JOINT STATEMENT BY CANADIAN BANKS AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES REGARDING ANNUAL MEETINGS IN 2023

TORONTO, Dec. 8, 2022 /CNW/ - This is a joint statement issued by BMO, CIBC, Canadian Western Bank, Laurentian Bank, National Bank, RBC, Scotiabank, TD Bank Group, Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life. Each of us continues to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the directives and recommendations from public health and government authorities. In the last few years, we have been taking a series of proactive precautionary measures to help protect the health and well-being of our employees, clients and communities. This degree of care and concern extends to all of our shareholders and policyholders. Although the COVID-19 situation has improved since the 2022 annual meeting cycle, we have been carefully considering alternatives for our respective meetings in light of the continued and unpredictable nature of COVID-19, and potential protocols recommended by public health authorities and organizations.  

As a result, we have once again jointly obtained a court order that enables our 2023 annual meetings to be held, as electronic-only or as hybrid meetings, as determined by each financial institution. The order permits our meetings to be conducted over one or more of webcasting, teleconference or other electronic means, in each case in addition to, or instead of, an in-person meeting, and permits alternative means for distributing meeting materials. In March 2020, December 2020 and December 2021, we jointly obtained a similar court order. The order was obtained because Canadian banks and insurance companies are not permitted to conduct an electronic annual meeting in lieu of an in-person meeting without relief from the court.  

We believe these are prudent and precautionary measures that balance public health and well-being with the ability of shareholders and policyholders to attend and exercise their rights. Each institution is committed to presenting their respective meeting in a manner that supports constructive shareholder engagement.

The specific arrangements for each annual meeting will be announced separately, by each financial institution, prior to the scheduled date. We encourage our shareholders and policyholders to visit our websites in advance of our annual meetings for the most current information.

 

Bank of Montreal

BMO Life Assurance Company

Media Relations

Jeff Roman
(416) 867-3996
jeff.roman@bmo.com

Investor Relations
Bill Anderson
(416) 867-7834
bill2.anderson@bmo.com

The Bank of Nova Scotia

Media Relations

Clancy Zeifman

(416) 520-3906  
clancy.zeifman@scotiabank.com

 

Investor Relations

Sophia Saeed

(647) 973-6961

sophia.saeed@scotiabank.com

 

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Media Relations

Tom Wallis

(416) 980-4048

tom.wallis@cibc.com

Canadian Western Bank

Investor Relations

Chris Williams

(780) 508-8229

chris.williams@cwbank.com

 

Laurentian Bank of Canada

Media Relations

Merick Seguin

(514) 451-3201

merick.seguin@lbcfg.ca

 

Investor Relations

Andrew Chornenky

(416) 846-4845

andrew.chornenky@lbcfg.ca

 

National Bank of Canada

Media Relations

Marie-Pierre Jodoin

(514) 394-4209

mariepierre.jodoin@nbc.ca

 

Investor Relations

Marianne Ratté

1-866-517-5455

investorrelations@nbc.ca / relationsinvestisseurs@bnc.ca

 

Royal Bank of Canada

RBC Life Insurance Company

Media Relations

Gillian McArdle

(416) 842-4231

gillian.mcardle@rbc.com

Investor Relations

Asim Imran

(416) 955-7804

asim.imran@rbc.com

The Toronto-Dominion Bank

Media Relations

Elizabeth Goldenshtein

(647) 625-3124

elizabeth.goldenshtein@td.com

Investor Relations

Brooke Hales

(416) 307-8647

brooke.hales@td.com


Great-West Lifeco Inc.

The Canada Life Assurance Company

Media Relations

Liz Kulyk

(204) 391-8515

media.relations@canadalife.com

 

Investor Relations

Deirdre Neary

(647) 328-2134

deirdre.neary@canadalife.com

 

Manulife Financial Corporation

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

Media Relations

Cheryl Holmes

(416) 557-0945

cheryl_holmes@manulife.com

 

Investor Relations

Hung Ko

(416) 806-9921

hung_ko@manulife.com

Sun Life Financial Inc.

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

Media Relations

Rajani Kamath

(416) 979-6070

rajani.kamath@sunlife.com

Investor Relations

Yaniv Bitton

(416) 979-6496

yaniv.bitton@sunlife.com


 

SOURCE Canadian Banks and Life Insurance Companies