Posted on

Hamilton targets 2023 for next Battle of Stoney Creek; ‘in-person’ events return as COVID rules ease – Hamilton | Globalnews.ca

Hamilton targets 2023 for next Battle of Stoney Creek; ‘in-person’ events return as COVID rules ease - Hamilton | Globalnews.ca

There’s some assurance going forward, as it relates to re-enactments of the Battle of Stoney Creek.

A motion approved by Hamilton city council directs staff to plan for delivery of an in-person event in 2023 that includes re-enactment activities and portrays in a “respectful and historically-accurate manner” all communities involved and impacted, including Indigenous Peoples.

The event is traditionally held on the first weekend of June at Battlefield Park, but did not take place last weekend because of COVID uncertainty. It was also put on hold in 2020 and 2021, due to pandemic restrictions.

Ward 5 Coun. Russ Powers presented the council-approved motion on Wednesday, citing questions about the re-enactment’s future.

Read more:

City awaits funding commitment as displaced Ukrainian families start arriving in Hamilton

Story continues below advertisement

“This motion is offered as clarification and direction, on a recent issue that has prompted a significant reaction by multiples of hundreds of Stoney Creek and Greater Hamilton residents,” said Powers.

Carrie Brooks-Joiner, Hamilton’s director of tourism and culture, expanded upon recent questions about the future of the re-enactments, which are a 40-year tradition at Battlefield Park.

Brooks-Joiner said they stemmed from a recent meeting designed to gather ideas for the future.

“Unfortunately those ideas were misconstrued as decisions, where in fact, decisions had not been made on the 2023 event.”

She also stressed that the city continues to expand the provision of space for “the sharing of Indigenous stories and voices,” including the Soaring Spirit Pow Pow Festival at Battlefield Park, scheduled for June 25-26 of this year.

Several festivals and events returning to Hamilton this weekend

With Ontario expiring remaining mask mandates this weekend due to improving COVID-19 indicators, a number of Hamilton events are set to resume after a two-year hiatus.

Story continues below advertisement

Ancaster Heritage Days will go on Saturday despite some construction delays at the new arts centre.

Read more:

Hamilton’s Barton St. reconstruction to begin in 2022, after topping ‘worst roads’ list

The parade along Wilson Street is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday beginning at Academy Street and ending at Todd.

Sulphur Springs Road will host the soapbox derby between Wilson and Mansfield Road from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Concession Streetfest stage will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday and is anchored with shopping, food truck, car show and other entertainment along the thoroughfare between Upper Wentworth and East 25th.

Story continues below advertisement

Meanwhile, the Barton Village Festival will offer similar elements along Barton Street between Victoria Avenue and Wentworth.

Three entertainment stages, an art and children’s zones will open at 11 a.m.

Also this week, the City of Hamilton has confirmed the return of Canada Day celebrations in Bayfront Park, ending with a fireworks display this July 1.

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Posted on

Piecing Together Coverage in Live Events Tough Insurance Market Remains as COVID Restrictions Ease

Piecing Together Coverage in Live Events Tough Insurance Market Remains as COVID Restrictions Ease

The upcoming summer months promise to bring a resurgence of festivals, concerts, and community events after the COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut down the live entertainment industry for the past two years.

Pent-up demand for in-person events is fueling cautious optimism among specialists in the entertainment and event space, who say they are busier than ever trying to secure adequate coverage for their clients.

“The market is absolutely rebounding and it’s exciting to see,” said Debbie Spinner, underwriting manager in the Entertainment division of Alive Risks, which is part of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers.

But getting back to pre-pandemic event normalcy will be a slow process for the insurance market, entertainment specialists say. Market conditions for mid-size and large events were extremely challenging before the pandemic began and with little to no event business for carriers to write and a slew of claims to pay, the market’s hardening has accelerated.

Several carriers left the market altogether and those that remain pulled back on their capacity, leaving agents and brokers scrambling to place business with fewer markets to choose from.

Those looking for coverage for large events are finding markets offering lower limits, higher rates and strict underwriting requirements, according to experts.

“On average, we are experiencing rate increases for nearly all coverages as carriers need additional premium to support increased losses and expenses,” said Hub International’s “2022 US Insurance Market and Rate Report.” Rate increases average 5% to 20% or higher, depending on the line of business.

The event cancellation/contingency market has been hit hardest, said Christian Phillips, president of Paragon Insurance Holdings’ Contingency Practices. The pandemic caused more than $6 billion to $8 billion in event cancellation losses. Overall, coverage has become significantly more restrictive and there are zero options available to purchase coverage for communicable diseases, Phillips said.

“The whole market was hit dramatically, whether you were a small event organizer or a large event organizer — everybody was impacted in the same way,” he said.

Carriers are scrutinizing all event risks much more closely than they were before COVID, said Martin Ridgers, president of MKR Specialty Insurance Brokerage, an independent agency in Long Island City, N.Y. Experienced event organizers who can demonstrate they are prepared in terms of safety and security will be prioritized by underwriters.

“It is a hard market and underwriters will ask questions and let risks go,” he said.

Spinner said risk transfer has become extremely important to carriers for events of all sizes, which includes requiring vendors or third parties to have their own insurance that indemnifies the insured.

“It is essentially like a puzzle … and every piece of that puzzle has to be underwritten,” she said.

What that means for agents and brokers is significantly more work and time spent on policy submissions, and time is of the essence when it comes to securing coverage, Spinner said.

“We’re seeing an influx of new business submissions, and everybody wants to see that, but unfortunately the underwriters are extremely inundated with the amount of business coming across their desk and now the challenge is actually turning those quotes around for insureds in time,” he said.

Communicable Disease

Prior to the pandemic, event organizers could easily buy event cancellation coverage with an optional endorsement for communicable diseases, typically for an additional premium, Phillips said, but that is no longer the case as companies deal with “dramatic” losses.

“What’s happened post-COVID is there’s no option now to purchase it because obviously COVID is an ongoing thing, and everybody knows about it … it would be almost like saying ‘that building’s got smoke coming out of it — would you like to insure it with a fire policy?’” Phillips said.

Aristotle Moulopoulos, a production specialist in Alive Risk’s Entertainment division, said companies are not only excluding the coverage, but requiring “written confirmation that the insured understands there is no coverage for COVID or communicable disease” when quoting event cancellation coverage.

“It’s just another protection for the carrier because it’s an uninsurable risk right now,” he said. “They want transparency with the insured that they’re not trying to sell any product that’s misleading.”

While some insureds are asking for coverage to protect them against COVID-related cancellations, most understand it’s “an impossible placement,” Moulopoulos said.

At some point, underwriters may look at insuring communicable diseases with a COVID exclusion, Moulopoulos said, but he doesn’t see that happening as long as the virus is a prevalent issue.

There are other exposures besides COVID making underwriters nervous in the event cancellation market, as well, such as extreme weather and security threats.

The pandemic tipped the scales for those companies that were already pulling back on capacity and limits on bigger events, said Phillips. For smaller events, underwriters have adapted with new policy forms that specifically exclude communicable disease coverage, new rates and deductibles, and the market is more able to absorb losses.

“The market I would say right now is struggling from the point of view of capacity, especially with the larger events.

Obviously smaller events are much easier to deal with,” he said. “When you get to the medium-size and larger events it’s a real struggle to get 100% of the limit placed, especially for certain types of events.”

However, Phillips noted, some of the markets that left are being replaced with a few companies that were holding back while rates were low.

“For many years we were in a soft market within our industry, so this was a perfect time to come into this industry as rates went up massively, coverage narrowed and capacity reduced,” he said.

Risk Management, Education Critical Components

Safety has always been a major underwriting component in the event space, noted Alive Risk’s Spinner, but it’s more important than ever in the midst of the current hard market and COVID-19.

Underwriters have stepped up their underwriting requirements but those vary depending on the type and size of the event.

Underwriters want detailed information on event safety and emergency plans, as well as what COVID protocols are in place even though COVID is not a covered exposure, Spinner said. COVID vaccine or testing requirements are lightening up, but underwriters still want to know if appropriate health and safety precautions are being taken to minimize the event’s overall exposure.

“They want to make sure that [the insured] is trying to create a safe and well-run event,” she said.

MKR Specialty’s Ridgers said event organizers have learned “more than they probably wanted to” in the last two years on how to make their events safer, and the good news is they’ve taken a number of steps to improve in that area.

Those risks that can demonstrate they are experienced and well-organized will get quicker responses from underwriters, better policy terms and better coverage, he said. It is up to brokers to represent their customer in a proper manner, as well.

“Put [the policy submission] together as early as possible and find out what underwriters are concerned about,” he said. “Don’t just throw it to the underwriters and hope they can give you an answer — you need to go through the questions the underwriters have.”

Brokers also need to take the time to read and clearly communicate the terms and conditions of their clients’ event policies, particularly given that policies are not as comprehensive as they once were, Ridgers said.

“Underwriters are going to include terms that keep them away from risk,” he said.

Paragon’s Phillips said he has found it helpful to bring together the event organizer and the underwriter so they can go through the policy and ask questions.

“Then you’ve got much happier clients because in the event of a claim they know if they are covered or if they’re not covered, and things will run much, much more smoothly,” he said.

It is up to agents and brokers to be the trusted advisor and educate their clients on what is required to effectively — and affordably — secure coverage, Spinner said.

“With a lot of these events, especially the larger ones, it’s going to be a lot of information required to obtain insurance,” she said. “Ultimately, what these requirements are there for is to protect the insured and help them run a safe event. And, by doing all this it can help them get a better quote and a better rate.”

Topics
Trends
COVID-19
Market

Posted on

As pandemic concerns ease, Berks parades and events are making a comeback

As pandemic concerns ease, Berks parades and events are making a comeback

For as long as he can remember, Mohnton’s Memorial Day parade has been a highlight of Jeffery Shanely’s year.

Shanely — a longtime resident and now the head of Mohnton’s parade committee — said he looks back fondly on childhood days spent celebrating with friends and watching the Gov. Mifflin High School band march.

Since 1960, the Memorial Day parade has been a fixture in the community like no other, Shanely said. Everyone knew it was happening, and everyone showed up.

“It’s kind of a natural part of life in Mohnton,” Shanely said.

Like so many facets of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic past, that part of Mohnton’s life has ceased since 2019.

Other than a small memorial service held by veteran groups at the Mohnsville Cemetery — privately in 2020 and publicly in 2021 — Mohnton’s Memorial Day celebrations have been postponed.

But as the winter weather fades to spring, thirst for a deeper warmth and camaraderie absent since COVID is driving local demand for the return of large-scale community events.

“It’s something that helps everybody get over what we’ve gone through the last two years,” Shanely said.

This year, those missing the marchers, classic cars and tunes from the Reading Buccaneers won’t be disappointed: The Mohnton Memorial Day parade is back in full swing.

And even at 92 years old, local legend Shirley Showalter — who has sung the national anthem every memorial service without fail for the past 30 years — will honor veterans with her voice again at the Mohnsville Cemetery.

Shirley Showalter, 92, has been singing the national anthem at Mohnton’s Memorial Day service for over 30 years, and will sing again this year. (COURTESY OF JEFFREY SHANELY)

Shanely said the amount of parade volunteers this year is double what was seen in previous years. Donations have increased substantially as well, Shanely said, and are flowing in earlier than usual.

“We definitely got good responses and quick responses from sponsors,” Shanely said.

Shillington, too, has seen a groundswell of interest since announcing its Memorial Day parade will be resurrected this year, also for the first time since 2019.

“People are busting at the seams to get out,” said Ed Michalik, head of the Shillington parade committee. “They’ve been calling town hall asking if we’re having it.”

Michalik said enthusiasm levels for the parade are noticeably higher than in previous years.

“I think it’s all part of getting back to normal,” Michalik said. “A lot of the activities we’ve had, even this past summer opening the (Shillington) pool with precautions in place, it’s yet another step for people to come together.”

Michalik and Shanely said this year’s parade will resume operations entirely as they have been in the past. No pandemic-related procedural changes will be made to either event.

Fersommling returns

Another Berks staple, the annual Fersommling, an event steeped in Pennsylvania Dutch culture and cuisine, is set to reunite community members.

Hundreds of attendees are predicted at this year’s event, mostly from Berks, but also from Lancaster and Lebanon counties and the Lehigh Valley, said Joyce Hassler, a member of the Fersommling event board.

“People are very anxious to see it come back,” Hassler said. “And this may be the only time in a year that we get to see some of these people.”

Before COVID, the only other time the Fersommling hadn’t run since starting in 1937 was from 1943 through 1945 during World War II.

And although the halls of the Leesport Farmers Market have been quiet on Fersommling day these past two years, the aroma of scrapple, shoo-fly pie, and fresh cooked ham — Hassler’s favorite — will again fill the space on the Monday after Easter.

Bruce Rohrbach of Kutztown performs with The Happy Dutchmen band during the Berks County Fersommling in 2019. The event returns Monday. (READING EAGLE)

Hassler noted the event, which is attended by many elderly community members, would likely see a decline over previous years’ showings due to lingering COVID concerns.

“Absolutely it (COVID) is a part of it, but I’m not blaming COVID entirely,” Hassler said. “Age is going to take its toll. You may be housebound or physically unable to get there.”

Nonetheless, Hassler said she hopes young Pennsylvania Germans and others interested in the unique culture keep the event alive for years to come.

“It’s just the idea of getting together and hearing the music and just the fellowship,” Hassler said. “Fellowship to Pennsylvania Germans is very important.”

Anniversary delayed

Fellowship is also the goal of renewed events at the Keystone Social Club in Hamburg, said club President Gene Schlegel.

Pandemic concerns forced the club to postpone its 100-year anniversary celebration for two years, but over half of the club’s 400 members attended the gala this month.

“There’s a lot of people that are looking forward to it,” Schlegel said before the event.

Schlegel said the club opened again for bowling last year, but some members hadn’t been in to see their friends since COVID began.

Those members were out in force April 2 to bowl at the club’s lanes, celebrate longstanding members and make new memories.

Members of the Keystone Social Club in Hamburg gathered to celebrate the club’s 100-year anniversary. The event was postponed in 2019. (COURTESY OF SCOTT KREIDER)
Posted on

Wedding and event bookings surge as pandemic restrictions ease

Wedding and event bookings surge as pandemic restrictions ease


People who work in the wedding and events industry are seeing a surge in bookings thanks to upcoming changes to pandemic restrictions.


Starting March 1, indoor venues like event halls can operate at full capacity. Proof of vaccination will no longer be required but the mask mandate will remain.


“That gives our staff confidence. Knowing that business is coming back,” said Bingemans owner Mark Bingeman.


The ballroom at Bingemans that can hold around 1,000 people.


Some venue owners said it’s a relief to see restrictions begin to ease, but it will still take time to bounce back.


“Unless you have something already planned, our recovery tends to be delayed by anywhere from six months to a year,” said Bingeman.


“Wedding venues are available Monday to Sunday now because they can’t keep up. And it is kind of the same thing with photographers now we are kind of being forced to take on extra work,” said photographer Karin Hughes


Hughes said she hired eight new workers to help with the 40 weddings booked in 2022.


“It is so abnormal to already be fully booked,” Hughes said.


Amaka Obodo is a fashion designer and owner of Queendavis Bridal Atelier in Kitchener. She said her phone is ringing off the hook, but it’s a good problem to have.


“I was worried about closing because I had colleagues in the industry that closed up their businesses,” Obodo said.


The designer said she is fully booked until May because brides who originally planned to get married at the start of the pandemic are coming back around now.


“They had only 25 people attending their wedding, so they didn’t want to have that. So they had to move it to 2022,” said Obodo.


Kanchan Ladhar and her sister got custom bridesmaid dresses made by Obodo for their brother’s wedding in the fall.


“I am like blown away. I feel like a princess,” said Ladhar. “I found pockets in my dress and I love it.”


Ladhar said her brother plans to have about 400 people attend his wedding. His family is grateful a guest list that long will be allowed, under the new restrictions.