BC Total Rewards Network upcoming events

Telling the Total Rewards Story That Actually Lands (16 Apr 2026)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Communicating the value of Total Rewards is one of the most critical and complex challenges facing HR and Total Rewards leaders today. Too often, messages miss the mark not because the value isn’t there, but because the story doesn’t land.

Join us for an interactive virtual session that brings together real-world practitioner insight and communication expertise to explore how we can reframe the way we talk about Total Rewards and better connect with employees

Drawing from real organizational scenarios, our speakers will touch on several moments where communication shaped how employees experienced and understood their rewards. These include an unexpected recognition effort to show appreciation, a leadership moment used to introduce an important change, and an ongoing approach designed to help employees better understand the value of their rewards over time.

Rather than focusing on theory, this session will take the form of a fluid conversation between practitioners, exploring the context behind these moments: what prompted them, the communication challenges involved, and the insights they offer into how timing, channel, and storytelling shape how Total Rewards messages resonate with employees.

Event recording and slides will be available on the members-only event library page within 2 days after the event.

WHEN: April 16 from 12:00pm to 1pm PST

WHERE: Virtual MS Teams Meeting

COST: Complimentary to members and non-members

2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) (27 Apr 2026)

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Join Us for the BCTRN Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The BC Total Rewards Network (BCTRN) invites all members to attend our upcoming Annual General Meeting. This is a foundational event for our community, offering a transparent look at our progress over the past year and a preview of our strategic direction for 2026.

As a member-driven organization, your voice is essential. This meeting is your opportunity to connect directly with the BCTRN Board of Directors, gain a deeper understanding of our internal operations, and provide the feedback that helps shape our long-term vision.

Agenda Highlights:

Year in Review: A look back at our key achievements and milestones from the past year.
Financial Transparency: A review of our operating budget and fiscal health.
Governance Updates: Discussion and voting on proposed amendments to our bylaws.

Whether you are looking to become more involved in the network or are simply curious about how BCTRN operates behind the scenes, we encourage you to join us and help steer the future of the premier total rewards network in British Columbia.

☕ Member-Only Monthly TR Roundtable: The Total Rewards Cafe (1 May 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Gather. Discuss. Connect.

We are thrilled to launch The Total Rewards Cafe, a new exclusive, member-only monthly virtual event designed for the BC Total Rewards Network community to gather, share insights, and discuss the most pressing and timely issues shaping our profession.

This isn't a lecture—it's your chance to step away from the formal presentation and connect with your peers in an intimate, interactive setting.

What is The Total Rewards Cafe?

The Cafe is a casual, high-value, and interactive monthly roundtable where Total Rewards professionals can discuss "what's on their mind" right now.

Format: Virtual, small-group, roundtable/cafe style discussion.
Exclusivity: Strictly open only to current BCTRN members.
Frequency: Recurring monthly sessions.

When and Where is The Total Rewards Cafe?

April 10th - 9:30am - 10:30am
May 1st - 9:30am - 10:30am
June 12th - 9:30am - 10:30am
July 3rd - 9:30am - 10:30am

For now these will be virtual, but we'll consider doing some in-person in the near future if there's demand or if someone can help host us at a central Vancouver location.

How It Works:

Every month, a fellow BCTRN member will volunteer to host or facilitate the session. We are keeping the format flexible to ensure maximum relevance and engagement:

Hot Topics: Discussions will focus on the most relevant, current, and challenging Total Rewards topics of the month, as determined by the participants.
Interactive Focus: Expect an atmosphere of open dialogue, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and sharing of practical challenges and solutions.
Experimental Approach: We will be experimenting with different formats—sometimes we may pre-set a focused topic, and other times we may vote on discussion points live at the start of the session. Your feedback in the first few months will help shape the perfect format!

Why Attend?

Timely Relevance: Discuss issues that are impacting you right now, in a rapidly evolving TR landscape.
Peer-to-Peer Insight: Learn directly from the experiences of other TR leaders and practitioners across BC.
Intimate Networking: Build stronger, more meaningful connections with your fellow BCTRN members in a smaller group setting.

Interested in Facilitating a Session?

We invite our members to take a leadership role by volunteering to facilitate a future Total Rewards Cafe! This is a great opportunity to connect with peers and lead a discussion on a topic you are passionate about.

To express your interest in facilitating a monthly session, please contact us directly at events@bctrn.ca.

Designing Sustainable Total Rewards (27 May 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Designing Sustainable Total Rewards in a System Under Pressure

As cost pressures, workforce transformation, and human strain intensify, total rewards can no longer be managed as a collection of standalone programs. They must function as a resilient system. One that balances financial viability, employee well-being, and organizational agility over time.

This BCTRN session explores Sustainable Total Rewards as a practical framework for navigating these tensions. Through expert perspectives, real-world examples, and an interactive case discussion (in-person only), participants will examine where total rewards systems tend to hold, where they weaken, and how organizations are adapting benefits, savings, and retirement income strategies to support more durable outcomes.

The session is designed to be reflective, practical, and directly applicable to today’s organizational realities.

Event Details

When: May 27th, 8:30am - 11:15am

Where: BDC Square - 1133 Melville St suite 1500, Vancouver, BC V6E 4E5

Cost for Members: $25

Cost for Non-Members: $40

Agenda

8:30am – 9:15am

Arrival, breakfast & networking

9:15am – 9:30am

Topic: Welcome and Opening perspective: Sustainable Total Rewards
Speaker: Mélanie Presseault & Guest
Abstract: Reframing total rewards as a system under pressure and introducing Sustainable Total Rewards

9:30am – 10:00am

Topic: Field perspective: Lessons from the real-world
Speakers: Joanie Coutu-Bellerose (NB)
Abstract: Practical insights on the process to evaluate the DEI framework within total rewards (client case study)

10:00am – 10:10am

Networking and coffee break

10:10am – 10:30am

Topic: Designing benefits that last
Speakers: Francis Boulianne (NB)
Abstract: Ensuring group benefits plans remain sustainable while supporting employee well-being.

10:30am – 10:50am

Topic: From Savings to income for life
Speaker: Philippe Rickli (NB)
Abstract: Helping employees convert savings into reliable retirement income.

10:50am – 11:15am

Topic: Working Session: Stress-Testing Total Rewards Systems
Speaker: Facilitated discussion (in-person only)
Abstract: Interactive discussion focused on how solutions can be implanted within organizations

Speakers

Mélanie Presseault, MBA, CPHR, CHRA Senior Principal, Compensation, Talent & Culture

Mélanie Presseault is a Senior Principal, Compensation, Talent & Culture at Normandin Beaudry and an accomplished HR and total rewards leader with over 20 years of experience shaping compensation and benefits strategies across industries in Montreal and Vancouver. She has led the design and implementation of total rewards programs that drive performance and growth.

Mélanie has spearheaded rewards integration during mergers and acquisitions, negotiated competitive benefit plans, and advanced pay equity and transparency initiatives. She is passionate about building inclusive, market-aligned compensation programs that support business objectives.

Joanie Coutu-Bellerose, M.Sc., CHRP, Principal

Joanie holds a master’s degree in talent management and specializes in both compensation and talent management Over the last years, she develops an expertise in sustainable total rewards.

Throughout her consulting career, she has carried out numerous mandates for organizations of all sizes and across various industries, including the development of salary structures and the design of career framework. She also supports organizations in meeting their pay equity obligations at both the provincial and federal levels.

Joanie actively contributes to discussions focused on increasing diversity within organizations. She has published several articles on a variety of topics, including inclusion and sustainability in HR programs. After serving as a lecturer for several years, she now teaches the evolution of compensation in today’s ESG context at the HEC Montréal university. Finally, she is actively involved in several boards of directors and volunteer initiatives.

Francis Boulianne, FSA, FCIA Principal, Group Benefits

Francis joined Normandin Beaudry over a decade ago and has since established himself as a trusted Principal in the Group Benefits practice. With ten years of dedicated experience, Francis is a strategic ally to organizations seeking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of group benefits. Drawing on deep market knowledge and a passion for tailored service, he designs and implements innovative, pragmatic solutions that support clients’ unique needs and drive lasting value. Francis is known for his collaborative approach and commitment to delivering exceptional results that help organizations optimize their group benefits plans and foster well-being across their workforce.

Francis holds a degree in actuarial sciences from Laval University. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

Philippe Rickli joined Normandin Beaudry in 2011 and is a Principal in the Pension and Savings teams. His ability to find solutions to his clients' pension and savings issues, combined with his leadership skills, have led him to work on various types of mandates. He has mastered a wide range of consulting services for federal, private, public, and parapublic organizations.

Philippe works with his clients on all aspects of a savings plan: investments, administration and governance, design and communication. He takes an active role in client relationships, managing ongoing projects, which include investment monitoring, reviewing fund lineups and investment policies.

Philippe is also responsible for decumulation initiatives at Normandin Beaudry, effectively implementing these solutions for his clients. Philippe also co-manages the firm's annuity purchasing team (group and individual) – a risk management strategy for pension plans, and a decumulation strategy for individuals.

Event Sponsor

Normandin Beaudry

BCTRN 2026 Summer Social (5 Jun 2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:30:00 GMT

BCTRN Summer Social: Sun, Sips & Success ☀️

It’s time to close the spreadsheets, step away from the compensation models, and celebrate the season with your peers!

The BC Total Rewards Network invites you to our annual Summer Social at the iconic CRAFT Beer Market in English Bay. This is a purely "no-slides, no-presentations" zone—just a high-energy happy hour designed for one thing: connecting in person.

Whether you’re looking to meet fellow Total Rewards practitioners, catch up with old colleagues, or simply enjoy the beachside vibes, this is the premier networking event for the BC TR community.

What’s on the Menu?

First Drink is on Us: Each ticket includes one drink voucher to kick off your evening.
Delicious Bites: A selection of appetizers and canapés will be served throughout the event.
Open Bar: Looking for a second round? A full bar will be available for additional purchases.
Beachside Views: Enjoy the best of English Bay as we toast to the summer ahead.

Event Details:

When: Friday, June 5th
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Where: CRAFT Beer Market English Bay | 1795 Beach Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Tickets:

️BCTRN Members: $35 | Non-Members: $60

Space is limited! Don't miss your chance to network with the most relevant and captive audience of Total Rewards professionals in the region.

Grateful to operate on the traditional and unceded lands of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations.

☕ Member-Only Monthly TR Roundtable: The Total Rewards Cafe (12 Jun 2026)

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Gather. Discuss. Connect.

This isn't a lecture—it's your chance to step away from the formal presentation and connect with your peers in an intimate, interactive setting.

What is The Total Rewards Cafe?

The Cafe is a casual, high-value, and interactive monthly roundtable where Total Rewards professionals can discuss "what's on their mind" right now.

Format: Virtual, small-group, roundtable/cafe style discussion.
Exclusivity: Strictly open only to current BCTRN members.
Frequency: Recurring monthly sessions.

When and Where is The Total Rewards Cafe?

April 10th - 9:30am - 10:30am
May 1st - 9:30am - 10:30am
June 12th - 9:30am - 10:30am
July 3rd - 9:30am - 10:30am

For now these will be virtual, but we'll consider doing some in-person in the near future if there's demand or if someone can help host us at a central Vancouver location.

How It Works:

Every month, a fellow BCTRN member will volunteer to host or facilitate the session. We are keeping the format flexible to ensure maximum relevance and engagement:

Hot Topics: Discussions will focus on the most relevant, current, and challenging Total Rewards topics of the month, as determined by the participants.
Interactive Focus: Expect an atmosphere of open dialogue, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and sharing of practical challenges and solutions.
Experimental Approach: We will be experimenting with different formats—sometimes we may pre-set a focused topic, and other times we may vote on discussion points live at the start of the session. Your feedback in the first few months will help shape the perfect format!

Why Attend?

Timely Relevance: Discuss issues that are impacting you right now, in a rapidly evolving TR landscape.
Peer-to-Peer Insight: Learn directly from the experiences of other TR leaders and practitioners across BC.
Intimate Networking: Build stronger, more meaningful connections with your fellow BCTRN members in a smaller group setting.

Interested in Facilitating a Session?

To express your interest in facilitating a monthly session, please contact us directly at events@bctrn.ca.

☕ Member-Only Monthly TR Roundtable: The Total Rewards Cafe (3 Jul 2026)

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Gather. Discuss. Connect.

This isn't a lecture—it's your chance to step away from the formal presentation and connect with your peers in an intimate, interactive setting.

What is The Total Rewards Cafe?

The Cafe is a casual, high-value, and interactive monthly roundtable where Total Rewards professionals can discuss "what's on their mind" right now.

Format: Virtual, small-group, roundtable/cafe style discussion.
Exclusivity: Strictly open only to current BCTRN members.
Frequency: Recurring monthly sessions.

When and Where is The Total Rewards Cafe?

April 10th - 9:30am - 10:30am
May 1st - 9:30am - 10:30am
June 12th - 9:30am - 10:30am
July 3rd - 9:30am - 10:30am

For now these will be virtual, but we'll consider doing some in-person in the near future if there's demand or if someone can help host us at a central Vancouver location.

How It Works:

Every month, a fellow BCTRN member will volunteer to host or facilitate the session. We are keeping the format flexible to ensure maximum relevance and engagement:

Hot Topics: Discussions will focus on the most relevant, current, and challenging Total Rewards topics of the month, as determined by the participants.
Interactive Focus: Expect an atmosphere of open dialogue, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and sharing of practical challenges and solutions.
Experimental Approach: We will be experimenting with different formats—sometimes we may pre-set a focused topic, and other times we may vote on discussion points live at the start of the session. Your feedback in the first few months will help shape the perfect format!

Why Attend?

Timely Relevance: Discuss issues that are impacting you right now, in a rapidly evolving TR landscape.
Peer-to-Peer Insight: Learn directly from the experiences of other TR leaders and practitioners across BC.
Intimate Networking: Build stronger, more meaningful connections with your fellow BCTRN members in a smaller group setting.

Interested in Facilitating a Session?

To express your interest in facilitating a monthly session, please contact us directly at events@bctrn.ca.