JLT Canada's History

The insurance industry is an old and honourable business that had its beginnings over 2,000 years ago. Much of the world’s development would not have taken place without insurance. We have provided essential and unique products and value-added services to clients for 100 years.

The story of JLT begins in Vancouver in 1900, when Leslie Wright entered the partnership of Wright, Cannon & Burnett. Over the course of the 20th Century, the company would undergo many changes, transforming into Leslie Wright & Rolfe (LWR) and finally into Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc. (JLT).

Vancouver at the turn of the century was a thriving community of 25,000 people. Lumber, fish and access to the distant ports-of-call made the city an increasingly important international seaport. Just the same, the total volume of insurance written was too small to attract much attention from the industry-dominating British and American insurance companies. Rather, they relied on general agents such as Leslie Wright to provide local service.

By 1911, company letterhead advertised fire, marine, employers’ liability, and accident and sickness insurance. In addition, the company wrote guarantee bonds of all kinds, besides acting as a general commission and shipping agent, and as a customs broker.

Along with marine insurance, employer’s liability was a major line of business for the company, but in 1917 the Province created the compulsory-contribution Workmen’s Compensation Board. Leslie Wright then developed an interest in corporate suretyship, and issued the first construction bond used in BC to Columbia Bitulithic, for the laying and paving of Denman Street.

In 1926 Wright’s son-in-law, Basil Rolfe, joined the business. It was Basil Rolfe, followed by his sons John and Havelock, who would take the company from its incipient stage in a pioneer town, to being an established and fully modern company with an enviable reputation for quality, service and integrity.

During the 1920’s Basil Rolfe developed an interest in surety bonds and became known throughout BC as "Mr. Bond". He eventually convinced the provincial government to accept bonds on construction work, a practice they had discontinued for more than a decade. A new Provincial policy provided the company with much needed business during the ‘30’s and helped establish Leslie Wright & Company as BC’s leading dealer in construction bonds – a distinction it has maintained to this day. Our services have broadened to include developers, architects and engineers.

In 1946, Leslie Wright & Company changed its name to Leslie Wright & Rolfe Limited (LWR), to reflect the ever-increasing importance of Basil Rolfe. Two years later, in April 1948, Leslie Wright died.

In 1950, Basil Rolfe’s eldest son, John Rolfe, joined the company and seven years later, John’s brother Havelock also came onboard. John and Havelock remained on the Company’s Board of Directors until 1999. In the late ‘50’s, LWR made the move to become a major player on the BC insurance scene; John and Havelock Rolfe bought the business from their father, re-organized its shareholdings, and appointed non-family directorships.

As the company changed, so did the insurance business itself. By the ‘60’s, LWR was offering its clientele multi-coverage packages, such as the homeowner’s package, the composite mercantile policy and a broad contractors’ liability. Despite the death of Basil Rolfe in 1967, LWR enjoyed prosperity during these years and was well on its way to becoming one of British Columbia’s largest brokers.

The importance of liability insurance continued to grow, especially among professionals. In 1970, LWR together with The Law Society of British Columbia established the first compulsory group professional liability insurance program in Canada. The company has worked with The Law Society of British Columbia since the early 1970’s and set up the society’s claims management system in the mid-80’s. The Company also partners with the Canadian Bar Association, offering an enhanced office policy package to their members.

The early 1970’s also saw the company open a Victoria branch in 1971 and then open offices in Kamloops (subsequently sold), Calgary, Edmonton and expanded to an Autoplan storefront location at the Vancouver Royal Centre in 1986.

At the end of 1989, LWR merged with the prestigious Jardine Matheson Group (www.jardines.com), its shares acquired by the Group’s insurance arm, Jardine Insurance Brokers. Jardine Matheson was formed in 1832 as an English agency house for the China trade: silk, tea and, until 1871, opium. Business was brisk during the 19th Century and in Hong Kong, Jardines is still referred to as the "Noble House." LWR (now JLT) offered Jardines a chance to gain another foothold on the other side of the Pacific Rim, and to utilise JLT’s expertise in areas such as construction insurance, surety bonding and professional liability insurance. From LWR’s point of view, Jardines was an excellent match. Jardines’ operating principles placed similar emphasis on service and quality, and its decentralized management style has meant that JLT continues to respond to the needs of its clients in Canada. The merger provides JLT clients access to the knowledge, skills and contacts of one of the 5 largest insurance brokers in the world.

The company’s new financial strength and global expertise allowed it to expand from British Columbia, eastward to the Province of Ontario with the addition of offices in Toronto (1994) and Montreal (1999).

In 1997, Jardine Insurance Brokers Group plc merged with Lloyd Thompson plc who brought their strength in wholesale brokerage, reinsurance and providing risk solutions to the newly formed Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc. . In the Year 2000, the company adopted the JLT name by changing its corporate name from Jardine Insurance Services to Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc., another highlight in its ongoing history.

Our greatest strength, what separates us from the competition in Canada and around the world, is our expertise in the niche areas that we specialize in. We have established strong relationships with insurance and surety markets throughout the century and are extremely thankful for their support and flexibility in allowing us to provide the best possible products for our clients. Today JLT has expanded its areas of specialization from Construction and Professional liability to now include Energy & Mining, Local Government, Marine, Risk Management and Group Benefits.

The company that Leslie Wright started 100 years ago is stronger today than ever before. The "tradition" of quality service and integrity and the history of local involvement in British Columbia, together with the global resources of its parent company allows Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada the best of both worlds in securing the future for its clients.

We currently have over 250 employees across Canada, operating from offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario. Our size gives us independence and financial strength.