About us
Our History
The Verge Insurance Group consists of full-service insurance brokerages that specialize in both personal insurance lines (automobile, residential, life) and commercial lines (manufacturing, construction, retail, institutional, public entity, agricultural and employee benefits). Over its history, Verge Insurance has become well-known in the Niagara community for its expertise, extensive representation of insurance companies, the skilled design and placement of insurance policies at the most competitive rates as well as personalized service.
Verge Insurance began modestly enough in 1953 when partners Harry Groom and Angus Verge established a small, one room brokerage on William Street in St. Catharines known as Groom-Verge Insurance. A few years later Harry retired and Angus’ younger brother William became part of the firm. It was re-named Verge Insurance Agencies Limited and they expanded by buying a number of insurance agencies over the years.
In 1982, Mark and Rick Sherk joined the firm and between 1988 and 1995 purchased the business from the Verge brothers. In 1994, Frank Stewart, owner of St. Catharines based Stewart McGuinness Insurance Brokers, merged his brokerage into The Verge Insurance Group. Since that time, the Group has acquired eight independent brokerages across Niagara. With each acquisition, the firm grew in size and stature, continually building its extensive range of products, services and employee base.
Today, Verge Insurance is the largest independently owned insurance brokerage in the Niagara Region and is ranked in the top 5% of brokerages in the province. Verge Insurance employes a staff of approximately 100, maintains its head office on Ontario Street in St. Catharines, operates branch offices in Stoney Creek (Milmine Insurance), Welland (The Verge Insurance Group), Virgil (Reimer Verge Insurance) and Port Colborne (Whites’ Insurance) and is affiliated with offices in Toronto and Buffalo, New York. The firm is proud to have a clientele in excess of 20,000 both personal and corporate in nature and maintains contractual relationships with over 50 insurance carriers, which is more than any brokerage in the Region.
The Verge Insurance team is proud of its long heritage and strong reputation for looking after its client’s insurance needs. It is a story that began more than 50 years ago and today continues to flourish.