Insured losses from Calgary’s July 13 hailstorm have nearly doubled, climbing from C$92 mn to C$164 mn, according to new figures from CatIQ.
Commercial claims drove much of the increase, while more than half of the payouts tied back to damaged vehicles.
“It’s been another catastrophic year for hailstorms in Alberta,” said Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President for the Pacific and Western region at the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
He noted that Alberta has now endured at least one major hailstorm every year for two decades, including last year’s record C$3.2 bn hit in Calgary. Since 2020 alone, hail has inflicted C$6 bn in insured losses across the province.
The July 13 Calgary hailstorm storm caused significant damage to vehicles, homes and businesses. Alberta has now experienced at least one major hailstorm every year for the past two decades – including last year’s record V$3.2 bn hailstorm that hit Calgary.
Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President for the Pacific and Western region at the Insurance Bureau of Canada
“This has resulted in more than C$10 bn in insured damage. The past five years alone damage from hailstorms has accounted for C$6 bn of that total,” Aaron Sutherland says.
Another severe storm struck Brooks, Alberta, on August 20. CatIQ has yet to release a damage estimate for that event. Claims from both storms will take time to resolve, Sutherland said, with insurers facing intense demand for roofers, siding contractors, replacement vehicles, and auto body shops.
The IBC again pressed governments to act: revive Calgary’s Resilient Roofing Rebate Program, mandate hail-resistant building materials in high-risk zones, and upgrade warning systems so residents can move vehicles before storms arrive.
The July storm also underscored the strain Alberta’s auto insurance market is under. With vehicle claims making up a large share of the losses, insurers continue to pay out far more than they collect. In 2024, they spent $1.20 in claims and expenses for every $1 in premiums.
The province’s three-year rate freeze has left insurers unable to adjust pricing to actual risk.
Several carriers have already exited Alberta, leaving drivers scrambling for coverage. Unless the government lifts the cap and moves ahead with its Care-First reforms—particularly on runaway legal costs—the market will remain unstable.
“Consumers are living through the fallout,” Sutherland said. “Rates don’t reflect reality, coverage is harder to find, and frustration is growing. Change has to come or choices for Albertans will only shrink further.”
“There will be a high demand for contractors to fix siding and roofs, and a high demand for replacement vehicles and auto body repairs. This will add additional costs pressures on Alberta’s challenging insurance market, but rest assured our industry will be there to help Albertans recover as quickly as possible,” said Sutherland.
