Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan HQ Lights Up to Support International Women’s Day 2018, Catalyst Skyline Takeover

Leading Companies Come Together to Shine Light
on Power of Accelerating Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality
in the Workplace

Toronto —Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (Ontario Teachers')  is celebrating International Women's Day 2018 in a bright way: lighting up its North York  headquarters building with the female symbol to shine a spotlight on our commitment to advance women in business. The plan's real estate subsidiary, Cadillac Fairview, is also participating in this iconic event. At sundown in the United States, Canada, Peru and Colombia, dozens of major companies located in some of the world's most iconic and influential city structures, will join Catalyst, a global nonprofit focused on empowering and accelerating women in business, with a light display to demonstrate the collective power of global leading companies that are creating workplaces that work for women—because progress for women is progress for everyone.

"Bold moves provoke bold change," said Ron Mock, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Teachers'. "The image of so many high rise office buildings with the red female symbol radiating across metropolitan skylines is an amazing metaphor for reaching new heights in gender diversity, inclusion and equality. We are proud to count our Toronto headquarters among the buildings participating. Diverse workplaces, where women feel included and safe, thrive."

Mr. Mock noted that: "Ontario Teachers' executive team is 50% female, with women holding such critical roles as Chief Risk Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Pension Officer and Chief People & Culture Officer. Our Senior Managing Directors of Private Capital and Public Equities are both women, and the organization as a whole is 43% female. We are continuing to build a workplace that works for women."

As a proud supporter of Catalyst and its mission to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion, Ontario Teachers' is proud to participate in the Catalyst Skyline Takeover, being executed across 31 buildings in 10 cities in 5 countries.

"Our skyline takeover is a visual realization of the business community's commitment to women's advancement in workplaces around the world," said Tanya van Biesen, Executive Director, Catalyst Canada. "When the buildings light up—and people see these companies taking a firm and visible stand for gender equality—our hope is to show an undisputable beacon of solidarity among business leaders and spark a conversation that accelerates much needed change in workplaces." 
We invite all people to be agents of change within their own communities and companies, and encourage advocates to join the global conversation by sharing the Catalyst Skyline Takeover GIF and using hashtags #SignOfProgress, #CatalystForChange, #WorkplacesForWomen and #IWD2018.
Find the full list of Catalyst Supporters and learn more at catalyst.org.

About Ontario Teachers'
Ontario Teachers' is Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with $180.5 billion in net assets at June 30, 2017. It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an annualized rate of return of 10.1% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific region office is located in Hong Kong and its Europe, Middle East & Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 318,000 active and retired teachers.

About Catalyst
Catalyst is a global nonprofit working with some of the world's most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with pioneering research, practical tools, and proven solutions to accelerate and advance women into leadership—because progress for women is progress for everyone.

Ontario Teachers' Media Contact
Deborah Allan
Managing Director, Corporate Communications
(416)730-5347  
Deborah_allan@otpp.com

Media Contact Catalyst
Tia T. Gordon
Catalyst, Vice President, Global Communications
+1 646 640 1375;
tgordon@catalyst.org