Last week, we hosted a Community Celebration in Altona, Manitoba, to honour our 150th anniversary, celebrate our roots as an Altona-based company, and connect with the people who’ve supported us in reaching this huge milestone. It was a chance to recognize the relationships that have shaped our journey. Today, we are now nearly 200 employees strong, with close to 100 brokerage partners and over 84,000 policyholders from Ontario to British Columbia.

We estimate nearly 1,000 community members showed up throughout the evening, including many of our broker partners and employees along with their families and friends.

And while all the hotdogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and Red River Mutual Rhubarb ice cream from Cheban Ice Cream were free, event goers were encouraged to donate what they could to support those in need. Thanks to the continued generosity of our community, we raised $366.60 (which we will be rounding up to $500) to donate to Rhineland and Area Foodbank.

Our celebrations also caught the attention of the Pembina Valley Online. You can read Candace Derksen’s article by clicking on the link below, which shares some insights from our President & CEO, Brenda Gibson, on how our company is holding to our small-town roots and values: A homegrown story to be proud of: Red River Mutual celebrates 150 years.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us from Altona and our surrounding communities. It was amazing to see so many people who continue to support our business and help make our success possible.

Relive the event and look back at some of the photos our employees were taking throughout the day below.

Our Story

In 1875, Mennonite newcomers to Manitoba settled on farms in the Pembina Valley that didn’t receive financial protection from fires, leaving them exposed to potential losses. The community farmers shared funds to provide emergency financial assistance, becoming their own mutual aid organization, which eventually became an incorporated insurance company that is now Red River Mutual.

In 1943, Red River Mutual established its formal head office in Altona, Manitoba, and over 80 years later, Altona is still our home.