What Gallivan does

Gallivan (transitioning to the brand name Alumo) is a Canadian student health and wellness company founded in 1996 by John Gallivan and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of People Corporation. Headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, with regional offices in Halifax (Atlantic Canada) and Calgary (Western Canada), the company serves more than 150 Canadian post-secondary institutions—primarily student unions, associations, and student-led organizations—through a B2B2C model. Its core offerings include customized Student Health & Dental Plans, the mywellness e-Mental Health program (with online counseling), Flexible Benefits Plans, International Student Plans, and Staff Plans for institutional faculty and personnel.

The company's technology stack comprises a student-facing portal (mystudentplan.ca), a mobile claims app, an AODA-accessible online opt-out system, and the Select Savings Network provider database. Its most differentiated operational feature is the on-site Benefit Plan Office (BPO) model that Gallivan pioneered—dedicated service offices staffed by Student Service Coordinators embedded at two-thirds of partner campuses, supplemented by an annual training conference and Executive Transitional Workshops for institutional stakeholders.

Gallivan generates revenue through two streams: subscription/recurring fees paid by post-secondary institutions for plan administration, design, claims processing, and on-site support services; and usage-based fees from individual students for online counseling sessions ($37.50 private, $20 group, with the first visit free). The company maintains strategic carrier partnerships with Great-West Life/Canada Life, Green Shield, and Manulife, and is currently undergoing a corporate rebrand to Alumo to better align its positioning with the student market.

Name

Gallivan

Legal name

Gallivan

Website

https://gallivan.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gallivan (becoming Alumo) is a Canadian subsidiary of People Corporation that administers health, dental, and mental health benefit programs for over 150 post-secondary institutions, pioneering the on-site Benefit Plan Office model and the mywellness e-Mental Health platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Health and Dental Benefits Administration

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Health Insurance & Benefits Administration (EDALAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Health Insurance Plans (University-Sponsored) (FSAIAFAI), Eligibility, Enrollment & Benefits Administration (HLAEALAH), Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness Education (EDALAFAF), Employer Wellness & Population Health Programs (HLAEAAAH)

Keywords

• Student health insurance
• Dental benefit plans
• Mental health programs
• Post-secondary benefits
• Insurance plan administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Student Health & Dental Plan Administration: Gallivan provides consulting, implementation, and ongoing operations of insurance programs for post-secondary student organizations. Revenue is generated through fees paid by educational institutions for comprehensive student benefit plan services including plan design, administration, claims processing, and on-site support services.
2. Online Counselling Sessions: Students pay for private 30-minute online counselling sessions at $37.50 per session or group sessions at $20.00, with first visits free. This provides a direct revenue stream from end-user students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gallivan provides health, dental, and mental health benefit plan administration for Canadian post-secondary student organizations, including plan design, on-site Benefit Plan Offices, claims processing, the mywellness e-mental health program with online counselling, and ancillary offerings such as international student coverage, flexible benefits, and staff group benefits. The company serves over 150 universities and colleges across Canada through a B2B-centric model with regional offices in Cambridge (Ontario), Halifax (Atlantic), and Calgary (Western).

Product overview

Gallivan (becoming Alumo) offers a comprehensive suite of student health and wellness solutions for Canadian post-secondary organizations. The core product portfolio includes mywellness (e-Mental Health program with online counselling), Student Health & Dental Plans, Flexible Benefits Plans, International Student Plans, and Staff Plans. Service offerings include Benefit Plan Offices (on-site offices) and Training & Support Services. The company is transitioning to the Alumo brand, which serves as the umbrella brand for its integrated student health and wellness programs serving over 150 post-secondary institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• mywellness: An e-Mental Health program that moves students from awareness to action, specifically developed for Canadian post-secondary students. Includes awareness, education, and care components.

Products and services

• Student Health & Dental Plans Customized health and dental insurance programs for Canadian post-secondary students, including direct-deposit claims, e-claims technology, extended health coverage, family coverage, wellness initiatives, and vision coverage. Sold via institutional partnerships with student organizations.
• mywellness e-Mental Health Program An e-Mental Health program for Canadian post-secondary students that provides mental health support through awareness (information events and on-campus marketing), education (online mental health assessment, personal action plan, toolbox), and care (online counselling). Offered to institutional clients.
• Flexible Benefits Plans A benefits plan allowing students to choose coverage that suits their situation, with the ability to change coverage every other year and access to higher coverage with cost stability. Sold to Canadian post-secondary institutions.
• International Student Plans Coverage solutions for international students including daily rate coverage for waiting periods before provincial coverage eligibility, travel coverage, repatriation coverage, and bridge coverage options. Sold via institutional partnerships.
• Staff Plans Comprehensive group benefit plans for institutional staff including life insurance, extended health care, dental care, disability coverage, EAP, out-of-country coverage, health care spending accounts, flexible benefits, and retirement benefits. Sold to Canadian post-secondary institutions.
• Benefit Plan Office (BPO) On-site benefit plan office service where Gallivan staff assist students with coverage questions, claim forms, and tuition insurance claims at the physical campus. Pioneered by Gallivan and used by two-thirds of clients.
• Benefit Plan Partnership (BPP) A services and support program for student organizations that don't require a full turnkey BPO, providing knowledge, resources, and tools for delivering benefit services.
• Training & Support Services Annual Benefits Plan training conference for Student Service Coordinators and Client Service partners, including sessions on health/dental benefits, claims processing, mental health, and privacy laws. Also includes Executive Transitional Workshop for understanding insurance programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces student wait times to see counsellors
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Great-West Life with Canada LifecoreOthersMajor insurance carrier partnership providing foundational coverage products for student health and dental plans. One of two largest Canadian insurance carriers partnered with Gallivan.
• Green ShieldcoreOthersMajor insurance carrier partnership providing coverage products and administration services for student benefit plans.
• ManulifecoreOthersMajor insurance carrier partnership providing coverage products for student health and dental plans.
• Travel Insurance CoordinatorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel insurance provider for student travel coverage during reading week, spring break, and summer trips.
• AMICCUS-CflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership organization in post-secondary arena. Gallivan is a platinum sponsor and active supporter, contributing to professional development and leadership training for elected student organization leaders.
• Leaders HallflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership development organization for student leaders. Gallivan is a founding organizer, contributing to the professional development and leadership training of elected students of student organizations.
• Alberta Students' Executive Council (ASEC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRepresents over 100,000 Alberta students. Gallivan is a proud partner, supporting the student movement in Canada through philanthropy and student organization support.
• People CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallivan is a People Corporation company. People Corporation is a national benefits and HR services partner delivering integrated student benefit solutions, employee benefits consulting, group retirement solutions, third party administration, HR consulting, executive search, career transition, and recruitment services. Gallivan operates as part of People Corporation's student-focused division.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Studentcare: Studentcare is a Canadian not-for-profit administrator that designs and manages student health and dental benefit plans for universities and colleges. It is the most direct competitor to Gallivan in the Canadian post-secondary student benefits space.
• D.A. Townley: D.A. Townley is a long-standing Canadian broker and consultant specializing in student benefits programs for post-secondary institutions. It is a direct competitor in the same niche customer segment and product category as Gallivan.

Broad incumbents

• People Corporation: People Corporation is the parent company of Gallivan and a national Canadian provider of group benefits, retirement, HR consulting, and third-party administration. As a broad incumbent, it provides strategic context and is the natural acquirer/parent benchmark for Gallivan's offerings.
• Green Shield Canada: Green Shield Canada is one of Gallivan's core insurance carrier partners and also a major Canadian health and dental benefits provider. It is comparable as a broad incumbent offering student-adjacent and employer-sponsored plan administration.
• Manulife: Manulife is a global insurance carrier that partners with Gallivan for student health and dental coverage. It is a broad incumbent in the broader Canadian group benefits and individual health insurance market and a potential competitor or partner.
• Canada Life (Great-West Life): Canada Life (formerly Great-West Life) is a top-tier Canadian insurance carrier and one of Gallivan's main underwriting partners. It is comparable as a broad incumbent that underwrites student and employer group benefits plans.
• Sun Life Financial: Sun Life is one of Canada's largest group benefits carriers and a potential competitor in student and employer health/dental plans. It is comparable as a broad incumbent offering group benefits administration at scale.

Emerging players

• Inseparable (formerly Inkblot Therapy): Inseparable is an e-mental health platform serving Canadian post-secondary students and other populations. It is comparable as an emerging player in the same student mental health niche where Gallivan's mywellness competes.

Peers

• Morneau Shepell (LifeWorks): Morneau Shepell (now LifeWorks, owned by TELUS Health) is a major Canadian provider of EAP, group benefits, and HR services. It is comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping mental health and benefits administration services to institutions and employers.

Regional players

• Cowan Insurance Group: Cowan Insurance Group is a Canadian-owned brokerage that provides group benefits including student health and dental plans. It is comparable as a regional broker with adjacent institutional benefits capabilities in Canadian post-secondary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gallivansocial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gallivan