The Life Insurance Institute of Canada (LIIC): A LOMA Institute presented Maritime Life Assurance Co. and Equitable Life Insurance Co. of Canada the 2004 LIIC Corporate Awards for Best Practices in Learning & Development within the Canadian life, health, and financial services industry at its annual conference in Toronto on June 15.

“Both Maritime Life and Equitable Life understand the importance of professional development for their employees in today’s competitive marketplace and the positive impact it can have on an organization’s bottom line,” said Debbie Cole-Gauer, executive director of the LIIC, in a news release “Their dedication to lifelong learning also makes a positive contribution to the Canadian insurance industry as a whole.”

Maritime Life won the large company category for its “Embracing A Season of Change” transition management program launched in November 2003. The program was designed to assist management and employees with the pending merger between John Hancock, Maritime’s parent organization, and Manulife Financial. It encompassed a series of workshops, a comprehensive communications campaign, self-directed learning, career management tools and resources, and helped to energize employees by providing them with needed change management tools during an uncertain time.

Equitable Life was recognized in the small-mid size company category for its innovative “Career Development Program” dedicated to the support of employees’ professional growth. This program encourages staff to take responsibility for their own career growth through an individualized one-one-one approach.

LIIC is a non-profit association representing a major portion of Canada’s life and health insurance industry, in business to serve the educational and professional development needs of member companies and their employees.