THOMAS J. RICE

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THOMAS J. RICE Husband-Father- Grand/Great/Grandparent-Friend Founder-Member-Director-Chairman- Consumer Advocate Manitoban Born in Brandon in 1939, predeceased by Parents Ephraim Samuel John (Jack) Rice and Gladys Leitha Rice (Wilcox) and brother Gordon Ransom Rice. Tom received his education in Brandon. He was very active in sports, playing and coaching several provincial championship teams, for both baseball and hockey. He began his working career at the age of 10 as a paper delivery boy which grew to a route of 250 papers for the Brandon Sun. Tom joined Safeway as a part-timer at age of 15 to full time after high school graduation. Tom moved to Edmonton and joined Western Grocers as a retail store supervisor and distribution Manager. Returning to Brandon in 1963, Tom worked as a successful sales person for Canadian Motors until 1965 when he returned to food industry joining Codville Group (IGA) as development officer. In 1966 he was hired by the Alcoholism Foundation of Manitoba as the first councillor outside of the City of Winnipeg until 1969. During which time he established programs in western Manitoba through the regional health units and a program at the Brandon Mental Hospital. He identified a need for a halfway centre in Brandon and established Matheson House, as well as establishing an Advisory Board in Western Manitoba under the alcoholism foundation provincial board. During this time, as well he advanced his academics at the Brandon University and University of North Dakota. Tom married Dorothy A. Pettinger from Elgin, Manitoba. They have two sons, Bradley and Tyler Rice and Tom has three children from a previous marriage, Jack and Jeff Rice and Pam Pople. He and Dorothy have 13 grandchildren and recently a first great-grandchild. In 1969 Tom entered the Financial Industry by joining Crown Life Insurance Company where he continued his education in business estate planning for corporations and personal needs. He achieved many sales successes at the national level. Crown Life transferred him to Winnipeg and advanced his education and support in corporate and financial planning and encouraged his advancement as a resource for other agents. Operating as T.J. Rice and Associates, Tom obtained his CLU degree in 1974 and CFP qualification in 1985. Tom was the founder of T.J. Rice and Associates, which began as an independent insurance brokerage with five employees in 1971, and within four years became a full service financial services retailer offering Fixed Term Deposits, Mutual Funds, Group Benefits, Retirement Services and Insurance Services. This became the precursor for Rice Capital Management Inc., Rice Financial Group Inc. and Independent Wealth Advantage; all of which were eventually included under the umbrella of the Jovian Capital Corporation, a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Exchange (JOV). Jovian had almost 100 locations and more than $12 billion of assets under administration/management in 2009. Tom believed and was committed to the principle that people did not need a financial planner; what they needed was clear concise information about products and services and issues required to address with clear language in their terms, without buzzwords, premised on this principle the majority of people can establish their own financial planning objectives. His company Rice Financial was acknowledged with 50 best managed company. In 2000 2001 entrepreneur of year advancing to Western Canadian finals in 2001. Always an active member of the financial sector, Tom was a founding member of the Federation of Independent Deposit Brokers (FIDB) and the Federation of Independent Mutual Fund Dealers (FIMFD). Tom has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC), the Independent Financial Brokers of Canada (IFBC), the Independent Life Brokers Association and formerly Co-operators Mutual Funds. He was an active member of CAIFA and CALU. As a member of these associations, Tom has been integrally involved in the development of strategic objectives, the formation of governance models, policy, bylaws and compliance from genesis through to implementation. Tom has contributed to the requirements, development and execution of the CDIC coverage's. Tom had membership in the Institute of Corporate Directors; an internationally affiliated organization formed in 1903. ICD utilizes the intellectual capital of its affiliates to focus on matters of corporate governance while promoting high professional standards of practice and performance for board and directors conduct. The financial industry recognized Mr. Rice by honouring him with a Distinguished Career Award. In 2005 Tom was invited to participate as a Director for the Bank of Canada and shortly after was invited to participate as a member of the Advisory Committee on Currency. He stepped down from the Board in 2009. In June 2012, he was honored by the investment industry of Canada (IIAC) being awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal. Tom has always been a strong advocate for the rights of individual consumers and clients and spoke on their behalf through both media and seminar presentations. He was a strong voice in coordinating industry regulations with the Federal Government as well as the Provincial Regulatory bodies. Tom has participated in the Ontario Securities Commission Stromberg Report Review of the Mutual Fund industry. The Wiseman Committee Review of a national securities regulator, Manitoba Securities Commission Advisory Committee, and Manitoba Advisory Committee to TSX Venture as well as the CDIC Industry Review Body. His involvement focused on industry standards and practices, human resources as well as the practical application of adopted rules and regulations. He has served on various committees that established the Mutual Fund Dealers Association. He has appeared in front of the Senate on three occasions, for consumers in CDIC policy and coverage's reviews, Pensions and Rights for First Nations Aboriginals for Pensions including C.P.P. and OAS participation. He established a pension and benefits program for Aboriginal First Nations people inclusive of their treaty rights. Tom Rice was always very active in the community supporting charities he was involved in; "there's nothing more satisfying than doing something you love in support of something in which you believe." 52 years sober, he credits most of his lifelong success to the stability and support of his AA family. He was committed to helping anyone who needed it, understanding everyone needs a hand up sometimes. (continued next column...)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 12, 2015