Pivotal Moments for AA Munro Insurance
Take a look back with us at the years that defined who we are today.
After university, Alcorn thought he might become a doctor. He tried medical school but found it wasn’t a fit. He also tried teaching and logging before deciding he’d like to run his own business in Whycocomagh. A continuous link to the mainland brought highway development, industry and the expansion of horizons to the people of Cape Breton. It also dramatically increased the local market for automobile and commercial insurance. The establishment of the mill in Point Tupper brought jobs to Inverness County and to many independent contractors throughout the region. These people developed new businesses, built homes, purchased vehicles, and greatly expanded the need for insurance. Alcorn advocated successfully alongside other members of the community for a new highway route from the Canso Causeway to North Sydney on the north side of the Bras d’Or Lake. This brought traffic and commerce by his door in the village. A consolidated school for the region was also built in Whycocomagh because of the highway. Harley MacCaull studied political science in university and dreamed of running his own business one day. When his wife Wendy received an offer to join the faculty at StFX in Antigonish, Harley approached Alcorn about a succession plan. On October 12, 1990, Alcorn and his wife Miriam were on the way to visit friends in Sussex, New Brunswick. The highway, which had brought so much to Alcorn, took his life on the afternoon of that lovely sunny fall day. It was also in 1990 when Harley, taking courses at the Wharton School of Business, completed AA Munro’s first five year strategic plan. At a business conference in Bermuda in the spring of 1999, Harley reached an agreement with Regional Manager for (now) Aviva Canada, Loran Brown, to begin frontline underwriting. The agreement resulted in both enhanced customer service and improved performance for the company. Lessons from this experience were used in our dealings with all suppliers moving forward. Dramatic political and business events resulted in new legislation for the insurance industry. Alongside the new laws, a new confidence and enhanced operation structure grew at AA Munro. 1944 — A. Alcorn Munro establishes AA Munro Insurance
1955 — The Canso Causeway connects Cape Breton with Nova Scotia
1961 — Nova Scotia Pulp and Paper opens in Point Tupper
1970 — The province builds Highway #105 through Whycocomagh
1984 — Alcorn’s son-in-law Harley joins the company
1990 — AA Munro Insurance experiences a year of meaningful change
1999 — A new relationship with suppliers dramatically increases value to our customers
2003 — Nova Scotia passes the Automobile Insurance Reform Act
