Overview of CEIRP


Take Care of Retirement with CEIRP

The Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan (CEIRP) is the Savings & Retirement plan for most IATSE Locals, Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), Entertainment Partners Canada, Actsafe Safety Association and the BC Council of Film Unions – across the country.

The Plan was originally established in 2004 by IATSE Local 891, and has since become the "National" plan, with:

  • Over 25,000 Canadian entertainment workers enrolled, with Plan assets totalling over $1 billion.
  • With various investment options, conservative through aggressive, and most investment management fees of only 0.68% or less, saving for retirement with CEIRP makes financial sense.

CEIRP Extreme Hardship Withdrawal Program

The CEIRP’s Extreme Hardship Withdrawal program launched on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. We are now taking applications via email. Find details of the program and the application package here (member login required). Applications must be emailed to RRSPEHW@iatse.com for review. Members can expect a response from the CEIRP Retirement Committee within 30 days of their application being received.

Growing your savings for life after work makes sense.
And CEIRP makes saving easy.

No one should have to keep working past retirement age simply because they can’t afford to stop.


That’s why CEIRP was created.

And as a member of one of the many participating unions/guilds, CEIRP is a very significant – and important – part of your membership benefits.

The goal of CEIRP?

  • Create an easy way to save – and provide flexibility and choice for your savings needs and goals.
  • Negotiate super-low fees – to help you keep more of your money invested and earning over time.
  • Provide education opportunities and communication – to help you make good personal decisions about finances and savings.

How to enroll and start saving

If you haven’t done so already, enrolling in your Canadian Industry Retirement Plan (CEIRP) is easy – and investing in your future is worth a few minutes to get started. There are just a few things you need to do.

  1. Get started by contacting your Local/Guild’s member services – they’re there to help and answer any questions you may have and connect you with your plan administrator!

    • Review your CEIRP enrolment package and choose your investing approach

    • After you’ve completed the enrolment process, Canada Life will send you an email to confirm your account and to register for online access

  2. Register for grsaccess.com – this is how you will have access to your account and make any changes.

  3. Make sure you read emails from CEIRP to keep up-to-date on news, opportunities to learn, and more.

Learn more about CEIRP – and connect with your plan

  1. Go to ceirp.ca to get info on:

    • The story of CEIRP, who runs the plan, and participating union/guild groups

    • How the plan works, plan options, tips to make the most of your plan, using GRS Access to manage your plan and make changes

    • How to enroll and start saving

    • Things to consider as you get ready to retire – and beyond

  2. Watch your email for CEIRP news, articles, videos, learning opportunities and more.

  3. Use your GRS Access account to manage your plan and easily make changes.

    • If you haven’t enrolled yet, you can see the investment funds available to you through CEIRP by logging on to Canada Life’s grsaccess.com as a guest.

      • ID 8360217

      • Password: newguest

How to enroll and start saving

Registered Savings Plan (RSP) Basics Explained

CEIRP Consists of Two Types of RSP accounts:

  • Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP): This plan is for mandatory contributions made on members' behalf by the employers/producers of the productions worked on. Members can also voluntarily contribute through additional payroll deductions and lump-sum contributions.
  • Non-Registered Savings Plan for Members (NRSP): Members can voluntarily contribute to this non-registered savings plan through payroll deductions. When the member's RRSP limit has been reached, the employer/producer RRSP contributions can be redirected to this account. Contributions are made with after-tax dollars and investment earnings are taxable.

Enrolled With the RRSP Plan? Check enrollment for more information.

Additional Financial Features

Tax Free Savings Account

CEIRP offers Tax-free Savings Accounts (TFSA) as an additional investment option for unrestricted non-registered contributions.

For more information, download the TFSA information PDF Icon (PDF), or view a presentation here. TFSA enrollment and contribution material is also available on the CEIRP plan website, or contact the RSP Plan Administrator at 604-664-8935.

CEIRP offers plan members on-line banking

CEIRP members can now make lump-sum contributions to their registered accounts (RRSP and TFSA) through the bill payment section of their online banking. Details. PDF Icon(PDF)

iAcquaint Financial Education/Planning Tool

Available to enrolled members of the CEIRP plan, iAcquaint provides information on investing, preparing for retirement, solving a debt problem, and much more. For more information, download the iAcquaint information sheet PDF Icon (PDF), or access the tool at www.grsaccess.com.

Checking a CEIRP Account with Canada Life

To check personal account information, login to Canada Life. Please have your grsaccess id / password, as provided by Canada Life, available. To retrieve forgotten login details, contact Canada Life at: 1-855-729-1839, quoting Group Plan #62724.

CEIRP Questions Answered

The RRSP Group Plan Administrator can provide an information package, explain how the Plan works and the types of investments available. Please contact us for details.

Useful Videos from Canada Life

  • Want to know how low fees provide more retirement income? Check out this video.
  • Want to speak to a Canada Life specialist? Check out this video.
  • Want to know how your investments are doing? Check this video.
  • Need to understand how close you are to your retirement goals? Check out this video.

CEIRP Quarterly Updates

The Plan is not intended to be a registered pension plan within meaning of the Income Tax Act or any provincial pension standards legislation.