Western Financial Group breaks ground on new Manitoba office complex
For Immediate Release
Three local offices to be united within major new building at Polo Park
Winnipeg, MB - October 18, 2011 - Western Financial Group is pleased to announce it has made a substantial new long-term commitment to the Winnipeg and Manitoba markets with the building of a new regional office next to Polo Park.
Western Financial Group will bring together its four Winnipeg operations in a single location on what was once the site of the old Winnipeg Arena. The company will be the anchor tenant at the new complex at 600 Empress Street. It will occupy approximately 100,000 square feet on the second floor of the two storey complex. The main floor will be devoted to retail space. The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited and Shindico are developing the $36 million project.
"This new building symbolizes the success that Western Financial Group has experienced in Manitoba in recent years," said Winnipeg-based Grant Ostir, President of Western Financial Group Insurance Solutions. "And it also represents our long-term commitment to this city and this province. Because of our growth, we had run out of space in our existing buildings. Our new location gives us a central, modern, unified location and plenty of room to grow."
The company's footprint in Manitoba has been growing steadily since it acquired Federated Life (now Western Life) in 2004. That was followed by the purchase of AgriFinance (now part of Bank West) in 2009. The company also completed the acquisition of Hayhurst, Elias, Dudek Inc. (now part of the Agency Network) and its subsidiary SecuriCan General (now Western Financial Insurance Company) in 2009.
"We're very proud of our legacy in Manitoba and we're very pleased to say we expect to continue to expand and grow our business and our Winnipeg work force," said Scott Tannas, President and CEO of Western Financial Group. "This new regional office is a big step towards our goal of being the strongest financial institution in Western Canada."
Western Financial Group's Winnipeg regional office will be home to most of the company's nearly 370 employees. It will house all four of the group's Manitoba-based operations: Insurance Brokerage, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance and Banking.
About Western Financial Group
Western Financial Group is a western Canada based, diversified, financial services company serving more than 550,000 customers. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in High River, Alberta. Western provides insurance, banking and investment products and services through more than 120 office locations, the internet (www.westernfinancialgroup.ca) and other distribution channels. With a skilled team of approximately 1,400 employees, and backed by the strong resources of its owners, Western is committed to building the strongest financial services company in western Canada. Western Financial Group is a subsidiary of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest in the world.
This press release is not for distribution to any United States news service or otherwise in the United States.
Contact:
James Savage
Executive Vice President
Corporate Communications and Brand Marketing
Western Financial Group
(403) 652 2663 Ext 338
(403) 336 3653 - mobile
James.Savage@westernfg.ca
Adam Dooley
Dooley Communications
(204) 415-0688
(204) 291-4092 - mobile
ADooley@DooleyCommunications.ca
