- Event cancellation insurance is a different coverage from liability insurance for events and must be purchased separately, if desired.
- Rates for liability insurance for events don’t vary by location across Canada, so whether your event is in Ontario, BC, or Alberta your cost will be the same.
- Meeting, lecture, convention, workshop, or market 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.
- Meeting insurance is certainly a common coverage requested in this family of events. However, other popular coverages include:
- Lecture insurance
- Convention insurance
- Workshop insurance
- Market insurance (including vendor liability)
- Sidewalk sale insurance
- Consumer show insurance
- Auction insurance
- Auto show insurance
- Kiosk insurance
- Individual vendor coverage insurance
Your risk increases with your attendence. Protect your event now
When events include a large number of attendees, there will naturally be corresponding risks regarding crowd control and safe parking (if applicable) due to volume. As meetings, lectures, conventions, workshops, or markets generally attract a greater number of participants, it only makes sense that protection be purchased to address exposures related to larger attendance. In addition to insurance, adherence to best practices concerning crowd management will help you hold a successful convention-type event. Those who choose not to protect themselves through liability coverage for their event are opening themselves up to possible large financial losses that would otherwise be covered by the right insurance policy.
Many happy attendees and an otherwise successful meeting, lecture, convention, workshop, or market is the ultimate goal of organizers planning an event in this category.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Bodily injury including sickness.
- Property damage.
- Vendor coverage available either standalone or via extension.
- Liquor liability.
- Products and completed operations.
- Personal injury and advertising liability.
- Non-owned automobile liability.
- Legal liability for damage to hired automobiles.
- Research the facility you plan to use. Ensure attendance does not exceed the venue’s maximum capacity.
- Ensure your venue has appropriate insurance.
- Have the venue provide their emergency plan including where exits and fire emergency equipment are located.
- Be sure to have a proper signage on location to ensure that only authorized attendees are at the event. Badges or nametags are recommended to help identify attendees.
- Any staff should have unique badges or other identifying clothing to make them easily recognizable in case of emergencies.
- For all activities, it is important to do a walkthrough to note any possible hazards such as loose wires or tripping hazards and have the location correct them.
- Have contracts reviewed by a lawyer for any high priority speakers. Have a contingency speaker available if your planned choice cancels or is otherwise unable to attend. Event cancellation is also an option for situations in which a speaker cannot attend due to travel delays, weather-related issues, etc.
- 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.
- Ticket and only allow liquor purchase for a short window of time.
- 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.
- 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.