Insurance and Surety Bonds
Stanhope Simpson is an independent Halifax brokerage placing insurance and surety bonds for contractors, developers, businesses and families across Atlantic Canada.
Our Offering
We don't sell off-the-shelf coverage.
We build programs of insurance and surety bonds around the way your industry actually operates — and the risks that come with it.
Coverage built for contractors, developers, and builders — from job-site risk to project delays — by a team that knows how construction really works.
Commercial programs tailored to your operations — liability, property, and business interruption — designed by specialists, not sold off a shelf.
Home, auto, and personal coverage with the same senior attention we give our business clients — and a broker who actually picks up the phone.
Contract, bid, and performance bonds backed by real underwriting relationships — so you can bid bigger jobs with confidence.
Everything We Place
Insurance and Surety Bonds by Coverage Type
Stanhope Simpson places insurance and surety bonds across construction, commercial, personal and specialty lines. Browse the full list below, or use the search at the top of the page.
Business & Construction Insurance
- Builders Risk Insurance
- Wrap-Up Liability Insurance
- Subcontractor Default Insurance (SDI)
- Pollution & Environmental Insurance
- Commercial General Liability (CGL)
- Commercial Property Insurance
- Commercial Auto Insurance
- Errors & Omissions (E&O)
- Directors & Officers (D&O)
- Cyber Insurance
- View all business insurance
Personal Insurance
Insurance by Industry
Industries We Insure
We build programs around the way each sector actually operates, and the insurance and surety bonds it genuinely needs.
Contractors & Developers
General contractors, trades, civil and residential builders.
Manufacturing
Plant property, equipment breakdown, products liability and supply chain.
Real Estate
Owners, managers and developers of commercial and residential property.
Seafood & Fishing
Vessels, processing, cold storage, product recall and marine cargo.
Hospitality
Hotels, restaurants and licensed premises, including liquor liability.
Technology
Tech E&O, cyber, intellectual property and professional exposures.
Renewables
Wind, solar and tidal projects through construction and operation.
View all industries
Every sector we write, in one place.
Values
Built local.
Trusted global.
Independence
We answer to clients, not shareholders. As a privately owned family business, we have no outside investors and no incentive to put anything ahead of you. Our independence means our advice is yours alone — built around what's right for your business, not what's convenient for ours.
Expertise
Specialists, not generalists. Our team brings deep expertise in commercial insurance and surety bonding for construction, real estate, development, and other complex industries. With CPAs, former underwriters, and industry leaders on staff, we understand your business from every angle — financial, operational, and risk.
Trust
Insurance is a promise. We treat it like one. Our clients stay with us for decades because we show up when it matters — at renewal, at claim time, and every quiet moment in between. Long-term relationships aren't a strategy. They're the entire point.
Service
Direct access. Real answers. Fast turnaround. When you call Stanhope Simpson, you reach an experienced broker who knows your file and owns the outcome. No call centers. No handoffs. No waiting in queue. Just people who do the work and stand behind it.
Independence changes everything.
We’re a family-owned, independent brokerage. No public shareholders. No private equity. No quarterly earnings calls dictating who we serve or how we serve them. That independence frees us to act in your best interest — every renewal, every quote, every claim. It’s the reason we’ve been trusted across Atlantic Canada for over 70 years, and the reason our clients stay.
In practice it means one senior team handling your insurance and surety bonds together, so your coverage and your bonding capacity are built to support each other rather than compete.
Why Stanhope Simpson?
Stanhope Simpson is the independent brokerage Atlantic Canada’s most demanding businesses choose for insurance and surety bonds. We specialize in industries that don’t tolerate generic solutions — construction, real estate, development, manufacturing, seafood — and we back that specialization with the kind of senior attention publicly traded brokerages can’t deliver. Our independence means we work for you, not for shareholders. That’s been true for 70 years, and it’s the reason our clients refer their colleagues, their partners, and the next generation of their family business to us.
From a single bid bond to a full construction wrap-up, we place insurance and surety bonds with the Canadian markets that actually want your class of business — and we stay involved long after the policy is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Insurance
The types of insurance you need depend on the nature of your business, industry, and specific risks.
At Stanhope Simpson, we specialize in providing tailored solutions for industries such as construction, real estate, development, and other larger commercial businesses.
Key coverages you may need include:
- Commercial General Liability Insurance: Protects against claims of bodily injury or property damage.
- Commercial Property Insurance: Covers damage to your business property and assets.
- Professional Liability Insurance: Ideal for service-based businesses to protect against claims of negligence or errors.
- Surety Bonds: For contractors and developers, ensuring contract fulfillment and financial security.
- Business Interruption Insurance: Covers lost income due to unexpected disruptions.
Getting an insurance quote with Stanhope Simpson is simple:
- Contact Us: Click the “Get Started” button at the bottom of this page, or reach out via phone or email to connect with one of our experienced brokers.
- Provide Details: Share information about your business, including industry, size, and specific risks.
- Tailored Proposal: We’ll assess your needs and provide a detailed, customized insurance proposal.
We pride ourselves on personal, expert service to ensure you have the coverage you need.
The cost of insurance depends on several factors, including:
- Industry and Risk Level: High-risk industries, such as construction, may have higher premiums.
- Coverage Amounts: The more comprehensive the coverage, the higher the cost.
- Business Size: Larger businesses or those with higher revenue often face increased premiums.
- Claims History: Businesses with a clean claims record may benefit from lower costs.
At Stanhope Simpson, we work with top insurers to negotiate competitive rates while ensuring comprehensive protection.
If you need to make a claim, we’re here to help every step of the way:
- Contact Us Immediately: Call or email your dedicated broker at Stanhope Simpson.
- Provide Details: Share the specifics of the incident, including any relevant documents or evidence.
- Claims Support: Our experienced claims team will guide you through the process, liaising with the insurer and ensuring your claim is handled efficiently.
- Follow-Up: We’ll stay in touch to keep you updated on the status of your claim and ensure a smooth resolution.
Surety Bonds
A surety bond is a financial guarantee that ensures a business or individual will fulfill their contractual or legal obligations. It involves three parties:
- Principal: The party required to fulfill the obligation (e.g., contractor).
- Obligee: The party benefiting from the bond (e.g., project owner).
- Surety: The company guaranteeing the principal’s performance.
If the principal fails to meet their obligations, the surety compensates the obligee and seeks reimbursement from the principal. Surety bonds protect against financial losses and ensure compliance with agreements or regulations.
The type of bond you need depends on your business and the nature of your obligations.
At Stanhope Simpson, we offer a wide range of surety bonds, including:
- Contract Bonds: Commonly required in construction and development.
- Commercial Bonds: Required for compliance with regulations or licensing.
- Developer Bonds: Ensure completion of site agreements or infrastructure development.
Our experts will guide you in selecting the right bonds for your business needs.
The cost of a surety bond, called the premium, is typically a small percentage of the bond amount (usually 1-15%).
Factors that influence the cost include:
- The bond type and amount required.
- The principal’s credit history and financial strength.
- The project or obligation’s risk level.
Stanhope Simpson works with leading surety providers to secure competitive rates while ensuring your bond requirements are met.
To apply for a surety bond, you will typically need to provide:
- Business Information: Name, address, and contact details.
- Bond Details: Type, amount, and purpose of the bond.
- Financial Information:
- Recent financial statements (business and sometimes personal).
- Bank references or credit score details.
- Project Details (for contract bonds): Description, value, and timeline of the project.
- Experience and References: Demonstrating your ability to fulfill the obligation.
At Stanhope Simpson, our team will assist you throughout the process, ensuring you provide the necessary documentation to secure the bond efficiently.
Local, Independent, Accountable
An Independent Halifax Broker for Atlantic Canada
We place insurance and surety bonds from our Halifax head office, with a second office in New Brunswick and direct access to Canada’s major insurer and surety markets.
Halifax Head Office
3845 Joseph Howe Drive, Suite 300
Halifax, NS B3L 4H9
Phone: (902) 454-8641
Fax: (902) 455-2267
Email: info@stanhopesimpson.com
New Brunswick Office
130 Campbell Road
Woodman’s Point, NB E5K 3X6
Serving contractors and businesses throughout New Brunswick and the wider Maritimes.
Hours & Service Area
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Atlantic.
Serving Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador, with national and cross-border capability.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Talk to a broker about the insurance and surety bonds your next project actually needs. Personalized programs backed by decades of industry expertise.