Tax and Succession Planning for the Family Business
November 18 & 19, 2025 at 9:00AM PST
Downtown Vancouver and Live Webinar
Tax and Succession Planning for the Family Business
November 18 & 19, 2025
Overview
With family businesses comprising the majority of enterprises across Canada, navigating effective tax and succession planning has never been more critical. As demographic shifts continue to shape our economy, it's imperative for owners and families to prepare for the complexities ahead. Legal and financial landscapes are evolving, presenting both challenges and opportunities that demand informed strategies.
Our comprehensive program focuses on the intricate aspects of safeguarding and transferring family businesses. Led by expert faculty, you will gain practical insights and proven strategies to navigate unstable markets, impending successions, tax implications, and nuanced family dynamics.
Don't miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the latest planning techniques and structures designed to preserve wealth and protect family interests effectively. Join us to advance your practice and ensure the long-term success of your family business in a dynamic environment.
Key Areas Addressed:
Key tax and legal developments affecting small businesses
US tax and estate issues where cross-border considerations are involved
Philanthropy and tax planning
Incapacity and business succession
Who Should Attend:
Lawyers who practise in the areas of business, succession planning or taxation
Accountants practising in areas of personal and/or corporate taxation, estate planning or advisory services for small business
Banking and trust company executives and managers
Owners and managers of family owned businesses
Financial planners
Business consultants
Agenda
Day One - November 18, 2025
9:00 - Welcome and Introduction by PBLI
9:05 - Chairs’ Welcome and Introduction
Chris Ireland, PPI Advisory
Melanie Zimmerman, PPI Advisory
9:10 - Case Law and Legislative Update: Key Developments Impacting the Family Business
Nicole Krige, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Recent cases affecting family businesses
10:00 - Questions and Discussion
10:10 - Refreshment Adjournment
10:25 - Post-Mortem Planning
Chris Ireland, PPI Advisory
Melanie Zimmerman, PPI Advisory
Tips and traps for post-mortem planning
XI.1 tax
Bump planning
Stop-loss rules
Life interest trusts
11:15 - Questions and Discussion
11:25 - US Tax and Cross-Border Estate Planning
Ryan Gill , KPMG LLP
Barb Eby , KPMG LLP
US estate tax
US anti-deferral rules
US beneficiaries of Canadian trusts
Cross-border estate freezes
Post-mortem planning with US taxpayers
12:15 - Questions and Discussion
12:25 - Networking Lunch
1:15 - Philanthropy and Tax Planning
Speaker to be announced
Planned giving
Tax planning
Private foundations
Donor-advised funds
2:05 - Questions and Discussion
2:15 - Refreshment Adjournment
2:30 - Roundtable Panel
A roundtable discussion of questions regarding tax and succession planning for family businesses, moderated by the conference chairs
3:50 - Questions and Discussion
4:10 - Chairs’ Closing Remarks
4:20 - Program Concludes for Day One
Day Two - November 19, 2025
9:00 - Chairs’ Welcome and Introduction to Day Two
Chris Ireland, PPI Advisory
9:05 - Tax Update: Key Developments Impacting the Family Business
Richard Weiland, Clark Wilson LLP
Income Tax Act amendments
Canada Revenue Agency pronouncements
Recent tax decisions
9:50 - Questions and Discussion
10:00 - Refreshment Adjournment
10:15 - Incapacity/Elder Care in Family Businesses
Speaker to be announced
11:00 - Questions and Discussion
11:10 - Best Practices for Talking to Children About Family Wealth
Kathy Bright, Trella Advisory Group
Why and when families should talk about wealth with the next generation
Common pitfalls and practical approaches
Impact on legacy, relationships, and governance
11:50 - Questions and Discussion
12:00 - Chairs’ Closing Remarks and Program Concludes
Meet the Co-Chairs
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Senior Vice-President, Planning Services, PPI Advisory, Vancouver, BC
Mr. Ireland has over 30 years of tax experience including several years as a tax partner in the Vancouver office of KPMG where he was in charge of the firm’s national estates and trusts practice and the Vancouver office’s personal tax services group. Mr. Ireland has been the coordinator and lecturer for the CICA advanced tax course, “Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business”. Mr. Ireland is currently on the board of STEP Canada as well as being Deputy Chair. He is a past Chair of the Vancouver branch of STEP and a past president of the Vancouver Estate Planning Council. Mr. Ireland is a frequent lecturer and author in the area of tax planning and wealth preservation.
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Vice-President, Planning Services, PPI Advisory, Vancouver, BC
Previous to joining PPI Advisory in 2005, Melanie worked for over 15 years in the Vancouver office of an international accounting firm specializing in tax planning for estates and trusts, individuals, charities and private businesses. Melanie’s role includes maintaining and updating PPI’s extensive library of tax and estate planning educational material, including the Advisor’s Guide to Life Insurance Taxation, which provides up-to-date and in-depth information for PPI Advisory’s Advisors involved in advanced planning. Melanie also provides Advisor educational sessions, presentations at industry events and consulting with her PPI Advisory colleagues on tax issues pertaining to the complex planning needs of our Advisors’ clients. Melanie is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation (CTF) and Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Meet the Faculty
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Consultant, Trella Advisory Group, Vancouver, BC
Kathy has a long history in governance, serving on numerous private, government and not-for-profit boards over her career. She currently serves as the Vice Chair and Governance Chair for a provincial crown and a federal crown, as well as an Independent Director for a privately held corporation in the Real Estate industry. In addition to her governance work, Kathy has an active consulting practice, where she has worked with boards, executive teams and enterprising families for nearly twenty years. As a consultant, educator and board director, she works through issues of strategy and governance in business and ownership contexts. She has acted as the President and an Officer of the Board for Family Enterprise Canada and Director of the Board of the Business Families Centre at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, in addition to holding teaching and leadership roles with both organizations. Working now with Trella, Kathy offers insightful consulting perspectives, with interests in leadership, succession and continuity planning, strategy, risk management, governance structures, fiduciary responsibility, and the development and maintenance of positive relationships in enterprising families.
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Manager, Tax, KPMG LLP, Vancouver, BC
Barb is a cross-border tax professional with experience in US estate and gift tax, Canadian departure tax, foreign tax credits, and various tax treaties.
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Partner, KPMG LLP, Vancouver, BC
Ryan is a partner in KPMG’s Global Mobility Services (GMS) tax group, specializing in Private Client – Cross-Border Tax. With more than 13 years of experience, Ryan serves cross-border private clients with a focus on high net worth individuals and families, and family offices. Ryan practises in the area of tax planning and compliance for individuals, estates and trusts in a Canadian and US cross-border context. He advises individuals on both sides of the border on tax matters related to their residence, compensation including equity compensation, investments including real estate, retirement plans, estates, trusts, gifts and expatriation. He has experience in cross-border reorganizations and post-mortem planning involving US citizens and residents. He is also involved in the preparation of Canadian and US tax returns for individuals, estates, and trusts. Ryan has been a speaker and presenter at events for the Pacific Business & Law Institute, CPABC chapters, STEP Vancouver, STEP Canada, UBC, SFU, and more. Ryan is a contributing editor of Carswell Publications “Tax Planning for You and Your Family” and “Death of a Taxpayer”.
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Associate, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver, BC
Nicole Krige is a trusts and estate litigation lawyer in Fasken's Vancouver office. Remaining flexible and responsive to evolving case developments, Nicole’s primary focus is implementing strategic solutions that align with her client's goals. Called to the BC bar in 2023, and the South African bar in 2011, Nicole brings over a decade of experience as a barrister with extensive courtroom representation in trials, motions and appeals.
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Partner, Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver, BC
Richard’s practice is focused on tax, trusts and estate planning. He helps clients to realize their business and succession goals in a tax-effective manner. He also advises executors and trustees on legal and tax matters. Richard has taught Taxation of Trusts and Estates as an adjunct professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC, and regularly speaks and writes on tax and estate matters for professional and lay audiences.
Registration Form
Program:
Tax and Succession Planning for the Family Business
Date:
November 18 & 19, 2025
Location:
UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street - Classroom level), Vancouver, BC
Registration:
The registration fee is $1,280.00 plus GST of $64.00 totaling $1,344.00 for webinar and in-person attendance. Registration fee covers your attendance at the program and electronic materials. In-person attendance includes a catered lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Early Bird Discount:
Register by October 20, 2025 and receive a $150 discount on the registration fee ($1,130.00 plus GST). Discounts cannot be combined.
Group Discount:
Register four persons from the same organization at the same time and you are entitled to a complimentary fifth registration. Discounts cannot be combined.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form and email it to registrations@pbli.com:
Payment:
You may pay by VISA, Mastercard or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to the Pacific Business & Law Institute and mailed to Unit 2-2246 Spruce Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2P3. Please do not send cheques via courier with signature required.
When and Where:
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. The program starts at 9:00 a.m. (PST). UBC Robson Square is located at 800 Robson Street in Vancouver, BC, and our event will take place on the classroom level. Please visit https://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/find-us/ for directions.
Materials:
The faculty will prepare papers and/or other materials explaining many of the points raised during this program. Materials will be distributed electronically. Please contact us at registrations@pbli.com if you are unable to attend the program and wish to purchase a set of materials.
Cancellations/Transfers:
Refunds will be given for cancellations (less a $60.00 administration fee) if notice is received in writing five full business days prior to the program (November 10, 2025). After that time we are unable to refund registration fees. Substitutions will be permitted. We reserve the right to cancel, change or revise the date, faculty, content, availability of webinar or venue and transfer in-person registration to webinar registration for this event.
To register by phone:
Telephone us: 604-730-2500
Your Privacy:
We will keep all information that you provide to us in strict confidence, other than to prepare a delegate list containing your name, title, firm and city for our faculty and the program delegates. We do not share our mailing lists with any non-affiliated organization.
Course Accreditation:
Course Accreditation: Attendance at this course can be listed for up to 8.75 hours of continuing professional development credits with the Law Society of BC. For practitioners in other jurisdictions, please check your governing body’s CPD requirements.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form (DOWNLOAD FORM) and email it to registrations@pbli.com; for individual registration, please continue with form below.