Canadian ICMIF member Wawanesa Insurance has launched a new pilot programme that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help homeowners better understand and reduce their exposure to wildfire risk, reinforcing the mutual insurer’s long-term commitment to climate resilience and prevention.
Developed in partnership with Canadian climate technology company Climative, the first-of-its-kind free digital tool combines property-specific data with user inputs to provide personalised wildfire risk scores, energy performance insights and prioritised recommendations. The platform is designed to equip homeowners with practical actions they can take to better protect their properties from the growing threat of wildfires.
According to Wawanesa, it is the first insurer in Canada to offer this type of AI-powered resource, supporting its work of building a safer, healthier and more sustainable future for communities.
“Climate change is reshaping the risks we collectively face, and addressing them requires a stronger focus on prevention,” said Evan Johnston, President and CEO of Wawanesa. “Climative represents an important step forward, providing our members with the information they need to build resilience. As a mutual, we’re focused on the long-term interests of our members, and this pilot reflects that.”
The initiative demonstrates how AI can support mutual insurers in moving beyond traditional risk protection towards proactive risk prevention, empowering members with tailored insights that help reduce future losses while strengthening community resilience.
Initially, Wawanesa is introducing the platform through selected broker partners, including Western Financial Group and Westland Insurance, enabling homeowners in areas of elevated wildfire risk to access the tool. The pilot will help the insurer assess engagement, gather insights and inform future expansion of the platform.
Winston Morton, CEO of Climative, said: “Homeowners want to know exactly what measures will make a meaningful difference when it comes to reducing their wildfire risk. Together with Wawanesa, we’re removing the guesswork by providing easy-to-implement actions they can take with confidence.”
Wawanesa said it also intends to explore opportunities to expand the platform over time to address additional climate-related risks and make the resource available to more communities.
The pilot builds on the insurer’s wider climate resilience strategy, which includes its Wawanesa Climate Champions programme. Through the initiative, Wawanesa invests CAD 2.5 million each year to support people and organisations helping communities adapt to climate change, reduce risk and build resilience to extreme weather.
As mutual and cooperative insurers increasingly explore responsible applications of AI, Wawanesa’s latest initiative provides an example of how emerging technologies can be used to strengthen prevention, support members with personalised risk insights and advance the long-term resilience of the communities they serve.
Learn more: Wawanesa also recently shared insights from this initiative during the ICMIF webinar Strengthening wildfire resilience: perspectives from Canadian ICMIF members, alongside fellow Canadian members Co-operators and Gore Mutual. ICMIF members who missed the live session can watch the recording and access the presentation materials via the ICMIF Knowledge Hub. For more information on how to access the webinar, visit the webinar page.
