’s busiest year on record and an increase of 17% over the previous year.
Here are some more key stats from GIO’s Annual Report (as of April 30, 2025):
WEBSITE
36,876 total visitors (32,782 on the English website, 4,094 on the French website)
CONSUMER ASSISTANCE
7,330 contacts were received (7,119 contacts in English, 211 contacts in French)
INFORMAL CONCILIATION
550 files were escalated to Informal Conciliation
MEDIATIONS
6 files were escalated to the Mediation phase
SENIOR ADJUDICATIONS
2 files were escalated to the Senior Adjudicative phase
Click here to read our annual report
Annual General Meeting
On October 23, GIO held its Annual General Meeting. GIO staff, stakeholders, and the Board of Directors traveled to the InterContinental Centre in Toronto, Ontario, to review GIO’s success over the last year. GIO also celebrated a number of staff who reached 20 years of service with GIO this year.
2025 Board of Directors
We would like to thank our Board of Directors for their support and commitment to the important work they do for the GIO. A special thank you to the Honourable Graydon Nicholas and John Parisella, who have completed their terms on the Board. We are grateful for their contributions to GIO’s continued growth and evolution, and we wish them the best in this next chapter.
We would also like to welcome two new Independent Directors to our Board: Marc Peliel representing Quebec and Nancy MacCready-Williams representing Atlantic Canada.
GIO 2025 Board of Directors
Dr. Catherine Aczél Boivie, BMath, MEd, PhD, ICD.D, Chair of the Board, Independent Director, B.C. & Yukon
Kristal Kaye, CPA, CGA, ICD.D, Vice Chair of the Board, Independent Director, Prairies, Northwest Territories & Nunavut
Penny Collenette, LLB, O. Ont, Independent Director, Ontario
Marc Peliel, CPA, ICD.D, Independent Director, Quebec
Nancy MacCready-Williams, B.Comm, MIR, LL.B, ICD.D, Independent Director, Atlantic Canada
Don Forgeron, ICD.D, Industry Director
Gavin Mascarenhas, CIP, Industry Director
Have you suffered damage from wildfires?
GIO is here to help. For more information on recent wildfires across Canada, please click below:
Or visit our disaster portal for more information on how GIO can help with insurance disputes following a natural disaster and tips to protect yourself.
Latest Blog Posts
We release monthly blogs to help consumers better understand their insurance policies. In case you missed it, check out some of the latest posts below:
History of the General Insurance OmbudService
For 23 years, the General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) has been the top independent dispute resolution service providing free and impartial help for Canadian consumers of property and casualty insurance. From introducing a formal dispute resolution process, to launching an automated satisfaction survey, to now offering on-demand telephone translation services, GIO continues to evolve to better serve consumers. Let’s look back at how GIO has grown and evolved over the last two decades to become what it is today.
Insurance 101: Who regulates insurance in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan?
Insurance regulation in Canada is largely a provincial responsibility, which means each province oversees how insurance companies operate, license professionals, and protect consumers. Below, we explore the insurance regulators in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, each with its own framework and priorities.
Insurance 101: Who regulates insurance in the Atlantic Provinces?
In Canada, insurance regulation is handled at the provincial level, which means each province in Atlantic Canada has its own oversight system. While the core responsibilities are similar, ensuring fair market conduct, licensing agents, and protecting consumers, each province has its own regulatory authority and legislative framework. Here’s how insurance is regulated in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
Insurance 101: Who regulates insurance in the Territories of Canada?
Canada’s three territories — Yukon, Northwest Territories (NWT), and Nunavut — each have their own insurance regulatory bodies. Although the frameworks are generally less complex than those in the provinces, they carry out essential duties such as licensing, market oversight, and consumer protection.
GIO on the Move
Over the last few months, the GIO team has been busy attending conferences, connecting directly with consumers and peers, and sharing more information about how GIO can help. Here are some highlights:
Public Presentations
Our team has been busy conducting public presentations across Canada to educate Canadians on what to do when they’re in an insurance dispute.
If your organization would like a free virtual presentation on:
- What GIO is and how we can help
- How to make a complaint to GIO
- Frequently Asked Questions about GIO’s complaint process
Please contact admin@giocanada.org for more information.
What’s coming up for GIO
Year-in-review
Stay tuned for the December edition of our newsletter, reviewing the year and looking back at GIO’s accomplishments.
Connect with GIO
Stay in-the-know with the latest extreme weather news, get tips on everything insurance related and more by connecting with GIO on social media and by subscribing to our newsletter:
Photo: Dylan McLeod