New year, new addition to the Stanley Mutual family!
Winter
2026
There’s a lot happening at Stanley Mutual, and we’re glad to share it with you. This month, we’re celebrating the joining of Stanley Elliott and Stanley Mutual, breaking down what rising home insurance costs mean for you, and highlighting what’s ahead in insurance for 2026.
Stanley Mutual and Elliot Insurance Join Forces
JB Elliot Insurance has joined our family at the Stanley Group 🎉
At Stanley Mutual Insurance, we have always been proud to provide New Brunswick families with trusted, local insurance.
As of January 1, 2026, JB Elliot Insurance officially joined the Stanley Group and became Stanley Elliot Insurance Brokers. Both companies share a strong commitment to maintaining deep roots in our communities and delivering a truly personal, human-level experience for every client, making the integration seamless. This partnership strengthens our presence across New Brunswick while continuing the trusted service our members have come to rely on.
What the Merger Means
Enhanced Service:
Joining the Stanley Group gives us access to additional resources, tools, and expertise, helping us provide better coverage and support to our members.
New Saint John Office: We now have a convenient office in Saint John, NB, making it easier to serve members across the region.
What Does Not Change
Your existing policies and coverage remain secure and uninterrupted.
The same knowledgeable team continues to handle claims and customer service.
You
remain a valued member with access to all programs and benefits you enjoy.
Looking Ahead
This merger strengthens our ability to provide comprehensive coverage options while keeping our focus on New Brunswick communities. We encourage you to use our referral program – if you
know someone in Saint John or elsewhere in NB who could benefit from trusted, local insurance, let them know about us.
We are excited for the future and grateful for your continued trust in Stanley Mutual Insurance. Together, as part of the Stanley Group, we are well-positioned to serve members for decades to come.
How Stanley Mutual Helps Protect Your Home & Budget
Home Insurance Increases in Canada & How We Can Help
If you’ve noticed your home insurance premium increasing, you’re not alone. Many homeowners across Canada are asking the same question right now, and it’s completely understandable to feel concerned.
We know rising insurance costs can be frustrating.
Across Canada, home insurance premiums have been impacted by higher rebuilding costs, severe weather losses, and inflation affecting claim
repairs and materials. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, residential building construction costs have increased by 66 percent since 2019, which directly contributes to higher home insurance
premiums.
As we head into 2026, the insurance world is changing fast. New technology, shifting expectations, and local realities are reshaping what protection really looks like for New Brunswickers. While some of these changes feel high tech, the biggest trend might surprise you.
Here are three major trends that will shape what you need from your insurance in 2026 and why who you work with matters more than
ever.
In a World of AI, Human Connection Matters More
Artificial intelligence is everywhere. Chatbots can answer basic questions. Algorithms can generate quotes in seconds. Automation can speed up paperwork.
A local insurance broker knows how to listen, ask the right questions, and advocate
for you when things go wrong. They understand the nuance behind policy wording and how it applies to real life, not just a line of data on a screen.
Local Knowledge Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage
Insurance is not one size fits all, especially in New Brunswick.
From coastal weather and rising storm severity to older housing stock and rural properties, the risks here are unique. A broker who lives and works in
your community understands these realities firsthand.
"If I could give more stars, I would! After thinking I had secured home insurance elsewhere (spoiler alert: I hadn’t 😅), I found out on a Monday—with a holiday Tuesday and closing Thursday—that I was in big trouble. Cue the panic music. Enter Stanley Mutual Insurance, the heroes I didn’t know I needed! From the very first phone call, their team jumped into action like a well-oiled, superhero insurance squad. 🦸♂️🦸♀️ Gary Jones
swooped in to save the day with the business insurance I needed to even qualify for home insurance, and Melissa Estey worked tirelessly (and I mean tirelessly) to make sure every detail of my home coverage was perfect before closing day. She not only got it done—but made sure it was done right. From the friendly receptionist who sent me their way to the seamless communication and above-and-beyond service, Stanley Mutual turned what could’ve been a total disaster into a smooth, happy ending.
Because of them, I officially own my first home—and sleep soundly knowing I’m properly covered. 🏡💪 I cannot recommend them enough—if you want people who actually listen, care, and deliver, Stanley Mutual is your go-to! "
- Ashley Ketch
If you want to be featured in our customer testimonials, include it in a reply to this email and we will feature you in one of our next
newsletters.
Embracing Our Roots
New Brunswick Facts
Black History Month Edition
Where Ideas and Culture Converged in Saint John
In 1903, Abraham Beverley Walker, a New Brunswick-born lawyer, journalist, and civil rights advocate, founded and edited Neith: A Magazine of Literature, Science, Art, Philosophy, Jurisprudence, Criticism, History, Reform, Economics in Saint John, NB.
Neith ran for five issues until January 1904 and is considered the first literary magazine in Canada founded and managed by a Black Canadian.
The magazine was impressively varied. Articles explored the Canadian economy, the threat of irreligiosity, and English factory legislation, alongside
Victorian-Romantic poems and reviews of the latest chapbooks by poets such as Charles G.D. Roberts and Bliss Carman.
Walker described Neith as “not a Negro magazine, not a caucasian magazine, but a Canadian magazine, inspired with Canadian principles of liberty and equity.”
Despite its rich content, Neith ultimately ceased publication in January 1904 due to production costs, as financial support was insufficient to sustain it.
