When Yoh Issaraanatipong made the leap from running his family’s longtime restaurant, Le Café Siam: Thai Cuisine in St. Thomas to becoming an insurance agent, it wasn’t the most obvious career move. But for Yoh, the connection between the two paths makes sense: both are rooted in serving the community and protecting what matters most.
“I fell into this role almost by accident,” Yoh explains. “I was looking for something I could do while still helping with the family business, and I realized how important insurance really is. People spend years building up their assets, their homes, their businesses — and they need someone to help protect that.”
Yoh has been in the insurance industry for nearly six years, and with Westminster Mutual Insurance for three of them. He describes himself as a neighborhood insurance agent, a title he doesn’t take lightly. Westminster Mutual Insurance, based in Belmont, focuses on serving clients within 100 kilometres of the office. That local focus, Yoh says, allows for personal service and faster, more responsive claims support.
“When you call us, you’re not waiting on hold for half the day,” he says. “You get a real person who knows your situation, your community, and can make sure everything is handled properly. That’s what sets us apart.”
Yoh provides coverage for auto, home, businesses, and agri-business — a cornerstone in Elgin County. He points out that many local farm families have trusted Westminster Mutual for generations, with some insured for as many as five. “We’ve been around for 168 years. That kind of history shows the value of building strong relationships over time.”
Of course, insurance isn’t always the easiest topic to discuss, especially as rising inflation pushes costs higher. Yoh admits those conversations can be tough but says he works to keep things personal and relatable.
Beyond his work as an agent, Yoh is deeply involved in his community. Through his church in Tillsonburg, he volunteers with an outreach program that serves hot meals to over 40 people each month. He also participates in local fundraising and charity efforts through the St.Thomas & Surrounding Area Honest Food Reviews & Specials Facebook community, believing that giving back is essential. Most recently, they made a $10,000 donation to The INN in St. Thomas.
Yoh stresses that “insurance isn’t just about protecting individuals. When you pay into a mutual pool, you’re also protecting your community. One family’s premiums today might be what helps another family rebuild tomorrow. It’s bigger than just one person – it’s about looking out for each other.”
For him, the most rewarding part of the job is sitting down with clients face-to-face. That personal connection ensures people aren’t missing critical coverage and gives peace of mind when the unexpected happens.
“It only takes one incident to see the value,” he reflects. “I’ve had families who have paid into insurance for years, maybe $75,000 over time. But when tragedy struck and their home was lost, we were able to pay out more than a million dollars. That’s the kind of protection that matters.”
As for new or younger clients just starting out, Yoh encourages them to reach out — even if Westminster Mutual isn’t the perfect fit. “We’ll either help you ourselves or point you in the right direction,” he says. “At the end of the day, I want to make sure people are properly protected, no matter what stage of life they’re in.”
Whether it’s your car, your home, your business, or the farm that’s been in your family for generations, Yoh’s here to help ensure the things you value most are safeguarded for years to come.
Contact Westminster Mutual Insurance at (519) 644-1663 or visit wmic.ca to start the conversation.
You can listen to more of our conversation below.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
