VersaFi (formerly WCM)

Toronto VersaFi Members: You are invited to an exclusive lunch conversation with Taryn Gunnlaugson, Senior Investment Counsellor & Portfolio Manager, sponsored by BMO Private Wealth. Following our theme “Financial Fortitude: A Woman Balancing Wealth, Wisdom, and Work” Taryn will share valuable insights from her distinguished career in wealth management, including touching on key topics like building intergenerational trust with clients. This complimentary event is for VersaFi members only, is co-hosted by BMO Private Wealth and organized by the Ontario Steering Committee. Limited spaces are available, register today: https://lnkd.in/eSRYHJhe

La transparence est un élément vital de la rémunération et des politiques. Pas moins de 82 % des femmes estiment que les attentes relatives aux congés parentaux, à la garde d’enfants et à la prestation de soins sont le principal motif pour lequel des femmes quittent le secteur des services bancaires d’investissement. La solution? Une approche claire et transparente touchant les salaires et les primes, des politiques et des plans personnalisés de gestion des responsabilités envers la clientèle pendant un congé. En créant des politiques accessibles, des cadres de rémunération clairs et des plans personnalisés de prise en charge de la clientèle, nous pouvons veiller à ce que les employées se sentent épaulées avant, pendant et après leur congé, ce qui facilitera leur retour au travail en toute sérénité et favorisera leur épanouissement professionnel. Téléchargez le rapport ici: https://lnkd.in/eJD5cU7H #VersaFi #ProjetAffinité #EquitéEnFinance #FemmesLeaders #ServicesBancaires #EnvironnementInclusif #RémunérationÉgale #FemmesEnServicesBancaires #CongéParental

🔹 Inspiring the Next Wave of Talent: VersaFi’s 20th Annual Job Shadow Day in Toronto 🔹 Each year, VersaFi proudly hosts over 100 young women and gender-diverse students in grades 11 and 12 for our Toronto Job Shadow Day. This program gives them firsthand exposure to the diverse careers in the finance sector. This year marked the 20th anniversary of Job Shadow Day Toronto, celebrating two decades of collaboration and investment in the future of our industry. Professionals in attendance were inspired by the students' energy and interest, reaffirming the need to strengthen the talent pipeline. We are extremely grateful to our panelists and firm representatives for sharing their valuable industry insights, and to the educators across 30 schools in the GTA for their continued enthusiastic support of the program. And of course, this day would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsor firms: 🔹 Morning Host: CIBC 🔹 Afternoon Hosts: BMO Capital Markets, Broadridge Financial Services, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., CIBC Private Wealth, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Canada, National Bank Financial Markets, Picton Mahoney Asset Management, PwC, RBC Capital Markets, and Scotiabank. Job Shadow Day Toronto will return again in Spring 2025 — keep an eye on our website for details! https://lnkd.in/ekXVuUeU

Mentorship can make the world of difference in someone’s career. As highlighted in our Project Affinity report, many women working in Investment Banking lack the same mentorship opportunities — creating barriers to advancement in comparison to their male counterparts. Thank you to Sarah Bull for highlighting our report, and sharing the importance of having mentors who are invested in your success! If you work in any area of the finance sector, and are looking for career enrichment as a mentee or a mentor, VersaFi’s Professional Mentorship Program is now accepting applications till November 8! This program is complimentary to all VersaFi members, apply here: https://lnkd.in/eVczk6XE Read our full Project Affinity report to see more tangible recommendations on how to increase sponsorship: https://lnkd.in/gTGQ6suK 

How are Canadian public companies progressing when it comes to the representation of women, BIPOC professionals & persons with disabilities in senior leadership roles? Register today for this event and find out from industry leaders, including our very own President & CEO Tanya van Biesen. The event is TODAY at 1:00 p.m. ET. Details and registration can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gGwYx7My With John Valley, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (Moderator); Michelle Banik, and Tammy Cook-Searson.

🏆 Announcing the finalists for our Outstanding Volunteer Award 🏆 Our mission to accelerate equity in finance wouldn't be possible without the support of our volunteers. The following four finalists have been selected for their efforts around helping to build local and national networks, by engaging with and acting as mentors, and encouraging women at all stages of their careers to develop and enhance their professional skills through VersaFi’s programs and events: 🔹Laura Baker, CIBC Capital Markets 🔹Keren Beletsky, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan 🔹Jenica K., RBC Capital Markets 🔹Hao T., VersaFi Ontario Steering Committee Member Thank you to our Awards ceremony host, BMO. Join us and celebrate the winners these awards on November 5, at BMO Place in Toronto. https://lnkd.in/egfvANy2 #VersaFiLeadershipAwards #VolunteerAward #WomenInFinance

As a part of our 2024 Leadership Awards, our Ally Award celebrates men who truly understand that progress requires active support and engagement. This means helping to amplify the voices of their colleagues and creating opportunities for women as mentors and sponsors.  Our finalists are:  🔹Giovanni Davide, (Gian Davide) Orsi, PSP Investments 🔹Stephen Macdonald, BMO Private Wealth 🔹Scott McIntosh, OMERS 🔹Todd Sicinski, TD Securities Winners will be announced live at the VersaFi Leadership Awards Reception, on November 5 in Toronto. We invite all to join us and celebrate our finalists and award winners. Patrick Bartlett, Regional President, GTA - BMO Private Wealth will join to provide our closing remarks. https://lnkd.in/egfvANy2 #VersaFiLeadershipAwards #Allyship #AllyshipAward

On November 5, we will proudly name the winners of our “Transformational Leaders” category, those who understand the challenges other women face and who use their vision and unwavering commitment to transform their organization’s culture. Please join us in celebrating the following six finalists for setting a powerful example for the entire industry of what can be achieved: 🔹Geneviève Bertrand, PSP Investments 🔹Mari Jensen, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Canada 🔹Isabelle Quach-Thanh, PSP Investments 🔹Rajni Singh, TD Securities 🔹Selena Woo, Nicola Wealth 🔹June Zimmer, BMO Private Wealth Winners will be announced live at the VersaFi Leadership Awards Reception, on November 5 in Toronto. https://lnkd.in/egfvANy2 #VersaFiLeadershipAwards #LeadershipAward #WomeninFinance

🏅Drum roll, please… Join us in recognizing the finalists of our 2024 Trailblazer Award 🏅 🔹Alice Ambrosie, CI Financial 🔹Sharon Dhaliwal, Stifel Financial Corp. Canada 🔹Genevieve Eccleston, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. 🔹Anne-Sophie Thene, National Bank Financial Markets 🔹Karen Théorêt, RBC Capital Markets 🔹Lina Zhang, CPP Investments | Investissements RPC Our Trailblazer Award honours women at the mid-level of their career who are driving change for other women and gender-diverse individuals in their organization, and at an industry level. They have an incredible vision for an equitable future, and the courage to pursue it. Winners will be announced live at the VersaFi Leadership Awards Reception, on November 5 in Toronto. Be sure to join us for an incredible evening of celebration and networking led by our evening hosts, Leslie J. Anderson-Rutland, BMO Wealth Management and Nick Chan, BMO Capital Markets. https://lnkd.in/egfvANy2 #VersaFiLeadershipAwards #TrailblazerAward #WomeninFinance

🌟We’re excited to announce the finalists of our 2024 Leadership Awards Rising Star Award 🌟 This award recognizes high-performing and high-potential women who, at an early stage in their career, are working at a grassroots level to uplift and support other women and gender-diverse individuals. Please join us in congratulating our finalists:  🔹Ashley Copeland, CIBC Capital Markets 🔹Maggie Fisher, TD Securities 🔹Claire Ho, RPIA 🔹Mary Peplinski, EQ Bank | Equitable Bank 🔹Lizzie Virgo, BMO Capital Markets 🔹Grace Zhang, Scotiabank Winners will be announced live at the VersaFi Leadership Awards Reception, on November 5 in Toronto. Hosted by BMO and taking place at BMO Place, we invite you  to join us and celebrate these incredible Rising Stars: https://lnkd.in/egfvANy2 #VersaFiLeadershipAwards #RisingStarAward #WomeninFinance