Our History

‘In the beginning…,’ whoa, hold on a minute. Our story doesn’t go that far back. But we do have some deep roots in this community, and we thank you for showing an interest in the history of MHK Insurance. You need to have a special appreciation for the past to truly understand where a company’s character comes from.

In 2013, we’ll celebrate our 100th year of proudly serving the insurance needs of Albertans, and we can’t wait to reach this incredible milestone. Over the years, we’ve gradually and deliberately grown to become one of the largest, independently owned insurance brokerages in Alberta, without losing any of the charm and charisma that comes from those small business values we still hold dear. And the fact we also have strong family lineage that’s still in place today makes our past all the more rich and meaningful.

With that said, think about this. When you have serious questions about insurance, personal or business related, and need answers that are tried and true, who would you look to for guidance? How about a company that’s been down the road and back again, having earned the respect, admiration and confidence of those who have worked with us along the way. That would be MHK.

Here are the most interesting ‘people’ facts we have to share that stand out from our long history here in Alberta. Enjoy the trip down our memory lane.

1913

William Rae Allan, an insurance broker from Winnipeg whose family owned the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers, opens an office in Edmonton, located in the CPR Building, under the name Allan Killam & McKay, which became Allan Killam & McKay Alberta Ltd. in 1914.

1917

Roy L. Greene joins the company as the treasurer, eventually becoming the managing director in 1918 and the president in 1923.

1921

The company changes its name to Allan Killam McKay & Greene Ltd.

1922

Roy’s brother, Boyce Greene, joins the company.

1923

The company begins operating as R. L. Greene & Co. Ltd.

1926

Hugh Millar, the original ‘M’ in MHK, joins the company as secretary treasurer.

1936

After a merger, the company becomes R. L. Greene & Kirkpatrick Ltd., and for the first time shares are sold at $100 a piece.

1939

Roy Greene leaves the company with Boyce taking over as president.

1945

The company changes its name to Greene & Millar after all the shares are sold equally to Boyce Greene and Hugh Millar.

1959

Hugh’s son, Roy Millar, joins the company.

1960

Boyce Greene retires and Robert Homynyk, the original ‘H’ in MHK, joins the company.

1962

The company becomes Millar & Homynyk after Hugh Millar sells his shares to his son, Roy, and Robert Homynyk in 1961.

1965

The company acquires Wilkinson Agencies Ltd.

1968

After briefly operating as Millar Homynyk Coyle Agencies Ltd. starting in 1965, the company changes its name back to Millar Homynyk Agencies Ltd.

1975

Keith Bulloch joins the company, and then becomes a shareholder in 1978.

1978

A competing brokerage, Keeley Agencies Ltd., owned by Bill Keeley, the original ‘K’ in MHK, forms a partnership with a broker, Harvey Lambert. Their company name becomes Keeley Lambert Agencies Ltd. Then in 1981, after Dale Faulkner joins the company as a shareholder, it becomes Keeley Lambert Faulkner Agencies Ltd. (Bill Keeley started his first insurance and realty brokerage in 1952.)

1985

Robert’s son, Jeff Homynyk, joins Millar Homynyk Agencies Ltd.

1988

Millar Homynyk Agencies Ltd. with its three shareholders (Roy Millar, Robert Homynyk and Keith Bulloch) and Keeley Lambert Faulkner Agencies Ltd. with its three shareholders (Bill Keeley, Harvey Lambert and Dale Faulkner) merge to become Millar Homynyk Keeley Associates Ltd. The office moves to its current location at 12316 – 107 Avenue.

1990

Bill Keeley retires from the company.

1991

Robert Homynyk retires and Jeff Homynyk becomes a shareholder.

1995

Keith Bulloch retires from the company.

1997

Roy Millar retires from the company.

1998

The company acquires Sharp & Lynch Insurance Brokers Ltd. from owners Peter Sharp and David Lynch. Only David Lynch continued to work with the company, and still does today.

2000

Millar Homynyk Keeley Associates Ltd. becomes what the company is today known as, MHK Insurance Inc., with MHK now standing for ‘Momentum,’ ‘Honesty’ and ‘Knowledge.’

2002

The company acquires Fremar Insurance Services from owner Durk Boivin.

2003

Harvey Lambert retires leaving two shareholders for MHK, Dale Faulkner and Jeff Homynyk.

2005

When MHK decides to expand its borders and purchase a book of business representing the Calgary region, Jeff Hughson becomes another of MHK’s current shareholders.

2008

The company acquires Laurian & Associates from Laura Willie-Jones, who stayed on with MHK until May 2009.

2008

The company fulfills its dream of expanding into the Calgary marketplace by acquiring the Calgary brokerage Gurr & Company Insurance Inc. from its three owners, Glen and Trish Gurr and Rhonda Trueman, thus creating Gurr Insurance, A Division of MHK Insurance Inc.

2011

Gurr Insurance changes its name to MHK Insurance as of February 1, 2011.