Western (St. Catharines): HYBRID Pay Equity and Pay Strategy: Compliance Today, Compensation Trends for Tomorrow


Date and Time:

Starts: 05/07/2026 8:00 AM

Ends: 05/07/2026 12:00 PM

Registration Closes:04/24/2026 8:00 AM

3 CPD Hour(s)

Location:
Stone Mill Ballroom (Johnny Rocco's), 271 Merritt Street, St. Catharines, ON

Price:

HRPA Members: Free (included in membership dues)

Non-Members:
IN-PERSON: $75 + tax

Non-Members:
VIRTUAL: $35 + tax

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Availability

Additional Information

**ZOOM STARTS AT 8:30am**

THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE RECORDED.
REMINDER! Our cancellation policy has changed. Click here for more information.


NEW! Chapter Connectors Program - To foster connection, support, and engagement within the HRPA community, we wish to pair in-person event attendees with experienced member "Connectors".

NEW! Ad-hoc Volunteer Opportunities - Interested in helping as a greeter, registration desk helper, speaker support and/or runner at an upcoming in-person Chapter event.

For both of the above opportunities, please click on the link during registration and you will also need to login to Communities to Volunteer with HRPA and complete the application form. Thank you for volunteering to help!

Event Sponsor


Two sessions. One essential conversation about pay.

Join us for a practical, forward-looking HR event exploring how to build equitable, compliant, and competitive compensation programs.

Session 1: Pay Equity – Deirdre Chong Smith

Beginning with an overview of pay equity legislation in Ontario, we will also update our knowledge on other jurisdictions, including an update on Federal Pay Equity Legislation (impacting our federally regulated organizations located in Ontario). 

This hands-on session will review compliance needs, provide HR Professionals with examples of how gaps can be inadvertently created, and then more strategically dive into how to develop sustainable compensation practices that support equitable pay.   With ESA updates and many organizations adopting pay transparency, equitable practices are more important than ever.

Pay Equity isn’t just about the numbers and compliance - for strategic HR leaders it's about fairness, opportunity, and building a workplace where everyone thrives. 

The session will include a Q&A/roundtable sharing.

Learning Objectives:

  • This session will provide the HR Professional with the knowledge of requirements for pay equity compliance; which includes key areas of HR practice in job analysis and evaluation, compensation and analysis.   
  • Deepening HR practitioner skill, the session will go beyond achievement of compliance to maintenance of pay equity and being able to anticipate how business and HR changes can impact equitable pay practices, in addition to critically reviewing pay data to assess for gaps, for gender or other possible biases.
  • Practitioners will also discuss current and anticipated challenges with the emergency of pay transparency and how equitable programs, and sustainable pay equity practices, can also support pay transparency and total rewards communication.

Session 2: 2026 Compensation Trends for Hiring Managers – Deborah Bottineau, Robert Half 

To attract top talent with the specialized skills essential for staying competitive and fostering innovation, business leaders must keep pace with evolving salary and compensation trends. Drawing from our comprehensive 2026 Canada Salary Guide, this presentation examines current compensation practices, including starting salaries, benefits, and incentives, both nationally and across five distinct professional sectors. Backed by exclusive, carefully vetted data, our research provides valuable insights designed to inform effective recruiting strategies and enable more productive, informed salary conversations amid today’s complex hiring environment.

Learning Objectives:

  • This session will give HR leaders a clear understanding of today’s compensation trends and practical guidance for building competitive salary structures that attract and keep top talent. 
  • Attendees will learn how to interpret compensation data and apply it directly to workforce planning, ensuring your pay strategies align with business needs. 
  • You’ll leave feeling more confident leading salary discussions and shaping total rewards programs that boost engagement and strengthen HR’s role as a strategic partner.

AGENDA:

7:30am-8:30am        Registration, Breakfast & Networking
8:30am-10:00am     ZOOM STARTS Pay Equity – Deirdre Chong Smith
10:00am -10:15am   Break
10:15am-11:45am      2026 Compensation Trends for Hiring Managers – Deborah Bottineau, Robert Half 
11:45am-noon           Wrap Up

Registration Difficulties or Questions: Please reach out to Tracey Gallacher, Specialist, Member Engagement

Speaker bio(s)
Deirdre Chong Smith, CHRP, CHRL, Director, Compensation

Deirdre is both a practicing consultant with Eckler Ltd. as well as a course developer & facilitator with the Toronto Metropolitan University. With nearly 20 years in the field, and a Certified Human Resources Leader, she loves being a consultant as it gives her the opportunity to work with a wide variety of industries and organizations - not-for-profit, healthcare, education, agencies, financial services, utilities, municipalities and more! With compensation analyst roots, she loves to dive into data and develop insights and tell stories that have foundations in data. She is an expert in job analysis, job evaluation, compensation system design (salary structures), incentive compensation design and pay equity.


Deborah Bottineau

Deborah Bottineau Managing Director Deborah Bottineau is a Managing Director with Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm. Her responsibilities include partnering with executive-level business professionals and clients across the GTA to optimize their talent and business strategies, managing high-performance teams, and overseeing Robert Half’s Technology and contract Administrative and Customer Service and HR practice groups, driving innovation and growth across these areas. As a spokesperson for Robert Half, Deborah provides thoughtful commentary on hiring trends, organizational leadership strategies and career management, and her thought leadership has been featured in media outlets such as Global News, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, Post Media, and more. Deborah joined Robert Half in 1998, and has also held the roles of Staffing Manager, District Director, Division Director, Branch Manager and Metro Market Manager. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Deborah has witnessed all phases of the job market cycle first-hand. Prior to joining the organization, Deborah worked in the insurance, retail and advertising industries. She holds an Honors BA from the University of Guelph.