History

Explore our rich history through our timeline highlighting key milestones and the leadership of past and present CEOs and Council Presidents.

Timeline

December 10, 1980

Bill 118 was given third reading on December 10, 1980, and became the Registered Insurance Brokers Act (RIB Act). Certain sections of the RIB Act were proclaimed on April 1, 1981, so that the RIBO Board could proceed with authority towards the implementation of ‘self-regulation’ scheduled for October 1, 1981.

April 1, 1981

Proclamation of these sections of the RIB Act that gave RIBO the authority to act: 1, 4, 6, 8-12, 15-27, 30, 31, 33-35, 44, 46 and 47.

May 25, 1981

The Honourable Gordon Walker, the Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, requests that a draft copy of the RIBO Regulations be sent to all brokers in Ontario for review and comment. The draft was mailed in June.

September 23, 1981

The Government of Ontario approves the final RIBO Regulation.

October 1, 1981

Self-regulation comes into effect with proclamation of the balance of the RIB Act relating to the sections imposing broker obligations.

Chief Executive Officers

We thank the current and past CEOs and Council Presidents for their dedication and service in the Ontario insurance industry.

2025 – Present

Mark Abraham

RIBO CEO Mark Abraham smiling.

2016 – 2025

Patrick J. Ballantyne

Patrick J. Ballantyne

1995 – 2015

Jeffrey A. Bear

Jeffrey A. Bear

1986 – 1995

Ronald G. Cooper

Ronald G. Cooper

1981 – 1986

Robert Coghill

Robert Coghill

Council Presidents

2024 – Present

Thomas Watson

Thomas Watson smiling.

2023 – 2024

Rick Orr

Rick Orr

2022 – 2023

Rose Cavaliere

Rose Cavaliere

2021 – 2022

Hugh Fardy

Hugh Fardy

2020 – 2021

Katie Mellor

Katie Mellor smiling.

2019 – 2020

Peter Blodgett

Peter Blodgett smiling.

2018 – 2019

Scott Bell

Scott Bell

2017 – 2018

Jack Lee

2016 – 2017

Tracy McLean

Tracy McLean

2015 – 2016

Norma Hitchlock

Norma Hitchlock

2014 – 2015

Beth Pearson

Beth Pearson

2013 – 2014

Doug Grahlman

Doug Grahlman

2012 – 2013

Bob Carter

Bob Carter

2011 – 2012

Jim Hawryluk

Jim Hawryluk

2010 – 2011

Brian Purcell

Brian Purcell

2009 – 2010

Al Chamney

Al Chamney

2008 – 2009

John Baizana

John Baizana

2007 – 2008

Paul C. Armstrong

Paul Armstrong

2006 – 2007

Bonnie Warder

Bonnie Warder

2005 – 2006

Toots Everley

Toots Everley

2004 – 2005

Jack Baizana

Jack Baizana

2003 – 2004

Rod Finlayson

Rod Finlayson

2002 – 2003

Arthur Langley

Arthur Langley

2001 – 2002

Joanne C. Brown

Joanne Brown

2000 – 2001

Darren Hamilton

Darren Hamilton

1999 – 2000

Lorie Guthrie Phair

Lorie Phair

1998 – 1999

Arthur Despard

Arthur Despard

1997 – 1998

Richard Gardner

Richard Gardner

1996 – 1997

Bruce Pearson

Bruce Pearson

1995 – 1996

Steven Periard

Steven Periard

1994 – 1995

Francis X. Sheehan

Francis Sheehan

1993 – 1994

Christopher J. Ward

Christopher Ward

1992 – 1993

Ronald C. Hitchlock

Ronald Hitchlock

1991 – 1992

David J.R. Yeates

David Yeates

1990 – 1991

W. Garry Hamilton

W Garry Hamilton

1989 – 1990

Barry A. Cosburn

Barry Cosburn

1988 – 1989

Michael B. Martin

Michael Martin

1987 – 1988

Lorne E. Philpott

Lorne Philpott

1986 – 1987

Edward H. Bowden

Edward Bowden

1985 – 1986

Jim C. Butler

Jim Butler

1984 – 1985

John S. Kirby

John Kirby

1982 – 1983 & 1983 – 1984

John H. Aldrich

John Aldrich

1981 – 1982

Donald W. Lambie

Donald Lambie

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