Manitoba’s collision repair sector continues to process an unprecedented backlog of hail-damaged vehicles following a severe weather event in early June. According to a public update issued by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) on June 30, the crown corporation has received nearly 29,000 storm-related claims. This volume establishes a new single-event record for the province, surpassing the previous benchmark of 24,000 claims set during a major hailstorm in 1996.
The early June storm system brought severe winds, hail, and heavy rain to communities across southern Manitoba. Provincial flood officials documented rainfall accumulation exceeding 100 mm in multiple sectors, including specific totals of 121 mm near Woodlands, 230 mm near Petersfield, and 255 mm near Stonewall.
To manage the historic influx of claims, MPI established localized estimating infrastructure within Winnipeg. The insurer opened its first temporary Hail Response Centre at the Gateway Service Centre on June 17, followed by a second facility at the Main Street Service Centre on June 25. Together, the locations were structured to provide approximately 400 preliminary damage assessment appointments daily.
Manitoba Public Insurance
The centralized hubs are utilized for the initial triage of vehicles to identify potential economic total losses before assets enter the commercial repair pipeline. Drivable vehicles clearing this early screening are directed to certified Direct Repair collision facilities or authorized paintless dent repair (PDR) operations for complete line-item estimates.
The operational pressure of this volume is directly impacting independent Winnipeg-area repair facilities.
“We had the largest hail storm,” stated Shamsher Singh, owner of Town Auto Body. “MPI is working on it but we are dealing with all the estimates right now, and cars got a lot of damage.”
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Singh indicated that the visual and structural severity of the hail impact exceeded the facility’s baseline seasonal projections.
“We never expected that much hail to happen,” Singh noted. “Usually we get a little bit of hail but this hail was big. It’s going to keep us busy for another six months or so.”
While the broad estimating process continues through insurance and shop channels, specialized PDR facilities are actively working through their allocated vehicle queues.
“All the PDR shops are working on it right now and MPI is working on the estimates but it’s a slow process,” Singh explained. He also noted that front-office estimating labor does not consistently generate paid repair revenue, particularly when vehicles are subsequently written off by the insurer after full file reviews.
Management at Arlington Auto Body reported that while localized overland flooding had not directly disrupted facility operations, the hail volume has created a sustained vehicle backlog.
A subsequent round of severe weather created secondary logistical disruptions in western Manitoba. On June 30, overland flooding forced MPI to cancel all local driver testing and mobile estimating appointments in the Dauphin area. The emergency conditions forced temporary operational closures at both the Dauphin Service Centre and the Swan River Claims Centre on July 2. While brick-and-mortar operations reopened on July 3, remote mobile appointments remained suspended. Provincial flood officials confirmed on July 8 that regional river and creek levels had peaked and were declining, though flood response measures remained active in specific municipalities.
Manitoba Public Insurance
For consumers navigating vehicle damage, MPI’s operational guidance remains tiered by the severity and type of structural damage. Non-drivable vehicles must be reported directly through MPI’s centralized contact center. Drivable units can be registered using the online portal. Owners experiencing glass damage are instructed to contact an accredited glass or autobody shop directly to initiate a claim and secure temporary safety repairs.
