Plan Sponsor Breakfast (for Plan Sponsors only)
Four Generations - Four Approaches to Work: Increasing Engagement
Giselle Kovary, n-gen People Performance Inc.

Organizations today face the challenge of creating high-performing work environments that produce results. Your workforce is comprised of four generations (Traditionalist, Baby Boomer, Gen X and Gen Y). Each of these cohorts possesses unique identities that translate into different behaviours and expectations in the workplace. It is important for every leader to be able to tap into the values and expectations of each generation in order to increase levels of engagement.

This highly interactive presentation explores how generational identities translate into behaviours as they relate to two organizational factors – relationship with authority and work styles. It will define the characteristics of organizational engagement and the role leaders play in creating engagement and provides the top five leadership tips that can be applied right away.

Opening Keynote 
Let's Talk
Clara Hughes, Six Time Olympic Medalist /  Mental Health Advocate

Clara Hughes has always felt that being a champion means more than winning. It is the actions off the playing field and the reaching out to others that defines success. As a designated spokesperson for Bell Canada’s Let’s Talk campaign, Clara is works toward changing the dismal reality millions of Canadians are faced with when it comes to support and treatment for mental health issues.

Reflecting upon her own experiences, Clara discusses her personal struggles with depression in the past, and hopes that sharing her story will help to eliminate the some of the stigma and fear that surrounds mental illness in Canada.

Luncheon Presentation
Balancing Life with Humour
Kate Davis

Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and to offer creative solutions to defuse the frustrations in the home and workplace. Kate’s generous insight and outspoken character, provides a powerful combination to help organizations empower their staff with effective tools for managing stress and sustaining motivation.

Between our jobs, home, relationships with family, friends and co-workers learning how to   balance our busy life demands a strong sense of Personal Development and most importantly a Sense of Humour.

Concurrent Session - Benefits 1

Risk protection – everything you need to know about travel insurance, EP3 pooling and the future high cost industry pooled claims
With the drug pricing reform behind us and recent emergency travel health claims exceeding $1 million, pooled risk protection has never been more important. This workshop will be segmented into two topics. First we will discuss Travel Insurance with the Director of Client Services at Allianz Global, Sarah Hume. We will review what is covered? How it is covered? And what exclusions do we need to be aware of? Then we will focus on the industry drug pooling system with Dan Berty, Executive Director at the Canadian Drug Insurance Pooling Corporation (CDIPC) and Isabelle Bouchard, VP of Group Insurance at Reinsurance Group of America (RGA).  We will learn what the pool is all about? What are some of the results since implementation? What have some of the challenges been? And what can we expect to see in the future?    

ORPP is Coming – Plan Designs for a New Tomorrow
Starting from the assumption that the ORPP is coming, this workshop will look at plan design issues that DC and DB plans will need to consider before the ORPP becomes effective. For example, what will happen during existing participation waiting periods? Will contributions be decreased or increased? This workshop will drill down on some of the design issues that arise with the implementation of a province wide registered pension plan and will also consider the implications and risks from a labour and employment perspective.

Susan Nickerson, Torys LLP
Nigel Branker, Morneau Shepell

How Responsible & Informed Plan Design Change can Benefit Plan Sponsors & Members: The Enerflex Case Study
In a benefits environment where too often design change is perceived negatively by members, and often where changes are made without proper insight into their impact, Enerflex is among the small percentage of Canadian plan sponsors who have made responsible plan design change within their drug plan experience that has been a win-win for both the plan and its members.

Despite having a significant burden of chronic specialty therapies in its plan experience over the last few years, Enerflex has been successful in identifying opportunities for meaningful plan design change that has allowed the company to introduce responsible changes that have not only preserved member access to a generous drug plan benefit, but also allowed for new benefits to be introduced in the area of health and wellness.

In this session, Enerflex will share how they have used insight into their own experience to implement customized solutions, communicate effectively with members, vendor’s support and ongoing monitoring have helped to deliver a win-win for the plan and its members.

ESG- Coming to a SIP&P Near You 
As of January 1, 2016, it will be necessary for the Statement of Investment Policies & Procedures for Ontario-registered pension plans to disclose whether environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are considered and, if so, how.  Starting March 1, 2016, the administrator of these plans must file the SIP&P with the pension regulator.  Periodic member statements will also require ESG disclosure.  This panel will discuss what exactly ESG is (and what it’s not) from both an investment and a legal perspective, and what issues the increased focus on ESG may bring.  The panel will also provide practical guidance to plan administrators and advisors regarding how to address the new disclosure requirements in relation to plans of all sizes, including both DB and DC plans.

Part I - Retirement Readiness - Plan Sponsor Stories (All Delegate Plenary) 
Sponsors will share what they are currently doing in order to help employees retire with confidence in regards to health, wealth and general wellbeing.

Renee Ruccolo, City of Windsor 
Peter Frampton, The Learning Enrichment Foundation

Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Future Of Health Benefits Plan Design
If we had an empty whiteboard and our task was to design the first ever health benefits plan, what would it look like in 2015? A lot has changed since the first plan was constructed: challenges in the Canadian healthcare landscape, several generations in the workplace, unsustainable retiree plan costs. These factors are bringing into question our current offerings. How can we respond to these challenges and balance what employees have grown to like and want with what we know they need? This session will examine the possibilities for evolving our plan design strategies to have them fall in line with the health challenges our population faces now and will face in the decades to come.

Sarah Beech, Accompass 
Paul Sywulych, Morneau Shepell

The Decline of Canada's Pension System
Following the fall of the stock markets in 2001 and the global financial crisis of 2008, a major change has been seen in the pension system in Canada as employers convert their defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans. DC plans guarantee a stable cost to the sponsor, largely eliminating their investment risks and demographic. But are we going to forget too quickly the benefits of DB plans? Analyzing the situation in more detail, what are the real causes that motivate employers to abandon this type of plan? Daniel Brosseau will share his vision on the real causes of the closure of DB plans, as well as solutions that could help to ensure their sustainability.

Wellness Strategies - what are plan sponsors doing?
What are the highlights of award-winning wellness programs? Are organizations large and small using outside resources? Is the focus on primary or secondary prevention, physical or mental health? This session will examine some innovative ideas on how to get a program started, engage employees in diverse work-forces, while addressing stress-related absences and improving physical and mental well-being.

Teresa DuCroix, The Regional Municipality of York
Jackie Arnold, Bruce Telecom
Leah Warner, Employee Wellness Solutions Network
Tom Blake, Sprout Wellness Solutions
Renu Khosla, Greater Essex County District School Board

Concurrent Session - Pension & Investments 4

Target Date Funds - a 10 Year Restrospective and a View to the Future 
Target Date Funds arrived in Canada in 2005.  This workshop will provide a retrospective on the last ten years of experience – where are they now; what has been the experience; and where are they going? 

Zaheed Jiwani, Greystone Managed Investments

Part II - Retirement Readiness Solutions (All Delegates Plenary)

We will hear some solutions focused on helping sponsors and in turn employees to be retirement ready.

Robin Ingle, Novus Health
Janice Holman, Eckler Ltd.
Jillian Kennedy, Merer
Ashely Spetch, Homewood