7:30 - 8:30 am
Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 8:45 am
Opening Remarks from Conference Co-Chairs
This year's conference is organized around the theme that employers can make a tremendous difference in their employees' lives by making small, incremental changes. A key goal of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project is to show that all employers, regardless of size or resources, have the capacity to improve the things that matter most to the people who work for them. It doesn't take large budgets to implement many changes that can significantly improve recruitment and retention. This theme will run throughout all our conference sessions over the next two days. We want you to leave this year's conference brimming with ideas on becoming an employer of choice that are both highly effective and financially manageable.

• Richard Yerema, Managing Editor, Canada's Top 100 Employers
• Anthony Meehan, Publisher, Canada's Top 100 Employers

8:45 - 9:15 am
HRSDC Minister: New Approaches and Partnerships to Meet Today's Labour Market Challenges
For the last 50 years, it was the labour force that was the single greatest contributor to Canada's economic expansion. Between 1956 and 2006, Canada's labour force increased by nearly 200%. But those heady days are long behind us. Going forward, Canada's labour force is projected to increase by just 11% over the next 50 years. Now is the time to think about new approaches and partnerships. Join HRSDC Minister Solberg as he outlines the federal government's plans to do better, build better and better respond to Canada's labour market challenges.

• Hon. Monte Solberg, PC, MP, Minister, Human Resources & Social Development, Canada

9:15 - 10:15 am
Tailoring Your Recruitment & Retention Programs to Attract Canada's Largest Untapped Labour Market
Most employers and HR professionals know that their organizations need to do a better job integrating new Canadians into their workforce. Overseas skills, educational qualifications and work experience are often not recognized or appropriately valued by employers, many of whom are facing acute shortages of qualified applicants. Unemployment among new Canadians, particularly women, is more than twice the national average -- despite the fact that most have more education than people born here. Within three years, new Canadians will account for all of Canada's labour force growth. This session is a unique opportunity to hear from one of Canada's leading thinkers on immigrant employment solutions and to learn about best practices from a winner of the 2008 Best Employers for New Canadians competition. Questions and answers will follow.

• Ratna Omidvar, O.ONT., Executive Director, The Maytree Foundation
• Sue Cummings, SVP, Human Resources, TD Canada Trust

10:15 - 11:00 am
Refreshment & Networking Break
"A Taste of La Douce France"
This break provides an opportunity to meet colleagues and organizers of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. Features traditional pastries and refreshments with a French flair, selected by the Fairmont Royal York's Executive Chef, David Garcelon. Menu available online.
Break sponsored by Green Shield

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Keynote Presentation
Dr. Muhammad Yunus: Building the Social Business
Few individuals living in the world today have touched more people's lives than Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The distinguished economist and the bank he founded, Grameen, received the Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering the use of microcredit to lift millions of people out of poverty. Since its inception, Grameen has lent $6.9 billion to 7.46 million people in developing countries. The bank is profitable and has a repayment rate of over 98%. Grameen's remarkable success illustrates the tremendous potential of the "Social Business" model that Dr. Yunus advocates. Spectacular improvements to people's lives are possible when market forces are used to achieve social aims. This is the first speech by Dr. Yunus in Toronto since receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the world�s most articulate advocate of the power of business to create a more humane world.

• Dr. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner & Author, "Banker to the Poor"
• With special introduction by His Worship David Miller, Mayor of Toronto
• With concluding remarks by Bob Hepburn, Director, Community Relations & Communications, Toronto Star

12:00 - 1:15 pm
Special Luncheon Address
Harry Belafonte: Why Diversity Matters
Few people alive today can claim such a direct and personal connection to the struggle for equality as Harry Belafonte. The distinguished civil rights advocate and entertainer has played a central role in the defining battles for equality and social justice that shaped a generation. Join one of the world's most articulate and tireless advocates for equity as he makes the case for diversity in a world that sometimes takes for granted many of the landmark civil rights victories he helped achieve.

• Harry Belafonte, Legendary Civil Rights Advocate & Entertainer

1:15 - 2:00 pm
Executive Briefing: Beyond the Business Case -- Measuring Your Diversity & Inclusiveness Programs
Promoting diversity and inclusiveness has moved beyond the business case and is now seen as critical to achieving key business objectives, including recruitment and retention of the best talent. Learn how to benchmark your organization's diversity and inclusiveness efforts using a remarkable measurement tool developed by Canada's leading diversity author and human equity strategist. Learn how your organization can become one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2009.

• Trevor Wilson, Author, "Diversity at Work: The Business Case for Equity" & CEO, TWI Inc.

2:00 - 2:30 pm
Energizing Fitness Break - Namasté
Led by Diane Brunei, founder of Toronto's renowned "Downward Dog" yoga studio, ashram to the stars.
Sponsored by CMA Ontario

2:30 - 3:30 pm
Exclusive Research: Understanding What Drives Employee Engagement at 'Top 100' Employers
The Canada's Top 100 Employers competition now includes an optional employee engagement component, managed by Towers Perrin. Discover the key variables that drive employee engagement drawn from the latest Towers Perrin Global Workforce Study. Benchmark your organization against the "Top 100" winners to discover the key areas that your organization needs to focus on to improve employee engagement.

• Kevin Aselstine, Managing Principal, Towers Perrin, Toronto
• Dan McCauley Ph.D., Senior Consultant, Towers Perrin, Chicago

3:30 - 4:30 pm
Family-Friendly Benefits in a Changing Society: Rethinking Traditional Roles
Family-friendly benefits are changing at employers across Canada in response to the nation's changing demographic composition. Today, employers that want to provide a better work-life balance must take into account a range of employee needs almost unknown a few years ago. From caring for elderly parents to understanding the special family needs of employees from diverse backgrounds, progressive employers are responding with a thoughtful range of new family-friendly benefits and initiatives. Join the Editor-in-Chief of Today's Parent Magazine, our partner on the Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers competition, together with two of the winning employers on this year's list.

• Caroline Connell, Editor-in-Chief, Today's Parent Magazine, Toronto (Moderator)
• Ave Lethbridge, VP, Organizational Effectiveness, Toronto Hydro Corporation, Toronto
• Edoardo De Martin, General Manager, Next Level Games Inc., Vancouver BC

7:00 - 8:30 pm Gala Reception, Fairmont Royal York Hotel
8th Annual Top Employer Reception
Join CEOs and HR professionals from the 2008 Canada's Top 100 Employers list, as well as winners of our regional and special-interest competitions, for a pleasant evening of complimentary drinks, hors d'oeuvres and live background music. Now in its 8th year, this popular reception is the conference's main networking event, bringing together all the writers and organizers of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project plus editors, journalists and senior civil servants in the field. Open to all delegates attending the 2008 Top Employer Summit. There is no fee or separate charge to attend this reception.
We would like to thank Ceridian Canada Ltd. once again this year for their gracious support of this reception.

8:00 - 9:15 am
Exclusive Breakfast Briefing: Key Themes for the 2009 Canada's Top 100 Employers Competition
Join the organizers of the annual Canada's Top 100 Employers competition for this exclusive preview of the key themes and priorities of the 2009 competition. Learn more about the selection criteria used for this year's competition, including unpublished benchmark data for the eight key HR areas reviewed. Hear first-hand which employer initiatives received the most attention in last year's competition and which priorities the editors have developed for the 2009 compeition. Learn how your organization can qualify for this year's national list or one of the 18 regional and special-interest competitions managed through the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. Questions and answers will follow.

• Richard Yerema, Managing Editor, Canada's Top 100 Employers
• Anthony Meehan, Publisher, Canada's Top 100 Employers

9:15 - 10:15 am
Rethinking Training & Development in Canada's Rapidly Changing Economy
The Internet and a host of changes in the world economy are producing dramatic and rapid changes in the Canadian economy. Gone are the days when employers could expect to train new employees mainly at the beginning of their working careers. Today, competitive pressures are forcing entire industries to add more value to their work, resulting in new demands on their employees' skills. Forward-thinking employers are responding to these changes by spending more time managing the learning cycle for their employees. In this session, you'll meet three "Top 100" employers that are among Canada's best for training and development. Discover how they have instilled "lifelong learning" as a key value in their organizational cultures. At these employers, training and development have become key tools for recruitment and retention as well as a significant competitive advantage in their industries.

• Bruce Peer, Chairman, Advisory Council, Canadian Management Centre, Toronto (Moderator)
• Mary Jackson, Chief Officer, Legal Personnel & Professional Development, Blake Cassels & Graydon, Toronto
• David Noonan, Principal and a Developer of "Golder University", Golder Associates, Whitby ON
• Herman Hansen, Manager, Employee Relations, Training & Development, Boeing Canada Technology Ltd., Winnipeg

10:15 - 10:45 am
Refreshment & Networking Break: "A Visit to the English Countryside"
This short coffee break provides an opportunity to meet colleagues and organizers of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. Features traditional pastries and refreshments inspired by the English countryside, selected by the Fairmont Royal York's Executive Chef, David Garcelon. Menu available online.
Break sponsored by CGA Ontario

10:45 - 11:45 am
Demographics & Medical Advances: The Changing Face of Health Benefits in Canada
There was a time when health benefit plans were remarkable for their consistency across industries and regions of Canada. Changing demographics and costly medical treatments present a major challenge to traditional health benefits packages, particularly for retiree and family coverage. Progressive employers are responding to these changes by adapting their health benefits plans to cover a wider range of needs that were not a major concern a generation ago. In this session, you'll meet three remarkable "Top 100" employers that have responded to these changes with a series of innovative programs and benefits.

• Dave Jones, Vice President, Market Development, Sun Life Financial (moderator)
• Pierre Parent, Director, HR, Office of the Auditor General of Canada, Ottawa, ON
• Chris Hatley, Senior Director, Human Capital, Pricewater- houseCoopers, Toronto, ON
• Baldev Gill, VP Finance & Human Resources, CGA Canada, Vancouver, BC

11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Executive Briefing: Recent Developments in Employment Branding and Online Recruitment
Organizations spend considerable resources developing a marketing brand that conveys a complex package of benefits to consumers. An employment brand performs a similar role when it comes to recruitment and retention. Creating a powerful employment brand takes planning, resources and, most importantly, a shared understanding of the values that distinguish the organization. Meet one of Canada's best-known recruitment advertising executives as she presents outstanding cases of employment branding from around the world and outlines the challenges employers face as recruitment moves online.

• Kim Peters, President & CEO, Eluta Inc.

12:15 - 1:30 pm
Why Didn't They Cover Us? The Importance of Human Interest Stories in the Top Employers Project
Millions of Canadians read about the Canada's Top 100 Employers project each year through special editorial features published by Maclean's magazine and 22 newspaper partners. Besides listing the winners, these features include in-depth human interest stories on some winning employers. Deciding which stories to include is left to editors and reporters at each publication. Often, it's not stories about lavish perks or benefits that make the news -- it's the stories that have touched someone's life for the better. Join senior correspondents and publishers from some of Canada's best-known media outlets as they share their insights on how feature stories are chosen. You'll leave this session with a clear idea of the stories you need to include in your Top 100 application.

• Steve Maich, Senior Editor, Maclean's Magazine & Chief Writer, "Canada's Top 100 Employers" Issue, Toronto, ON (Moderator)
• Brian Stewart, Senior Correspondent, CBC-TV's, "The National", Toronto, ON
• Kira Vermond, Workplace Columnist, The Globe and Mail, Guelph, ON
• John Hobel, Publisher, Canadian HR Reporter, Toronto, ON

1:30 - 2:15 pm
Connecting Employees: The "Community Involvement" Component of the Top Employers Project
In the first year of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project, our editors noticed a correlation between good employers and community involvement. Employers that take a broader view of their role in the community, it turns out, are almost always better places to work. Sometimes, these projects make use of unique employee skills. In other cases, the projects provide an opportunity for employees to build a connection with a local cause outside their working lives. In this session, you'll meet two "Top 100" employers that have developed an exceptional series of community projects that actively involve employees -- and strengthen their connection to the employer that makes the projects possible.

• Val Breakenridge, Vice-President, Human Resources, Assiniboine Credit Union, Winnipeg, MB
• Theresa Williams, Human Resources Manager, The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS

2:15 - 2:45 pm
Refreshment & Networking Break
This short break provides an opportunity to meet colleagues and features a variety of healthy refreshments selected by Fairmont Royal York Executive Chef David Garcelon.
Sponsored by T.E. Financial

2:45 - 3:30 pm
Making It Hard to Say Goodbye: New Thinking in Financial Benefits & Employee Retention
Progressive employers increasingly look to financial benefits to keep employees interested in the company's long-term success. Traditionally, benefits such as pension plans and life insurance provided a valuable incentive to stay with an employer until retirement. Today, however, a wide range of financial benefits are being developed to accomplish this goal. In this session, you'll meet two "Top 100" winners that have developed great financial benefits packages -- that also serve key employee retention goals.

• Gord Johnston, VP, Human Resources, Bayer Inc., Toronto
• Warren Bell, Senior VP, Human Resources, TD Bank Financial Group, Toronto

3:30 - 3:40 pm
Closing Remarks by Conference Co-Chairs & Special Air France Draw
Join the conference co-chairs for their closing thoughts on this year's event and a summary of the key themes discussed. Make sure you are on hand for a very special prize draw: one lucky delegate will receive two business-class tickets anywhere in the world where Air France flies!

• Richard Yerema, Managing Editor, Canada's Top 100 Employers
• Anthony Meehan, Publisher, Canada's Top 100 Employers