Alberta’s construction and commercial real estate sectors move fast. Deals close, projects break ground, and the gap between a protected business and an exposed one often comes down to whether the right policy was in place before work started. At Core Insurance Group, we work directly with developers, builders, general contractors, investors, and commercial property owners to structure coverage that reflects the actual risks of each project, not just a standard package pulled off a shelf.
Commercial insurance isn’t a single product. It’s a program, and for contractors and property owners in Alberta, that program typically layers several distinct coverages together.
CGL is the foundation of contractor coverage, protecting against third-party bodily injury and property damage claims from your operations — job site incidents, excavation damage, or injuries on premises you own or manage. Alberta contractors typically carry a minimum of $2 million in CGL, with larger projects often requiring higher limits. Without it, defence costs and settlements come directly out of your pocket.
Standard property insurance doesn't cover a building mid-construction. A Builders Risk policy protects the structure, on-site materials, and sometimes labour costs from groundbreak to handover, covering named perils such as fire, theft, vandalism, and wind. Note that financial exposure peaks when work is nearly complete — securing coverage before the project starts is both simpler and more cost-effective than arranging it mid-build.
For larger developments, a Wrap-Up Liability policy consolidates coverage for the project owner, general contractor, and all subcontractors under a single policy. This reduces the gaps that can open up between individual contractor programs and simplifies the claims process considerably if something goes wrong partway through a project.
Whether you own or lease your business location, commercial property insurance covers physical loss or damage to your building and its contents, including fire, theft, and weather events. For commercial real estate investors and portfolio owners, this can be structured across multiple properties and adapted to the specific occupancy type, from retail and office to light industrial.
Core Insurance Group specializes in commercial construction and real estate space. That focus matters. Our clients aren’t looking for general business insurance advice. They need a broker who understands project contracts, certificate requirements, lender conditions, and the realities of working across residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments in Calgary and across Alberta.
Ground-up construction, infill projects, multi-family residential developments, and commercial builds each carry distinct exposures. We help project owners understand what coverage they're responsible for purchasing versus what should sit with their general contractor, and we make sure those two programs don't leave gaps between them.
Owning commercial real estate in Alberta comes with ongoing obligations, from maintaining adequate property coverage to ensuring tenant liability requirements are met. We work with investors managing single assets and those with multi-property portfolios across retail, office, and industrial categories.
Whether you're managing a full commercial build or working in a specialty scope, a properly structured insurance program keeps your business protected across every phase of the project. That includes electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, framers, roofers, concrete contractors, and excavation crews, all of whom face different liability profiles and equipment exposures that a generic policy won't always address.
Core Insurance Group is an independently owned brokerage company. That means we’re not tied to a single insurer product lineup. We work with carriers including Intact Insurance, Aviva Insurance, Forward Insurance Managers, and Economical Definity to find programs that actually fit each client’s risk profile and budget.
For commercial clients, that translates to honest advice about what coverage levels are appropriate, what’s optional versus essential, and where costs can be managed without creating meaningful exposure. We also turn the documents around quickly. For contractors working against bid deadlines or lenders requiring proof of coverage before funding releases, responsiveness isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s part of the service.
Most of the time, yes. A general contractor’s policy may cover the project itself, but it typically doesn’t extend to your tools, your vehicles, or liability claims arising specifically from your scope of work. Most GCs will also require you to carry your own CGL and provide a certificate before you set foot on site.
This depends on the contract, and it needs to be clarified in writing before the project starts. Typically, the property owner carries the Builders Risk policy, but some owners expect the general contractor to arrange it. We help both sides understand their obligations and make sure there are no coverage gaps between the two programs.
It depends on the size and nature of your projects. Most Alberta contractors carry a minimum of $2 million, but larger commercial contracts, multi-trade projects, and lender requirements often push that figure higher. We’ll let you know what limits your specific work typically calls for.
It’s possible, but more expensive, and some insurers won’t take it on mid-project without a site inspection. Coverage should always be confirmed before the project breaks ground. The further along a build is, the higher the risk, and that’s reflected directly in the premium.
Standard commercial property policies often include vacancy clauses that reduce or void coverage after a property has been unoccupied for 30 to 60 days. If you’re managing a property through a lease transition or extended renovation period, let us know if the right endorsements are in place before that clock starts running.
Talk to us about your project or property and we’ll put together a program that actually fits.
