Zorkin Insurance Brokers Inc.

The first day of operation was in April, 1949 as M.G. Zorkin & Co. Ltd. under the management of founder Mladen Zorkin.

The office started as an insurance agency but quickly expanded to include a real estate department. In 1961 Zorkin purchased the old Nanaimo City Jail building at 418 Fitzwilliam Street. Still occuppied by the company, it is now known as the "Zorkin Block" and the cells are still intact.

In the fall of 1980 Mladen's son Kristo joined the firm. Mladen diverted his interests to developing Morningstar Golf Course among various other developments and Kristo took over the Insurance Division. His first move was to buy an agency that specialized in marine insurance. Zorkin rapidly became Nanaimo's marine insurance specialists.

Second Branch

A second branch was opened at Terminal Park Mall, owned by the Zorkin Group. In early 1983 Kristo purchased the agency from his father and the company name was changed to M. G. Zorkin & Son Ltd.

Another first occurred in 1984: an automobile insurance road-runner service. For three years this was an exclusive service to the 17 local car dealerships. The staff of four, using two cars, travelled city-wide arranging on-the-spot insurance for customers purchasing new vehicles. With seven-day-a-week service from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M., both offices were abuzz with activity. Road service to selected dealerships continued for 10 years.

The Zorkin Administration office building at 418 Fitzwilliam Street, Nanaimo [map]

 

The Zorkin Insurance office in Terminal Park, Nanaimo [map]