The Edmonton Insurance Association was started in 1981 and was known as the Insurance Women of Edmonton.  The association was formed to help women in the insurance industry network with other women and increase their business and insurance knowledge through guest speakers and seminars.  The networking was a huge success especially the Insurance Women's Cocktail parties, many of us have very fond memories of those wild evenings.  This was the first business opportunity many women had in Edmonton and we were fortunate to have had the support of most of the Branch managers. 

Our membership was strong and continued to grow through the first five to six years.  In addition to the Cocktail parties we also hosted industry dinners for Boss of the Year, public speaking contests and fashion shows to raise funds for charities.  The Insurance Women of Edmonton strongly supported the Chair of Insurance at the University of Calgary and established a scholarship that still exists today.  Education was an important component of the organization.

Over the last few years the industry has gone through a lot of changes, and so did the Insurance Women of Edmonton.  In 1999 the association officially changed its name to the Edmonton Insurance Association.  As times were changing so were the people that required a venue to foster Education, Fellowship and Loyalty.  The name change was done so that everyone in the industry could benefit from the EIA.