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Celebrating 100 years of supporting Canadians

We’ve been helping individuals, Canadian families and businesses build wealth and achieve financial security since 1923.

Among the top 10 life insurance companies in Canada and proudly headquartered in Kingston, Ontario, Empire Life is known for our integrity, personalized service, sound financial management, strength and capitalization, and industry-leading technology.

We have established ourselves as a trusted partner by driving innovation, supporting the community, fostering diversity and inclusion, and focusing on delivering simple, fast and easy solutions created by Canadians to meet the needs of Canadians.

Empire Life 100 years logo
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Empire Life History
2023
Kingston Office
Now

Today, we are one of the top 10 life insurance companies in Canada*. We manage more than $16 billion in assets** with more than 550,000 individual customers and 171,000 group plan members. We are 100% Canadian owned and operated and our focus is on understanding and meeting the financial needs of Canadians.

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2022

We enhance our digital life insurance application process with the creation of eVision Illustrator.

We invest in EXOS Wealth Systems Inc. as a minority shareholder.

2021

We purchase six financial services firms and amalgamate them into one wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Life under the name TruStone Financial Inc.

We are the first Canadian insurer to issue Limited Recourse Capital Notes.

We invest in Trident Global Assistance Inc. as a minority shareholder.

2020
We start offering telemedicine services to benefit plans.
2019

We launch a new Retirement and Savings Tool to help Canadians plan and achieve their financial goals.

We invest in The Gryphin Advantage Inc. as a minority shareholder.

2018
Launch of No Load Purchase Option, Class Plus 3.0 global funds.
2018
2017
Advisors can now sell segregated funds through Fast & Full®.
2017
2016
Our preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange TSX (delisted upon redemption in 2021).
2016
2015
Canadians now have the ability to buy term insurance online directly from us at empire.ca/insurance/buy-life-insurance
2015
2015
Our parent company, E-L Financial Corporation Limited increases its ownership share to 98.3%, solidifying its stake in our company.
2015
2013
We launch Fast & Full®, a simple, fast and easy way to apply for life insurance online. A major update to the app was released in 2019.
2013
2012
We launch our Group eClaims service, and Empire Life Investments Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, begins selling mutual funds.
2012
2011
We set up a new subsidiary, Empire Life Investments Inc. (ELII).
2011
2008
We introduce Class Plus, a guaranteed withdrawal benefit (GWB) product offering retirement income for life. We remain the only Canadian company to currently offer GWB.
2008
Family sitting on a sofa looking at a tablet
We launch a new Retirement and Savings Tool in 2019 to help Canadians plan and achieve their financial goals.
Use the tool
Black and white photos showing Empire Life employees playing with hula hoops for a charity event
Archive photo showing Empire Life employees on mini tricycles for a charity event
Four Empire Life employees hold a trophy at a charity golf tournament
Something that’s never changed is our ability to have fun while we work and support our communities
Collage of former Empire Life logos
We rebrand and return to our roots, changing our marketing name from Empire Financial Group to Empire Life
View Empire Life logos over the years
2006
We rebrand and return to our roots, changing our marketing name from Empire Financial Group to Empire Life.
2002
We amalgamate with Concordia Life Insurance Company.
2000
We assume a block of annuity and registered retirement income fund (RRIF) policies of Coopérants, Mutual Life Insurance Society.
1997
We acquire Colonia Life Insurance Company (later renamed Concordia Life Insurance Company).
1995
Assumption of a block of deferred annuity policies of Allstate Life Insurance Company of Canada.
1993
We acquire the non-participating individual insurance policies of The Citadel Life Assurance Company.
1992
We acquire a block of group business of The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
1987
E-L Financial Corporation Limited brings together through merger and acquisition activities The Empire Life Insurance Company, The Montreal Life Insurance Company and the life insurance section of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company; we adopt the marketing name Empire Financial Group.
1970
Our life insurance business in-force grows to $1 billion.
1970
1968
E-L Financial Corporation Limited is formed as a holding company of Empire Life.
1968
1964
We begin selling segregated funds.
1964
1957
We begin selling employee benefits plans in Canada.
1957
 
Archive photo of Empire Life's head office building
Black and white photo of Empire Life employees working at desks
Black and white photo of Empire Life employees with an old computer system
 
1936
After the merger with Mutual Relief Life Insurance Company, we move our Head Office from Toronto to Kingston, Ontario.
1934
We acquire the insurance portfolio of The Canadian Order of Odd Fellows.
1929
Merger with The Commonwealth Life and Accident Insurance Company.
1923
Black and white photo of Empire Life's first location in Toronto
Then

Our story begins in 1923, when our founders chose the name The Empire Life Insurance Company to convey strength, security and life. Since then, our story has been one of steady growth and innovation. The Empire Life Insurance Company is founded in Toronto, Ontario by Milton Palmer Langstaff and his four business partners, W. B. Peace, Dr. H.C. Parsons, S. Casey Wood and Edward “Ward” Wright.

* Based on total assets as reported in December 31, 2021 OSFI filings
** As at September 30, 2022