Boating safety is our priority!

La Capitale General Insurance continues its safety campaign this spring.

Quebec City, March 12, 2010 – La Capitale General Insurance is specifically targeting boaters at the Quebec City Boat Show for the spring component of its continuing safety campaign. This second portion of the campaign, which retains the theme “Make Safety Your Priority,” aims to promote water safety on all types of vessels. To these ends, a partnership has been established between six organizations: La Capitale, BRP, Éduc’alcool, Québec Pêche, the Quebec Lifesaving Society and Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows.

Why a safety campaign?

Launched last October, the first portion of the safety campaign was aimed at snowmobilers and ATV drivers. With the arrival of spring, we’re now setting our sights on Quebec’s boaters.

There are many different types of watercraft used in Quebec, including sailboats, motorboats, fishing boats, canoes, longboats and many others. Just like automobile drivers, boaters must respect certain regulations to avoid accidents and infractions. For example, many people are unaware that the maximum level of alcohol permitted in the blood for boaters is .08, the same level as for drivers.

“The partners in this campaign, especially Educ’alcool, aim to educate the public about using caution and following boating laws. On the water, increased sun exposure combined with the feeling of being on holiday can lead people to forget about the law, sometimes leading to unfortunate incidents,” asserts Mr. Pierre Dansereau, Vice-President of Marketing and Communications at La Capitale General Insurance.

How can we raise awareness?

The multi-faceted campaign has been designed to reach as many people as possible, both people who own boats and those who use them intermittently (i.e.: paddle-boats or canoes). Firstly, an advertising campaign will run from April 1 to May 30 on MétéoMédia, the French sister channel to The Weather Network. Additionally, some 1,500 posters will be sent to boat dealers, marinas and several other industry stakeholders in order to raise public awareness as much as possible.

About La Capitale General Insurance

An integral part of La Capitale Civil Service Mutual, La Capitale General Insurance is experiencing impressive growth and now ranks among the five largest property and casualty insurers in Quebec. The company also owns other insurance companies, including L’Unique General Insurance and York Fire and Casualty Insurance Company. La Capitale General Insurance employs over 1,000 people and in 2009 generated $680 million in written premiums, making the company a major player in the Canadian property and casualty insurance market.