8:30-10:00am

Session Topic: Pension Basics

This session will provide an overview of retirement programs including registered pension plans, RRSPs, government programs and the many other different types of retirement programs available today. 

Tim Cottee - Canada Life

Tim Cottee is the Director, GRS Sales Support at Canada Life, working out of Winnipeg.

Tim has a true passion for financial advice, and the impact it can have for sponsors, active members, and retirees. He has been featured on CBC and BNN as an expert on retirement, and in multiple national advisor and client publications. Tim has worked as a marketing assistant, advisor, wholesaler and head office leader in individual and group retirement sales since 1999. His blend of deep retirement market expertise and his practical 'from the ground up’ experience gives him a unique perspective on the group retirement business.

10:30-12:00pm

Session Topic: Actuarial Basics

This session will give attendees a look inside the pension actuary's tool box, examining the fundamental principles of actuarial assumptions and how they affect funding and solvency valuations as well as commuted value calculations.

Kyle Meilleur - Ellement Consulting Group

Kyle is the Senior Vice President, Actuarial Services with Ellement Consulting Group. Kyle provides consulting for plan sponsors and boards on actuarial and funding related matters, specializing in actuarial projection valuations, plan design review, and providing strategic retirement solutions for clients in the public, private, and multi-employer sectors. In his role, he is responsible for leading a team of actuarial analysts and managing retirement services with a specific focus on pension, health, and executive retirement programs.

Kyle is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree, with a major in Actuarial Science. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). Kyle also serves on the Society of Actuaries Design and Accounting Exam committee.

2:00 - 3:30pm

Session Topic: Investment Basics and Asset Mix

Through this session, you will gain a basic understanding of investment principles and how they relate to pension fund management.  This session will also include looking at different types of investments, asset mix and diversification.

Chris Chernecki, BCV Asset Management

Chris has over twenty years of investment advisory and financial services experience.  Prior to joining BCV Asset Management Inc as a Portfolio Manager, Chris spent nine years as Vice-President of Institutional Relationships for a prominent Regina-based Institutional Investment Management firm in the Winnipeg and Regina offices where he was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of institutional relationships across western Canada. A CFA charterholder,  Chris is also actively involved in various volunteer and professional organizations outside of his professional career.

8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Session Topic:

Pension Regulations

This session will focus on provincial and federal legislation that governs the administration of pension plans, in addition, the unique role that the Office of the Superintendent - Pension Commission and the Canada Revenue Agency plays in overseeing pension plans.

Brad Prokop, Teachers’ Retirement Allowance Fund (TRAF)

As Vice President, Pensions at TRAF, Brad is responsible for the accurate and timely delivery of pension information to plan members. He also oversees member records, employer services, member and employer communications and actuarial services. Prior to joining TRAF, he was a senior actuarial consultant in the retirement practice of a large consulting firm, consulting to both public and private sector clients on defined benefit plan funding and plan design.

Brad is a graduate of the University of Manitoba and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). He also serves as Chair of the Prairie Regional Council of the Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM).

Rinesh Ubhee, Office of the Superintendant - Pension Commission

Rinesh Ubhee has been with the Office of the Superintendent - Pension Commission since 2019 and also has more than 2 years of Pension and Benefits administration experience. Rinesh has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba and has written several actuarial exams.

10:30am-12:00pm

Session Topic:  The future of pension plans in Canada - What are the challenges and how are regulators addressing these challenges? 

Pension plans are an important component of employee benefits. In this session will look at comparisons to other jurisdictions and what changes may be ahead in Manitoba, followed by a case study and hot topics.

J.J. Burnell - Partner, MLT Aikins LLP

J.J. Burnell is a partner at MLT Aikins LLP and advises on and assists in a wide variety of matters involving pension and benefit plans, including winding-up or amendment of plans, plan creation and implementation, plan mergers, trust agreements and agreements for administrative services, surplus and distribution issues.  J.J. is a Council Member of CPBI Manitoba serving as the representative on the CPBI-ICRA National Board, as well as a member of the CBA Pensions and Benefits Law Section’s Advocacy and Government Relations Committee & Communications Committee.

2:00 - 3:30pm

Session Topic:  Investment Trends, Defined Contribution Investment Strategies and Best Practices

In this session, you will gain an understanding on current investment trends as well as defined contribution (DC) pension plans’ investment structures and DC best practices.

Tyler Smith, Fiera Capital

Tyler Smith is a member of the Institutional Markets team and is responsible for client servicing for institutional clients.

Tyler has more than 20 years of industry experience and has been with the firm since 2021. Prior to joining Fiera Capital, Tyler worked for several Canadian and Global consulting firms, most recently specializing in working with institutional jointly trusteed and multi-employer clients. During his career Tyler worked as a line of business leader, investment consultant and plan actuary in a variety of senior roles.

Tyler has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Manitoba. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA).