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4:45 PM - 6:15 PM
Session ID: KNA
OPENING KEYNOTE—Breaking the Mold: Leadership That Redefines What’s PossibleCategory: Keynote
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
In this powerful keynote, Commander Paul Smith unpacks what it means to lead when you don’t fit the mold, as well as how individuals, teams and organizations can lead with clarity, influence with integrity and perform under pressure, even when the stakes are high and the spotlight is on. This is more than a leadership talk. It offers a challenge to every audience: Don’t just lead the way it’s always been done—Lead in a way that redefines what’s possible.
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Paul Smith, OMM, MSM, CD
7:45 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: KNB
KEYNOTE SESSION—The Shifting Canadian Political LandscapeCategory: Keynote
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
Discussing the shifting Canadian political landscape requires navigating a volatile environment defined by a major leadership change, intense U.S.–Canada relations and a realignment of voter priorities. In this session, Chantal Hébert, a renowned journalist and political commentator, will share her view of the increasingly complicated landscape.
Chantal Hébert présentera une session en français.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: FR03
Surmonter le stress financier pour renforcer le bien-être mental au travailCategory: Français
Location:
- L’impact du stress financier sur la santé mentale
- Lien entre endettement et bien-être des employés
- Reconnaître les signes de détresse financière
- Ressources et stratégies pour soutenir les employés
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: MP01
FEATURED SESSION—A Rupture—Not a Transition: Navigating Economic Uncertainty in a Time of ChaosCategory: General Topics
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
This economic outlook will set the stage for the day, exploring key forces of disruption facing Canadian trustees and plan sponsors, organized in three parts.
- Part 1: Major Disruptors
- Global geopolitical instability
- Fractured Canada–U.S. trade relations and rising tariffs
- Climate‑driven extreme weather events
- Rapid technological disruption, especially AI
- Part 2: Canada’s Economic Landscape
- Consensus forecast for national real GDP
- Labour market prospects
- Inflation trends and potential Bank of Canada interest rate moves
- Part 3: Futureproofing in Turbulent Times
- Essential tools to navigating uncertainty
Une session sur la perspective économique pour 2027 sera offerte en français par un autre conférencier.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: FR04
Prestations familiales : évolution des besoins et des régimesCategory: Français
Location:
- Types de prestations familiales offertes (fertilité, adoption, etc.)
- Conception des régimes et options des assureurs
- Coûts et considérations financières
- Enjeux administratifs et réglementaires
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: F01
Artificial Intelligence and Fiduciary Duty: What Every Board Should KnowCategory: Fiduciary Responsibility
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Understanding the board’s role in overseeing AI, where it is used, what decisions it influences and how oversight may change
- Identifying key risks, including fiduciary duty, data privacy, bias, cybersecurity and third-party vendors, and how these inform the board’s approved risk appetite
- Understanding the evolving regulatory landscape in Canada and the growing expectation that boards understand and oversee both the risks and opportunities of AI, even without a clear set of rules
- Practical approaches to evaluating, approving and monitoring AI, including how boards may use AI to support their own oversight
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: P05-1
Balancing Income and Flexibility: A Holistic Approach to RetirementThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Retirement income sustainability and flexibility
- Decumulation, timing and risk trade-offs
- Coordination of pensions, benefits and personal savings
- Predictable income for essential expenses
- Access to savings for changing needs
- Plan design and governance for better outcomes
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: I02
Basics in Financial Performance BenchmarkingCategory: Investments
Difficulty Level: Introductory
Location:
- Define appropriate benchmarks for pension plan performance.
- Select effective performance monitoring tools.
- Identify common benchmarking pitfalls.
- Compare plan performance to relevant peer groups.
- Improve oversight of investment results and benchmarks.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: H03-1
Beyond Burnout: Reimagining Mental Health in the Global WorkplaceThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Draw on the latest research and global trends to understand the evolving definition of burnout and the hidden organizational costs.
- Treat burnout as a systemic issue—shaped by workload, culture, leadership practices and the evolving demands of hybrid work.
- Equip leaders with clear, evidence-informed strategies they can apply immediately to strengthen resilience, belonging and mental health.
- Evolve from reactive support to proactive, human-centred prevention.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: T02-1
Helmets to Hardhats for SuccessThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Training and Education
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Connecting transitioning service members to apprenticeship opportunities
- Translating military training into career pathways
- Addressing common challenges veterans face
- Supporting veterans
- Mental health
- Transitioning challenges
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: I11-1
Investing in Agricultural Opportunities and TechnologyThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Survey of agricultural investments
- Food demand and supply trends
- Technology in modern agriculture
- Farmland as a long-term asset
- Portfolio diversification benefits
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: I06-1
Investing in CommoditiesThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Historical market supply and inventory trends
- Commodities’ role in portfolio diversification
- Inflation hedging strategies
- Assessing potential over the next decade
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: P03-1
Target Benefit Regulatory UpdateThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Target benefit framework
- New rules for multi-employer pension plans
- Conversion considerations
- Funding and benefits policy requirements
- Provisions for adverse deviation (PfADs)
- Oversight, supervision and governance
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: PE02-1
The Cost of Doing NothingThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Public Plans
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Financial and health impacts of inaction on benefit plans
- How to assess and manage costs when designing a plan
- How envy can pose a risk to your own plan
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: A02
Understanding Your Financial StatementsCategory: Administration
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- A practical walk-through of common financial statement components with an emphasis on changes in CPA Canada Handbook, Section 4600
- How these changes show up in disclosures and audit approaches, especially around alternative investments
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: FR05
Utilisation des excédents de régime : principes et considérations clésCategory: Français
Location:
- Évaluer les améliorations de prestations et autres options
- Comprendre le rôle des marges de financement
- Assurer l’équité entre les participants et la durabilité
- Outils pour soutenir des décisions
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: I03
Alternative Investments 101Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Introductory
Location:
- Define alternative investments and core strategies.
- Understand fee structures.
- Evaluate liquidity constraints and capital calls.
- Assess pacing, commitments and cash flow impact.
- Diversification and risk strategies
- Questions to ask before investing
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: C01
Communicating Difficult DecisionsCategory: Communication
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- What defines an organizational crisis, including a labour strike, and its psychological impact?
- Best practices for crisis management and communication
- Communicating benefit reductions, funding shortfalls and plan changes
- Balancing fiduciary duty with member expectations
- Clear, compliant messaging aligned with pension standards legislation
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: A01
Fraud: The Invisible Risk in GovernanceCategory: Administration
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Fraud risk is often addressed through policies, controls and risk registers.
- Why fraud risk is so difficult for boards to see
- How power dynamics and organizational culture contribute to blind spots
- What trustees can do to strengthen oversight without turning governance into investigations, including pension and benefits plans
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: G02
From Frenzy to Focus: Finding Clarity and Calm in a Chaotic EconomyCategory: General Topics
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- With the rules of geopolitics being rewritten, Canada’s economy is in unfamiliar and unpleasant territory.
- A fractured Canada–U.S. trade relationship
- Tariffs and what they could mean for supply chains and macro disruption
- Extreme weather events and their economic impact
- The path forward for interest rates and inflation
- Technological disruption, especially artificial intelligence
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: I04
From Reaction to Strategy: A Rational Investment ApproachCategory: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Geopolitical events and market impacts
- Avoiding emotion-driven investment decisions
- Disciplined investment decision making
- Global diversification strategies
- Long-term perspective during market uncertainty
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: I13-1
Investing in Canada’s Energy and Natural ResourcesThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Canada as a major global energy supplier
- AI growth on demand
- Areas of opportunity
- Hydroelectric and nuclear energy advantages
- Critical minerals
- Natural gas
- Examples of domestic energy projects
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
ID de la session: FR01
L’évolution du paysage politique canadienneCatégorie: Français
Salle:
L’état des lieux sur la scène politique canadienne à l’avant-veille d’un scrutin décisif pour la suite référendaire des choses au Québec et d’un plébiscite sur l’indépendance en Alberta sur fond de sables mouvants canado-américains. Au cours de cette session, l’analyste politique Chantal Hébert présente un tour d’horizon des enjeux de la rentrée politique 2026 au Canada.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: H05
Navigating Financial Stress to Strengthen Workplace Mental Well-BeingCategory: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- How financial stress is a major source of distress
- The link between debt and mental health
- Recognizing signs of stress and referring members to resources
- Supporting financial and mental well-being at work
- Resources, where to find them and what questions to ask
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: L04
Pension Plan Consolidations and MergersCategory: Legal/Legislative Update
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Strategic drivers: Scale, cost efficiency and governance capacity
- Fiduciary and regulatory considerations in plan mergers
- Due diligence: Funding, investments, administration and member impact
- Integration planning, communication and risk management
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: F04
Running Your Board and Committee Meetings EffectivelyCategory: Fiduciary Responsibility
Difficulty Level: Introductory
Location:
- Preparation—Agenda and meeting materials
- Role of the chair—Facilitating reporting and decision making
- Self-assessment—Measuring your effectiveness
- Attendees will receive an FAQ/checklist resource.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: P07
The Long View: Managing Intergenerational Equity for Pension PlansCategory: Pension
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Defining intergenerational equity
- Identifying drivers of generational imbalance
- Funding policy impacts across generations
- Evaluating surplus decisions and long-term effects
- Tools to monitor and manage equity
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: P05-2
Balancing Income and Flexibility: A Holistic Approach to RetirementThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Retirement income sustainability and flexibility
- Decumulation, timing and risk trade-offs
- Coordination of pensions, benefits and personal savings
- Predictable income for essential expenses
- Access to savings for changing needs
- Plan design and governance for better outcomes
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: H06
Family Benefits: Meeting Evolving Needs With Modern, Meaningful PlansCategory: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Emerging trends in Canada aimed at expanding the range of benefits
- Benefits include fertility treatment, egg freezing, adoption, and legal and administrative fees
- Typical plan design, including maximums and coinsurance
- How do benefit plan innovations create cultures that support career growth and personal well-being?
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: T02-2
Helmets to Hardhats for SuccessThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Training and Education
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Connecting transitioning service members to apprenticeship opportunities
- Translating military training into career pathways
- Addressing common challenges veterans face
- Supporting veterans
- Mental health
- Transitioning challenges
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: C02
Innovation in Member Engagement OpportunitiesCategory: Communication
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- How pension plans engage with their members
- Understand the modern user experience (UX), segmentation/personas, different communication channels and opportunities to enhance retirement literacy.
- Case study evaluations and lessons learned along the way
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: I11-2
Investing in Agricultural Opportunities and TechnologyThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Survey of agricultural investments
- Food demand and supply trends
- Technology in modern agriculture
- Farmland as a long-term asset
- Portfolio diversification benefits
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: I06-2
Investing in CommoditiesThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Historical market supply and inventory trends
- Commodities’ role in portfolio diversification
- Inflation hedging strategies
- Assessing potential over the next decade
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: I01
Investments 101Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Introductory
Location:
- Institutional investing fundamentals
- Asset classes
- Interest rates and their impact on bonds
- Risk-and-return concepts
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: FR09
Prévenir la fraude : comprendre et contrer les nouvelles menacesCategory: Français
Location:
- Tendances émergentes en matière de fraude et d’IA
- Rôles et responsabilités des fiduciaires et des promoteurs de régimes
- Bonnes pratiques de prévention et de détection
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: P03-2
Target Benefit Regulatory UpdateThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Target benefit framework
- New rules for multi-employer pension plans
- Conversion considerations
- Funding and benefits policy requirements
- Provisions for adverse deviation (PfADs)
- Oversight, supervision and governance
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: F03-1
The Brain Science of Decision MakingThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Fiduciary Responsibility
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Explore cognitive biases that shape judgment and risk assessment
- Brain-based strategies to build consensus and reduce conflict
- Common mistakes that derail sound governance decisions
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: PE02-2
The Cost of Doing NothingThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Public Plans
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Financial and health impacts of inaction on benefit plans
- How to assess and manage costs when designing a plan
- How envy can pose a risk to your own plan
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: KNC
KEYNOTE SESSION—The New AI Power Shift: Risks, Rewards and Readiness for 2026 and BeyondCategory: Keynote
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
Amber Mac is an award-winning podcaster, bestselling author and media host on the topic of AI and emerging technology. A new AI power shift is underway, reshaping how we work, lead and compete. To navigate this shift with confidence, Amber provides a practical blueprint for making smarter decisions, building resilient teams and leading responsibly in an AI-driven future. The real opportunity isn’t just adopting AI, but ensuring more people are empowered to participate in this transformation.
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Amber Mac
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: FR02
Perspective économiques 2027Category: Français
Location:
- Analyse des principales tendances économiques mondiales et canadiennes à surveiller en 2027.
- Impact de l’inflation, des taux d’intérêt et des politiques monétaires sur les marchés financiers.
- Enjeux géopolitiques et leur influence sur la croissance économique et les décisions d’investissement.
- Points de vigilance et stratégies pour naviguer dans un environnement économique incertain.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: FR06
Équité intergénérationnelle : mesurer, comprendre et agirCategory: Français
Location:
- Facteurs pouvant créer des inégalités entre générations
- Impact des politiques de financement et des décisions sur les excédents
- Cadre et outils pour évaluer la durabilité et l’équité à long terme des régimes
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: MP02
FEATURED SESSION—Legal/Legislative Developments Across CanadaCategory: Legal/Legislative Update
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
This panel will discuss proposed and recently passed legislation and regulations as well as court decisions affecting pension and health and welfare plans.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: I07-1
Bonds BootcampThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Introductory
Location:
- Explain the current value of bonds in portfolios
- Understand interest rate dynamics and bond performance
- Compare active and passive bond strategies
- Risk management
- Diversification to strengthen portfolios
- Building portfolios in current market conditions
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: F05-1
CAPSA Guidelines No. 3 and No. 10This session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Fiduciary Responsibility
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Key principles from the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) Guideline No. 3: Guideline for Capital Accumulation Plans
- Updates and expectations under CAPSA Guideline No. 10: Guideline for Risk Management for Plan Administrators
- Integrating enterprise risk frameworks into board oversight
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: T01-1
Changes in Funding PolicyThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Training and Education
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Countrywide overview
- Ontario funding shifts and training capacity investments
- Alberta grants expansion
- Nova Scotia direct supports
- Manitoba employer incentives and grants
- Strategies to address shortages in the trades
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: I09-1
From Crisis to Comeback: Institutional Investing in Commercial Real EstateThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- The pandemic’s impact on commercial real estate markets
- Trends in commercial real estate
- Lessons learned from institutional investor responses
- Current market challenges
- Strategies to achieve expected returns
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: FR11
Gérer les crises organisationnelles : rôles clés et communication efficaceCategory: Français
Location:
- Comprendre l’impact psychologique d’une crise organisationnelle
- Bonnes pratiques en matière de gestion et de communication en situation de crise
- Coordination des ressources et des intervenants internes et externes
- Importance de la préparation et de la résilience organisationnelle
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: L01
Legal/Legislative Update—Atlantic CanadaCategory: Legal/Legislative Update
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Provide an overview of proposed and recently passed legislation and regulations.
- Explore court decisions affecting pension and health and welfare benefit plans specific to Atlantic Canada.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: P04
Making the Most of Pension Surplus: A Framework for Fair, Sustainable DecisionsCategory: Pension
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Governance principles for surplus decisions
- Intergenerational equity considerations
- Benefit improvements and contribution holidays
- Long-term plan sustainability
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: H02-1
Managing High-Cost Claims: Strategies to Reduce Costs and Manage Health OutcomesThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- New drugs entering the Canadian market
- The associated high costs and financial sustainability
- How insurers are reimbursing these drugs
- Strategies for plan sponsors to mitigate the cost impact of these drugs within their drug plan design and ensure their appropriate use
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: H04-1
Proactive Strategies: Embedding Early Intervention Programs in Absence and Disability ManagementThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Understand the critical role of early intervention programs in preventing prolonged absences and disability claims.
- Learn how to design and implement intermittent absence management and proactive accommodation programs focused on prevention.
- Explore case studies demonstrating successful early intervention strategies embedded within the continuum of health for maximized outcomes.
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Rosalie Croteau
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: P01-1
Seeing Through the NoiseThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Trends, temperature check, and news and regulations
- Understanding current markets
- Keeping emotions out of investment decisions
- Reviewing your investment policy statement
- Risk management strategies
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: I08-1
Weathering the Storm: Climate Risk Strategies for Modern Pension FundsThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- How climate risks affect pension plans
- Impacts on returns and funding
- Climate disclosure standards
- Measuring and reporting climate exposures
- Investment opportunities
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: PE01
Are You Ready for Business Interruption?Category: Public Plans
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Explore the BC Pension Corporation labour dispute (strike) case study and business continuity plan.
- Provide lessons learned for other administrators to consider as part of their business continuity plan.
- Applicable for pension administrators and benefits administrators
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: P06-1
Bridging the Generational Divide: Rethinking Retirement Savings for a Changing WorkforceThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Workforce trends shaping plan design
- Generational shifts in retirement expectations
- Growth of defined contribution plans
- Role of defined benefit plans
- Engagement and member experience strategies
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: H01-1
Creating an Inclusive Benefits Plan and Workplace CultureThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Building an inclusive environment
- What types of benefits support a diverse population?
- Administrative changes that remove barriers
- New coverages available for plan members transitioning
- How benefit plans can supplement government-sponsored programs
- How analysing claims data can lead to a practical design framework that aligns benefits with member experience, optimizing utilization and outcomes
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: FR10
Gouvernance des comités : relever les défis et prendre des décisions éclairéesCategory: Français
Location:
- Défis fréquents rencontrés par les comités
- Gestion des divergences d’opinions
- Favoriser des discussions productives et une gouvernance efficace
- Bonnes pratiques pour soutenir la prise de décision collective
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: I13-2
Investing in Canada’s Energy and Natural ResourcesThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Canada as a major global energy supplier
- AI growth on demand
- Areas of opportunity
- Hydroelectric and nuclear energy advantages
- Critical minerals
- Natural gas
- Examples of domestic energy projects
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: L02
Legal/Legislative Update—Central CanadaCategory: Legal/Legislative Update
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Provide an overview of proposed and recently passed legislation and regulations.
- Explore court decisions affecting pension and health and welfare benefit plans specific to Central Canada.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: F02
Navigating Conflicts and Board DilemmasCategory: Fiduciary Responsibility
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- Understanding how different roles and perspectives shape boardroom decisions and how inherent structural conflicts must be recognized and managed
- The challenge of fiduciary duty in practice, balancing representation, loyalty and the obligation to act in the best interest of the plan as a whole
- Why conflicts are not always obvious or intentional and how they can influence decisions even when individuals believe they are acting appropriately
- Practical approaches to managing conflicts at the board level, including clear policies, transparency and effective oversight of areas such as reimbursements, education and related benefits
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: P02-1
Retirement by Design: Decisions That Shape Women’s RetirementsThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- A look at gender gaps in retirement savings
- How career breaks impact lifetime earnings
- Longevity and retirement income needs
- Plan design considerations
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: I12-1
Target-Date Funds: The Next GenerationThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Evolution of target-date funds
- Alternative investment strategies
- Blending public and private assets
- Role of multimanager structures
- Assessing target-date glidepaths
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: F03-2
The Brain Science of Decision MakingThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Fiduciary Responsibility
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Explore cognitive biases that shape judgment and risk assessment
- Brain-based strategies to build consensus and reduce conflict
- Common mistakes that derail sound governance decisions
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session ID: I05
The Inflation Puzzle: Understanding and Managing Its Impact on Pension PlansCategory: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Inflation trends affecting pension plans
- Impact on funding and long-term sustainability
- Drivers behind the current inflation environment
- Inflation mitigation strategies
- Discussion on conditional indexation and proactive investment approaches
- Questions trustees should be asking
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: F05-2
CAPSA Guidelines No. 3 and No. 10This session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Fiduciary Responsibility
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Key principles from the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) Guideline No. 3: Guideline for Capital Accumulation Plans
- Updates and expectations under CAPSA Guideline No. 10: Guideline for Risk Management for Plan Administrators
- Integrating enterprise risk frameworks into board oversight
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: T01-2
Changes in Funding PolicyThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Training and Education
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Countrywide overview
- Ontario funding shifts and training capacity investments
- Alberta grants expansion
- Nova Scotia direct supports
- Manitoba employer incentives and grants
- Strategies to address shortages in the trades
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: I14
Consultants RoundtableCategory: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
This facilitated panel discussion will offer an opportunity for investment consultants to discuss hot topics in the investment landscape.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: A03-1
CybersecurityThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Administration
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- As a trustee, what do you need to know, and what is your role?
- Walk through a breach process and understand who is responsible for what.
- What expectations should a trustee have regarding cybersecurity insurance?
- Creating awareness through a tabletop exercise and a case study
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: FR07
De la réaction à la stratégie : bâtir une approche d’investissement rationnelleCategory: Français
Location:
- Comprendre l’influence des événements géopolitiques sur les marchés
- Éviter les décisions guidées par l’émotion
- Maintenir une stratégie d’investissement diversifiée à l’échelle mondiale
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: I09-2
From Crisis to Comeback: Institutional Investing in Commercial Real EstateThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- The pandemic’s impact on commercial real estate markets
- Trends in commercial real estate
- Lessons learned from institutional investor responses
- Current market challenges
- Strategies to achieve expected returns
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: L03
Legal/Legislative Update—Western CanadaCategory: Legal/Legislative Update
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Provide an overview of proposed and recently passed legislation and regulations.
- Explore court decisions affecting pension and health and welfare benefit plans specific to Western Canada.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: H02-2
Managing High-Cost Claims: Strategies to Reduce Costs and Manage Health OutcomesThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- New drugs entering the Canadian market
- The associated high costs and financial sustainability
- How insurers are reimbursing these drugs
- Strategies for plan sponsors to mitigate the cost impact of these drugs within their drug plan design and ensure their appropriate use
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: G01-1
Resistance Is Futile: Dealing With Accelerating ChangeThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: General Topics
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- How do we manage to keep ourselves up and prevent our employees from being overwhelmed?
- Recognize when it’s important to jump on the change train and when you ought to pause.
- How to break down change into practical steps, like a coach teaching a player to hit a baseball
- The mindset that allows for continual change without feeling scattered and off balance
-
Sarah Jenner
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session ID: I10-1
When Cash Flows Turn Negative: Governance and Investment Implications for Mature Pension PlansThis session is repeated on September 2, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Cash flow’s impact on plan risk profile
- Liquidity needs and asset mix adjustments
- Benefit payment strategies
- Sequencing risk and derisking paths
- Cash flow monitoring and drawdown policies
- Alignment of funding, investment and benefit decisions
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: H03-2
Beyond Burnout: Reimagining Mental Health in the Global WorkplaceThis session is repeated on August 31, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Draw on the latest research and global trends to understand the evolving definition of burnout and the hidden organizational costs.
- Treat burnout as a systemic issue—shaped by workload, culture, leadership practices and the evolving demands of hybrid work.
- Equip leaders with clear, evidence-informed strategies they can apply immediately to strengthen resilience, belonging and mental health.
- Evolve from reactive support to proactive, human-centred prevention.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: I07-2
Bonds BootcampThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Introductory
Location:
- Explain the current value of bonds in portfolios
- Understand interest rate dynamics and bond performance
- Compare active and passive bond strategies
- Risk management
- Diversification to strengthen portfolios
- Building portfolios in current market conditions
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: FR08
Investir aujourd’hui : enjeux, tendances et stratégies émergentesCategory: Français
Location:
- Tendances actuelles des marchés et de l’investissement institutionnel
- Nouveaux risques et occasions à surveiller
- Stratégies et approches pour s’adapter à un environnement incertain
- Perspectives d’experts du secteur
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: G03
Maximizing Your Membership: Foundation Resources and RoundtablesCategory: General Topics
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
Join this session to learn about the wide array of educational options, toolkits, survey results and customized research available to Foundation members. Then discuss with fellow attendees the latest hot topics and trends impacting trustees, administrators and benefit plans in a roundtable setting.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: P02-2
Retirement by Design: Decisions That Shape Women’s RetirementsThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- A look at gender gaps in retirement savings
- How career breaks impact lifetime earnings
- Longevity and retirement income needs
- Plan design considerations
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: P01-2
Seeing Through the NoiseThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Trends, temperature check, and news and regulations
- Understanding current markets
- Keeping emotions out of investment decisions
- Reviewing your investment policy statement
- Risk management strategies
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session ID: I08-2
Weathering the Storm: Climate Risk Strategies for Modern Pension FundsThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Location:
- How climate risks affect pension plans
- Impacts on returns and funding
- Climate disclosure standards
- Measuring and reporting climate exposures
- Investment opportunities
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: P06-2
Bridging the Generational Divide: Rethinking Retirement Savings for a Changing WorkforceThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Pension
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Workforce trends shaping plan design
- Generational shifts in retirement expectations
- Growth of defined contribution plans
- Role of defined benefit plans
- Engagement and member experience strategies
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: H01-2
Creating an Inclusive Benefits Plan and Workplace CultureThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Building an inclusive environment
- What types of benefits support a diverse population?
- Administrative changes that remove barriers
- New coverages available for plan members transitioning
- How benefit plans can supplement government-sponsored programs
- How analysing claims data can lead to a practical design framework that aligns benefits with member experience, optimizing utilization and outcomes
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: A03-2
CybersecurityThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Administration
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- As a trustee, what do you need to know, and what is your role?
- Walk through a breach process and understand who is responsible for what.
- What expectations should a trustee have regarding cybersecurity insurance?
- Creating awareness through a tabletop exercise and a case study
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: FR12
Médicaments et régimes collectifs : naviguer les nouvelles réalitésCategory: Français
Location:
- Tendances émergentes en matière de médicaments
- Facteurs influençant les coûts des régimes
- Nouveaux traitements et innovations
- Stratégies de gestion des coûts et d’accès aux soins
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: H04-2
Proactive Strategies: Embedding Early Intervention Programs in Absence and Disability ManagementThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Health & Wellness
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Understand the critical role of early intervention programs in preventing prolonged absences and disability claims.
- Learn how to design and implement intermittent absence management and proactive accommodation programs focused on prevention.
- Explore case studies demonstrating successful early intervention strategies embedded within the continuum of health for maximized outcomes.
-
Rosalie Croteau
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: G01-2
Resistance Is Futile: Dealing With Accelerating ChangeThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: General Topics
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- How do we manage to keep ourselves up and prevent our employees from being overwhelmed?
- Recognize when it’s important to jump on the change train and when you ought to pause.
- How to break down change into practical steps, like a coach teaching a player to hit a baseball
- The mindset that allows for continual change without feeling scattered and off balance
-
Sarah Jenner
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: I12-2
Target-Date Funds: The Next GenerationThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Evolution of target-date funds
- Alternative investment strategies
- Blending public and private assets
- Role of multimanager structures
- Assessing target-date glidepaths
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Session ID: I10-2
When Cash Flows Turn Negative: Governance and Investment Implications for Mature Pension PlansThis session is repeated on September 1, 2026
Category: Investments
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
- Cash flow’s impact on plan risk profile
- Liquidity needs and asset mix adjustments
- Benefit payment strategies
- Sequencing risk and derisking paths
- Cash flow monitoring and drawdown policies
- Alignment of funding, investment and benefit decisions
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session ID: KND
FINALE SESSION—The Importance of TeamworkCategory: Keynote
Difficulty Level: All
Location:
Toronto Argonauts general manager (and former coach and player) Michael (Pinball) Clemons exemplifies the capabilities of teamwork and leadership while demonstrating what it means to beat the odds. Michael’s tireless community involvement and participation in countless charitable causes exemplify the qualities he possesses. His presentations are captivating and empowering and clearly demonstrate the capabilities of teamwork.
-
Michael Clemons, OOnt
Pricing
Through July 20, 2026
C$2,225.00
Member
C$2,555.00
Nonmember
After July 20, 2026
C$2,525.00
Member
C$2,855.00
Nonmember