SickKids hospital employees will transition to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) by the end of 2025, making it the last major Ontario hospital to join the provincial pension system that already covers more than 700 healthcare employers.
The Hospital for Sick Children announced Monday that its staff will become HOOPP members effective Dec. 29, 2025, following employee feedback about the hospital’s current pension arrangements.
“After thorough review and careful consideration, we determined that transitioning all future service into HOOPP is the most viable path forward,” said Susan O’Dowd, vice-president of human resources and commercial services at SickKids. “Enhancing our pension plan and joining HOOPP is not only something many staff have been asking for, but also a logical step for SickKids as it aligns us with the broader sector.”
Future service model protects existing benefits
The transition will use a “future service” model, meaning employees will keep their existing SickKids pension benefits while building new pension credits through HOOPP going forward. Almost all current defined benefit plan members will join HOOPP for future service, though a small group who would be disadvantaged by the change will remain in the existing SickKids plan.
Current retirees, those retiring before 2026, or former employees with deferred pensions will continue receiving SickKids pension benefits only.
Years of service at SickKids will count toward HOOPP’s early retirement calculations, providing continuity for long-term employees.
HOOPP serves broader healthcare sector
HOOPP manages more than $123 billion in assets and serves Ontario’s hospital and community-based healthcare sector with over 478,000 active, deferred and retired members. The plan pays more than $3 billion annually in pension benefits to retired Ontario healthcare workers.
“HOOPP is one of the strongest and most stable pension plans in Canada and offers its members a secure pension for life,” said Rachel Arbour, HOOPP’s head of plan benefits, design and policy. “We look forward to working with SickKids employees over the coming months to help and support them as they transition into HOOPP.”
The plan operates as a private independent trust with a board of trustees appointed by the Ontario Hospital Association and four unions: the Ontario Nurses’ Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, and Service Employees International Union.
About the transition
SickKids, founded in 1875 as Canada’s first children’s hospital, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The hospital is affiliated with the University of Toronto and is one of Canada’s most research-intensive medical facilities.
The pension transition represents the final step in bringing all Ontario hospitals under the HOOPP umbrella, creating a unified pension system for the province’s healthcare workers.
