It was a celebration of growth and the small-town values Red River Mutual was founded on as the Altona-based company marked 150 years Thursday with a community party at the local park
The day was filled with games and activities for the whole family, a lineup of local entertainment, free food and a few remarks from company officials like Brenda Gibson, the company's President and CEO.
Gibson said, hosting the celebration where it all started - in Altona - was a great way to honour the small-town values that founded the company and carried it through 150 of growth.
"Honouring the roots is really important. We do this individually with our families all the time, and I think it's a really important part of the legacy of our organization.
It all started with newcomer farmers banding together, and that happened in this community. We never forget where we came from, in that sense, and we strive to honour that in the way we do business every day."
From those humble beginnings 150 years ago, Red River Mutual has grown to about 200 employees, 70,000 policy holders and $300 million in premiums. It serves communities spanning from Ontario and across Western Canada.
Gibson says, it's a homegrown story to be proud of.
"I think we should be really proud of the company over time and being able to share that vision and those values that came out of this community, beyond this community."
Those small-town values remain an important part of Red River Mutual's ethos to this day.
"I have a saying internally in the company - it's not just what we do, it's how we do it," added Gibson. "We're all known to be hardy and hardworking people, and I think when you have that attitude and a sense of community along with it, you do things in a different way. It's not just a business. It's people that we live amongst. You treat your neighbours a little differently than any other acquaintance, and I think that's what the World lacks a bit of right now - a sense of community. So, we bring that to our work by not just what we do, but how we do it."
That includes giving back to the community as well by setting aside funds each year to re-invest back into the areas it serves. About five years ago, Red River Mutual launched Spruce Up Your Story, an application-based granting program.
"When you think of community and how communities need to remain resilient, that's how we can help," said Gibson. "Whether it's a physical resiliency of restoring buildings, or if it's needs and services to help residents, we're there to help."
As for what the future holds, Gibson believes the opportunity for growth lays in being able to share Red River's value-based approach with even more policy holders in other areas.
With files from Chris Sumner.