Join us on Saturday June 7th for our mall's Customer Appreciation Day! We will be hosting a Car Seat Clinic, a free Shred-It Station (with Food Bank donation) for your documents, and a free Child Find ID Clinic. The full day's event's can be found on the flyer below. Thank you from our family for having us as your Saskatchewan Insurance Brokerage for over 30 years!

In an effort to reduce the high rate of injuries and fatalities on Saskatchewan's roads, the Special Committee on Traffic Safety will see several key recommendations turn into law effective June 27, 2014. One of the primary changes will effect new drivers caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, who will face a 60-day license suspension and will have their vehicle seized for three days.

"Harsher penalties are aimed at deterring the unsafe choices some Saskatchewan drivers are making," said Donna Harpauer, Minister responsible for SGI. "We want drivers to think twice before making a bad decision, like getting behind the wheel after drinking or texting while driving."

Other traffic laws being introduced in the province June 27th include:

• Impaired drivers face user-pay installation of an ignition interlock device on their vehicle, for a minimum nine months on a first offence and up to five years for subsequent offences.
• Drug-impaired drivers will face the same consequences as drinking drivers.
• Drivers caught using their cellphone while driving for the second time within one year will have their vehicle seized for up to seven days.
• Drivers will face harsher penalties when they're traveling at 35 km/h or more over the speed limit.
• Booster seats will be mandatory for children under seven years of age, less than 145 cm (4'9") in height and under 36 kg (80 lbs) in weight.
• Photo radar will be piloted at three high-risk locations across the province and in school zones.

Motorcyclists will also note changes, with a focus on new riders:

• Riders in the Motorcycle Graduated Driver Licensing (MGDL) program and their passengers will be required to have their arms and legs covered, wear hand-covering gloves, ankle covering boots, and either an approved three-quarter, modular or full-face motorcycle helmet.
• MGDL riders will have to place a placard on their license plate to indicate they are a new rider.
• Drivers will be required to hold a Class 5 or higher driver's license before applying for a motorcycle learner's license.
• New riders will have to demonstrate their ability to operate a motorcycle through a basic ability test or successfully complete an approved training program, before getting a motorcycle learner's license.

For more information about these traffic safety changes, visit SGI's website at www.sgi.sk.ca.

SGI has just introduced their new Prestige Home Insurance policy for your higher-valued home that provides tailored coverage to suit your needs. Whether you are a home business owner, a specialty items collector, a savvy investor or have an impressive collection of recreational toys, Prestige has the right coverage for you.

All Prestige policies include:

Lifestyle Coverage Options - allowing you to tailor your insurance protection to your specific lifestyle needs.

Priority Claims Service - access to dedicated Prestige adjusters to provide you with faster service, including a 30-minute guaranteed response time.

Roof/Siding/Flooring - if matching materials are no longer available, your entire roof, siding, flooring or sets of vehicle entry doors will be replaced in the event of a claim.

Home Systems Protection - coverage for the sudden and accidental mechanical breakdown of home equipment such as furnaces, central air conditioners, deep well pumps, pool pumps and heating equipment, electrical power panels, and more.

Homeowners' Guarantee Coverage - coverage to repair or replace your home or outbuildings with materials of similar kind and quality, even if the cost to do so is more than what you have insured them for.

Higher Limits on Property with Specific Amounts of Protection - increased coverage for items such as tools, spare auto parts, business instruments and computer software protection, lawnmowers, tractors, snow blowers, jewelry and furs, and much more.

Personal Liability Coverage - $3 million in coverage to protect you if you are sued by someone who is hurt or whose property is unintentionally damaged because of your actions

Roof Snow Removal - access to $1000 to have snow removed from your house following a claim caused by an ice dam.

Single Amount of Protection - provides 150% of the coverage of your home, allowing you to allocate coverage as you wish towards your personal belongings, increased living expenses, lost rental income or expenses to cover the cost of being evacuated from your home.

Prestige Lifestyle Options

Prestige home insurance policies allow the addition of any or all Prestige Lifestyle Options tailored to your needs.

Lifestyle Option A: Home Business Owner 

Additional protection provided for:

- books, tools and instruments for your business

- business computers

- enhanced coverage for credit card/cheques or damages from counterfeit money

-increased limits on voluntary medical and property damages and lost wages

Lifestyle Option B: Collectables & Treasures Protection

Make sure your lifetime of memories is not lost in an emergency by selecting this option that covers:

- per-item protection for priceless comic books and trading cards

- enhanced protection for jewelry, watches or gems

- extra coverage for furs, manuscripts, stamps or coin collections

Lifestyle Option C: Family & Security

Get additional protection for the security that matters with Option C:

- enhanced limits on identity theft protection

- additional coverage for securities and bonds

- protection on bullion, money and gift cards

- additional coverage for childcare costs or loss of income to attend to a home insurance claim

- enhanced coverage for cemetery property such as burial plots

Lifestyle Option D: Recreational Protection

You take care of your quality of life and the value of your home, and you need protection to match:

- increased limits on shrubs and outdoor trees

- enhanced boat and motor coverage

- increased protection for pets

- enhanced protection for bicycles, tricycles or similar, including accessories

- enhanced coverage for yard machines

- increased lock replacement coverage

The new Prestige home insurance policy also provides you with an enhanced Customer Claims Service, which includes a 24/7 dedicated claims line, 30 minute response time, faster payment process and a dedicated adjuster from start to finish. Stop by our office or call 306-955-2700 if you think Prestige is the right policy for your home or if you require any further information.

When plating and insuring your vehicle in Saskatchewan, whether it be your winter beater or your brand new SUV, it's important to understand your options and what you are getting in terms of coverage and deductible.

When purchasing an Auto Policy, you are not just plating your car, you are getting a customizable insurance policy that protects you and your family from loss not covered by basic plate insurance. You gain several key additions including:

- Increased liability coverage from $1 million to $5 million

- Lower deductibles from $500 to $50

- Waived deductibles if you hit wildlife or have damage due to fire, lightning or theft

- Rental car coverage (which includes protection against damages to the vehicle)

- Increased injury benefits

Additional options:

- Replacement cost coverage on brand new vehicles (must be insured within 120 days of vehicle delivery)

- If your vehicle is totaled in the first 24 months, your deductible may be waived and your vehicle is replaced

- If your vehicle is repairable, only new parts will be used

- If your vehicle is leased your original purchase price is protected, covering the difference between what you owe your leasing company and the actual cash value of the vehicle

- Loss of use coverage for alternative transportation in the event of a claim

- Road hazard glass coverage including chip repair

There are many examples of how an Auto Policy can provide necessary benefits in coverage. For instance, if you injure a high salaried person in a collision and must pay to supplement their lost income, Auto Policy pays for costs not covered by basic plate insurance. You may face significant financial hardship if you're found at fault for damaging someone's property or if someone gets injured.

Getting the right protection is about the best combination of basic plate insurance and an Auto Policy tailored to your needs.

Ice dams are those thick ridges of ice that build up along your eaves over the winter. When your roof heats up, either through warm temperatures or heat from the attic, and the snow slowly melts it refreezes when it hits your eaves. This freezing can rip off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to build up and pour into your home. This can cause major interior damages like peeling paint, warped floors, stained and sagging ceilings, and moldy insulation. With a little prevention now, you can combat ice dams in your home and keep from making a claim and paying more for your home insurance.

The simplest routine to get into is raking the snow off the roof. You can buy specialized roof shovels with extended handles that will allow you to quickly and easily pull the built up snow off your roof. This is especially important in areas of your roof that form a valley.

If you are able to safely reach up to your roof where the ice dam occurs, DO NOT use an axe or ice pick as it will cause damage to your shingles and roof. Using a blunt mallet, gently tapping the ice chunks will slowly free them up. Be warned this still may cause damage to your shingles. You can also melt troughs through the dams using calcium chloride ice melter, but DO NOT use rock salt as it will damage paint, metal and plants.

If you are experiencing heavy leakage in your home quickly set up large fans in your attic to help ventilate hot air out of the attic to stop the melting and allow the water to freeze again while you contact roofing specialists to come remove the ice dam.

If your home is prone to ice damming, consider taking steps to keep warm air out of your attic. Proper attic ventilation, adding insulation, and sealing areas that may leak heat into the attic (like an attic hatch) will keep your roof the same temperature as your eaves and prevent unnecessary damage to your home during winter and spring months.