Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company

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Advice from your neighbours — fire safety, seasonal maintenance and the things worth checking before they become a claim.
  • May 29, 2026

When Should You Review Your Insurance

Most people set up their insurance and then do not look at it again until renewal. The problem is that life rarely stays the same for long. A small...

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  • April 1, 2026

Spring Water Prevention & Mitigation: Protect Your Ontario Home

Basement flooding poses a serious threat to Ontario homeowners every spring when melting snow combines with seasonal rainfall. Water leaks are likely to happen during these seasonal transitions. Older...

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  • March 30, 2026

Making Exterior Inspection Part of Your Spring Home Checklist

Now that we’ve settled into the springtime change, it’s also time to adjust to the warming weather ahead. As the tremendous snow fall from this winter begins to disappear,...

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  • February 28, 2026

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

As New Laws for Carbon Monoxide Detectors came in on January 1st 2026, Usborne and Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company focus for the month is on placement of Carbon...

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  • January 27, 2026

Winter in Ontario can be a handful

From heavy snowfall to freezing temperatures, the season brings its share of challenges. As homeowners, you’re probably already preparing for the usual winter tasks—like adding extra insulation and tackling...

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  • December 23, 2025

Christmas Trees and Lighting

Why are there so many fires around Christmas? Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, estimates there are about 200 fires involving Christmas trees and lighting in Canada each year.  These fires are usually...

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  • November 8, 2025

The Importance of Home Vent Cleaning: Protect Your Air, Your Home, and Your Investment

Home maintenance often focuses on visible tasks — cleaning floors, mowing lawns, or fixing appliances. But one of the most overlooked areas is your home’s vent system. Clean vents...

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  • October 12, 2025

Vehicle Prep and Maintenance for the Winter Months.

As cold weather approaches, preparing your car for the winter season becomes essential. Canada is known for its harsh winter weather, and ensuring your vehicle is ready can make...

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  • September 12, 2025

10 Hidden Fire Hazards in Your Home — And How to Prevent Them

How many times have you heard about a devastating house fire and thought, That could have been prevented, or That would never happen to me? The reality is, many...

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  • August 26, 2025

Enjoy Outdoor Fires Safely: Essential Campfire and Backyard Fire Tips

There’s something timeless and relaxing about gathering around an outdoor fire — whether it’s a cozy fire pit in the backyard or a campfire under the stars. The warmth,...

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  • July 26, 2025

Focusing on keeping you safe while using Lithium-Ion Batteries

About Lithium-ion batteries Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, also called li-ion batteries, are common in rechargeableproducts and generally safe to use. However, they have the same safety risks as other kinds...

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  • July 1, 2025

Focusing on Cottage Safety

An Ounce of Prevention, Randy Van Bakel, Loss Prevention Representative, Usborne and Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance. For the month of June, our blog is focusing on cottage safety. Start...

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  • May 27, 2025

Focusing on Farm Safety

An Ounce of PreventionRandy Van Bakel, Loss Prevention Representative, U&H With Farmers hitting the roads and fields this Spring and Summer, our U&H May Blog focuses on Farm Insurance....

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  • March 16, 2025

Keep Your Home Dry This Spring

After a long winter, it’s no wonder we welcome Spring with arms wide open – However, Spring can also bring unwelcome surprises like basement flooding and roof leaks. The...

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  • February 11, 2025

Slips, Trips & Falls

Slips, trips, and falls put everyone at risk of sprains, strains, bruises, concussions, and fractures. Falls often result from slipping or tripping. Slips happen where there is not enough...

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  • January 14, 2025

An Ounce of Protection

Focusing on the use of Fire Extinguishers All buildings, residential, farm or commercial should be equipped with a fire extinguisher and be easily accessible. There are different types of...

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  • December 17, 2024

Keep All Vents Clear in the Winter and Over the Holiday Season!

High efficiency furnaces, water heaters, and other fossil-fuel burning appliances have exhaust vents that leave your home or building through an exterior wall. During the winter months these vents...

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  • February 21, 2022

It’s Time to Check Your Sump Pump

As we are hunkered down for the remaining cold winter months and dream of spring just around the corner, now is a good time to think about checking your...

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  • November 2, 2021

Farm Safety

Earlier this month we celebrated Ontario Agriculture Week, a time dedicated to celebrating Ontario’s hard-working farmers and the abundance of good food they produce. Did you know that Ontario...

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  • September 8, 2021

What is a WETT inspection and do I need one?

In Canada, Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) is a not-for-profit training and education association. It functions as the national registrar of the WETT program, promoting the safe and effective...

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  • June 14, 2021

Roof Maintenance

We have just come through another good old Canadian winter and are heading into thunderstorm weather. Now is a good time to check your roof and make sure you...

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  • May 11, 2021

Renovating Your Basement

So the pandemic has continued to drag on and you are finding out you need more room because the whole family is working from home! You have sketched out...

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  • April 13, 2021

Fire Extinguishers on the Farm

Fire extinguishers save lives and personal property and that is why, Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Insurance recommends fire extinguishers in all buildings, along with having them on your self-...

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  • March 5, 2021

Warm Weather Burning and Cleaning Wood Burning Appliances

As weather warms up burning wood to heat your home becomes more of a challenge to regulate how warm your home gets. Burning Dry Small Burning dry small pieces...

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  • October 14, 2019

Co-op Student Interviews with Agents

Question 1 (Dave): What is the difference of Commercial, Residential, Farm, and Auto policies Commercial Insurance – Refers to a policy that protects a business from future risks. Coverage...

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  • June 4, 2019

Policy Renewals

What to check for when your policy renews… When your insurance policy renews it is important to check for any material change that has taken place over the last...

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  • May 6, 2019

Do you know the replacement details on your policy?

What’s the difference between the actual cash value and the replacement cost of an insurance policy? These terms are on most insurance policies and it’s important to know how...

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  • April 3, 2019

Put farm safety first this spring

Farm safety is always in season, but spring is a good time to refresh on safety tips and reminders ahead of some of the busiest days on the farm....

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  • March 8, 2019

Think ahead to warmer weather on the lake

As the calendar turns to March we start thinking about spring and warm weather plans. Cottage weekends, campfires and cruising the lake on a boat are something many of...

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  • February 14, 2019

OMAFRA Fact Sheet: 10 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Barn Fire

10 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Barn Fires. This document was created by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs. The list focuses on practical...

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  • February 7, 2019

Add these travel tips to your winter vacation plans

If you’re heading somewhere sunny this winter to escape the snow and cold, here are a few more to dos to your list before you lock the door behind...

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  • January 7, 2019

Prevention tips for trips, slips and falls

It happens every year. The cold weather hits and ice and snow create hazards, and accidents happen. Protect yourself from accidents (and liabilities) from trips, slips and falls. If...

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  • January 2, 2019

Contact Us for a Chance to Win $100

We’re updating our policyholder information and want to hear from you. Email or call us with your contact information and we’ll thank you for your time by entering your...

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  • December 7, 2018

Reducing the risk of barn fires

Barn fires are devastating. The financial and emotional impacts are huge and can last for years. A series of barn fires in recent years has led to the development...

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  • October 30, 2018

Stay safe on winter roads with these tips

Does the term ‘winter driving’ make you anxious? For many of us, there’s nothing worse than white knuckle driving through blinding snow and slippery roads. Here are some simple...

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  • October 30, 2018

It’s time to close up the cottage

Fall is a bitter-sweet season for cottagers. There are all the new memories of the past season to reflect on. But for most it’s also time to close the...

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  • August 25, 2018

Harvest 2018 – is your insurance ready?

Harvest is one of the busiest seasons on the farm – it’s often a race against the weather to get the best yield and quality crops off the field....

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  • August 22, 2018

Fast Acting Farmer

A quick-acting farmer managed to single-handedly control a fire on his chicken farm until firefighter s arrived, saving the barn and most of his flock. The fire at 5501...

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