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April 6-8 2025!
TORONTO | OMNI KING EDWARD HOTEL
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Agenda
SUN
APRIL 6
4:00pm – 6:00pm
• (4:00pm – 6:00pm) Attendee Check-In
• (4:00pm – 6:00pm) Benefits Alliance Welcome Reception
MON
APRIL 7
Morning: 7:00am – 12:00pm
• (7:00am – 8:30am) Attendee Check-In
• (7:30am – 8:30am) Networking Breakfast
• (8:30am – 8:45am) IGNITE Conference Opening – Carolyne Eagan, Benefits Alliance
• (8:45am – 9:45am) Panel Discussion:
– What you need to know that may impact plan members in 2025 and beyond – Todd Stephen, Selectpath and Chair of BA Advocacy Committe
– The Pulse on Pharmacare – What you need to know and how you can make a difference – Presenters & Moderators: Todd Stephen, Graham Young, CAPCORP and Chair of the Board, Benefits Alliance
– Did You Know Virtual Care is at Risk? – Presenters & Moderators: Todd Stephen, Graham Young, CAPCORP and Chair of the Board, Benefits Alliance
– METC (Medical Expense Tax Credit): Advocating to help Plan Sponsors implement Proactive & Preventative Health Strategies – Presenters & Moderators: Gord Hart, Selectpath, BA Principal Advisor
– Your Voice Matters: What can you do when meeting with your plan sponsors to help plan members? – Carolyne Eagan, President, Benefits Alliance and Todd Stephen, Selectpath and Chair of BA Advocacy Committee
• (9:45am – 10:15am) Navigating Advocacy and Education for Diabetics in Canada – Glenn Thibeault, Diabetes Canada
• (10:15am – 10:45am) Obesity:What you need to know from an expert medical and plan member perspective – Dr. Sandy Van, (Obesity specialist and family physician) Obesity Matters and Sandra Elia, (patient advocate)
• (10:45am – 11:15am) NETWORKING BREAK
• (11:15am – 11:50pm) Panel Discussion – Veronika Litinski, pillcheck and Dr Faizan Baig, OTIP:
– Personalized medicine: A solution to the financial strain caused by ineffective therapies and the health burdens of adverse drug reactions.
Afternoon: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
• (11:50pm – 12:30pm) Why Fertility Benefits Matters – Tara Wood, Fertility Matters and Yafa Sakkejha, Beneplan
• (12:30pm – 1:30pm) NETWORKING LUNCH
• (1:30pm – 2:00pm) The Value of Drug Coverage: Sustainability and Access – Joe Farago , Innovative Medicines Canada
• (2:00pm – 2:30pm) The Daily Dose: What’s different about 2025 drivers of drug spend? – Martin Chung , Equitable Life
• (2:30pm – 3:00pm) Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases (EDRDs) – How Insurance is Responding to the Risks – Gary Walters , GroupHealth
• (3:00pm – 3:15pm) Panel Discussion:
– A panel discussion including the three previous presenters, Joe Farago, Martin Chung and Gary Walters will follow. Get ready with your questions!
• (3:15pm – 3:45pm) NETWORKING BREAK
• (3:45pm – 4:45pm) Why Cancer Matters: Practical Considerations for Advisors and Plan Sponsors – Chris Bonnett, H3 Consulting and Allan Smofsky, Smofsky Strategic Planning
• (4:45pm – 5:00pm) Closing Comments
Evening: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
• (5:00pm – 6:30pm) BREAK – Time to get ready for the Gala!
• (6:30pm – 7:30pm) Benefits Alliance Gala Cocktail Hour
• (7:30pm – 10:00pm) Benefits Alliance Gala Dinner and Fun Begins
TUE
APRIL 8
Morning: 8:00am – 12:00pm
• (7:30am – 8:30am) Attendee Check-in
• (7:30am – 8:30am) NETWORKING BREAKFAST
• (8:30am – 9:45am) BA Members Only Session. (PSPs and Sponsors to join at 9:30am COFFEE BREAK)
• (7:30am – 8:30am) NETWORKING BREAKFAST
• (8:30am – 9:00am) Annual General Meeting: Exclusive to BA Member Firms – Carolyne Eagan & Graham Young , Benefits Alliance
• (9:00am – 9:30am) Gender Disparities in Chronic Disease: Women’s Health in the Modern Workplace – Krista Hogan , SunLife
• (9:30am – 9:45am) COFFEE BREAK – All attendees joining the conference
• (9:45am – 10:00am) SPARK Conference Opening – Carolyne Eagan, Benefits Alliance
• (10:00am – 11:00am) KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Dave Williams
• (11:00am – 11:30am) Navigating Addiction and Mental Health – Lane Quelch, Desjardins
• (11:30am – 12:00pm) Info Session
• (11:30am – 12:00pm) Session Title TBA – Shoppers Drug Mart Health Solutions
• (11:00am – 12:00pm) SPARK STAGE: 2025 Outlook and Impact to Investors, James Robertson, Manulife Investment Management
Afternoon: 12:00pm – 5:15pm
• (12:00pm – 1:00pm) NETWORKING LUNCH
• (1:00pm – 1:15pm) Industry Showcase: Dialogue
• (1:15pm – 1:30pm) Industry Showcase: Ingle
• (1:30pm – 1:45pm) Industry Showcase: EHN CANADA
• (1:45pm – 2:00pm) Industry Showcase: ORION
• (2:00pm – 2:30pm) SPARK STAGE: Session Title TBA, T. Rowe Price
• (2:30pm – 3:30pm) SPARK STAGE: Session Title TBA, MFS
• (2:00pm – 3:00pm) Revolutionizing Group Benefits: How AI and data are reshaping the insurance experience – Parama Ray, AVP & PO, Advanced Analytics, Canada Life
• (3:00pm – 3:30pm) NETWORKING BREAK
• (3:30pm – 4:00pm) Industry Showcase – Shoppers Drug Mart Health Solutions
• (3:30pm – 4:00pm) Session Title TBA – TELUS Health
• (4:00pm – 4:30pm) Grief vs Depression: Helping Plan Sponsors support their plan members – Shannon McShane-Reed, Penmore and Christine MacDonald, Selectpath
• (4:30pm – 5:00pm) Panel Discussion – Amr Galal, Bridgewell Financial, Chris Gory, Orchard Benefits and Allan Sabat , The Consulting House:
– Behind Closed Doors – Exploring the Secrets of Private Healthcare in Canada
• (5:00pm – 5:15pm) Closing Comments
I enjoyed how much content and activities were fit into such a short time, very well organized and executed.
Content was very relevant to what is current in our market. The audience was definitely engaged and interested in the presentations.
Interesting sessions. Well-attended event and provides a great opportunity for connection.
The conference was very well organized, the venue was perfect and everyone was friendly and ready to share. It was great to experience the collaboration and friendships between advisor firms.
