We would like to send a big thank you to everyone who came out to the 4th Annual Dylan Nahorniak Memorial Baseball Tournament over the weekend! We had an exciting day of games and a fantastic casino night following the tournament! Lots of fun was had by everyone young and old.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Stallions Baseball team for once again hosting this terrific event and everyone behind the scenes who volunteered to help and plan the event. It wouldn't be possible without you.

If you would like more information on the tournament, please visit the website at www.dylannahorniakmemorialtournament.com. If you are interested in the new baseball scholarship we are offering, the application deadline is July 1st and submission info can be found on the site.

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.

Got some new gadgets in your home, maybe a radiant floor or some valuable mobile medical equipment? Wawanesa offers Saskatchewan residents a Special Limits Enhancement that can be extremely useful on your home or condo that not only increases some of your existing coverage limits but adds coverage to key systems you rely on in your everyday life. This Home Equipment Breakdown coverage is extremely handy in covering costly gaps to basic policies, protecting you from expensive repair or replacement to key pieces of equipment and systems.

The Special Limits Enhancement raises limits to these existing coverages:

- $20,000 Jewellery and Furs

- Personal property of a student away at school

- Watercrafts

- $20,000 Building Bylaws Coverages

- $20,000 Fire Department Charges Coverage

- Home Freezer Contents

The Special Limits Enhancement also adds $50,000 Home Equipment Breakdown coverage for equipment, systems, and personal property that includes:

- Central air conditioning

- Boilers, furnaces and heat pumps

- Radiant floor heating

- Pool and spa pumps, heating and filtration

- Electrical service panels

- Home security monitoring and control devices

- Kitchen and laundry appliances

- Home entertainment equipment

- Computers, peripherals and wireless devices

- Mobile medical equipment

- Portable generators and sump pumps

If you would like more information regarding Wawanesa's Special Limits Coverage, please give us a call at 1-800-450-2700 or 306-955-2700.