Interview with Daniel Thibault, Agricultural insurance Broker

My training gave me the confidence to communicate effectively, build strong relationships, and, most importantly, ask the right questions and listen carefully to truly understand people’s needs. In fact, that’s one of my greatest strengths: I stay closely connected with my clients and meet with them regularly because I’m committed to providing personalized service. The relationships I build are essential. By understanding my clients’ realities, I can recommend the insurance products that best fit their needs and provide better support if they ever experience a major loss.

As a specialist in small and medium-sized business insurance, what is your main advice for start-up agricultural businesses?

When you’ve just acquired a farming operation, it’s important to accurately determine the value of your assets so you’re properly protected. Rather than relying on market value or resale value, buildings and equipment should be professionally appraised based on their replacement or reconstruction cost. This ensures appropriate coverage limits and insurance protection. I also recommend budgeting for insurance as a business expense, since it plays a critical role in protecting your assets.

Most of your clients come from the Eastern Townships and the agricultural sector. What recommendation would you offer them?

Trust is essential. I encourage agricultural entrepreneurs to make sure their broker has the expertise and experience needed to understand their industry and provide the best insurance program to protect their assets, including buildings, livestock, farm equipment, and income. That’s the case at Courtika, where several brokers—including myself—specialize in agricultural insurance.

You’re a member of Courtika’s band, The Bad Brokers. Why is this activity important to you and to your firm?

I formed The Bad Brokers with a group of colleagues, and I’m the lead singer. For the past couple of years, we’ve been adding a musical touch to company events, such as rooftop happy hours that bring together employees from our various office locations. It’s a great way to strengthen connections and build team spirit!

Giving back to your community is important, especially in smaller municipalities like Coaticook. That’s why I helped establish the cooperative radio station CIGN FM and have been actively involved with the Fondation du CSSS de la MRC de Coaticook. For nearly twenty years, I’ve also organized Christmas concerts, with proceeds going to the Lions Club’s Feeding a Child’s Future program.

Courtika strongly supports these types of initiatives because they align with the company’s values. For example, the firm readily shares our fundraising campaigns with employees across the organization and provides financial support for local initiatives, helping both our causes and our company gain visibility within the community.

What are your greatest sources of pride in your work as an insurance broker at Courtika?

When I joined Courtika, I took over the client portfolio of a broker who had retired after 30 years of service. I was able to retain the majority of his clients, which is quite uncommon in that kind of situation. I’m particularly proud of having earned their trust.