How Sandbox is Navigating an Evolving Insurance Industry
Summary
Reading Time
1 min
Summer 2026 was a challenging one for the Canadian insurance industry; record severe storms, rain, and flooding caused extensive damage and more than $1.8 billion in insured losses across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
This followed a period from 2020 to 2025, when each year ranked among the top 10 costliest for insured losses in Canada in recorded history according to Statistics Canada. This is in stark contrast to only two decades ago, when it was rare for insured losses to surpass $500 million annually.
From increased severe weather events to the introduction and rapid evolution of AI, our industry has several new and substantial considerations as we move forward.
However, while the pace of change isn't slowing down, one thing remains constant in Canadian insurance and at Sandbox Mutual: the importance of strong relationships and working together to find the best way forward.
Growth in a Changing Landscape
As Sandbox looks ahead, we foresee success will be dependent on resilient foundations built through discerning business decisions, focusing on profitability and sustainability for the long term.
As Sandbox Chief Growth Officer Chelsa Materi explains, "What stands out most to me about 2026 is that growth is getting harder, not easier. It is no longer enough to add premium or enter a new market. We have to be confident that growth is profitable, sustainable, and supported by the right underwriting discipline, capacity, and service.”
Chelsa Materi, Chief Growth Officer at Sandbox Mutual Insurance
Driving growth as an insurance company requires maintaining a shared understanding of risk and strong communication channels with brokers selling coverage solutions.
For Sandbox, this means continuing to lean on our values of making insurance 'delightfully simple' for our clients and partners. By providing the information, tools, and resources needed to best service our customers and brokers, we aim to make working with us as seamless as possible, despite the industry-wide challenges.
Embracing Innovation Without Losing the Human Touch
Artificial intelligence is another major consideration. For insurance companies like Sandbox, it presents new questions of where innovation in processes may be past-due. From underwriting and pricing to customer service and workflow automation, AI is already transforming how we do business.
At Sandbox, we're exploring how these tools can help us work smarter, improve efficiency, and better support our broker partners. However, smart innovation isn't about adopting every new technology that comes along.
While technology certainly helps us evolve, it's our people, relationships, and willingness to listen that makes the difference. Insurance is, at its heart, a people-first business. This is whether we're helping someone navigate a claim, protect their livelihood, or safeguard a major purchase.
“As a smaller insurer, we know we cannot compete on scale alone. We need to lean into what makes Sandbox different: strong relationships, accessible people, and our values of being bold, fun, disruptive, human, and curious,” says Chelsa.
Our goal is to embrace new opportunities while staying grounded in the values that have always mattered at Sandbox.
We're Stronger Together
Through these changes, our partners and collaborators remain at the heart of our industry and move it forward, even when the path isn't always straightforward.
Chelsa's message to our industry partners is this:
“Thank you. Your insight, advocacy, and commitment to your clients make our industry stronger. Please continue to challenge us, share what you are hearing, and work with us to find better solutions. By communicating openly, sharing knowledge, and keeping the customer at the center of our decisions, we can build resilience together and create opportunities that none of us could achieve on our own.”
-Chelsa Materi
Looking Ahead and Supporting Our Partners
From severe weather events to new challenges facing business growth, and the race to AI adoption – the pace of change is likely to continue. However, by staying curious, communicating openly, and leaning on the relationships that make the insurance industry strong, we can navigate uncertainty, build stronger businesses, and a more resilient future.
It's been a challenging year for many, but we're committed to working alongside our insurance partners, embracing change thoughtfully, and maintaining people-first values, while finding new ways to succeed together.