Timeline of the history of The Co-operators

Incorporation of Co-operative Life Insurance Company.

Co-operators Fidelity and Guarantee Association incorporates as an Ontario mutual for bonding in credit union and co-operatives. The Co-operative Union of Ontario, the Ontario Credit Union League, and later the United Farmers Co-operative and Ontario Federation of Agriculture back the new company.

Incorporation of Federated Agencies, registered in Saskatchewan, headquartered in Regina.

Co-operative Life Insurance Company becomes a national company following registration with the federal government and writes more than $6 million annually in life insurance just in Saskatchewan.

Co-operators Fidelity and Guarantee Association becomes the first Canadian insurance company to remove the question of race from automobile insurance applications.

Co-operators Fidelity & Guarantee Association begins selling automobile insurance with support from the county Federations of Agriculture from across rural Ontario.

Maritime Co-operative Services forms a partnership with Co-operative Life Insurance Company to sell insurance through a network of co-operative stores, federations and credit unions.

Letters patent issued to Co-operators Insurance Association, a new property and casualty company created to take over the business of Co-operators Fidelity and Guarantee Association.

Co-operative Life Insurance Company board of directors establishes a new national property and casualty co-operative insurance company, Co-operative Fire and Casualty Company, with backing from co-operatives all across Canada.

The Co-operators Life Insurance Association is incorporated to market life insurance in Ontario.

C.I.S. Ltd. is incorporated as a holding company for Co-operative Fire and Casualty Company and Co-operative Life Insurance Company.

Co-operative Insurance Services moves to its current office on College Avenue in Regina, SK. A plaque unveiled at its opening reads:

"This building is dedicated to the belief that through co-operative ownership and control of economic institutions people may provide essential services for themselves with the greatest assurance of security and freedom."

Co-operative Insurance Services in Regina takes delivery of its first computer from IBM and begins computerized processing of new applications and renewals.

Co-operators Insurance Association and Co-operators Life Insurance Association move from Toronto to Guelph, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Ken Barton

The Boards of directors of Co-operators Insurance Association and Co-operators Life Insurance Association approve their new nine-storey, $1 million office tower at Priory Square on Macdonell Street, Guelph as the official corporate office.

Co-operative Fire and Casualty Company is the first general insurance company in Canada to offer a no-fault collision benefit in its auto policies.

Co-operative Insurance Services opens the first drive-in appraisal centre, in Cape Breton.

Co-operators Insurance Association (CIA) adds contingent collision coverage to its automobile policies. CIA is the first in Canada to offer this coverage.

CI Management Group is officially incorporated as a holding company for C.I.S. Ltd. and CIAG Management Ltd., forming a national co-operative insurance company and realizing a dream for those who had established the insurance co-operatives three decades earlier.

The Co-operators adds underinsured motorist coverage to Ontario automobile insurance policies. The coverage was extended to policyholders in other provinces in the following year.  The Co-operators was the first insurance company to offer this coverage.

CI Management Group is renamed The Co-operators Group Limited.

The Co-operators adopts the 3Cs logo, which stands for "Canadian, Co-operatives and Credit Unions".

The Co-operators first television commercials are aired on the Atlantic Television network.

Amalgamation of Co-operative Life Insurance Company and Co-operators Life Insurance Association into Co-operators Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of The Co-operators Group Limited.

Amalgamation of Co-operators Insurance Association and Co-operative Fire & Casualty Company into Co-operators General Insurance Company, a subsidiary of The Co-operators Group Limited.

The Co-operators Group Limited places the management of its two insurance operations, Co-operators General Insurance Company and Co-operators Life Insurance Company, under Co-operators Financial Services. The new company also includes Federated Agencies, Coseco, Sovereign General, and Cautrac, as wholly owned independent subsidiary companies.

Photography courtesy of Roy Nicholls

The Co-operators purchases HB Group Insurance Management from Reed Stenhouse Limited following a three-year joint venture to market home and auto insurance to members of employee groups.

The popular Wiserider bicycle safety program is launched.

Co-operators Group establishes the Community Economic Development fund in honour of its 50th anniversary.

The Co-operators goes online. The first Internet presence consisted of rented space on Insurance Canada's website.

Photography courtesy of the Oakville Beaver

The Buckle-up Bears child car seat safety program is launched nationwide.

The first Community Advisory Panel is held in Moncton, NB. Community members provide comments, advice and recommendations to Co-operators senior management about our products and services, and on interactions between The Co-operators, the community and consumers.

The Community Guard^TM product is launched, providing innovative insurance coverage for the voluntary and not-for-profit sector.