Canada’s Top 100 Employers started publishing a list of Alberta’s Top Employers in 2006. It’s an annual competition organized by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, recognizing Alberta employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.
“This is a special time for Alberta employers,” says Anthony Meehan, publisher at Mediacorp, organizers of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers competition.
“Net migration into the province hit an all-time high last year, with more people moving to Alberta than in any year since they started keeping quarterly records 70 years ago. Yet despite this influx, the province’s unemployment rate is now lower than it was in the years before the pandemic. Increasingly, the province’s employers are having difficulty finding and retaining enough talented employees to keep their operations growing.”
Mediacorp says employers are evaluated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers using the same eight criteria as the national competition: (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. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.
This year’s Top Alberta Employers include a number of companies operating in the Flagstaff region. These include: Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), Alberta Health Services, ATCO Group, Covenant Health, Enbridge, Fortis Alberta, Gibson Energy, Inter Pipeline, and UFA.
Covenant Health responded to the nomination, saying, this is the tenth time Covenant Health has received the award.
“We are honoured to be named as one of Alberta’s top employers for a tenth time. Our dedication to whole-person care is at the core of everything we do, and that includes caring for our employees. Every one of our decisions and interactions – whether in the boardroom or at the bedside – must help create an environment where staff, volunteers, physicians, patients and residents can bring their whole selves,” says Patrick Dumelie, Chief Executive Officer.
“There have been many changes in healthcare over the past 10 years, and to consistently receive this type of award is a testament to how our teams continually find innovative solutions while living our mission. Our most valuable resource is our people, and I am proud of their unwavering commitment to providing quality, compassionate care to create vibrate communities of health and healing.”
Killam Health Centre is Flagstaff County’s local Covenant Health facility, providing Acute care, Emergency care, an Adult Day program, Continuing Care, Palliative Care, foot care, and respiratory care.
In 2022-23, the site had 156 staff members, and 30 volunteers. The Killam Health Care Centre saw 10,318 outpatient visits, and 3,683 emergency visits. The site has nine acute care beds, 10 continuing care beds, and 40 supportive living beds.
Killam Health Centre supported 12 team members in taking a health care aide training program through Norquest College in Edmonton, where they could learn and receive on-the-job training at the same time. Bursaries for the spots were provided by the Killam and District Health Centre Foundation as a way to reduce barriers for those looking to grow their career while also addressing the shortage of rural health care workers. All 12 students successfully received their certificates and are now permanent employees at the site.
ATCO says it’s honoured to be recognized. “At ATCO, we believe in going beyond the call of duty when it comes to supporting our customers, our communities, and our fellow ATCO teammates.
“Some key points that caught the attention of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers judges during this year’s competition include ATCO’s:
“Annual benefits program where employees can access up to $3,000 for individual mental health services.
“Annual EPIC (Employees Participating in Communities) charitable giving campaign which has raised nearly $54 million since the program’s inception in 2006.
“Family Fire Relief Program of 2023, which gave employees impacted by the Northern Wildfires access to emergency funds, temporary accommodations, and counselling support. “
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor