ONWA provides its employees with a valuable defined benefit pension plan

Toronto, September 9, 2024 – CAAT Pension Plan ("the Plan"), one of Canada's fastest-growing defined benefit (DB) pension plans, is pleased to announce the Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) is providing around 200 employees across the province with secure, stable lifetime retirement income through DBplus. Previously, ONWA employees were part of a group registered retirement savings plan.

ONWA is a not-for-profit organization that, for over 50 years, has worked to empower and support Indigenous women and their families across Ontario, regardless of their status or locality.

"CAAT is working to improve retirement income security for employees across Canada so that they can devote more energy to their endeavours and stress less about their retirement savings," said Derek W. Dobson, CEO and Plan Manager, CAAT Pension Plan. "We are delighted to welcome ONWA to DBplus. Their decision to provide a modern defined benefit pension plan underscores the growing importance of a valuable, fixed-cost retirement solution for employers and employees across the country."

"We are delighted to offer our employees across Ontario access to DBplus pension, providing them with secure lifetime retirement income throughout their retirement years," said Cora McGuire-Cyrette, Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Native Women's Association. “This reflects our commitment to Indigenous women and their families to have access to financial stability and well-being, and demonstrates our continued support for our workforce as they transition into a new stage of their life as Grandmothers, Elders and Knowledge Holders. This is an investment in their retirement, peace of mind and happiness and reflective of the teaching of reciprocity as we are thankful for their gifts, wisdom, and knowledge they have shared with us during their employment with ONWA.”

ONWA joins other notable CAAT participating employers like Community Living Greater Sudbury, Fife House, Sanofi Pasteur, The Conference Board of Canada, Torstar, Vancouver Foundation, and the Ontario Dental Association.

About CAAT Pension Plan
Established in 1967, the CAAT Pension Plan is an independent, jointly governed plan that offers two highly desirable designs of a defined benefit pension. CAAT's award-winning DBplus plan design is leading an extraordinary pace of growth for the Plan. Originally created to support the Ontario college system, the CAAT Plan now proudly serves more than 500 participating employers in 20 industries including the for-profit, non-profit, and broader public sectors. It currently has more than 102,000 active and retired members. The CAAT Plan is respected for its pension and investment management expertise and focus on stability and benefit security. On January 1, 2024, the Plan was 124% funded on a going-concern basis.

Learn more at: www.caatpension.ca.

For more information:
Media Relations
CAAT Pension Plan
media@caatpension.ca

For information on how employers can join CAAT, please visit:

caatpension.ca/pension-solutions/how-to-join

About Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)

The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is a not-for-profit organization to empower and support all Indigenous women and their families in the province of Ontario through research, advocacy, policy development and programs that focus on local, regional, and provincial activities. Established in 1971, ONWA delivers culturally enriched programs and services to Indigenous women and their families regardless of their status or locality. We are committed to providing services that strengthen communities and guarantee the preservation of Indigenous culture, identity, art, language, and heritage. Ending violence against Indigenous women and their families and ensuring equal access to justice, education, health services, environmental stewardship, and economic development, sit at the cornerstone of the organization. ONWA insists on social and cultural well–being for all Indigenous women and their families, so that all women, regardless of tribal heritage may live their best life.

For more information contact:
Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca