Updated:
The Western Investment Company of Canada
Scott Tannas chairs The Western Investment Company of Canada, a holding firm pivoting into insurance and real assets under new CEO Paul Rivett.
The Western Investment Company of Canada
Login to LinkedIn to keep in touch with people you know, share ideas, and build your career.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
Canada
City
High River
Corporate office
1010 - 24th Street S.E., High River, Alberta, Canada
Principals
Scott Tannas
Chairman
Paul Rivett
Chief Executive Officer
Shafeen Mawani
Chief Operating Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between The Western Investment Company and Fairfax Financial?
The firm does not have an ownership relationship with Fairfax Financial, but the connection is significant at the personnel level. In December 2024, WICC appointed Paul Rivett as CEO, who previously served as President of Fairfax Financial. Rivett's firm, Tevir Capital Corp., became a strategic partner in WICC's transformation into an insurance holding company, importing the operational philosophy of a premier Canadian insurance compounder into the public-company structure.
Who controls the strategic direction of The Western Investment Company?
Strategic direction is steered jointly by Chairman Scott Tannas and CEO Paul Rivett. Tannas, a Canadian Senator, provides continuity and Alberta-bred relationships, having previously founded Western Financial Group. Rivett, appointed CEO in late 2024, brings the insurance-investment architecture from his tenure running Fairfax Financial and his own vehicle, Tevir Capital, which serves as a strategic investor in the firm.
What is WICC's core investment focus today?
The firm is concentrating its portfolio around insurance and private real assets. Its primary holding is Fortress Insurance Company, and its real asset book includes senior care facilities in Saskatchewan and industrial distribution facilities for Foothills Creamery in Alberta and British Columbia. The strategy resembles a mini-conglomerate model that favors control positions in cash-flowing private businesses.
Is The Western Investment Company structured as a family office?
No. Despite being chaired by a prominent business figure in Scott Tannas, the firm is a publicly listed holding company, not a single-family office. It pools capital from public shareholders and institutional partners like Tevir Capital and ATB Financial, rather than managing the private wealth of a single family.
How does the firm co-invest alongside external partners?
The firm has a track record of structured co-investments with institutional partners. ATB Financial, a major Alberta-based financial institution, co-invested in Foothills Creamery and GlassMasters, and serves as the firm's primary lender. The partnership with Tevir Capital represents a strategic, rather than purely passive, co-investment relationship that has reshaped the firm's strategic direction.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on asset managers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: