Retirement: Adventure or Misadventure? Full Day In-Person Workshop

Description

From work to retirement — a major life transition.

Retirement is one of the biggest transitions we will experience in our lifetime. This important life chapter is often portrayed as a long, blissful period of freedom and leisure—free from boring meetings, deadlines, and alarm clocks. Advertising reinforces this image with promises of beaches, travel, and carefree days. As a result, preparation for retirement is almost exclusively focused on finances: investments, pensions, insurance, and tax planning.

This narrow focus is dangerously incomplete.

Retirement is far more than a financial milestone. It is a profound life transition that affects personal identity, daily routines, relationships, and perhaps most importantly, one’s sense of purpose. Not surprisingly, prominent researchers Holmes and Rahe ranked retirement 10th on their list of the 43 most stressful life events, placing it well above many experiences people assume are far more disruptive.

If you truly want to understand what retirement involves—and how to prepare for it meaningfully—this powerful session is essential.

You will learn: 

• What retirement really is
• The key phases of retirement, from beginning to end
• Why the transition into retirement is so significant
• Practical ways and tips to prepare fully and effectively
• The main challenges you are likely to face—both expected and surprising—and how to address them successfully

 Who Should Attend:

This seminar is designed for individuals who are within 36 months or less of retirement. It is specifically designed for those retiring from management or executive roles in public sector institutions such as federal, provincial, or municipal governments.

Past participants in Mark’s retirement courses have included Deputy Ministers, CEOs, senior executives in both public and private sectors, professionals at all levels, and individuals seeking a rigorous, structured approach to retirement preparation that goes beyond financial planning.

Duration:

• Full day training (9-4 PM), including networking lunch and strategic breaks designed to maximize your learning and application potential. 

Space is limited to ensure personalized attention. Secure your place now by clicking the registration button!

Special Offers

Take advantage of these exclusive discounts available when registering for IOG courses:

1. Group Course Discount: Register 3 or more colleagues together for the same course and receive 10% off your total registration fee.  
   Learning together builds team capacity—and helps you save on training costs.
2. Individual Bundle Discount: Register as an individual for 3 or more courses at the same time and save 10% on your total registration fee.
   Advance your professional development while maximizing value.

Facilitators

Mark Gagnon is a retired public servant with decades of experience as a senior executive and the founder of Markus G. Consulting Inc., an executive coaching firm. He supports professionals through major life and career transitions with clarity, purpose, and confidence.
With extensive experience in coaching and facilitation, Mark helps participants explore identity, values, and intentional life planning beyond career milestones. His work focuses on transforming insight into action, enabling individuals to navigate change with resilience and self-awareness.
Mark has delivered nearly 600 “Retirement: Adventure or… Misadventure?” seminars across Canada, earning outstanding reviews from participants.
He holds bachelor’s degrees from Université de Montréal and Université Laval, a law degree from the University of Ottawa, before being admitted to the Bar.

Isabelle Daoust brings over 30 years of professional experience. A retired public servant and certified executive coach, her career began in the humanitarian sector and evolved into leadership development and career transition coaching.
Isabelle supports clients through self-discovery, intentional decision-making, and aligning retirement life with core values. Her approach helps individuals design a retirement that is both meaningful and personally authentic.
She holds a business degree from HEC Montréal, a law degree from McGill University, and a graduate certificate in executive coaching.