Western was one of the country's earliest fire insurance companies and played an important role in the development of the industry in Canada.

[1] In 1892, Western formed an alliance with the British America Assurance Company.

Under the agreement, the two companies would retain the separate identities but would share a common board of directors.

Following the acquisition, Western and British America continued to operate separately.

In 2008, Royal and Sun Alliance changed its brand name to RSA, at which time Western Assurance began operating as WA.