Published by the British Columbia Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists Page 1

ISCEBS British Columbia Chapter Newsletter July 2015

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:

2015 Symposium

2015 Education Sessions

Summer Social Event

Leadership Conference

CPE & Fellowship Program

Congratulations, Graduates!

2016 Board Nominations

For over 30 years, the Symposium has been the must-

attend event for thousands of corporate benefits profes-

sionals. Designed with a variety of U.S., Canadian and

globally oriented sessions, the Symposium is an unparal-

leled opportunity to learn from and alongside hundreds of

industry colleagues, experts and leaders. The Symposium

features specialized tracks in health, retirement, strategic

benefits and human resources, and Canadian benefits. At-

tendees represent corporations, consulting firms, health

care organizations, hospitals, banks, insurance companies,

investment and administration firms, jointly trusteed and

public employee benefit plans, law firms and other organi-

zations involved with employee benefits.

Our British Columbia Chapter is thrilled to be the hosting

Chapter for the 2015 Symposium. We have been working

hard to put together activities to showcase our wonderful

city and help create a memorable session for all attendees.

We look forward to having you join us and other ISCEBS

members. Register now, click here for more details. Learn

more at www.iscebs.org.

We have organized two private tours: Whistler Tour (Satur-

day August 22) and North Shore Tour (Sunday August 23).

To register or find more details, click here.

2015 Chapter Executives: President: Brent Delveaux Vice President: Kandy Cantwell Treasurer: Kevina Hyde Secretary: Andrew Wood

Please contact us at: bciscebs@gmail.com

Join or renew your ISCEBS member-

ship today at

www.iscebs.org

34th Annual ISCEBS Employee Benefits Symposium

August 23 – 26, 2015 Hyatt Regency Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia

Published by the British Columbia Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists Page 2

We had great turnout in our recent Education Sessions:

• April 14 session: “Fight Diabesity with your Fork” – Desiree Nielsen (Registered Dietitian) presented on

this complex syndrome that is becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society. The session explored

how Diabesity affects our energy levels, disease risks and quality of life, and how conditioned hyper-

overeating and food systems play into our food choices in addition to integrative nutrition approaches to

help with blood sugar regulation and maintaining a healthy weight.

• May 14 session: “Managing Disabilities in the Workplace” – Ryan Anderson (Partner at Mathews

Dinsdale & Clark LLP) presented on an employers’ duty to accommodate disabilities in the workplace

as well as the employers’ right to obtain medical information.

• June 11 session: “Mental Health in the Workplace” – Shannon Atkins (Occupational Therapist) and

Monica Herrera (Occupational Physician) presented on one of the most challenging areas in today’s

work environment, mental health. The session strived to assert on the origins and reasons for this boom

and inspired attendees to become active in supporting employees who are living with mental illness.

Don’t miss our upcoming Education Session this Fall!

September 2015 Session Topic: Pension Legislation Legal Update. Watch out our flyers for more details.

Our Annual General Meeting will be held in November 2015.

Our annual Summer Social Event provides a great opportunity to get together for CEBS graduates, students

and others in the benefits industry. At the event, you will also have the opportunity to speak with members of

the British Columbia Chapter board and learn more about ISCEBS and our local chapter.

The 2015 annual Summer Social Event will be held on August 20, 2015. Watch for our flyers for more de-

tails.

ISCEBS Brit ish Columbia Chapter Newsletter July 2015

2015 Education Sessions

Summer Social Event

Do you have ideas for education topics you would like to see in 2015/16, do you have questions about ISCEBS membership, or would you like to become involved in the British Columbia Chapter? Email us at bciscebs@gmail.com.

Published by the British Columbia Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists Page 3

ISCEBS Brit ish Columbia Chapter Newsletter July 2015

March 2015 ISCEBS Chapter Leader Conference

Crystal Yan, Board Director, attended the 2015 Chapter Leader Conference on March 5 in Wisconsin.

Representatives of all ISCEB Chapters across North America attended this Conference. The purpose of the gathering

is to discuss about challenges and opportunities for the Society and local chapters, share experience and best practice

among chapters, and explore opportunities to help CEBS graduates with further participation in Fellowship and CEBS

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs.

The primary goal of this conference for our Chapter is to learn from other chapters and generate new ideas on how

to better support our members, including new and exciting ideas for education session topics, and ways of communi-

cating with our members.

Upcoming Leadership Conference August 2015

The second chapter leader event will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, in conjunction with the Symposium, on

Sunday, August 23, 2015.

Effective January 1, 2013, CEBS has introduced a universal continuing professional education

(CPE) requirement for all holders of the CEBS credential – past, present and future graduates.

The program is designed to ensure that CEBS graduates continue their efforts to stay up-to-

date with changes in the employee benefits field.

In order to be recognized as “CPE-compliant”, CEBS graduates are required to earn 30 CPE credits every 2 years.

One 50-minute hour of activity is typically considered one hour of CPE credit, and the activity must relate to one or

more elements of the CEBS body of knowledge. For more information, check out www.cebscpe.org.

As a Society member, you have access to a variety of educational activities that you can apply towards your CPE re-

quirements including:

• ISCEBS Symposium

• ISCEBS local chapter programs

• Annual Continuing Education course (U.S. or Canada)

• Educational activities sponsored by the International Foundation

• CEBS courses (U.S. or Canada) beyond those completed to earn your designation.

2015 Leadership Conference

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Published by the British Columbia Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists Page 4

ISCEBS Brit ish Columbia Chapter Newsletter July 2015

One year of fellowship status is awarded to CEBS graduate members who pass one track of the

continuing education examination, or two years for both tracks. This special distinction recog-

nizes members who are committed to continuing their professional development by broadening

their knowledge in employee benefits, compensation and key related areas.

Fellow ISCEBS in British Columbia Susan Baptista Board Secretary for three British Columbia public sector pension plans and the Manager, Pension Board Secretariat

Joseph Gilgunn Gilgunn Benefit Management Ltd.

Susan Baptista, Fellow ISCEBS

ISCEBS Fellowship Program

ISCEBS Fellowship Experience When the CEBS Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirement was

introduced, I was both pleased and apprehensive. I was pleased because I

believe it’s important, when you have a professional accreditation, that you

stay current with the issues and best practices arising in the profession. I

was apprehensive because I thought “how am I going to add achieving the

requirement to an already busy schedule?”

Choosing to write the Continuing Education (CE) exam allowed me to pursue

the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirement on my own sched-

ule. It exposed me to important issues in the employee benefits field and

guided me to a more intense and in-depth focus on those issues than you

might get, for example, by attending a conference. Being awarded Fellow-

ship status on completion of the CE exam was a quiet and dignified acknowl-

edgement of the achievement and the work put in. It’s something I’m proud

of, and I think it brings professional credibility.

People notice the designation in my signature block. I’ve taken some good-

natured ribbing about being a “Fellow”, but really, that’s just an opportunity to

talk about the benefits of the CEBS program.

Published by the British Columbia Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists Page 5

ISCEBS Brit ish Columbia Chapter Newsletter July 2015

Congratulations, April to June 2015 Graduates!

CEBS Graduates

Simon Bachrich

Bryan Briere, Great West Life Assurance Co

Charles Choi

Nav K. Gill, Great West Life Assurance Co.

Lin G. Klick

Jennifer Nim, The Dupuis Langen Group

Kristina Paule Jill Westlake

Joanne Woodrow, Aptus Benefits Inc

Your 2015 BC Chapter ISCEBS Board

President: Brent Delveaux TRG Group Vice President: Kandy Cantwell Montridge Financial Treasurer: Kevina Hyde Great-West Life Secretary: Andrew Wood Desjardins Insurance Directors: James Nielsen Fraser Health Authority Paul Stephens

Pacific Blue Cross Crystal Yan

Aon Hewitt Past President: George Scholonkowsky

Canadian Western Trust

Nominations for 2016 BC ISCEBS Board will be held this Fall. The Nominating Committee of the BC Chapter will be actively looking for new members for our 2016 Board. Nominations are presented at the AGM, scheduled for November 2015. If you’re interested in learning more about board ser-vice, or know of someone who could make an impact, please contact any current Board member.

Group Benefits Associates (GBAs) Rebecca Ardiel Nicole Boduel Daniel Fortuna, DRF Benefits Inc Darlene Hodgson Lina Hurworth Sheldon Landry, Standard Life Natasha Norbjerg Daniel J. Sember, Signet Financial Group Ltd. Keray Stott, Megson Fitzpatrick Craft Financial Wenhsun Tuan, Willis Canada Inc Keaton Turkiewicz, Great West Life Assurance Co. Ada Zhang

Retirement Plans Associates (RPAs) Allan M. Dawson, Apri Insurance Svcs Inc Emily M. Durrance, Great West Life Nav Gill, Great West Life Assurance Co. Jennifer Sanders, TRG Group Benefits & Pensions Inc Jill Westlake

Compensation Management Specialist (CMSs) Victoria Delespaul Erin Gardiner, BC Transit Ramona P. Martin, Manulife Financial Christal Sarana, Mustang Survival ULC Meghan Vallis Jill Westlake

2016 Board Nominations