The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan has reached 500,000 members, a milestone achieved when the Hospital for Sick Children officially joined the plan in late December.
The addition of SickKids brought more than 6,500 new members to HOOPP and means every hospital in Ontario now participates in the pension plan. The plan ended 2025 with more than 850 participating employers.
“Surpassing 500,000 members reflects the trust the healthcare community has placed in us, and it underscores the value the Plan delivers,” said Annesley Wallace, HOOPP’s president and CEO.
Active membership strengthens plan stability
The half-million membership includes more than 300,000 active members, one of the highest active-to-retired ratios among Canada’s major pension plans, according to the organization.
Registered nurse Erica O’Keefe represents the 500,000th member. “HOOPP gives my colleagues and me peace of mind about our future, so we can focus on taking care of our patients today,” she said.
The milestone marks progress toward goals outlined in HOOPP’s strategic plan, which targets more than 600,000 members and 1,000 employers by 2030.
Portability supports workforce mobility
HOOPP members can move between participating employers within Ontario’s healthcare sector while maintaining their pension benefits. The plan’s growth supports workforce stability and helps employers attract and retain talent, according to the organization.
“We know that a strong pension offering is crucial to a healthy, happy and productive workforce,” said Ivana Zanardo, HOOPP’s head of plan services.
About the plan
HOOPP has operated for more than 65 years and serves Ontario’s hospital and community-based healthcare sector. The plan is fully funded and manages more than $123 billion in assets across multiple geographies and asset classes.
The organization pays more than $3 billion in pension benefits annually to retired Ontario healthcare workers. HOOPP operates as a private independent trust, with a board of trustees that includes appointees from the Ontario Hospital Association and four unions: the Ontario Nurses’ Association, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, and the Service Employees International Union.
