In April 1973, Murray Strachan purchased the insurance agency from the Estate of James H. Newman Insurance Agency. Murray’s wife June Strachan had worked for Mr. Newman at the agency, along with Newman’s daughter Carolyn.
Mr. Newman, locally known as “Bert”, owned and operated the insurance agency from his family home, located in Udney, Ontario from 1941 until his untimely death in 1973. Bert had originally bought the agency from the late Robert Mundie, his next door neighbour.
In June 1974 the office relocated to the current location of #2267 Highway 12 in Brechin, Ontario and a formal partnership between Murray Strachan and Paul Morris was formed. The name was officially changed to Strachan and Morris Insurance Agency. In 1980 the business was incorporated under the name it is today, Strachan and Morris Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Longtime loyal employee Janette Churchill, joined Strachan and Morris in 1976. She received her broker licence in 1984 and remained with the company for 34 years, before retiring in December 2010.
In 1979, John Grant, commenced selling life insurance for the brokerage and eventually, general insurance in 1984. On December 31, 2014, John retired from selling general insurance as he accepted his new role as Mayor of Brock Township, effective December 2014. John’s sister, Jessie Grant has been employed with Strachan & Morris as a licenced broker, since 2006. Wendy Ward, licenced broker since 1996, joined our office in 2013 bringing the brokerage her many years of experience in the insurance industry.
The family tradition continues at Strachan & Morris Insurance Brokers Ltd. Both Murray Strachan and Paul Morris retired in May 2013 after 40 years in the business. Paul’s son Jeff Morris who joined the brokerage in 2003 and Murray’s daughter-in-law Janet Strachan who joined in 2005 purchased the brokerage upon their retirement.
We are very proud to be serving the families in our surrounding area, providing them with all of their insurance needs. We have insured many of the same families for generations and strive to continue this tradition.