About Us

Our People

Head Office:

Contract Surety Team Corporate Team
 

Atlantic Office:

Toronto Office:


Head Office:

Contract Surety Team

 
Brent Oshanek, CPA, CMA
Vice President
(306) 777-0652
boshanek@westernsurety.ca

Brent joined Western Surety in 1988 and has progressed through various roles over the years into his current position as Vice President.

Brent graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1984 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He also completed his Certified Management Accounting (CMA) designation in 1988.

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Paul Thompson, ACSB
Senior Regional Manager
(306) 777-0611
pthompson@westernsurety.ca

Paul joined Western Surety in 1999 as an Underwriter and over the years has progressed through various roles into his current position of Senior Regional Manager. Paul oversees the Regions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Paul completed his Business Diploma from SIAST in 1996 and also received the Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada in 2004.

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Greg Salmon, CPA, CMA, ACSB
Regional Manager
(306) 777-0698
gsalmon@westernsurety.ca

Greg joined Western Surety in 2010 as a Surety Trainee, and over the years has progressed through various roles into his current position of Regional Manager. Greg handles accounts in the Region of British Columbia.

Greg graduated from Queen's University in 2001 and has completed the Investment Funds in Canada, Canadian Insurance and Life License Qualification Program courses. Greg received the Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada in 2012, and completed his Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation in 2015.

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Jerrod Briere, B.Admin, ACSB
Surety Underwriter
Commercial Surety Manager - West
(306) 777-0692
jbriere@westernsurety.ca

Jerrod joined Western Surety in 2010 and was promoted to Surety Underwriter in 2011. Jerrod handles accounts in the Region of Alberta and is the Commercial Surety Manager for the Western Region.

Jerrod earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Regina’s Paul J. Hill School of Business majoring in finance. Jerrod received the Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada in 2013.

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Josh Mihalicz, BBA, ACSB
Senior Surety Underwriter
(306) 777-0608
jmihalicz@westernsurety.ca

Josh joined Western Surety in January 2013 and was promoted to Senior Surety Underwriter in 2016.  Josh handles accounts in the Region of Alberta.

Josh graduated in 2009 from the University of Regina's Paul J. Hill School of Business with a Business Administration degree majoring in Accounting. Josh received the Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada in 2015.

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Josh Tytlandsvik, BBA, ACSB
Senior Surety Underwriter
(306) 777-0602
jtytlandsvik@westernsurety.ca

Josh joined Western Surety in January 2013 and was promoted to Senior Surety Underwriter in January 2016.  Josh handles accounts in the Regions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Josh received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Regina's Paul J. Hill School of Business majoring in finance. Josh received the Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada in 2015.

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Hollie Veresh
Hollie Veresh, B.Comm
Surety Underwriter
(306) 777-0647
hveresh@westernsurety.ca

Hollie began her career with Western Surety in November 2015 and was promoted to Surety Underwriter in July 2016.

Hollie graduated in 2001 from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Accounting. Hollie has begun working towards her Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada.

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Michael Howlett
Michael Howlett, B.Admin, CPA, CMA
Surety Underwriter
(306) 777-0676
mhowlett@westernsurety.ca

Michael began his career with Western Surety in August 2017.

Michael graduated from the University of Regina’s Paul J. Hill School of Business in 2008 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Michael received his Certified Management Accountant (CPA, CMA) designation in 2013 and also has completed the Investment Funds in Canada, Canadian Securities, and Professional Financial Planning courses through the Canadian Securities Institute. He also has prior experience in the banking industry and with another division within the Hill Group of Companies.

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Réjean Carpentier
Réjean Carpentier, B.A.
Underwriter Trainee
(306) 777-0607
rcarpentier@westernsurety.ca

Réjean began his career at Western Surety in September 2018 as an Underwriter Trainee. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science. He has started working towards his Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada.

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Vicky Siebert
Vicky Siebert
Surety Associate
(306) 777-0605
vsiebert@westernsurety.ca

Vicky joined Western Surety in September 2015 as a Surety Associate. She has 27 years of surety experience on the broker side having worked for two major insurance brokerages.

Vicky graduated from the Reliance College of Business in 1982 and the first job she had was with a Regina insurance brokerage. Since then she has worked the majority of her career in the insurance/surety industry in Regina.

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Corporate Team Leaders

 
Scott Donald, CPA, CMA
President and
Chief Executive Officer
(306) 777-0672
sdonald@westernsurety.ca

Scott, who has been employed in the surety industry since 1981, joined Western Surety in 1987 as a Senior Underwriter. He was promoted to Assistant General Manager in 1994 and Underwriting Manager in 2001.

On January 1, 2008, Scott was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. The latter position was eliminated on December 31, 2010 and Scott was promoted to Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2011.

Scott attended SIAST and the University of Regina, receiving his Certified Management Accountant designation in 1988. In 2005, he completed an extensive Executive Upgrade program at the University of Western Ontario.

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J. Paul Bourassa, B.A., J.D.
General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
(306) 777-0630
pbourassa@westernsurety.ca

Paul is responsible for all aspects of the claims process, as well as acting as chief compliance officer for Western Surety.

Prior to joining the Hill Companies as General Counsel in 1987, Paul's successful law practice focused primarily on corporate, commercial, and real estate law.

A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan who holds both Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees, Paul has served on the board of directors of many community organizations and has been recognized for his community involvement as recipient of the United Way President's Award, the Community Service Award by the Saskatchewan Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Province of Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.

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Kristine AmbersonKristine Amberson, CPA, CMA
Chief Financial Officer
(306) 777-0646
kamberson@westernsurety.ca

Kristine began her career at Western Surety in 2002 as a Surety Underwriter until 2005.  Kristine returned in October 2013 as Controller after working as a Controller outside the surety industry during her time away from Western Surety Company.

Kristine completed her Business Accountancy Diploma from SIAST in 1996 and furthered her education receiving her Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation in 2003.

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Jason Berkan
Jason Berkan, B.Sc.
IT Manager
jberkan@westernsurety.ca

Jason joined Western Surety in August 2015 as an IT Manager, after spending three years working for Western Surety as a contractor, developing the e-Services website.

Jason graduated in 2009 from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Computer Science. He has 16 years of experience in the IT industry.

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Jennifer Campbell
Executive Assistant
(306) 791-3735
jcampbell@westernsurety.ca

Jennifer has been with the company twice in her career. After working for Western Surety on a five month contract in 1996, she joined a local insurance company before returning to Western Surety in 1999.

Jennifer, 'the voice of Western Surety' who handles our incoming calls, also serves as Executive Assistant to both the President and the General Counsel. She completed a Certificate in Office Education from SIAST in 1995.

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Atlantic Office:

 
Stephen Myrer, FCIP
Atlantic Region Branch Manager
(902) 425-6986
smyrer@westernsurety.ca

Steve started his surety career in 1989 following three years in the accounting field. He joined Western Surety in 2001 as Branch Manager of the Atlantic Canada Office. He has extensive surety underwriting experience coupled with strong insurance broker and contractor relationships in Atlantic Canada.

Steve graduated from Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a recipient of the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) and Fellow, Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) designations.

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Wesley Benson, B.Admin, ACSB
Regional Manager
(902) 425-7422
wbenson@westernsurety.ca

Wes joined Western Surety in July 2010 as a Senior Surety Underwriter in the Atlantic Canada Office. He has been in the surety industry since 2003 and has extensive knowledge of the Atlantic surety market. Wes’s current position is Regional Manager. Wes oversees the Region of the Newfoundland and Labrador region.

A native of St. John's, Wes received his (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He also holds the (ACSB) Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding designation from the University of Toronto.

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Kevin Cahill, B.Comm, CIP, CAIB
Surety Underwriter
(902) 425-6987
kcahill@westernsurety.ca

Kevin began his career with Western Surety in August 2017.

Kevin graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2012 with a B.Comm degree. He also holds the CIP and CAIB designations. Kevin’s insurance background includes a five year tenure with a Halifax based brokerage where he was a Personal Lines Manager.

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Maggie Weir
Administrative Assistant
(902) 425-6985
mweir@westernsurety.ca

Maggie's background in banking, along with her administration experience in the manufacturing sector, serves her well in her current role as Administrative Assistant for the Atlantic Canada Office.

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Toronto Office:

 
Mark A. Skanes, B.Comm.
Vice President
(647) 943-0540
mskanes@westernsurety.ca

Mark began his career at Western Surety in June 2012.  Mark had 23 years of surety experience in the Toronto area prior to joining Western Surety.  In the process, Mark has acquired a deep understanding of the business, as well as broad experience, and solid broker and contractor relationships, throughout a large part of the country.

Mark graduated in 1989 from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

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Cory Manchur, B.Comm, ACSB
Senior Surety Underwriter
(647) 943-0541
cmanchur@westernsurety.ca

Cory joined Western Surety in January 2010 as a Surety Trainee, was appointed to Surety Underwriter in January 2011, and was promoted to Senior Surety Underwriter in January 2013.

Cory holds a Bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of Manitoba with a major in finance. Following completion of the Canadian Securities Course, Cory will be working towards completing the Certified Management Accounting designations. Cory received the Associateship of Canadian Surety Bonding (ACSB) designation from the University of Toronto and Surety Association of Canada in 2012.

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Vania Azevedo
Vania Azevedo, B.Comm
Surety Underwriter
(647) 943-0593
vazevedo@westernsurety.ca

Vania began her career with Western Surety in June 2017.

Vania graduated from the University of Windsor in 2010 with a B.Comm (Hons) and completed the Investment Funds in Canada Certificate in 2013. Prior to joining Western Surety, she spent several years with a major Canadian bank and she is also fluent in Spanish, French and Portuguese.

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Elsabe Wasserman
Commercial Surety Underwriter
(647) 943-0542
ewasserman@westernsurety.ca

Elsabe joined Western Surety in December 2009 as a Surety Associate. She has been in the surety industry since 1999 while working with a Toronto brokerage.

Her Bachelor of Arts degree involved a major in business psychology and human resources. She has also completed the Dun & Bradstreet Financial Analysis Course and holds an RIBO license.

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