Retail Council of Canada’s 2017 Human Resources Conference takes place on April 19th at the International Centre in Mississauga, with a focus on the most contested human resources challenges facing retailers in Canada today. Registration is now open, and conference delegates may earn 6.5 hours of certified HRPA credits for participating.

Speakers will include:
•   Jim Caldwell, Executive Vice President, Big Box Retail at Lowe’s Companies Canada ULC
•   Monika Mielnik, Senior Consultant, HR Workplace Health, Bell Canada
•   Kelly Davis, Senior VP HR, Loss Prevention & Customer Service, Town Shoes
•   Gil Dennis, Executive Vice President, Retail and Human Resources, Indigo
•   Ed Mantler Vice President, Programs & Priorities, Mental Health Commission of Canada
•   Michel Arsenault, Clinical Director of Ontario and Digital Clinical Services, Morneau Shepell
•   Dan Demers, Senior Manager of Strategic Business Development, CannAmm
•   Andrea Coopman, Sr. Human Resources Manager, Microsoft
•   Miles Lucas Country Human Resources Manager H&M Canada
•   Rob Power, North American Retail Trainer, Michael Hill Jewelers
•   Ted Moroz, President, The Beer Store
•   Ramesh Venkat, Director, David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing, Sobey School of Business.

Not to mention others — The full listing of speakers is available at www.rcchrconference.ca/content/speakers.

Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada will open the conference with Lowe’s Jim Caldwell who will lay out how dramatic business changes, such as Lowe’s 2015 acquisition of RONA, affect people, and how implementing progressive human resources strategies can help companies flourish.

Perhaps one of the most polarizing human resources issues today is the burning debate on the impact of marijuana legalization, especially as it relates to safety sensitivity. This session, led by Dan Demers, Senior Manager, Strategic Business Development, CannAmm, will help provide guidance on how to manage both medically authorized and legally accessible marijuana in the workplace through compelling facts, resources and action steps.

Further building on employees’ morale and emotional resilience, Ed Manteler, Vice President, Programs & Priorities, Mental Health Commission Canada will discuss the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (The Standard) and share updates on how some of the first companies to implement The Standard are experiencing its impact.

Monika Mielnik, Senior Consultant, Human Resources – Workplace Health at Bell Canada will also share learnings from Bell’s “Let’s Talk” program and how Bell is measuring the progress of its adaptation of The Standard for its workplace mental health strategies.

Effective strategies to attract and hire talent through employment brand building will be explored in a three-way exchange featuring Stacy Parker, Managing Director, Blu Ivy Group, Ted Moroz, President of the Beer Store, and Kristen MacLellan , Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition Best Buy Canada.

The full agenda can be viewed at www.rcchrconference.ca/content/agenda.

“It’s fascinating how members are being stretched to tackle highly nuanced and complex human resources issues that were not even on the radar a few years ago,” said Retail Council of Canada’s Senior Director of Events and Education, Kyle Tomlin. “This is going to be one of the most controversial conferences Retail Council of Canada has ever produced as we all try together to find a way to bring solutions to these modern workforce challenges for retailers in Canada.”

Registration is now open to to buy tickets for this event.