State Farm® in Canada - History

1938

• State Farm opens auto office in Toronto, Canada. Rents space at Eglinton Ave. E. At Yonge St.
• R.E. Patterson and R. W. Clewlo are Provincial Directors

1941

• Opened office at 465 Bay Street, Toronto

1948

• Opened office at 226 Bay Street, Toronto

1951

• Opened office at 1375 Yonge Street, Toronto
• 130 Agents

1954

• State Farm International Life Company comes to Canada - 102 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto - Marvin Bower
• Fire Company comes to Canada - 11 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto
• Auto Company moved to 33 Bloor St. E., Toronto
• Agency Office moved to 1393 Yonge St., Toronto
• Beginning of the "Career Man" concept in Canada. Agents would now represent only State Farm in an exclusive basis, selling auto, life and fire insurance.

1956

• February - Provincial Office moved to Richmond Hill, Ontario

1960

• Licensed in British Columbia

1961

• Gene Tone - First Regional Vice President
• Licensed in Alberta - first two agents were Eric Beard and Jack Rutherford
• Agency moved to 33 Bloor Street, Toronto.

1962

• State Farm buys 13.77 acres of land in Scarborough, Ontario
• Licensed in Manitoba

1963

• New office announced in March to be at Hwy 401 and Brimley Road in Scarborough, Ontario
• September - ground breaking - 33,400 sq ft building.

1964

• May 19 office opens
  • 230 Employees
  • 150 Agents

1965

• January 1 - John MacKenzie becomes RVP and Chief Agent

1968

• Licensed to sell in New Brunswick

1970

• Addition to Regional Office, now 83,000 sq. ft.
  • 450 Employees
  • 240 Agents

1972

• Government insurance takes over BC and State Farm Canada withdraws from province

1974

• New Democratic Party takes over provincial power in Manitoba and State Farm withdraws from province

1988

• RVP John MacKenzie retires in August Earl Sheeler new RVP

1992

• Canadian headquarters moved to 100 Consilium Place, Scarborough, Ontario

1994

• New RVP Bob Cooke

2000

• State Farm Investor Services begins operations on December 1

2004

• State Farm Insurance Placement Corp. created

2006

• Canadian headquarters moves to First Commerce Drive, Aurora, Ontario (AOC)

2008

• State Farm Canada celebrates 70th Anniversary
• Reaches 1 million Auto policies-in-force