In 1946, after serving in WWII, Bill Kent returned to his hometown of Bathurst. Needing to find work, he tapped into his entrepreneurial spirit and decided to start an insurance agency, Kent Insurance. His cousin, A.K. (Brub) Schryer, also returned to Bathurst from serving in WWII and decided to start his own insurance agency too (A.K. Schryer Insurance). The two cousins shared some friendly competition growing their businesses in the Bathurst area for several years.
In the 1970s, Bill decided he’d like a change and sold the agency to Raymond White, an insurance adjuster from Amherst. That’s how the name Kent & White Insurance came to be.
In 1980 the business was sold again, this time to another insurance adjuster, Andy Savoie. In 1994, Kent & White continued its growth with the purchase of Jim MacLaggan Insurance. In 1995, Brub Schryer’s son (Hugh), was operating A.K. Schryer & Son Insurance. He and Mr. Savoie decided to merge their business. The two firms, started and grown by cousins 49 years before, had ultimately come together.
Today, Kent & White Insurance has grown to service personal and commercial clients throughout Atlantic Canada from their original location in Bathurst, NB, and second location in Edmundston, NB (opened in 2016). Kent & White continues to be completely independent, and 100% owned by the Schryer family. Brian, and his wife Erin operate the business with pride in their history, and a focus on the most important people; their customers and staff.