- Event cancellation insurance is a different coverage from liability insurance for events and must be purchased separately, if desired.
- Rates for your event insurance don’t vary by location across Canada, so whether your event is in Ontario, BC, or Alberta your cost will be the same.
- Charity, non-profit fundraiser, or youth-friendly event insurance is available across Canada including the provinces of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. Please note that insurance documentation is currently only available in English for Quebec clients.
- Charity event insurance is certainly one of the popular coverages requested in this family of events. However, other coverages include:
- Non-profit fundraiser insurance
- Youth-friendly event insurance
- Gala insurance
- Tournament insurance
- Festival insurance
- Fair insurance
- Concert insurance
- Picnic insurance
- Run insurance
- Marathon insurance
- Walk insurance
- Halloween haunted house insurance
Why do you need event insurance?
Anytime you get people together for an event, you are exposed to risk. Whether it is someone falling and becoming injured, a guest developing food poisoning from your catered offerings, or property damage to a hosting venue, the risks are real. Successful event organizers recognize that event insurance is a necessary part of the planning process and don't take risks when it comes to the possibility of large payouts commonly associated with liability lawsuits. Specific event insurance coverage and risk management can help avoid the negative outcomes that result from some events.
Uneventful events should be goal of every organizer when it comes to claims incidents, but always ensure you're protected if one does happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Bodily injury such as slip and falls.
- Property damage to third parties.
- Liquor-related incidents.
- If required, coverage can be extended to vendors.
- Coverage can also extend to the use of fireworks or inflatables. Note that compliance with underwriter guidelines is required.
- When young adults/children are involved:
- Be sure to have a sign-in page to help you keep track of all guests.
- Ensure the ratio of adults to young adults/children remains manageable.
- If the event is going to include options such as bouncy castles/buskers/pony rides, etc., it is important to transfer the risk to the company providing the activity. Obtain a liability certificate, with a suggested coverage limit of $5,000,000 or more, including you as an additional insured — ensuring that the certificate also includes participant liability. Have the company run the entire activity including setup, takedown, and operation. You can also reach out to your insurance broker for a recommended list of safety measures.
- If alcohol is being served:
- Be aware of guest ages and ensure only appropriate-aged guests are served.
- Ensure all third-party servers have appropriate certifications.
- Obtain appropriate permitting (e.g. one-day liquor licensing) and follow the pursuant rules and regulations.
- A good practice is to use tickets to purchase drinks to limit the amount of liquor served or have a time slot for liquor service. Have and document safe ride options for patrons to get home.
- Consider professional security as they have experience in managing the risk of events. If you cannot obtain professional security, we suggest using volunteer security that stay sober and can be responsible for contacting the authorities, if required.
- Take the weather into account for any activity:
- If it is cold or snowing, then a slipping hazard becomes more likely.
- If it is hot, then it is important to provide access to enough drinking water for all guests.
- For forecasts including rain or thunder, it is important to have an alternative location to house guests to keep them safe.
- Ask the location for their emergency risk management protocol, if available.
- For any sporting activities:
- Use of sport-specific safety equipment such as helmets, masks, etc. is recommended.
- Have all of the participants sign a waiver. All waivers should be reviewed by a lawyer, if available. Waivers should be separate from the registration forms.
- Document that you have outlined the risk of participation.
- For water activities, always ensure that lifeguards are present.
- Do a walkthrough to note any possible hazards such as loose wires or tripping hazards and document them or have the location correct them.
- Document any issues that occur for future reference, in case of a claim.
- Marsh is the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor. With colleagues operating in more than 130 countries, Marsh serves commercial and individual clients with data driven risk solutions and advisory services. Marsh Canada Limited has more than 1,000 employees and offices in 13 cities across Canada.
- Marsh helped 490 customers manage and protect community and family events in 2019. Join the many Canadian event organizers already benefiting from the ease of purchase and broad coverages available under the Marsh Event Liability Insurance Program.
Related Items
Your event liability insurance coverages will be placed with a program administered by Marsh Canada Limited. Marsh Canada has engaged in a competitive marketing process to offer a competitive product. We have negotiated this Program on a group basis with the insurer but we have not acted as a broker for any individual participant. This Program may be for a term of several years and may not be negotiated annually.
Information on this website represents a synopsis of coverage and is provided as a reference only. The actual policy, including endorsements determines coverage. It contains exclusions, limitations and other provisions not referenced (or only briefly summarized) here and the policy should be consulted for full coverage terms, conditions and requirements. Deductibles may apply. For exact terms, definitions, limitations, and exclusions, please speak with your licensed Marsh Canada Limited insurance broker, or refer to the policy wording.
This web page is not intended to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied upon as such. The information contained herein is based on sources we believe reliable, but we make no representation or warranty as to its accuracy. Marsh shall have no obligation to update this publication and shall have no liability to you or any other party arising out of this publication or any matter contained herein. Any modelling, analytics, or projections are subject to inherent uncertainty, and the Marsh Analysis could be materially affected if any underlying assumptions, conditions, information, or factors are inaccurate or incomplete or should change. Marsh makes no representation or warranty concerning the application of policy wordings or the financial condition or solvency of insurers or re-insurers. Marsh makes no assurances regarding the availability, cost, or terms of insurance coverage.