History of Advocacy

Canada's home, car and business insurers have a long history of working with provincial governments and safety organizations to make our communities safer for everyone. From seatbelt legislation and anti-drinking-and-driving campaigns to graduated licensing, home, car and business insurers have always been proponents of injury prevention. The Be Smart. Be Safe. program reinforces this commitment to prevention and is dedicated to helping Canadians be safer in the home, on the road and at play.

Home, Car and Business Insurers Bringing the Message of Injury Prevention to Canadians

Insurance Bureau of Canada spent much of 2004-2005 researching and testing the most effective ways to reach Canadians with the messages of injury prevention they identified as important. It was determined that the one-on-one, in-the-community approach had the most significant impact. So that’s what the Be Smart. Be Safe. campaign is all about – seasonal and regional injury prevention ideas, techniques and demonstrations. The idea was first tested in North Bay, Ontario, where the people of that city, encouraged by their own safety organizations, learned about, for example, safe snowmobiling, the importance of wearing the right head gear while skiing and the value of snow tires when driving in the winter.

To bring its community-based message to all Canadians, the Be Smart. Be Safe. program will feature a national advertising component with important messages of safety. In addition, Québec-based insurers will support the loss-prevention, “Prevention for Peace of Mind,” campaign throughout Québec.

Insurers’ involvement in this program doesn’t mean that they will abandon their support of other worthwhile projects. In fact, the Be Smart. Be Safe. program will seriously consider requests for support from community-based programs that match the safety objective of the program; that is, to make Canadians safer at home, in their cars and at work.

Injury Prevention and the Community

In delivering the Be Smart. Be Safe. program to Canadian communities, home, car and business insurers work hand-in-hand with local injury prevention groups. Tailoring activities to the priorities of the community creates the best opportunity to reach as many people as possible while reinforcing safety messages that resonate with local citizens.