Robert Badun has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice-President, Investments at AGF Investments.  Prior to joining AGF in 2006, he co-founded Highstreet Asset Management, and served as Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer.

He has served on the boards of a number of organizations, including the Portfolio Management Association of Canada, the Robarts Research Institute and The King's University College. In addition to joining the Equitable Life of Canada Board of Directors, he was recently appointed to the Stratford Festival's Board.  

Robert holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Calgary.

Craig Richardson has more than 20 years of experience in the food processing industry. For the past 12 Years, he has served as President of Grand River Foods, a $250 million food processor employing over 400 people in the K-W Region. Prior to joining Grand River Foods, he served in various leadership roles at Strathroy Foods Limited, including five years as President. 

Craig has served on numerous industry and community-based organizations throughout his career. He is a co-founder and current President of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors and also serves as Chair of the Conestoga College Board of Governors.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and has completed the Canadian Agri-Food Executive Development Program at the University of Guelph.

About Equitable Life of Canada
Since 1920, people have been depending on Equitable Life of Canada for financial protection. As one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in Canada, Equitable Life is dedicated solely to its policyholders. Everything we do is focused on providing them with personalized service, security and wellbeing.

Through partnerships with Managing General Agencies and Advisors across Canada, we offer a wide selection of competitive Individual Life and Health, Savings and Retirement, and Group Benefits products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs.

Media Relations Contact
Don Bisch
Director, Corporate Communications
1-800-772-6615 ext. 8230
dbisch@equitable.ca 
www.equitable.ca

Since 1920, customers have been depending on Equitable Life for security through financial protection and support. One of Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life focuses on providing long-term growth and stability to customers. With over $2.1B in overall assets under administration, Equitable Life is a strong and stable company, with a well-diversified portfolio.

Through partnerships with MGAs and advisors, Equitable Life offers customers a wide selection of competitive products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs for individual life and health, individual savings and retirement and group life and health insurance.

By electronically attaching all claim-related documentation to each Plan Member file as soon as information is received or updated, the technology makes it easier for Plan Members and Administrators to submit disability documentation. It also facilitates immediate access to all claims-related information in a unified online environment for Equitable Life Disability Specialists. This provides the ability to route claims and associated documents in a more efficient manner, reducing delays associated with filing, storing and accessing paper information.

"Files can be updated immediately and decisions that require additional information can be acted upon right away," explains Norma Crouse, Assistant Vice President - Group Claims, Equitable Life of Canada. "Facilitating treatment, assessments and communicating what the next steps are can be done even more efficiently and faster."

Disability can be an important, challenging and a potentially costly workplace issue. In fact, according to research from Wilson, Joffe and Wilkerson, workplace costs associated with disability account for anywhere from four to 12 per cent of annual Canadian payrolls. It is with this in mind that Equitable Life developed, tested and has implemented imaging technology as part of our overall, and constantly evolving Disability Management strategy.

"Waiting for decisions and information can heighten the stress of being off work for Plan Members," says Karen Mason, Senior Vice President - Group, Equitable Life of Canada. "Imaging, combined with our highly trained disability staff, further enhances Equitable Life's ability and commitment to start Plan Members on the road to recovery and the path to a timely and successful return to work."           

"Our disability claims management process has always been based on a commitment to provide claimants and their employers with clear, timely decisions and communication," adds Mason. "Disability is a difficult workplace issue and it is our goal to make the claims process as straightforward as possible for both Plan Members and Administrators."

About Equitable Life of Canada 

Since 1920, customers have been depending on Equitable Life for security through financial protection and support. One of the largest Canadian mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life focuses on providing long-term growth and stability to customers.  Through partnerships with MGAs and advisors, Equitable Life offers customers a wide selection of competitive products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs for individual life and health, individual savings and retirement and group life and health insurance. 

www.equitable.ca

Media Relations Contact

James Kaylor
Communications Specialist
Group Marketing
519.904.8155
Email: jkaylor@equitable.ca

Since 1920, customers have been depending on Equitable Life for security through financial protection and support. One of Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life focuses on providing long-term growth and stability to customers. With over $2.1B in overall assets under administration, Equitable Life is a strong and stable company, with a well-diversified portfolio.

Through partnerships with MGAs and advisors, Equitable Life offers customers a wide selection of competitive products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs for individual life and health, individual savings and retirement and group life and health insurance.

Already held in more than 80 cities across North America, Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a fun-filled, family-friendly event held annually to raise funds for autism research and family services, and to increase awareness about autism. The three-kilometre walk will be held in Waterloo Park on Sunday, June 24^th. The fundraising goal for the Waterloo-Wellington Walk is $50,000.

"We are very excited to have Equitable Life of Canada as the Presenting Sponsor for our first annual Waterloo-Wellington Walk," said Suzanne Lanthier, Executive Director of Autism Speaks Canada. "Walk Now for Autism Speaks is our single most powerful force to fund vital research that will lead us to the answers we need, raise money to support family services programs and initiatives and heighten awareness about autism and the issues facing the local and national autism communities."

"Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder, affecting thousands of Canadian families," said Ron Beettam, President and CEO of Equitable Life of Canada. "Equitable Life is proud to partner with Autism Speaks Canada to bring this important fundraising event to Waterloo-Wellington for the first time."

To help raise awareness for autism and build support for the Waterloo-Wellington Walk, Equitable Life is holding a month-long "Light It Up Blue" campaign. Starting on April 2^nd, World Autism Awareness Day, Equitable Life will be joining organizations and institutions around the world by illuminating its Head Office in blue light to raise awareness about autism. Equitable Life encourages other organizations and citizens in Waterloo-Wellington to "Light It Up Blue" at their homes and offices.

In addition, Equitable Life has planned several fundraising and awareness raising initiatives for its employees throughout the month, including: "Blue Mondays" casual dress days and a "Decorate Your Workspace Blue Contest". Equitable Life's fundraising goal is $30,000.

For more information about Walk Now for Autism Speaks, or to register for or donate to the Waterloo-Wellington Walk, visit: www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.ca/waterloowellington.

About Equitable Life of Canada
As one of Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life is dedicated solely to its policyholders. The Company is focused on providing them with high-quality service, security and well-being.

Since 1920, Canadians have been depending on Equitable Life for financial protection. The Company offers a wide selection of competitive Individual Life and Health, Group Life and Health, and Individual Savings and Retirement products to meet the needs of its large and growing base of participating policyholders.

About Autism Speaks Canada
Together with Autism Speaks, the founding organization in the United States, Autism Speaks Canada has grown into North America's largest autism science, awareness and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

About Autism
Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disorder among children in North America. One out of every 110 children - one in 70 boys - will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is more prevalent than pediatric cancer, AIDS and diabetes combined. Rates of diagnosis have increased 57% from 2002 to 2006 and an astounding 600% in the last 20 years. Autism is a lifelong condition, and there is no known medical detection or cure.

Media contacts:
Don Bisch
Director, Corporate Communications
519.904.8017
dbisch@equitable.ca

Suzanne Lanthier
Executive Director, Autism Speaks Canada
1.888.362.6227
slanthier@autismspeaks.org

Since 1920, customers have been depending on Equitable Life for security through financial protection and support. One of Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life focuses on providing long-term growth and stability to customers. With over $2.1B in overall assets under administration, Equitable Life is a strong and stable company, with a well-diversified portfolio.

Through partnerships with MGAs and advisors, Equitable Life offers customers a wide selection of competitive products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs for individual life and health, individual savings and retirement and group life and health insurance.

Low interest rates, volatile financial markets and poor lapse experience in a segment of the Individual line of business contributed to the earnings decline.  Reflecting these conditions resulted in a net strengthening of the reserves by $33.1 million. Offsetting the impact of the difficult environment were a focus on expense management, excellent results in the Group line of business and good returns on surplus.

Despite a decline in earnings, Equitable Life's participating policyholders' equity, one of the key measures of a life insurer's financial stability, increased 2.8% to $307.4 million in 2011. And the Company's Minimum Continuing Capital and Surplus Requirement (MCCSR) ratio finished the year at 190%, well above the minimum level of 150% set out by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI).

In a tough environment, all lines of business finished the year with sales at or slightly below 2010 levels. Total premiums and segregated funds deposits increased 5.1% to $580.4 million, and total assets under administration climbed to $2.8 billion, up 7.4% from the previous year. In addition, total dividend payments to policyholders increased 12.3% to $11.0 million from $9.8 million in 2010.

Equitable Life has continued to maintain a sound investment portfolio that has delivered consistent returns. With the debt crisis continuing to unfold in Europe, the Company has no direct exposure to sovereign debt issues and only limited exposure to foreign debt. As well, Equitable Life took steps to ensure its ongoing stability by strengthening the Company's risk framework.

"The year 2011 was very challenging for all Canadian life insurance companies," said Ronald Beettam, Equitable Life's President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we were disappointed with the results, we continue to be in a strong position during these volatile times."

"Equitable Life's ability to remain strong in the midst of difficult market conditions reflects the benefits of our commitment to mutuality," added Beettam. "Our mutual status provides continuity and stability, and allows us to focus on meeting the long-term interests of our policyholders."

2011 Financial Highlights

• Net income decreased to $8.5 million, for a return on policyholders' equity of 2.8%.
• Participating policyholders' equity increased 2.8% to $307.4 million.
• Capital strength, as measured by the MCCSR ratio, ended the year at 190%.
• Premiums and deposits increased by 5.1% to $580.4 million. 
• Assets under administration climbed by 7.4% to $2.8 billion.

About Equitable Life of Canada

As one of Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life is dedicated solely to its policyholders. The Company is focused on providing them with high-quality service, security and well-being.

Since 1920, Canadians have been depending on Equitable Life for financial protection. The Company offers a wide selection of competitive Individual Life and Health, Group Life and Health, and Individual Savings and Retirement products to meet the needs of its large and growing base of participating policyholders.

www.equitable.ca

Media relations contact
Don Bisch
Director, Corporate Communications
1.800.722.6615 ext. 8017
dbisch@equitable.ca

Since 1920, customers have been depending on Equitable Life for security through financial protection and support. One of Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life focuses on providing long-term growth and stability to customers. With over $2.1B in overall assets under administration, Equitable Life is a strong and stable company, with a well-diversified portfolio.

Through partnerships with MGAs and advisors, Equitable Life offers customers a wide selection of competitive products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs for individual life and health, individual savings and retirement and group life and health insurance.

For those looking for higher long-term value, Equimax Estate Builder™  is ideal for estate planning and covering taxes and fees at death so their estate passes intact to their heirs.

Equimax Wealth Accumulator™  provides higher early cash values within the first 20 years and is ideal for building wealth policyholders can access during their lifetime.

Both offer participating permanent whole life insurance coverage from the largest federally regulated mutual life insurance company in Canada.

Equitable Life has also introduced enhancements to its Equimax participating whole life insurance product, including:

Increased issue ages
Increased issue ages make Equimax an excellent choice for older clients looking for guarantees and a more stable investment option.

Ability to increase the tax-sheltered growth
In a low interest rate environment where guarantees are scarce, Equimax provides a stable, hands-off investment option that offers tax-sheltered growth.  Policyholders also have the ability to accelerate the tax-sheltered growth in the policy by making additional deposits above the required guaranteed premium. Those deposits buy participating paid-up insurance which may immediately increase the total death benefit and total cash value of the policy.  This feature is also available on children's policies, increasing the cash value they can access to fund education.

Individual whole life insurance from Equitable Life of Canada offers policyholders guarantees (premium, cash values and death benefit) and the ability to protect their family's financial security, create wealth, preserve an estate or access funds throughout their lifetime.  Talk to your advisor about Equimax today.

About Equitable Life of Canada
Since 1920, customers have been depending on Equitable Life of Canada for financial protection. As one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in Canada, Equitable Life is dedicated solely to its policyholders. Everything we do is focused on providing them with personalized service, security and wellbeing.

Through partnerships with Managing General Agencies and Advisors, we offer a wide selection of competitive Individual Life and Health, Savings and Retirement and Group Benefits products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs.

Media Relations Contact
Karl Simon
Director of Individual Product Development and Marketing
Direct Line: 519-904-8305
Email: ksimon@equitable.ca

Since 1920, customers have been depending on Equitable Life for security through financial protection and support. One of Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies, Equitable Life focuses on providing long-term growth and stability to customers. With over $2.1B in overall assets under administration, Equitable Life is a strong and stable company, with a well-diversified portfolio.

Through partnerships with MGAs and advisors, Equitable Life offers customers a wide selection of competitive products to meet a range of financial planning and health needs for individual life and health, individual savings and retirement and group life and health insurance.