Insurance Bureau calls for government action one year after devastating Calgary hailstorm

Calgarians know all too well just how costly hailstorms can be, and the insurance industry is calling for new homes to be built with that in mind. 

Last year's intense August storm caused more than $3 billion in insured damages, making it the second-most expensive natural disaster in Canadian history, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. 

The bureau's vice president, Aaron Sutherland, says new builds should be constructed with hail-resistant roofing and siding.

"If we're going to use asphalt shingles, vinyl siding, we know the next hail storm is going to rip that up and cause significant damage again," said Sutherland.

He also suggested the City of Calgary revive its now-defunct Resilient Roofing Rebate Program, which provided homeowners with rebates of $3,000 to retrofit their homes to better withstand hail damage. The program ended in 2022. 

The city says while other initiatives are in the works, bringing back that particular program back is not on the table. 

"To continue on with that that program ... we would only be helping a few hundred home[s] versus making all of Calgary resilient," said Nicole Newton, manager of natural environment and adaptation with the City of Calgary. 

For its part, the province says it added new building code requirements last year to help protect against severe weather events.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says these punishing storms should serve as "a wake-up call" that it is time for governments to step up.

"Really, when it comes to hailstorms in Calgary, it's a question of when, not if. And it really is paramount that we begin to lean into that," Sutherland said.