Personal Perspectives

Karima Khanmohamed OPTrust Member
Bilingual Customer Service Representative
ServiceOntario

As a Bilingual Customer Service Representative and Commissioner of Oaths with ServiceOntario, Karima Khanmohamed helps thousands of Ontario residents who visit her office each year to access a wide range of government services – from renewing a driver’s licence or health card, registering a business or filing a claim under the Employment Standards Act, to obtaining a birth or marriage certificate. It can be challenging job, but Karima enjoys working with the public, and helping them get the services they need.

My job is important to me, but it also matters that I am part of a strong pension plan. I have worked in both the public and private sector, so it’s good to know that my pension will keep growing as long as I work in the OPS – and that it will be there for me when I retire, or if I move to another career.

Miguel R. Arias OPTrust Member
Autopsy Services Coordinator/Forensic Pathologist’s Assistant
Ontario Forensic Pathology Service

In his role as an Autopsy Services Coordinator & Forensic Pathologist’s Assistant, Miguel Arias is responsible for scheduling and assisting with autopsies in a wide range of cases, including deaths in custody, accidents, deaths under suspicious or criminal circumstances, and deaths of children. It is technical work that requires care and precision, but for Miguel, it is also a personal commitment.

Most of us don’t like to think about death, but when it happens to our loved ones, we all need clear answers. And if there are questions, investigators and the courts need to have scientific, factual and verifiable evidence. I see my work as a long-term career. So I’m glad my OPTrust pension gives me security for the long term, too.

Cindy Falcao OPTrust Member
Ambulance Communication Officer
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

As an Ambulance Communications Officer and Team Supervisor, Cindy Falcao leads a team of communications officers who handle all 911 calls for medical emergencies in Greater Hamilton, Brantford, Oshweken, and Haldimand and Norfolk counties. It’s an intense job, where Cindy and her team take the calls, determine the nature of the emergency and dispatch ambulances, all within two minutes. Then they provide primary aid instruction to callers until paramedics arrive.

Our work is rewarding but it’s also pretty stressful, which can take its toll. I see our pensions as part of our compensation for providing an important public service. Paying my pension contributions is easier and more secure than setting up an RRSP, and I know my pension will be there when I retire.

Sheldon Small OPTrust Member
Correctional Officer
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Security is what Sheldon Small’s job as a provincial Correctional Officer is all about. As “COs” Sheldon and his coworkers at the Toronto South Detention Centre are responsible for keeping almost 1,000 accused and convicted offenders secure, while ensuring the safety of inmates, staff and the community.

I started in Corrections as a fixed-term officer, so I didn’t have to join the pension plan, but I signed up on my first day. This is a hard job and the risks are always there. So our pensions and the ability to qualify for early retirement – or a disability pension, if it comes to that – really matter to us.

Kim Neo Tan OPTrust Retiree
Ministry of Community and Social Services

After 25 years in the Ontario Public Service, Kim Neo Tan took early retirement in 1996… and hasn’t slowed down since. She has followed her interests in art – first as a volunteer at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, then launching her own business as an art dealer and consultant – sports (including golf, skiing and cycling), international travel, and as a volunteer fundraiser for a range of causes in her community including through her membership in the Oshawa Rotary Club.

For me retirement was the opportunity of a lifetime. My OPTrust pension is not big, but it gives me a secure base that I have built on through my business. It means I have the freedom to do things that are important to me. And after a career in the public service, I’m still able to give back to my community.

James Cushing OPTrust Retiree
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services

Over his 30-year career in the Ontario Public Service, James Cushing enjoyed working for the people of Ontario. During that time, he also worked for his colleagues as an OPSEU representative in his workplace and at his ministry’s Employee Relations Committee. Since retiring in 2015, he has continued that tradition of advocacy, helping poor and homeless people in Toronto with access to legal services, and volunteering with the Out of the Cold program.

As an OPSEU activist, I strongly supported creating OPTrust. The fact that members have a real say in the Plan is one of the reasons it is so well run. Now that I‘m retired, my OPTrust pension means I’m able to work helping vulnerable people to find housing and other services and achieve some stability in their lives.

Perminder Grewal OPTrust Retiree
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Perminder Grewal admits that when he started his career as a provincial Correctional Officer, he didn’t pay much attention to his pension plan. When he retired more than 20 years later, he recognized how important it was to be able to retire with a secure lifetime pension. And after 17 years as an OPTrust retiree, it’s something he appreciates even more today.

My OPTrust pension means a lot to me. I have my own RRSP, but markets go up and down, so investing can be risky. Being part of a defined benefit pension plan like OPTrust gives me a secure income I can count on. And it feels good knowing that my pension is going to increase every year to keep up with inflation.

Lyndsey-Ann Fernandes OPTrust Employee
Business Analyst

After over two years working in OPTrust’s Member Services department, Lyndsey-Ann Fernandes was excited to have the opportunity to apply what she had learned in a new role. Now as an Acting Business Analyst, she is part of a team that is working to improve the computer systems that OPTrust uses to serve our almost 87,000 members and retirees.

This year I have been working on the 2015 version of our Annual Pension Statement tool, which gives our almost 44,000 active OPTrust members reliable online access to their annual statements. Members place a lot of importance on being able to log in online to get clear, accurate information about their pensions. It’s great to be part of OPTrust's commitment to continually ensure our members have an easy, hassle-free experience.

Umair Raza OPTrust Employee
Senior Analyst, Illiquid Assets Risk

Umair Raza is responsible for analyzing the variety of risks OPTrust’s illiquid assets – real estate, infrastructure and private equity – are exposed to, and the potential effect they have on the total fund. Umair is involved in developing, implementing and maintaining tools to measure these risk exposures in order to provide meaningful insights for making better total fund investment decisions.

The investment risk team played a critical role in developing the MDI strategy. Understanding risk is central to the MDI strategy by ensuring we have the ability to be nimble and dynamic to position ourselves to effectively deal with risks proactively, or as they arise. Providing better insights into the risks of the total fund portfolio and in the market helps investment teams and ultimately contributes to pension certainty for our members.

Wendy Lam OPTrust Employee
Information and Communication Assistant

Just months after joining OPTrust in 2015 as a Receptionist, Wendy Lam now supports the Member Services department as an Information and Communication Assistant. Wendy is part of a team responsible for all mail correspondence OPTrust receives and ensures that it’s processed correctly, and in a timely manner.

I’m part of a service-oriented team. The level of service we provide is really important – from processing members’ cases, to updating their personal information. Everything that gets sent to us must be accounted for and taken care of to uphold the high quality of service and information we provide to members.

Matthew Winter OPTrust Employee
Manager, Actuarial Services and Plan Policy

As Manager, Actuarial Services and Plan Policy, Matthew Winter is responsible for providing actuarial and technical data analysis and advice to a variety of departments at OPTrust, our Trustees and plan sponsors. Matthew implements OPTrust’s funding policy to help ensure that the Plan preserves its funded status and is sustainable for the long term.

In 2015, we focused on strengthening our actuarial assumptions, supporting the investment strategy and exploring opportunities to expand the Plan’s membership. We have a deep commitment to almost 87,000 people who count on us to pay pensions today and preserve them for tomorrow.

We Are Member Driven

In this Report

Karima Khanmohamed

Miguel R. Arias

Cindy Falcao

Sheldon Small

Kim Neo Tan

James Cushing

Perminder Grewal

Lyndsey-Ann Fernandes

Umair Raza

Wendy Lam

Matthew Winter