Chatham and Dresden, ON; September 21, 2026
The Boards of Directors of Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance Company (“Kent & Essex”) and Maple Mutual Insurance Company (“Maple”) are pleased to announce their proposed amalgamation has been approved by the Members (policyholders) by an overwhelming majority of votes cast September 15, 2026, at two (2) separate Special General Meetings (SGMs), one for each of Kent & Essex and Maple. The Boards of Directors of both Companies had previously and unanimously approved the exploration of forming a new entity, the Kent Essex Maple Mutual Insurance Company (“KEM Mutual”), to the benefit of their policyholders, staff, broker partners, agents and the communities we continue to serve. Subject to further approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”) of Ontario, the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association (OMIA), Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc. (Farm Mutual Re), and the Trustees of the Fire Mutuals Guarantee Fund, all insurance contracts will be issued in the name of Kent Essex Maple Mutual beginning January 1, 2027. Offices, broker partners, agents, and staff complements will remain as they have been. Both the Chatham and Dresden offices will remain open as important contributors to KEM Mutual, the policyholders we serve, and the communities we will continue to support.
Upon amalgamation the existing Boards of Directors have elected to move to a strong Board Committee structure in support of an experienced management team headed up by the existing Kent & Essex CEO, Kevin Konecny CPA, CA, CIP, who will become the President & CEO of KEM Mutual on January 1, 2027. Maple’s existing CEO, Rob Pearson FCIP, will also assist as needed. Board Committees will include:
- Audit & Finance
- Executive
- Governance, Conduct Review & Nominating
- Investment
- Risk & Compliance
Board Committee assignments will be worked out in the weeks ahead, with the first directors of the new thirteen (13) Member KEM Mutual Board to include:
- Paul Badder, Agriculturalist, Entrepreneur
- Shawn Bustin, Chief Credit Officer, Farm Lending Canada
- Judy Cibulka, CPA & Retired Controller – Woodbridge Foam
- Richard (Rich) Daly, Grain Trader – The Andersons
- Jennifer Douglas, Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)
- Anthony (Tony) Lauc, Business Owner – Corporate Finance
- Peter Letkeman, Business Owner – Construction
- Andre Mailloux, Business Owner – Restauranteur
- Tim McIntosh, Agriculturalist
- William (Bill) Rhodes, Agriculturalist – Entrepreneur
- Leanne Segeren-Swayze, Retired Municipal Government Leader, Entrepreneur
- Sarita Vandernaalt, Chief Operating Officer – PGC Coaching
- Steve Vanek, Agriculturalist, Entrepreneur
KEM Mutual will soon be Ontario’s newest, fully licensed multi-line insurer offering property, automobile, and liability insurance protection, through broker partners and exclusive agents.
We are grateful to all policyholders who have supported each of us over the years, including those who returned proxy’s or voted in-person at the SGMs, and we look forward to your continued support as we undertake this exciting new chapter in supporting mutual insurance in a place we call home.
For further information, contact:
Kent & Essex Mutual:
Telephone – 1.800.265.5206
Email – info@kemutual.com
Maple Mutual:
Telephone – 1.888.736.4705
Email – support@maplemutual.com