Great-West Lifeco Inc. and its subsidiary, the Canada Life Assurance Company, announced that both companies will hold their annual meetings at the same time, online only, on May 7, 2020 at 12:00p.m. Eastern time.

The companies join others who’ve already announced their decisions to hold annual meetings virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are actively monitoring COVID-19 developments and public health and government directives,” the company said in a statement released April 8. “In line with the directives from public health and government authorities, Great-West Lifeco and Canada Life, along with a number of other Canadian financial institutions, sought and were granted a court order permitting us to conduct our annual meetings electronically.”

Registered shareholders, voting policy holders and duly appointed proxyholders are encouraged to submit questions in advance. Written questions will also be accepted at the meetings through a live webcast. Forms of proxy and voting instruction forms will not be updated to reflect the change in location, and can still be used to vote. Shareholders and policyholders who provide voting instructions in advance do not need to attend the meetings to vote. Details on how to participate in the meetings will be available on both company websites.