Leading by Listening: the winners of this year’s ‘Canada’s Top 100 Employers’ competition are announced

As Canadians adapt to a new normal of work, finding the right fit becomes a question of choice. This year’s Canada’s Top 100 Employers are leading by listening, tapping into employee feelings and sentiments about the many challenges of the past year. The 2023 winners were announced today by Mediacorp Canada Inc., organizers of the annual competition.

“Employers are trying to find their footing in unfamiliar territory,” says Richard Yerema, executive editor of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project at Mediacorp. “There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach for hybrid and remote work. Agility and willingness to learn from feedback and try something new is what differentiates this year’s winners.”

Along with managing the return to the workplace, organizations have doubled down on their efforts to support health and wellness, from enhanced programming and resources to increased coverage for mental health services and providing access to mindfulness and meditation apps.

“There really isn’t an alternative to listening to employees and trying to understand how their needs have changed,” adds Anthony Meehan, publisher at Mediacorp “We see a lot being written on trends like ‘quiet quitting’ and employees not wanting to return to their pre-pandemic working arrangements, but the reality is that burn-out and mental health have become significant challenges. Finding ways to ensure that employees can disconnect, rest and recharge has become mission-critical to an organization’s success and sustainability.”

Now in its 23rd annual edition, Canada’s Top 100 Employers is an editorial competition that recognizes employers with exceptional human resources programs and forward-thinking workplace policies. Editors at Mediacorp grade employers on eight criteria, which have remained consistent since the project’s inception: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. The editors publish detailed ‘reasons for selection’ for these criteria, providing transparency in the selection of winners and a catalogue of best practices for employers and job-seekers.

Founded in 1992, Mediacorp Canada Inc. is the nation’s largest publisher of employment periodicals. Since 1999, the Toronto-based publisher has managed the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project, which includes 18 regional and special-interest editorial competitions that reach millions of Canadians annually through a variety of magazine and newspaper partners, including The Globe and Mail. Mediacorp also operates Eluta.ca, one of Canada’s largest job search engines, which reaches over two million job-seekers annually and features exclusive editorial reviews from the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. The company also publishes The Career Directory, now in its 30th year – a free online guide for recent college and university graduates looking for employers hiring candidates from their educational background.

The full list of 2023 winners were announced this morning in a special magazine published in The Globe and Mail in print and online. The full list of winners and our editors’ detailed reasons for selection were also released today online.

2023 Winners

Here are the 2023 winners of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers competition. Click an employer name to read our editors’ full Reasons for Selection:

SOURCE: Mediacorp Canada Inc.

Meet Our COR Family: Casey Sakires

Hello! I am Casey! I am the Employee Experience Advisor. Primarily I am that familiar face for new supports as they are interviewed, on-boarded, and begin their journey with COR. I have been at COR for 3 years now! The way that I found out about COR was that I actually saw a posting for the Director of People and Culture role. I began exploring the website and inquiring about the organization – everything resonated with me. I don’t even know how much time I ended up spending watching every video and reading all about COR. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of COR before! I ended up applying; I didn’t get hired for that role, but ended up being offered a new position – Employee Experience Advisor! And…. here we are 3 years later…. Time flies!

I have many favourite projects that I am involved with at COR! Most notable would be 100 Acts of Kindness, the Golden Ticket, and Employee Appreciation. I think the 100 Acts of Kindness would be my favourite! Shifting internally last year through Covid – doing a 3-hour Facebook Live Event where we read nominations for our awesome #CORFam for being awesome and seeing people come to the office and receive their nomination and receive their COR swag was awesome! It was amazing to see everyone again and there was a buzz around CORhq!

I think my proudest moments are seeing people grow through the organization. There have been people we have interviewed as supports who we hired and who have grown into Key Supports and Team Leaders. Seeing them grow through COR has been inspiring! Some advice that I have for people who want to join the COR family is that we always try to keep our interviews as relaxed as possible and more of a conversation while getting to know each other – just be your true authentic self. Our interviews are all values based; just be yourself and don’t stress about the ‘interview’. I would also recommend anyone who wants to make a difference in someone’s life to check us out and apply to be a support. When we are looking through resumes we are looking for that heart and genuine interest and passion in being that positive person in someone’s life, so make sure that interest and passion shine through! I’ve never been part of an organization that genuinely cares so much about its employees and community!

Fun facts about me:

  • My favorite book is 4 agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
  • In my spare time I like to be with my family, Workout, play flag/touch football, or do anything active!

Meet Our COR Family: Jonathan Mathieson

Hi! I am Jonathan! I am the Finance and Administrative Assistant at COR. My role involves the support of day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable and accounts receivable, maintaining accurate records of COR’s financial transactions, ensuring accurate administration of employee benefit and pension plans, ensuring employee expense reports are reviewed monthly and submitted for payroll processing, assisting with the annual budgeting process, along with filing, reporting, ordering office supplies and opening, sorting and distributing incoming correspondence.

I first learned about COR through a referral. I was very intrigued as I was pursuing a kinesiology degree and had lots of exposure to people with disabilities as my mother was born deaf. I joined COR as part-time support in 2019, after completing my volunteering hours for my course through the University of Regina. At the time, I was working full-time with the Ministry of Finance and eventually left my full-time position to become full-time at COR in 2022.

My favourite initiative at COR would have to be the development and implementation of efficient processes. I have created a custom premium deduction calculator and I have implemented a plethora of automated processes into my day-to-day operations! I have had many proud moments at COR. It is vague, however, my proudest moment would have to be seeing the growth and development of the individuals I was supporting. It is extremely fulfilling to see someone adopt healthy habits in their day-to-day lives. The advice that I would give to COR candidates is to be yourself! COR is a diverse workplace that embraces everyone’s unique individuality. As an organization, COR has been steadily growing. If you’re looking for a place where you can grow as a person and grow your career, COR might just be the perfect fit for you!

Fun facts about me:

  • My favourite book would have to be rich dad poor dad. This book gives a great perspective on the value of money and creating generational wealth.

My favourite quote would have to be “Fail to plan, plan to fail”. I believe that people are more efficient at whatever they want to do if they are very intentional with their actions.

  • In my free time, I enjoy staying healthy and active through weight lifting, running, and recreational sports such as football, ultimate Frisbee, boxing, and dodgeball. I enjoy channeling my creativity through photography and videography. I also value spending time with friends and family.

Meet Our COR Family: Param Singh

Hi, I’m Param! I have been a key support at COR since June 2019! The way I heard about COR was when my classmate in Yorkton was telling me about it when I was moving to Regina (her friend used to be a support at COR)! There are many things that I love about COR, but I absolutely love the COR studio activities! They are always so inclusive and fun! Whenever I get the chance to go for an activity with someone I support, I always have a good time whether it is art, ipad classes, or games!

One of my proudest moments at COR is when I can change my support’s mental space and help them come back to a safe place where they feel confident again after a rough day. My advice to anyone who is thinking about becoming a support would be to be open-minded, responsible, accept people for who they are, and help them be their best selves. I always try to bring as much positivity into the house when individuals are having a bad day.

Fun Facts about me!

My favourite quote is “there is no such thing as a neutral exchange. You leave someone either a little better or a little worse.”-Dale Carnegie.”

  • I can break eggs with one hand
  • In my spare time, I play video games, go to the gym, go for a bike ride, go for a walk, or cook!

Meet Our COR Family: Dante Curti

Hi! I am Dante! I have been with COR for 7 months and currently am a support for three boys! One of my favorite things about being at COR is being able to witness the boys laugh, smile and interact is something which truly brings me a lot of joy. One of my proudest moments while being a support would be witnessing the boys grow into such amazing humans. Each individual has faced so much adversity and to see them push through it with the help of our team, brings me great pride. They have come such a long way and will only continue to progress. It makes me feel very proud of them.

My advice for anyone that is thinking about becoming a support at COR is to not be afraid to ask questions! Being a support can generate a lot of questions and one thing that I have learned is that every person at COR is here to help, and you are not alone!

Fun facts:

My favorite quote is, “Follow your own path and let the people talk.” -Dante Alighieri

During my free time, I like to play video games, go to the gym, hang out with friends, cook, and take my dog for walks.

Meet Our COR Family: Kassie Robinson

Hey, I’m Kassie! I am currently a Team Leader and have been at COR for almost four years! I pursued a Bachelor of Kinesiology beginning in the fall of 2016. During my time at the University of Regina, I had the opportunity to learn about COR through my disability studies class. I watched a presentation given by Serena, who is supported by COR, and another presentation given by Kasey Mahnic, who is a family support and counsellor for COR. I applied for COR during my undergrad and began my journey in 2018. Coincidentally, I ended up supporting with Serena’s team, and would later accompany her to a similar presentation at the university!

The wonderful part of being a team leader (TL) is the ability to chase my interests in the workplace. I can work on teaching my team more about Gentle Teaching. I can work on building relationships with those on my team, and those we serve. Being a part of COR has really ignited my passion for being a good community member. A strong community with good values has helped some of the people we serve to get to where they are. If I had to nail down my favourite thing to be a part of in COR, it’s furthering the organization’s mission, and nurturing good communities. Honestly, I’m proud to be part of an organization that prioritizes me. I feel like my skills and talents are recognized more frequently by not only the people on my team, but also other team leads, and senior leadership. COR is an easy organization to be proud of in turn – their emphasis on building relationships extends to their employees. I feel like I’ve grown so much, in communication, leadership, kindness, gentleness, humour, and emotional intelligence. We are leading in our sector and forging our own path – something that I think is necessary for a future that is fruitful for everyone.

I always tell new supports to walk in with an open mind. Gentle Teaching is easy to understand, but when it comes down to having to put your feelings and conditioned beliefs aside, it can be really difficult. Support’s who are open-minded and open to feedback and collaboration can really make a difference on a team. Support’s can challenge their own ideas, realize that there are multiple avenues that can achieve the same goals, emphasize, and recognize that people can grow and change, and our approaches should too. We should never settle on something just because this is the way it’s “always been done”.

Fun Facts about me:

I read a lot and I am currently reading books on leadership. Most recently, I read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It has great information on how to prioritize the things that are important. As well, the book Burnout has information on the stress cycle and how to combat it. I find this especially important in this field of work, where our nervous systems can be triggered frequently. Outside of educational books, I enjoy a variety of genres including classics, literature, biographies, and some spiritually related books.

I have a pen pal from Toronto.

I have a collection of books in my home that reaches almost 300!

Meet Our COR Family: Dhwani Purohit

Hi, I am Dhwani! I am a home team leader and have been with COR for over a year now! I have a very interesting story behind how I found out about COR! One day, Michael Lavis came to the retail store where I was working to buy an appliance; we began talking about what I was studying and what I wanted to do in my career. I told him that I wanted to do something in the healthcare field which was when Michael gave me the website to COR and I ended up applying there! I didn’t even know he was the CEO!

There are several moments that I am proud of at COR because of the people and the individuals I support. When I hear stories about COR, I feel really lucky to be a part of it. When I found out that I was going to be promoted to a team leader, I felt really proud to achieve something in a field that I have wanted to be in. Some advice that I have for prospective candidates is—to be kind, building relationships is the main key within the COR community. It really helps reflect your ability to support who we serve and the team too.

Fun facts:

My favorite quote is, “Every day may not be good but there’s something good in every day.” -Alice Morse Earle

I am not an animal lover, but I am a vegetarian! Haha!

My favorite activity in my spare time is spending time with my friends and family. And I love sleeping and watching Netflix. However, when it’s summer in Regina, I love exploring new places.

Gentle Teaching has provided me with a framework to build meaningful connections

Becoming educated in the Gentle Teaching Philosophy has provided me with a framework to build meaningful connections with the individuals I support. Since learning of my tools that the Gentle Teaching Philosophy has awakened me to, I have grown to have a support style that is built upon patience, a healthy dose of humour, and a strong belief in the power that positive human connections can hold in someone’s life. I have developed into a support that seeks understanding beyond the surface of each situation and searches for the opportunities to create further connection with those I support each time spent together.

Gentle Teaching has provided me with the framework to build meaningful connections

Gentle Teaching has given me the knowledge needed to be a positive presence in the lives of others. It has allowed me to create and maintain connections with those I support and helped me to guide my actions with understanding and kindness when faced with difficult situations. I believe the knowledge I have gained from COR in it’s entirety will allow me to continue to grow in my ability to connect with all people, and in turn influence positive change in the disability services sector as a whole.

Lexi
COR family member

 

Instead of just being nice, I’m mindful of my 4 Gentle Teaching tools.

My everyday interactions with the people around me are changed for the better because of this new mindset that I have from Gentle Teaching

When I first learned about COR and its culture of gentleness, I thought it was common sense to “be nice,” but after joining COR and taking the many relational workshops that are offered, I found that it is so much more than just “being nice.” Gentle Teaching has taught me to build meaningful relationships with those around me. To support them in their daily lives, learn about what they are working to achieve, offer them help, but also help them help themselves so that they have the tools they need in the future.

Instead of just being nice, I’m mindful of my 4 Gentle Teaching tools. Ensuring that my presence is strong, but welcoming and safe. Ensuring that my gaze is non judgmental, understanding and interested. Using my words to lift others up and ensuring that my tone and expression matches my message. Even though I carry these gentle teaching tools with me everywhere I go, they are not heavy. They do not weigh me down. I am proud to carry these tools to every environment and situation that I encounter. With my family, with my friends, with the individuals I support and with strangers that I meet. My everyday interactions with the people around me are changed for the better because of this new mindset that I have from Gentle Teaching. I am so excited to continue learning and growing from Gentle Teaching.

Hailey,
COR family member

 

Gentle Teaching has taught me to build meaningful relationships with those around me

Recognized as one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers (2022)

The pandemic and the rise of remote work are turning Saskatchewan’s historical challenges into benefits.

Saskatchewan companies have historically hired at a disadvantage to more populous provinces, but the past years saw so much uncertainty in the global employment market that Saskatchewan seems to be acquiring a more powerful appeal to workers. Global swings in traditional work cultures could benefit its workers as much as its big employers — a trend that can be seen by looking at some of the most popular and successful companies in the country.

Each year, the Canada’s Top 100 Employers competition releases its picks for the best employers in each region of the country, analyzing a wide range of factors to help applicants figure out which companies offer the best work environments. Now, 2022’s Saskatchewan ranking has arrived to highlight those companies that have continued to offer creative, competitive compensation and benefits packages even while dealing with a host of local and global difficulties.

The winners are chosen based on multiple criteria, including compensation and benefits, the work and social atmosphere, the work environment, training and upward mobility and community involvement — all of which were pushed forward by a healthy level of competition between public- and private-sector employers.

Continue reading to learn why COR was selected as one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers…

 

2022 Winners

Here are the 2022 winners of the Saskatchewan’s Top Employers competition. Click an employer name to read our editors’ full Reasons for Selection:

 

Source: https://www.canadastop100.com/sk/