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Recipient of Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce ABEX Non-Profit Impact Award (2024)

On September 21, 2024, COR was named the inaugural recipient of the Non-Profit Impact Award at the 2024 Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce ABEX Award Celebration held in Saskatoon.

Saskatchewan Business Leaders Shine at the 2024 ABEX Awards Gala

September 21, 2024

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 ABEX Awards, celebrating the province’s most influential and impactful businesses. Hosted at TCU Place in Saskatoon on September 21, the gala brought together over 500 attendees to recognize the contributions of Saskatchewan’s businesses and leaders across various sectors.

The prestigious awards, presented by Conexus Credit Union, highlighted the outstanding achievements of Saskatchewan’s businesses, acknowledging their significant role in driving the province’s economic and community development. The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce extends its gratitude to all sponsors, recipients, finalists, and attendees for making the 2024 ABEX Awards a memorable event.

2024 ABEX AWARD RECIPIENTS

  • Community Involvement Award, sponsored by Saskatchewan Blue Cross:
    NexGen Energy Ltd. (Vancouver/Saskatoon)
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Nutrien:
    KDM Constructors (Yorkton)
  • Growth and Expansion Award, sponsored by PFM Capital Inc.:
    JS Truckmart (Estevan)
  • Innovation Award, sponsored by Saskatchewan Polytechnic:
    Ground Truth Agriculture (Regina)
  • New Venture Award:
    The Prairie Grazer (Saskatoon)
  • Non-Profit Impact Award, sponsored by Saskatchewan Pension Plan:
    Creative Options Regina (Regina)
  • Service Award, sponsored by KPMG LLP:
    Komfort Insulation Ltd. (Saskatoon)
  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Cameco Corporation:
    Brianna Dellezay, Saskatchewan Behaviour Consulting (Saskatoon)
  • ABEX Business of the Year, sponsored by Grant Thornton LLP:
    JS Truckmart (Estevan)

SPECIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

  • ABEX Business Leader of the Year, sponsored by the University of Regina:
    Gary Redhead, President and CEO, Redhead Equipment (Regina)
  • ABEX Community Leader of the Year, sponsored by FCC:
    Greg Yuel, Owner, President, and CEO, PIC Investment Group (Saskatoon)
  • Saskatchewan Business Hall of Fame Inductee:
    AGT Food and Ingredients (Davidson)
  • Roger Phillips Chamber Builder Award:
    Patricia Warsaba (Regina)

“The ABEX Awards have always been about recognizing the incredible talent and dedication within Saskatchewan’s business community. It’s inspiring to see how our award recipients are making a positive impact and setting new standards for excellence in their fields.”  – Prabha Ramaswamy, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce

 

Link to full article.

 

Recipient of Outstanding Fieldwork Agency Award

On Thursday, March 16, 2023, COR proudly received the Outstanding Fieldwork Agency Award at the University of Regina’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies 10th Annual Alumni and Awards Dinner.

 

Did you know COR has hosted over 20 UofR fieldwork students the past few years!?! We are thankful for our partnership and proud of all the students whom we have had the privilege of hosting!

 

Receiving the award on COR’s behalf was Ben Morris, Creative Director and Fieldwork Supervisor. In the words of Ben:

“It is my absolute pleasure to be able to be here and accept this award and acknowledgement on behalf of COR today! 

My name is Ben Morris and I am the Creative Director at Creative Options Regina. We support folks experiencing disability in our city to live a life that they choose, rather than one that is prescribed to them. Though the work we do and our approach to care is profound and different, I want to spend a the rest of my time acknowledging the people who help us do some of the mould breaking work that we do. The students.

Who helped COR develop a relationship with the City of Regina’s paratransit program that assists people wishing to transition from paratransit transportation to conventional City of Regina transit- a student did that – Will P. did that.

Who helped lay the groundwork for a financial literacy program specifically made for people experiencing disabilities – a student did that. Leo S. did that.

Who helped nurture a budding DJ’s musical ambitions and not only helped him create his own music, but also taught him to spin his own tracks on a real turn table – AND THEN two Years later collaborated with him again to play a real paid gig – a student did that. Kyle D. and Jordan W. did that.

Who helped me keep the lights on and create virtual programming for 250+ people to do while they were stuck in their homes during the pandemic? Students did that – Zoha M., Saad S., Loki S., Abby G., and Hanna H. did that!

And who helped raise all of these programs from the ashes once the pandemic ended? Students did that. Gowtham P., Amr E., and Ahmad H. did that.

Lastly,

Who helped me write this incredible speech?

A student did that.

When I think about a student’s time with us, whether short or long, I think about a bridge. This bridge that you build is a gateway to your future. But one of my favorite things that just organically seems to happen is that you invite us to come along with you on your journey across that bridge. Sometimes you stay with us through employment, but sometimes you become Doctors, or you build your own yoga studios. By inviting us across this bridge with you, you’re helping open up our world and make the spaces we frequent a little safer and a little brighter. We are now known and seen by you! You share in our stories and we in yours.

Team – It’s an honor to be here, but it’s a greater honor to share this acknowledgement with you – students.

Thank you for sharing your time with us!”

 

Recognized as a Saskatchewan Top Employer (2023) for a 6th Year!

Developing skills and stronger organizations: ‘Saskatchewan’s Top Employers’ for 2023 are announced


Mediacorp Canada Inc.

Mar 14, 2023, 10:00 ET


REGINA, SK, March 14, 2023 /CNW/ – Saskatchewan employers are giving employees more choice over how to develop their own skills – and are creating stronger organizations in the process. That’s the message from this year’s Saskatchewan’s Top Employers, announced this morning by Mediacorp Canada Inc., organizers of the annual Canada’s Top 100 Employers project.

“It’s no surprise that employees who are given the freedom and support needed to feel confident in their roles are most likely to pursue training courses and other work-related avenues to upgrade their skills,” says Kristina Leung, managing editor at the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. “By empowering staff to choose how best to develop professionally, employers benefit by having a more qualified workforce.”

This year’s winners have created avenues for personal growth for employees, offering the support and flexibility employees need to further their overall wellness and be active members of local communities. With benefits such as mental health coverage, wellness-related programming, and incentives for volunteering, employees are encouraged to pursue resources and causes that are close to their hearts.

“By providing employees with the resources needed to pursue programs and initiatives that are personally important, these employers are encouraging employees to become their best selves,” says Leung. “This translates to greater personal and professional fulfillment for employees, extending beyond the work they do”.

Some of the initiatives singled out by the editors at this year’s winners include:

  • Andgo Systems allows employees to dedicate up to four hours each week for their own professional development, ensuring they can pursue personal and career-related growth; activities can include industry or professional conferences and events, courses, and books.

  • SaskTel hosts an employee resource group of Indigenous employees, the ‘SaskTel Aboriginal Employee Network’ (SAEN), who act as ambassadors to educate and support SaskTel employees regarding the significance and diversity of Indigenous cultures.

  • Canpotex adopted a hybrid work program that includes a monthly hybrid work allowance of $250, which can be used for home office expenses (such as internet) or transportation costs of traveling to and from work; additionally, employees may request to work remotely from another location in Canada up to four weeks each year.

  • Saskatoon-based Flaman Sales has been helping local charities through the Frank J. Flaman Foundation since 2005; the company solicits employee feedback when determining charities to support and encourages employees to get involved with paid time off to volunteer.

  • Nutrien encourages skills development with generous tuition subsidies (to $5,000 annually) for employees to take outside courses, whether or not they are related to their current position; the company also offers extensive apprenticeship and trades programs and leadership development programs.

2023 Winners

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

First published in 2006, Saskatchewan’s Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes the Saskatchewan employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Editors at Mediacorp review employers on eight criteria, which have remained consistent since the project’s inception: (1) 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 alike. The annual competition is open to any employer with its head office in Saskatchewan; employers of any size may apply, whether private- or public-sector.

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 full list of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers (2023) was announced today in a co-published with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and the Regina Leader-Post. Detailed reasons for selection for each of this year’s winners, as well as additional stories and photos, were released today by the editors and are accessible via the competition homepage.

 

SOURCE Mediacorp Canada Inc.

COR Recognized by Excellence Canada as one of Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month Great Employers

We are pleased to be recognized by Excellence Canada as one of Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month Great Employers!

Meet the 2022 Recipients 

Here are the 2022 winners of the Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month Great Employer Award.

Organization Name City Prov Website Year
AGS Rehab Solutions Inc. Mississauga ON https://www.agsrehab.com/ 2022
Artis REIT Winnipeg MB https://www.artisreit.com/ 2022
Your Neighbourhood Credit Union Kitchener ON https://www.yncu.com/ 2022
AudienceView Toronto ON https://www.audienceview.com/ 2022
CanmetENERGY-Ottawa, Natural Resources Canada Nepean ON https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/offices-labs/canmet/ottawa-research-centre/5753 2022
Cardata Oakville ON https://www.cardata.co/ 2022
CHEO (Pediatric health care and research centre) Ottawa ON https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/index.aspx 2022
Connecting Care & Points West Living Edmonton AB 2022
Creative Options Regina Regina SK https://creativeoptionsregina.ca/ 2022
Grand River Hospital Kitchener ON https://www.grhosp.on.ca/ 2022
Lethbridge College Lethbridge AB https://lethbridgecollege.ca/ 2022
Region of Peel Brampton ON https://www.peelregion.ca/ 2022

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/

Canadian HR Reporter, 2022 5-Star Rewards and Recognition Award

This year, COR received the Canadian HR Reporter 5-Star Rewards & Recognition Award for a company sized 100-499 employees!

Click here to visit hrreporter.com to learn more


Rewarding dedicated employees

If there was ever a time when employee rewards and recognition (R&R) were needed, it’s during the ongoing pandemic. As many people struggle — whether they are retail or health care front-liners, or parents working from home while taking care of their kids, or single people increasingly isolated from coworkers — feeling valued and appreciated by their employer is much more important.

To that end, several Canadian organizations not only maintained an impressive focus on recognition during the past two years, but upped their offerings to recognize the hard work of staff and boost morale. Canadian HR Reporter spoke with three of the 13 5-Star Rewards and Recognition winners to learn about their unique programs.

Continue reading

COR Receives Canada’s Healthy Workplace 2021 Great Employer Award

COR has once again received Canada’s Healthy Workplace Great Employer Award by Excellence Canada and Canada Life. We are so very proud of our COR family and tremendously grateful to everyone who has supported our effort in building a healthy workplace! Read about the award below:

Excellence Canada announces the 2021 Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month® Great Employers

TORONTO, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Excellence Canada is pleased to announce the 2021 Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month® Great Employers. These organizations are being celebrated for their planning and actions to foster physically and psychologically safe and healthy workplaces, striving to continually improve across four main areas of focus, namely:

Physical Health

This element of a healthy workplace refers to how well an organization supports employees to develop and maintain healthy behaviours (exercise, nutrition, sleep, etc.) reduce unhealthy/risky habits and make optimal use of health care opportunities. It also refers to workplace due diligence regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and the management of workplace influences that may contribute to injuries, disabilities and/or fatalities. Facility design, including air quality, noise, lighting, and other physical workplace factors are also important aspects that impact employee physical health and well-being.

Mental Health

This element of a healthy workplace refers to how the organization encourages a supportive workplace culture – the foundation of a healthy workplace. This element speaks to how the culture encourages respect, trust, support, and inclusivity. It refers to communication styles and patterns of relationships and values that influence employee health, safety, and well-being.

Social Health

Social well-being in the workplace reflects employee relationships with coworkers, interactions with management, and a sense of belonging within the organization as a whole. It is a measure of an employee’s interpersonal relationships both inside and outside of work and includes aspects such as connectedness, collaboration, recognition and rewards, engagement, influence, growth and development, and intellectual health.

Community

Being a socially responsible organization empowers employees to leverage corporate resources at their disposal to do good. Formal social responsibility programs boost employee morale and productivity in the workforce. This element of a healthy workplace refers to the interrelationship between the workplace, the community, and employee health, safety and well-being, including the way organizations are involved in the community, support environmental stewardship, economic responsibility, and social justice; and how employees are encouraged to participate, volunteer, and ‘give back’ to the community.

This year’s recipients are, in alphabetical order:

AGS Rehab Solutions Inc. Mississauga ON
CanmetENERGY-Ottawa, Natural Resources Canada Nepean ON
CHEO (Pediatric health care and research centre) Ottawa ON
Connecting Care & Points West Living Edmonton AB
Creative Options Regina Regina SK
Hamilton Health Sciences Hamilton ON
Health Standards Organization (HSO) Ottawa ON
Lethbridge College Lethbridge AB
McMaster University Hamilton ON
Saskatchewan Blue Cross Saskatoon SK
Unbounce Vancouver BC
WorkTango Toronto ON

Find out what it takes to be a Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month® Great Employer

About Excellence Canada
Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that is committed to advancing organizational excellence across Canada. As a national authority on Organizational Excellence, Healthy Workplace®, and Mental Health at Work® awards, Excellence Canada provides excellence frameworks, standards, and independent verification and certification to organizations of all sizes and in all sectors. It is also the custodian and adjudicator of the Canada Awards for Excellence program.

“Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month” , “Healthy Workplace”, and “Mental Health at Work” are Registered Trademarks of Excellence Canada.

Michael Lavis earns Canada’s Most Admired CEO — Broader Public Sector for 2021

In 2021, COR CEO Michael Lavis earned the title of Canada’s Most Admired CEO in the Broader Public Sector from Waterstone Human Capital.

Learn more about 2021’s winners here.

Michael Lavis

Michael Lavis is the founding CEO of Creative Options Regina (COR) — a for-impact, charitable organization that develops personalized support services for people experiencing disability in Regina, Saskatchewan. Under Michael’s leadership, COR has grown to become one of Saskatchewan’s largest support providers serving both vulnerable youth and adults in-care. Michael is passionately committed to nurturing a culture of gentleness within the workplace, transforming care by focusing on employee experience.

As a purpose-driven leader, Michael embraces a culture of continuous learning, recently completing a MA in Leadership with a specialization is values from Royal Roads University. Additionally, he has a MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding, coupled with a BA in International Relations from the University of Saskatchewan, and has completed a number of leadership certificate programs. Michael has over fifteen years of global experience developing opportunities for marginalized individuals; from South America to Africa, and Southeast Asia to Canada, Michael has worked and researched extensively within various international organizations. Michael is passionately committed to strengthening the disability services sector in Saskatchewan and to forge out new beginnings for the province’s most vulnerable citizens. In addition to his work at COR, Michael serves on the Board of Directors of Service Hospitality, Caledonian Curling Club, and is an advisory committee member of the Conference Board of Canada’s Council on Workplace Health and Wellness. COR has been recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures – Broader Public Sector (2020), one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers (2018-2021), Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2021), and recipient of Canada’s Healthiest Workplaces Award (2019 & 2020).

Proud to be named among Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2022)

Today, we celebrate our entire COR family!

When we laid the foundation for COR twelve short years ago, we knew we wanted to be different. We embraced the life work of Dr. John McGee and wove his philosophy of Gentle Teaching throughout all aspects of our organization. We partnered with leaders around the world to listen, learn and mould COR into what it is today!

What we didn’t realize at the time was the uniqueness of what we were crafting together! We nurtured a caring community of people by leading with purpose and rallying around a set of shared values. Together, we cultivated an environment where people feel safe and valued, while continuing to rally a growing cadre of people around a common vision: Empowering People, Inspiring Change. 

For us, nurturing a Culture of Gentleness has proven to be the perfect counter story to outdated narratives of support. At COR, we support people not clients; we craft companions not employees; we build homes not houses; we see value and dignify rather than find fault and humiliate; we engage with community rather than watch it pass us by.  And we CARE – for our entire COR family.

Our continued growth (and impact) over the past decade has garnered both provincial and national attention, most notably achieving Saskatchewan’s Top Employer recognition (2018-2021), Canada’s Healthiest Workplace Award (2019-2020), along with Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures Award (2021). And today, we again raise our heads with great pride as we have just been awarded the prestigious CANADA’S TOP 100 EMPLOYERS Award for 2022.

Canada's Top 100 Employers 2022

COR is proud to be named one of Canada’s Top Employers 2022

We are so tremendously grateful to everyone who has supported us and championed our efforts over the past decade – this recognition is because of you! We are so incredibly thankful.

To our COR family: Thank you for making a difference in the lives of those we serve – everyday! We are so proud to have you as part of our family.

 

With immense gratitude,

Michael and Jim

 

Click to read full announcement.

Revealed: Best Places to Work (2021) by Canadian HR Reporter

Today, Canadian HR Reporter unveiled its list of top employers based on key metrics, employee feedback — COR is incredibly proud to be recognized as one of CANADA’S BEST PLACES TO WORK (2021).

Revealed: Best Places to Work 2021

Cover Page: Canadian HR Reporter Magazine

 

 

Looking to hear more about why Creative Options Regina is among the 2021 Best Places to Work, Canadian HR Reporter spoke with Casey Sakires, employee experience advisor.