BC's Top Employers: Winner's List
Credit to Author: Joshua Walters| Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 16:52:14 +0000
The following organizations have been chosen as BC’s Top Employers for 2020 (employee counts refer to full-time staff):
AbeBooks Inc., Victoria. Online marketplaces. 89 employees. Hosts an annual Charity Week to help employees increase awareness of their causes as well as raise funds with matching company donations.
Amazon Canada Fulfilment Services, ULC, Vancouver. Online marketplaces. 10,000 employees. Supports new moms and dads with maternity and parental leave top-ups to 100 per cent of salary for 14 and six weeks, respectively.
Aquatic Informatics Inc., Vancouver. Software for water utilities. 62 employees. Helps employees plan for life after work with retirement planning assistance services as well as matching RSP contributions.
Arrow Transportation Systems Inc., Vancouver. Trucking and logistics. 824 employees. Reaches out to the next generation through apprenticeships and skilled trades’ programs and manages a post-secondary scholarship program for children of employees.
BA Blacktop Ltd., North Vancouver. Highway and roads construction. 342 employees. Starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation and offers additional paid time off over the Christmas holiday season.
BC Assessment, Victoria. Property tax authorities. 715 employees. Along with generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments, new parents enjoy the convenience of onsite childcare when they are ready to return to work.
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Vancouver. Non-profit fundraising bodies. 112 employees. The employee-led “Super Fun Committee” helps employees build connections informally through a number of social events every year.
BC Housing Management Commission, Burnaby. Public housing authorities. 808 employees. Along with three and four weeks of starting vacation, employees receive up to 10 paid personal days to help balance their work and personal commitments.
BC Hydro, Vancouver. Electric utilities. 5,777 employees. Hosts an employee network of health and wellness representatives who organize initiatives throughout the year in support of overall employee wellness.
BC Pension Corporation, Victoria. Pension administrators. 565 employees. Supports ongoing employee development through in-house and online training along with generous tuition subsidies to $7,500 annually.
BC Public Service, Victoria. Provincial government. 30,283 employees. Employees can apply for additional time off through a self-funded leave of absence program, up to one year in duration.
Beedie, Burnaby. Real estate development. 336 employees. Supports children, seniors, and families in communities where employees live and work through the ‘Beedie Cares’ volunteer program.
Bellin Treasury Services Ltd., Vancouver. Treasury management software. 27 employees. Lets everyone share in the fruits of their labour through profit-sharing and year-end bonus programs.
Best Buy Canada Ltd., Burnaby. Retail. 5,600 employees. Corporate office features a cafeteria with healthy and special-diet menus as well as an onsite fitness facility, open 24/7.
British Columbia Automobile Association / BCAA, Burnaby. Member-supported organizations. 1,138 employees. Employs 60 volunteer wellness champions and organizes regular wellness activities and challenges to encourage healthy habits.
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. / BC Ferries, Victoria. Marine transportation. 3,616 employees. Offers up to ten paid personal days off annually, which can be scheduled at employees’ discretion.
British Columbia Institute of Technology / BCIT, Burnaby. Post-secondary education. 1,953 employees. Manages a unique international mobility fund to provide faculty and vocational instructors with opportunities to participate in international research and teaching overseas.
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation / BCI, Victoria. Asset managers. 475 employees. New employees receive four weeks of starting vacation allowance, increasing to a maximum of seven weeks over the course of their careers.
British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch, Burnaby. Liquor retailing. 2,530 employees. Provides excellent maternity and parental leave top-up for employees who are new mothers and fathers, including adoptive parents.
British Columbia Lottery Corporation / BCLC, Kamloops. Gambling and gaming operators. 923 employees. Offers peace of mind through a defined benefit pension plan and health benefits that extend into retirement.
British Columbia Utilities Commission, Vancouver. Public utilities regulators. 56 employees. Provides a health spending account of up to $710 per year as well as a separate wellness spending account of up to $315 annually.
Canfor Corporation, Vancouver. Sawmills. 4,525 employees. Supports the next generation as they transition from school to work with summer employment, co-op placements, and paid internships.
CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd., Vancouver. Lumber and building materials distributors. 388 employees. Provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions, up to $1,700 per year.
Capilano University, North Vancouver. Post-secondary education. 567 employees. Offers the convenience of onsite childcare for new parents who are returning to work.
Capital Regional District, The / CRD, Victoria. Municipal governments. 546 employees. Lets employees who are approaching retirement gradually reduce their work hours through phased-in work options.
Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia / CPABC, Vancouver. Professional membership organizations. 121 employees. Makes the commute to work a little easier with a transit reimbursement program of up to 75 per cent for monthly transit passes.
Clio, Burnaby. Law practice software. 330 employees. In addition to maternity and parental leave top-ups, new parents receive a $500 contribution to an RESP fund for each new addition to their family.
Cloudreach Canada Inc., Burnaby. Cloud computing services. 33 employees. Head office features a variety of free snacks, a nap room, and an employee lounge with video games, a pool table, and foosball.
Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union, Surrey. Credit unions. 1,604 employees. Donated over 12,000 volunteer hours in the past year and invests seven per cent of its pre-tax profits towards local community causes annually.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, The, Vancouver. Professional membership organizations. 133 employees. Extends health benefits to retirees, with no age limit and 100 per cent premium coverage.
Copperleaf Technologies Inc., Vancouver. Asset management software. 173 employees. Recently launched their ‘HealthFlex’ program, an annual spending account which employees may use for related expenses such as gym memberships.
Coquitlam, City of, Port Coquitlam. Municipal governments. 889 employees. Supports employees in taking time off through a formal ‘earned days off’ program, in addition to paid vacation allowance.
Delta Police Department, Delta. Police services. 272 employees. Recognizes officers, employees, volunteers and citizens who go out of their way to contribute to public safety through several awards and commendations.
Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver. Law firms. 1,173 employees. Has a special ‘Learning and Development Centre of Excellence’ team, which focuses on creating customized education programs for the firm’s workforce.
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver. Law firms. 505 employees. Organizes dedicated wellness weeks with activities such as meditation coaching, onsite massages, and presentations from wellness and healthy food preparation coaches.
Douglas College, New Westminster. Post-secondary education. 1,002 employees. Campus includes a dedicated puppy room, with regular visits from the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society.
DP World (Canada) Inc., Vancouver. Ocean freight and shipping. 155 employees. Matches employee charitable donations to a maximum of $1,000 per year.
ESIT Advanced Solutions Inc., Victoria. IT consulting services. 480 employees. LEED Gold-certified head office features an onsite fitness facility with employee-led sports teams and instructor-led classes.
FinancialCAD Corporation / FINCAD, Surrey. Derivatives trading software. 82 employees. Offers flexible work hours and a telecommuting option to help employees balance work and their personal commitments.
Finning International Inc., Vancouver. Machinery and equipment wholesalers. 5,364 employees. Encourages ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies and a variety of in-house and online training options.
Fraser Health Authority, Surrey. Hospital authorities. 12,406 employees. Helps employees plan securely for the future with contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.
Galvanize, Vancouver. IT security software. 284 employees. Employees can unwind in a unique employee lounge with karaoke, an acoustic guitar, dartboards, billiards and local craft beer on-tap.
Great Little Box Company, The, Richmond. Box manufacturing. 287 employees. Unique manufacturing work environment features an onsite fitness facility, outdoor sand volleyball court, outdoor gazebo and even a dock for kayak commuters.
Hemmera, an Ausenco Company, Burnaby. Environmental consulting. 230 employees. Provides subsidized memberships to an onsite gym at its head office as well as financial support for corporate participation in events, such as the Vancouver Sun Run.
Industry Training Authority / ITA, Richmond. Industry training and certification. 115 employees. Offers a full year of paid leave for new mothers as well as parental top-up for fathers and adoptive parents, to 35 weeks.
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia / ICBC, North Vancouver. Public auto insurance. 5,885 employees. Manages a wellness employee resource group, responsible for organizing events, campaigns and competitions to support the mental health and well-being.
Interfor Corporation, Burnaby. Sawmills. 1,172 employees. Helps young people get a head start in their careers with in-house apprenticeships, paid internships, co-op placements and summer employment.
Interior Health Authority, Kelowna. Hospital authorities. 9,264 employees. Established a dedicated Indigenous human resources plan with recruitment and retention strategies.
iQmetrix, Vancouver. Retailing software. 382 employees. Organizes a semi-annual trip to a tropical destination, with expenses fully or partially covered.
Knight Piésold Ltd., Vancouver. Engineering firms. 154 employees. Manages a global career development program to allow employees to work at other locations around the world.
Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia, Victoria. Land registration systems. 110 employees. Recently added a health spending account of $500 to its health benefits plan, allowing employees a little flexibility to top-up coverage.
Left Technologies Inc., Maple Ridge. Custom software development. 45 employees. Offers a baby bonus of $1,000 for parents-to-be as well as maternity and parental leave top-up payments of 100 per cent of salary for 17 weeks.
Mitacs Inc., Vancouver. Scientific research organizations. 211 employees. Encourages low-impact commuting through a green commuting program which includes transit subsidies, subsidies for bike-sharing memberships and for personal bike purchases.
Mott Electric, GP, Burnaby. Electrical contractors. 503 employees. Helps the next generation gain career-level experience through apprenticeships, co-op placements and summer employment.
Mott MacDonald, Vancouver. Engineering firms. 117 employees. Helps employees save for the future through a defined contribution pension plan.
Mountain Equipment Co-op, Vancouver. Outdoor clothing and supplies retailers. 964 employees. An industry leader that provides maternity leave top-ups for new moms for 17 weeks as well as parental leave top-ups for fathers for up to 11 weeks.
MTU Maintenance Canada Ltd., Richmond. Aircraft engine maintenance. 429 employees. Encourages employees to engage in physical fitness with a number of employee-led sports teams, including soccer, baseball and badminton.
Nature’s Path Foods, Inc., Richmond. Packaged foods. 189 employees. Hosts an annual health and wellness week featuring free massages, yoga classes, holistic nutritionists and biometric screenings.
Nicola Wealth Management Ltd., Vancouver. Investment management. 177 employees. Hosts celebrations and social events throughout the year including a summer party with live music, a themed Christmas party and monthly kayak outings.
Northern Health, Prince George. Hospital authorities. 3,890 employees. Helps employees prepare for the future with retirement planning assistance.
Oppenheimer Group, Port Coquitlam. Fruits and vegetable wholesaling. 140 employees. Lets employees share in the company’s success through year-end bonus and profit-sharing programs.
Perkins+Will Canada Architects Co., Vancouver. Architectural firms. 205 employees. Offers employees up to five paid personal days to help balance their personal and working lives.
Peterson Investments (Canada) Inc., Vancouver. Real estate developers and managers. 177 employees. Encourages employees to become recruiters with referral bonuses of up to $2,000 per successful hire.
Plenty of Fish, Vancouver. Dating websites. 102 employees. New employees start with three weeks of paid vacation, moving to four weeks after only three years of employment.
PNI Digital Media Inc., Vancouver. Digital printing. 243 employees. Head office features classic arcade video games, a DJ centre, and popcorn and espresso machines.
Providence Health Care, Vancouver. Hospital groups. 4,087 employees. Along with maternity leave top-up payments, new mothers may extend their paid leave into an unpaid leave of absence.
QHR Technologies, Kelowna. Medical records software. 442 employees. Supports employees with older children with academic scholarships for post-secondary education, to $1,000 per child per year.
Raymond James Ltd., Vancouver. Investment management. 1,118 employees. Raised over $1.2-million in donations for over 500 charitable organizations in the past year.
R.F. Binnie & Associates Ltd., Burnaby. Engineering firms. 235 employees. Provides maternity leave top-up payments for new mothers, to 90 per cent of salary for up to 17 weeks.
Rocky Mountaineer, Vancouver. Rail tour operators. 345 employees. Supports long-term employee development with tuition subsidies for courses related to their current position.
SAP Canada Inc., Vancouver. Enterprise management software. 3,342 employees. Lets everyone share in the company’s success with profit-sharing and a year-end bonus program.
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby. Post-secondary education. 3,105 employees. Offers training on a number of subjects to help create awareness of diversity and inclusion, including gender identity, unconscious bias and creating accessible opportunities for students.
Somatic HVAC Solutions Ltd., Vancouver. Mechanical contractors. 60 employees. Offers matching charitable donations of up to $3,000 annually to encourage employee involvement in local communities.
Sophos Inc., Vancouver. IT security. 310 employees. Provides paid time off to volunteer and donated over 3,500 volunteer hours on company time in the past year.
SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., Vancouver. Engineering firms. 172 employees. Offers a number of flexible working arrangements including shortened and compressed work weeks, telecommuting and flexible work hours.
St. George’s School, Vancouver. Elementary and secondary schools. 247 employees. In addition to maternity and parental leave top-up, new parents have the option to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence.
Surrey School District No. 36, Surrey. Elementary and secondary schools. 9,585 employees. Supports ongoing employee development as part of its raison d’être with subsidies for job-related courses and professional accreditations.
Teck Resources Limited, Vancouver. Mining. 8,433 employees. Head office features mountain and ocean views, and “The Headframe” space on the 35th floor, used for meetings and social gatherings.
TELUS Communications Inc., Vancouver. Telecommunications. 22,812 employees. Supports employee health and wellness through individualized health risk analytics which considers job function, age and gender, generation, and stage-of-life to tailor recommendations.
ToursByLocals Canada Inc., Vancouver. Tour operators. 53 employees. Cultivates an ownership culture through a share purchase plan that is available to all employees.
TransLink (South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority), New Westminster. Public transit. 7,200 employees. LEED Gold-certified head office features a 4,000-square-foot fitness facility, with private studio, personal training, and pilate and boot camp classes.
Tybo Contracting Ltd., Langley. Construction. 93 employees. Rewards recipients of its Employee of the Year Award with a week-long, all-expenses-paid vacation to a destination of their choice.
UBC / University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Post-secondary education. 12,436 employees. Manages a unique six-month community leadership program that enables employees to implement and lead a learning project focused on community service.
University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George. Post-secondary education. 580 employees. Offers generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments for new mothers, to 100 per cent of salary for a full year.
University of the Fraser Valley / UFV, Abbotsford. Post-secondary education. 817 employees. Employees receive a $1,000 health spending account as part of their health plan, with unused amounts transferred to their personal savings accounts.
Vancouver Airport Authority, Richmond. Airport operators. 490 employees. Encourages employees to leave the car at home with transit subsidies, a carpool sign-up system, and secure bike parking onsite.
Vancouver, City of, Vancouver. Municipal governments. 7,610 employees. Is a certified ‘Living Wage’ employer that offers long-term security through a defined benefit pension plan.
Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver. Motion picture studios. 70 employees. Helps employees save for the future with matching RSP contributions.
Vancouver Foundation, Vancouver. Non-profit foundations. 48 employees. Supports ongoing employee development through a variety of in-house training initiatives.
Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo. Post-secondary education. 862 employees. Encourages employees to engage in physical fitness with intramural sports teams and recreational activities such as kayaking and rock climbing.
Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver. Police services. 1,841 employees. Helps employees plan for the future with retirement planning assistance services and contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.
Victoria Airport Authority, North Saanich. Airport operators. 47 employees. Supports employees who are new mothers and fathers with maternity and parental leave top-up payments, to 100 per cent of salary for up to 16 weeks.
Wesgroup Equipment LP, Surrey. Machinery and equipment wholesalers. 197 employees. Starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation and considers previous work experience when setting individual vacation entitlements.
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., Vancouver. Sawmills. 5,622 employees. Designates a portion of its pre-tax profits to charitable and community giving.
WorkSafeBC, Richmond. Workplace safety commissions. 3,296 employees. Extends health benefits to retirees, with 100 per cent premium coverage and no age limit.
This story was produced by Mediacorp in partnership with Postmedia, on behalf of BC’s Top Employers.