Saskatchewan's Top Employers (2018) by Canada's Top 100 Employers

COMPOSITE IMAGE FROM SRC PHOTO

2018 WINNERS

ct100.ca/sk

MEDIACORP

p Susan MacWilliam, Sustainability

and Compliance Specialist at Saskatchewan Research Council, one of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winners.

WHY WORK AT SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC? Our team works for purpose, balance and community. Thank you to our faculty and staff who make a difference in the lives of 28,000 students every day.

careers.saskpolytech.ca

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

FLAMAN SALES LTD./DAVID DOYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

13th Annual Edition

SASKATCHEWAN'S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018 Magazine Anthony Meehan, PUBLISHER

Karen Le,

VICE-PRESIDENT

Editorial Team:

Richard Yerema, MANAGING EDITOR

Kristina Leung, SENIOR EDITOR

Stephanie Leung, ASSISTANT EDITOR

Advertising Team:

Kristen Chow,

DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS

Ye Jin Suhe,

CLIENT SUPPORT COORDINATOR

Sponsored Profile Writers:

Berton Woodward, SENIOR EDITOR

Michael Benedict Brian Bergman Sheldon Gordon Don Hauka D'Arcy Jenish Bruce McDougall Stuart Whitmore Barbara Wickens

p Employees of Flaman Sales Ltd. at the annual gala for the Frank J. Flaman Foundation.

INTRODUCTION

What does it take to become one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers? here’s that wonderful mix encompassing diversity, generous benefits and support for personal growth that create a superb place for people to work. What’s often overlooked is a sense of play. This is serious stuff for the best employers. If you want to know more about a company’s culture, take a look at how they get together. Social events are a huge part of “who we are” for any organization. An active social calendar has the power to turn a company into a community. Play is something Saskatchewan’s Top Employers do very well throughout the year – not just by holding a party during the holiday season (although most do that too). For example, Saskatoon companies ClearTech Industries Inc. and Vibe HCM recognize that a variety of activities build camaraderie and team spirit, so they provide plenty of opportunities for staff to get to know one another informally. ClearTech Industries’ popular events include a family barbecue and golf tournament organized by their employee social committee while Vibe HCM

features evening dinners, go-karting and movie matinees, even hosting a recent retreat in Banff for employees and their significant others. Flaman Sales Ltd. is another Saskatchewan Top Employer that knows how to give a great party, with Friday barbecues in summer, popcorn days and an annual chartable fundraising gala. Sports-minded staff can also have fun competing on employee dodgeball, hockey and slowpitch teams. Kurt Flaman, the company’s social committee guru as well as Saskatoon store operations manager, says the more opportunities they give to have co-workers socializing outside of work, the stronger the team. “Staff can work better as a team when they’re able to socially share experiences together with their families and get to know each other on a level that’s beyond just tasking at work,” Flaman says. “It also gives people an opportunity to experience events they might not have gone to otherwise, but once there’s a bunch of co-workers going, they’ll try new things.”

SASKATCHEWANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

q Keeping business moving at ClearTech Industries Inc.

COR

CLEARTECH

q Employees from Creative Options Regina, Inc.

HARVARD DEVELOPMENTS INC.

p Paul Hill, President & CEO of Harvard Developments Inc., speaking at an employee appreciation event.

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Continued

With an annual budget $200 per person granted by their executive team, Flaman says the social committee’s goal is to have one event a month. There’s a leader from each division – from grain cleaning to trailers to marketing to the egg division – who helps out with the committee so that it represents the whole company and not just one segment of it. Flaman says he’s seen great things come out of doing these events on a monthly basis in terms of the comfort level people now have with each other and the increase in team spirit. “Everyone’s favourite event was when we chartered a bus and took

our whole staff to a Saskatchewan Roughrider game,” says Flaman. “That might have been the best but also the most costly. However, we’ve done a lot of fun events that didn’t cost much. We’ve gone to a Saskatoon Blades game, had a pig roast and even went to the horse races one day. It can be as simple as just getting together for pumpkin carving, which we did this past Halloween.” Shalayna Reetz, a call centre representative at Innovation Credit Union in Swift Current and the chairperson for their iSocial Club, agrees it’s important for employees to get to know each other outside of the work environment. She’s found that it’s helped her to better understand

her co-workers as well as created a more relaxed working environment. “It’s 100 per cent easier to work with people when you get to know them a bit,” Reetz says. “You learn more about their capabilities and who you can call to help you find the answer when you have a difficult question. It’s much easier to pick up the phone or send an email after you’ve met the person face to face.” Reetz says the response to their social activities program has been terrific, with 90 per cent of all departments participating. In addition to the company’s Christmas parties, one for the north region and one for the south, each department or branch is given a budget so they can decide

among themselves what they’d like to do as a group. “One department did an amazing race event with different tasks that they needed to complete as a group,” says Reetz. “Others did a paint night or dinner and a movie. My group went out for supper and to see a comedian here in town. There are a lot of different ways the departments can utilize the funds. “Socializing together goes back to our collaborative and cooperative values here. If we can use that day to day, it makes us better as a whole when we’re serving our members and continuing our business. It speaks to our company culture.” n – Diane Jermyn

INNOVATION CREDIT UNION

INTRODUCTION

p Employees from Innovation Credit Union and their families take to the ice with the company mascot, Fat Cat.

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

SASKATCHEWAN BLUE CROSS

2018 WINNERS

n choosing this year’s Saskatchewan’s Top Employers winners, the editors at the Canada’s Top 100 Employer project evaluated each employer’s operations and human resources practices using the same eight criteria as the national competition: (1) physical workplace; (2) work atmosphere and social; (3) health, financial and family benefits; (4) vacation and time off; (5) employee communications; (6) performance management; (7) training and skills

development; and (b) community involvement. These criteria have remained consistent since the launch of the Saskatchewan’s Top Employers competition 13 years ago. This year saw a record number of employers apply for the competition. Any employer with its head office or principal place of business in Saskatchewan may apply to be considered. (Employers interested in learning about the application process should consult the information for

p Employees of Saskatchewan Blue Cross at the company's annual spring celebration. prospective applicants on page 23.) Each employer is compared with other organizations in its field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. A summary of why each of this year’s winners was chosen appears below. The editors’ detailed reasons for selection were released today and are accessible via the competition homepage: www.canadastop100.com/sk n

3SHEALTH / HEALTH SHARED SERVICES SASKATCHEWAN, Regina. 118 employees. New employees receive four weeks of vacation to start as well as up to five paid personal days, which can be scheduled as needed.

CCESS COMMUNICATIONS CO-OPERATIVE LTD., Regina. 217 employees. New and adoptive moms receive maternity leave top-up payments, to 100 per cent of salary for up to 17 weeks, and can extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence.

SASKATCHEWANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Continued

LEARTECH INDUSTRIES INC., Saskatoon. 140 employees. Organizes a number of social events each year including a summer family barbecue and golf tournament and an annual retirement lunch. CORNERSTONE CREDIT UNION FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED, Yorkton. 148 employees. Employees can enrol in a traditional health benefits plan or a flex plan, with a health spending account of up to $850 annually. CREATIVE OPTIONS REGINA, INC., Regina. 110 employees. Employees can unwind in an employee lounge featuring a fireplace, video games and foosball as well as monthly visits from a registered massage therapist.

LAMAN SALES LTD., Saskatoon. 291 employees. Through the Frank J. Flaman Foundation, the company supports numerous local and national charities each year.

ROUP MEDICAL SERVICES / GMS INSURANCE INC., Regina. 102 employees. New mothers and fathers benefit from generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments, to 75 per cent of salary for up to 24 weeks.

ARVARD DEVELOPMENTS INC., Regina. 159 employees. Supports employees with college-bound kids through an academic scholarship program of up to $2,000 per child.

NFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION, Regina. 239 employees. Helps employees keep their skills sharp through a variety of in-house training programs and tuition subsidies for courses taken at outside institutions.

INNOVATION CREDIT UNION, Swift Current. 343 employees. Hosts annual team building events to engage employees such as a paint night, dinner and a movie, and even a fishing trip. ISM CANADA, Regina. 792 employees. Employees receive discounted memberships at the University of Regina's fitness centre and can sign-up for monthly "coffeebreak massages" for a nominal fee.

+S POTASH CANADA GP, Saskatoon. 462 employees. Experienced significant growth in the past year, opening the first new potash mine in Saskatchewan in 40 years.

OSAIC COMPANY, THE, Regina. 2,261 employees. Cultivates high potential employees by providing opportunities to participate in community, professional networking and recruitment events.

ANCH EHRLO SOCIETY, Regina. 629 employees. Encourages employees to balance work and their personal lives with flexible hours and telecommuting.

SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

2018 WINNERS

REGINA, CITY OF, Regina. 1,783 employees. Employees enjoy long-term security with generous employer contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.

ASKATCHEWAN BLUE CROSS, Saskatoon. 184 employees. Encourages ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies for courses taken at outside institutions, to $2,000 annually. SASKATCHEWAN CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION / SCIC, Melville. 362 employees. Helps employees plan for the future with retirement planning assistance and phased-in work options.

p Staff of Saskatchewan Polytechnic at an event to mark Intercultural Week.

SASKATCHEWANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

K+S POTASH CANADA

SRC

ISC

Photos (clockwise from top): 1. An employee at Information Services Corporation working in one of the public registries that ISC maintains. 2. Health and Safety representatives at K+S Potash Canada stopping for a chat. 3. An employee at the Saskatchewan Research Council working in the laboratory.

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018 Continued

SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN GAMING AUTHORITY / SIGA, Saskatoon. 1,754 employees. Reaches out to the next generation of talent through paid internships and summer student opportunities. SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC, Saskatoon. 1,535 employees. Longserving employees receive a maximum of up to six and seven weeks of paid vacation and can apply for selffunded and unpaid leaves of absence. SASKATCHEWAN RESEARCH COUNCIL / SRC, Saskatoon. 336 employees. Maintains an employee volunteer program to encourage employees to reach out to the communities where they live and work.

SASKATCHEWAN WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD, Regina. 465 employees. Maintains a healthy lifestyles committee which organizes health and wellness programs on exercise, nutrition and smoking cessation. SASKATOON POLICE SERVICE, Saskatoon. 663 employees. Cultivates a learning culture through a variety of in-house training programs and tuition subsidies. SASKATOON, CITY OF, Saskatoon. 3,219 employees. Encourages employees to keep fit through subsidized access community fitness facilities located across the city. SASKPOWER, Regina. 3,431 employees. Invests in the development

of future talent through mentoring, summer employment, paid internships and apprenticeship programs. SASKTEL, Regina. 3054 employees. Offers employee discounts on company products and services such as home internet and phones. SOLVERA SOLUTIONS, Regina. 148 employees. Head office is located in a renovated heritage building, featuring high-end retail, a rooftop deck and barbecue, and shower facilities for bicycle commuters. SOUTHEAST COLLEGE, Weyburn. 36 employees. Supports employees who want to start a family with maternity and parental leave top-up payments and the convenience of onsite daycare.

SYNERGY CREDIT UNION LTD., Lloydminster. 181 employees. Encourages employees to give back to the community with paid time-off to volunteer and matching charitable donations.

IBE HCM, Saskatoon. 49 employees. Along with a casual dress code at work, employees participate in a variety of interesting social events throughout the year, including a summer family fun day and a retreat in Banff.

EST WIND AVIATION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, Saskatoon. 377 employees. Encourages employees to adopt an ownership mentality through a share purchase plan, available to all employees. n

q Staff of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board enjoying an ice cream social.

SASKATCHEWAN WCB

2018 WINNERS

For two days in April, join the organizers of the annual Canada’s Top 100 Employers project as they explore the key themes they will be covering in next year’s competition. Join world-class speakers, authors, journalists and dozens of business leaders from this year’s winning employers – all handpicked by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers to bring you the latest thinking on becoming an employer-of-choice. Attending the Top Employer Summit is an ideal way to have all your questions on the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project answered in a convenient two-day, non-commercial format.

For information or to register, please visit: www.EmployerSummit.ca

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Giving back drives Access Communications

veryone who applies for a job at Access Communications Co-operative gets asked the same question: Are you involved in your community? “It’s not a pass-fail question,” explains Carole Sauer, Manager, Human Resources and Safety, “but it opens up a discussion on the importance of giving back. We believe in helping others and want to hire like-minded people.” As a co-op, Sauer adds, “we are all about our communities. Everything we do is for the people we serve, not only our products and services but our volunteer initiatives.” Everything we do is for the people we serve.

ACCESS COMMUNICATIONS CO-OPERATIVE EMPLOYEE

Carole Sauer

Manager, Human Resources and Safety

As a leading Saskatchewan provider of Internet, TV, phone and security services, Access Communications is well positioned to deliver such community support. Take its TV Bingo initiative, one of several successful charitable activities. Viewers purchase cards and then tune in as numbers are called. Since 2006, the effort has raised more than $1.7 million for the Access Communications Children’s

Fund, helping children in need. TV Bingo is broadcast weekly on the Access7 community channel. Winners must call in to claim their prize, and among the many employee volunteers answering the phones is Zohra Masani, whose regular job is providing telephone Internet support. “Access has been so good to me that I welcome the chance to return the favour,” she says. Masani came to Saskatchewan from India three years ago to study at

the University of Regina. She almost immediately landed a part-time job at Access’s head office and then became full time after graduation. However, she almost lost her work permit recently over a bureaucratic snafu. Desperate, Masani turned to her HR department for help. “They were amazing,” she says. “They knew more about the immigration rules and regulations than I did. They solved the problem within hours.”

myaccess.ca/careers Amazing People | Great Beneﬁts | Training & Growth Opportunities | Community Involvement

For Masani, that was another demonstration of a caring employer. “Access doesn’t see the colour of your skin or your gender,” she says. “If you are knowledgeable and talented, they do see that. Your work is what matters.” And your ideas. Says Sauer: “Everyone is listened to, and all suggestions are welcome. If there’s a better way to do things, we want to hear about it. Nearly 95 per cent of our employees say they are empowered and feel they contribute to the company’s success.” In return, they receive professional development opportunities and generous benefits, including heavily discounted Internet service. That’s a boon for Masani to keep in touch digitally with family and friends in India. “It’s the cherry on top,” she says.

217

FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

50%

OF EXECUTIVE TEAM ARE WOMEN

1,600

CHARITIES & NON-PROFIT GROUPS SUPPORTED LAST YEAR

1,250

STAFF VOLUNTEER HOURS LAST YEAR

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

COR focuses on taking care of the caregivers

isitors to the office of Creative Options Regina (COR) might wonder if they’ve come to the right place. A loft-like space kitted out with videogames, foosball and a coffee bar, it looks more like a tech startup than a non-profit caring for people with disabilities. “We are a bit atypical,” says Executive Director Michael Lavis. “You don’t really see this work environment in our sector.” But then there’s nothing typical about COR’s approach to caregiving. COR provides in-home support based on the philosophy of Gentle Teaching, placing relationships at the heart of everything it does, and tailoring care to every individual’s abilities and interests. I ask myself what brings people to our doorstep and, more importantly, what keeps them here.

Michael Lavis

Executive Director

Fulfilling that mission depends on finding employees that match COR’s culture and values. “We hire for fit over skill,” says Rory McCorriston, Director of People and Culture. “We look for people who are really interested in supporting others. If they don’t

Proud

CREATIVE OPTIONS EMPLOYEES TAKING PART IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA

have all the necessary qualifications, we’ll provide training opportunities.” Kinesiology graduate Matt Chin helped design COR’s health and wellness program, then became a frontline caregiver, learning new skills to support people with intellectual disabilities. Today he’s a Home Supports Coordinator, leading caregivers across five home support teams. Such progression isn’t always obvious in a sector many view as a stepping-stone to another job. “A lot

of people we end up hiring didn’t even realize this was a career option,” says McCorriston. COR recruits from a wide range of backgrounds, but pitches compensation for Home Team Leaders at a comparable level to entry-level teaching or social work positions. Not that wages alone are the primary motivator for most employees. “I ask myself what brings people to our doorstep and, more importantly, what keeps them here,” says Lavis. “I know

that if we deliberately focus on the needs of our caregivers, they’re going to provide exceptional support to the people the government contracts us to care for.” Completely flexible hours and a benefits package custom-fitted to the young workforce (average age 28) are welcome. But what keeps most employees at COR is the ability to bring what they love to work – sharing their passions to provide meaningful companionship to the people in their care. Chin brings a passion for paintball and soccer to office teambuilding, but has an eye on the ball where his career is concerned, too. COR is expanding into youth programs. “With that will come new leadership roles and management positions,” he says. “I hopefully see myself growing with COR as we branch out.”

110

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IN CANADA

49%

OF EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN

$6,500

AVERAGE TRAINING INVESTMENT PER EMPLOYEE

9.7%

EMPLOYEE TURNOVER (2016-17)

to be

Career: make a difference

creativeoptionsregina.ca

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Flaman hooks up its people with the best learning

n 2008, Nathan Laturnus applied for a position with Flaman Fitness, a division of Saskatoon-based Flaman Group of Companies. But after learning more about Flaman, Laturnus joined the division that sells trailers used to haul everything from livestock to snowmobiles to motorcycles. “Initially I had no interest in trailers and knew nothing about them,” he says. “But we chatted and there were a lot of things that intrigued me.” Flaman is really big on personal and professional development and I take full advantage of that.

Nathan Laturnus

Sales Representative, Trailer Division FLAMAN TEAM MEMBERS RECEIVING AWARDS FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND SERVICE

Joining the Flaman team as a sales representative exposed Laturnus to a diverse company that sells, rents and services agriculture equipment, trailers and other machinery through 35 retail locations scattered across Canada. As well, a secondary company, Flaman Fitness, has become western Canada’s largest fitness and healthcare retailer. Joining Flaman also gave Laturnus the opportunity to build on the education he received while earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Saskatchewan.

“Flaman is really big on personal and professional development and I take full advantage of that,” he says. “I want to keep learning.” The company is currently developing a suite of in-house learning materials that will be available to all employees, and it invests heavily in professional development programs offered by outside organizations. In the spring of 2017, the company put 50 employees through a one-day customer service training program

People together, doing what’s right, making a difference.

offered by the Disney Institute and it is bringing Disney back for another session in early 2018. “We were the first company to bring Disney to Saskatchewan,” says President Don Flaman. “All our employees who went through it were really interested and enjoyed it as well.” Flaman will cover up to the full cost of a broad range of personal development, management or leadership programs. “We have no problem with bringing people to a

central location and putting them up in a hotel for a couple of nights,” says Dave Weightman, Vice-President Operations and Human Resources. “We also travel from store to store a couple of times per year to deliver our customer service initiative, the Customer Journey.” The company also maintains a generous social fund and encourages employees to participate in group activities, such as bowling nights, barbecues, local sporting events, or seasonal community events. “At Christmas time,” says Weightman, “our Moosomin team builds a train with the trailers we sell, hooks a tractor to it and calls it the Santa Claus train. They give kids rides around town and provide hot chocolate afterward. It really promotes employee engagement and community involvement.”

291

FULL-TIME STAFF

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

5,818

JOB APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST YEAR

YEARS, LONGESTSERVING EMPLOYEE

www.flaman.com

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Harvard Developments looks to build on strong potential

fter 115 years in Saskatchewan, Harvard Developments Inc. can be highly selective in hiring employees. Just ask Terri Klyne. Now Harvard’s Shopping Centre Manager, Klyne applied three times over 10 years before she joined the company. “I wanted a career, not just a job,” she says. “If you’re in the industry in Saskatchewan, this is where you want to be.” Harvard’s patriarch, Walter Hill, along with his partner, sold the land in 1903 on which the province’s legislature now stands. Since then, the company has developed many of Regina’s most recognized buildings, including the original McCallum Hill Building (Regina’s first skyscraper), the Hill Centre Towers, Mosaic Tower, and Agriculture Place, and it remains a family business under the third generation of Hill family ownership. We invest in our people. If you say you don’t know much about real estate, we say that doesn’t matter. We’ll teach you.

Hiedi Pearson

Manager of Human Resources and Employee Services

“I was born and raised here,” says Hiedi Pearson, Harvard’s Manager of Human Resources and Employee SerBUILDING

GREAT

HARVARD’S FOCUS ON EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THEIR PROPERTIES ACROSS SASKATCHEWAN

vices. “I was certainly aware of what they had accomplished in the community.” With an undergraduate degree in geography from the University of Regina, Pearson worked briefly for the university’s fund-raising and charitable campaigns before she joined Harvard as an executive assistant. “If someone had told me then that I’d be working in human resources,” she says, “I’d never have believed them.” But Harvard hires individuals on their potential as much as their

PEOPLE

AND

PROJECTS

LET’S BUILD TOGETHER. PROUD TO BE ONE OF SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS

HILLCOMPANIES.COM/CAREEERS

qualifications, and Pearson was no exception. “We invest in our people,” she says. “If you say you don’t know much about real estate, we say that doesn’t matter. We’ll teach you.” Far more important are a candidate’s entrepreneurial spirit and ability to think outside the box. “We look for people who want to better themselves,” says Pearson. Harvard works hard to place the right person in the right role, supporting employees with training and

financial assistance to cover the cost of new and ongoing designations and accreditations as they advance in their career. The company has supported Terri Klyne, for example, in maintaining her designation as a registered salesperson with the Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission. Overseeing Harvard’s retail portfolio in Saskatchewan, Klyne and her staff of nine keep in close contact with about 200 tenants, and Klyne herself travels at least 1,000 km a month, even in the depths of Saskatchewan’s winter, between Regina and Saskatoon, Yorkton and Moose Jaw to visit shopping centres and third-party vendors in those locations. But the challenge doesn’t phase her. As Klyne says, “Service is our finest property.”

159

FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

EMPLOYEES WITH 20+ YEARS OF SERVICE

1,200

STAFF VOLUNTEER HOURS LAST YEAR

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

GREG HUSZAR

K+S Potash Canada mines innovation and a pioneering spirit

fter working for 25 years in the oilpatch in northern Alberta, Lloyd Spearchief was ready for a change of pace – and a new challenge. As it happened, he had recently moved close to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and near to where K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) was developing the first greenfield potash mine to be built in the province in nearly 50 years. Spearchief decided he wanted to be part of the pioneering project. KSPC’s Bethune mine, formerly known as the Legacy Project, opened in May 2017. Spearchief, who was hired 18 months ago as a millwright and has since been promoted to a Maintenance Coordinator, says that “being part of a team that’s building something from the ground up is a really good feeling.” Being part of a team that’s building something from the ground up is a good feeling.

Lloyd Spearchief

Maintenance Coordinator

He also appreciates the company’s efforts to promote a balance between work and home life. In the oilpatch,

K+S POTASH CANADA EMPLOYEE, SHELDON, AT BETHUNE MINE

Spearchief worked as a fly-in employee, seven days on and seven days off, 12 hours a day. Sometimes he’d end up working the week he was supposed to be off, meaning that he’d be away from home up to three weeks at a stretch. At KSPC, by contrast, he works four days a week, 10 hours a day. “It’s a very nice change to be going home every night,” he says.

Senior Manager, Human Resources, Maryann Deutscher, who joined KSPC as employee No. 22 in 2012, says that, like Spearchief, most of the new hires were excited to be part of creating a legacy project. “Whether they are engineers, operators, trades or office support staff, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help build something that’s going to last for generations,” says Deutscher.

“It’s that pioneering spirit, which is part of what Saskatchewan is all about.” Not surprisingly, she adds, “the people we’ve attracted are innovative problem-solvers. If you are the kind of person who doesn’t like change, you are probably not drawn to a greenfield operation.” While KSPC offers a highly competitive compensation and a generous vacation package, Deutscher believes the real appeal for employees is something less tangible. “What I see is a real sense of teamwork and family. It’s like you’ve built the family home and now it’s time to turn the lights on and get everything working. Our people are dedicated, persistent and focused on running Saskatchewan’s first new potash mine in nearly 50 years.”

462

FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

9,846

JOB APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST YEAR

100

CHARITIES HELPED LAST YEAR

DEEPLY ROOTED K+S Potash Canada’s commitment to Saskatchewan runs deep. That’s why we’re going to keep supporting its people for generations to come, through jobs, development, and our ongoing investment in the economy. We’re here to stay.

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Mosaic cultivates leaders to help feed the world

s a prize-winning graduate student who received her Master’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2011, Kathlene Jacobson felt attracted to The Mosaic Company as an alternative to the province’s oil and gas industry. With more than 2,200 employees in Canada and more than 9,000 worldwide, Mosaic leads the world in the production of phosphate and potash crop nutrients. “I liked the company and what it stood for,” Jacobson says. “They have a noble mission to help the world grow the food it needs.” I didn’t set out to become the next CEO, but I wanted to gain experience, learn a lot and lead people. Now I’m in my dream role.

Kathlene Jacobson

Process Engineering Lead

In her sixth year with the company, Jacobson moved to Esterhazy, about 225 km east of Regina, to assume the role of process engineer at Mosaic’s biggest potash mining facility. The company was sinking the first new production shaft in the province in more than 50 years and is now continuing mine development and completing conveyance systems to

MEMBERS OF MOSAIC’S SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM CELEBRATE HITTING POTASH AT THE COMPANY’S NEW K3 MINE IN ESTERHAZY

transport ore from K3 to the existing K1 and K2 mills to create the largest and most efficient potash mine in the world. “My main focus has been de-bottlenecking the K2 mill in preparation for the K3 mine to come online,” she says. “This involves a detailed evaluation of all aspects of potash separation and recovery. I’ve also been able to grow my expertise in flotation and crystallization. After two years in Esterhazy, Jacobson has become the lead of a team of

process engineers who are getting the new project up and running. She’s also enrolled in the company’s Emerging Leaders Program, which provides coaching and mentoring support to 10 junior employees who demonstrate leadership potential. Through the program, Mosaic supports selected employees in assuming leadership roles. “We develop and empower our own people,” says Lisa Poissant, the company’s Vice President, Human Resources – Potash. “It

makes me really proud to see people embracing the tools they need to make themselves better at what they do.” Offered for the second time this year, the seven-month program will give Jacobson a broad overview of Mosaic’s operations and an understanding of the roles and responsibilities involved in running such an extensive and complex business. As part of the program, Jacobson works with current Mosaic leaders and executive coaches to increase her business acumen and leadership skills. For Jacobson, the program has reinforced her commitment to Mosaic and its objectives. “I didn’t set out to become the next CEO,” she says, “but I wanted to gain experience, learn a lot and lead people. Now I’m in my dream role.”

2,261

FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

173

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

11,091

JOB APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST YEAR

YEARS, AVERAGE AGE OF ALL EMPLOYEES

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Saskatchewan Blue Cross champions well-being

hen you support the number of charities that Saskatchewan Blue Cross (SBC) does, your company has to have a workplace culture that puts caring at the top of every job description. That’s just what SBC does and what makes them a top employer in Dayna L’Ecuyer’s book. “There are just so many opportunities to be involved in the community and give back in ways that you couldn’t as an individual,” says L’Ecuyer, an Executive Administrative Professional. “That was very important to me when I started, it’s kept me here for the last eight years and will keep me here into the future. I’m looking forward to a long career with the company.” We care about the community and we care about each other.

Dayna L’Ecuyer

Executive Administrative Professional

Saskatchewan Blue Cross provides health and dental benefits, travel, short- and long-term disability and other life insurance coverage. With offices in Saskatoon and Regina and a network of brokers throughout

SASKATCHEWAN BLUE CROSS EMPLOYEE DAYNA L’ECUYER AT A UNITED WAY EVENT

Saskatchewan, it has deep roots in the communities it serves. L’Ecuyer appreciates the comprehensive benefits package the company offers, including an annual incentive program, a pension plan and tuition subsidies of up to $2,000 annually. Being in the wellness business, it puts a high value on an employee’s total well-being. Benefits include access to counselling, a wellness benefit and on-site wellness programming.

“We have a gym in our office and we provide workout classes, so it’s easier to be focused on health and wellness and get involved with other staff here to take a break from work,” L’Ecuyer says. “It also saves time and money out of our own pockets. We don’t have to look for parking, we have lockers for our equipment, it’s convenient and a pretty special benefit.” But it’s the opportunity to help in the community that makes the company unique for L’Ecuyer.

“We care about the community and we care about each other. If we’re caring for our own people then it extends out into the community, it extends out to our clients and that’s just how we do business,” she says. From the SBC Recess Guardians Program that’s reintroduced play into school playgrounds to the Push2Play initiative and the United Way campaign, the company and its employees extend their culture of caring about each other into communities across the province. “We care about the clients that we work with, we care about the community, we care about the health and wellness of the Saskatchewan people and we care about one another, too,” says Todd Peterson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

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FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

2,672

JOB APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST YEAR

200

CHARITIES HELPED LAST YEAR

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

SIGA goes all in on opportunity and community

ustina Sather remembers the day the casino came to town. The Saskatchewan Indian gaming Authority (SIGA) was opening Living Sky Casino in Swift Current. Sather went to learn more and eventually walked away with a job. She wasn’t the only one: “My whole family was hired. My sister, dad, husband, step-mom – they all left jobs to come to SIGA.” We prioritize learning and professional development, with on-thejob training and a management program that includes mentoring and coaching.

Shauna Bear

VP of Human Resources

Over 200 people in the town of 17,000 found employment, echoing the positive economic impact SIGA’s venues have had in First Nation communities across the province. Living Sky is the newest of six casinos – soon to be seven – that entertain more than 4.5 million guests annually. The non-profits have generated over $1 billion for community groups and provincial beneficiaries, but more than philanthropy, they offer opportunity. Sather had been a nutrition service worker at the regional health authority. “I was topped out there. I didn’t have

SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN GAMING AUTHORITY STAFF VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OUT-OF-TOWN FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AT LOCAL HOSPITALS

any opportunity to move ahead,” she says. Drawn by generous pay and conditions, she decided to twist and take a job as a casino server. Nine years later, if she has a career limit it’s still beyond the horizon. After two promotions she’s now Food & Beverage Manager, and gaining further experience as Acting Operations Manager and Acting Marketing Manager. “We prioritize learning and professional development for our employees,” says Shauna Bear, a 17-year

veteran who began as an HR officer and is now Vice-President of Human Resources. “We offer on-the-job training and a management program that includes mentoring and coaching.” Around 65 per cent of SIGA’s employees, and nine out of 10 executives, are Indigenous. Hiring and employee care are influenced by five guiding principles, based on First Nations culture, that promote accountability, balance, hospitality, belonging and community. That means supporting

staff in more than just their work goals. Wellness is a focus. Fitness subsidies, annual health fairs, immunization clinics, and on-site visits from medical practitioners, naturopaths and massage therapists help ensure employees stay fit and healthy. Comprehensive benefits include health and income replacement benefits, pension and savings plans, and financial education sessions to help staff plan their future. No wonder employees stay for the long haul. “I’m a lifer! I love it here,” says Bear. Some 60 staff have been with SIGA since day one, in 1996. As Living Sky approaches its 10th anniversary, Sather is one of around 50 that recall the launch. “We’ve grown up, had kids and celebrated special moments in our lives together,” she says. “They’re my work family.”

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FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

569

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

566

CHARITABLE PARTNERSHIPS CREATED

YEARS, LONGESTSERVING EMPLOYEE

Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority Proud to be named one of Saskatchewan’s top employers siga.sk.ca/careers

Pride. Place. Belonging.

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS BANNER AD - 9.25” wide x 1.75” high

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

The WCB helps its workers to help others

very day, Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) employees in Regina and Saskatoon help thousands of workers hurt on the job. “Our commitment to customers and employees is rooted in Mission: Zero – zero injuries, zero fatalities, zero suffering,” says Stuart Cunningham, Vice-President of Human Resources and Communications. “Our ultimate goal is to provide a quality employee experience to drive a service that places the customers at the centre of everything we do.” We’re not willing to settle when it comes to serving our customers, and opportunities for our employees to grow is a crucial factor.

SK WCB EMPLOYEES TAKING A BREAK IN THE STAFF LOUNGE

Stuart Cunningham

Vice-President of Human Resources and Communications

That’s why, he says, WCB employees are offered job-share, flex time and top-up for maternity and paternity leave, as well as access to health and wellness initiatives to maintain a healthy work-life balance. WCB also offers ongoing professional development support, from on-the-job training to leadership training. “We’re not willing to settle when it comes to serving our customers, and

opportunities for our employees to grow is a crucial factor,” explains Cunningham. “Our frontline staff have unique insight into whether our processes are providing the best outcomes for our customers. Through our daily ‘huddle’ meetings, staff are encouraged to share ideas to improve processes.” For employee Jenny Strongeagle, a Document Processing Clerk, working at the WCB has been rewarding. She also equates being at the WCB to being with family.

“Working here is kind of like home,” she says. “I’ve made a lot of personal relationships here outside of work. The people are really friendly. There’s a lot of support from supervisors and the managers to achieve your own personal goals. It feels awesome and gives you more self-confidence.” That includes supporting additional schooling to advance education. Strongeagle is looking forward to taking a Medical Terminology Class, which will help her improve her cus-

tomer service skills. Since starting at the WCB as a summer student almost seven years ago, Strongeagle has had the opportunity to work in three departments, helping her gain a deeper understanding of the WCB. Christina Zinger, WCB Registration and Statistics Coding Supervisor, says her job is satisfying because she’s helping someone affected by a work injury. As a supervisor, she’s learned leading people at the WCB is about working with them. “Ten years ago, we would have seen an environment where employees were told how to do the work,” she says. “Now the employees are taking the lead, improving the service we provide.” The goal is to engage WCB employees and continually enhance customer service as part of Mission: Zero.

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FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

YEARS, LONGESTSERVING EMPLOYEE

60%

OF MANAGERS ARE WOMEN

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Standing for the community at Saskatoon Police Service

rom the time he was a young boy, Staff Sergeant Major Grant Obst dreamed of being a police officer. He has been living that dream for 35 years, including the past 29 as a member of the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS). “Even today,” says Obst, “I will often put my hand down and feel that stripe on the side of my pants and say, ‘Thanks, God, I can’t believe I got to do this and that I’m still doing it.’” Since starting as a constable, Obst has served in an impressive range of roles, including as a member of the vice squad, the bomb squad, the community liaison unit and the recruiting and training unit. He is currently a Watch Commander, overseeing one of the four platoons of the SPS’s patrol division, which gives him the opportunity to help mentor a new generation of police officers. To make it in policing, you have to embrace change and adapt quickly.

Grant Obst

Staff Sergeant Major

The sheer variety of work is a key part of what keeps him engaged. “You can have several jobs within

ing sure our members have the help they need, when they need it.” Lisa Olson, the SPS’s Director of Human Resources, agrees that the mental and physical well-being of sworn members is a key priority. Training is provided to ensure officers can recognize the signs of stress in themselves and their colleagues. Counselling is available, not just in the case of critical incidents, but for any life challenges. Members also have access to a first-class gym and personal workout programs. Olson says that many potential recruits, like Obst, have wanted to be police officers since an early age. But civilians like herself are also called to serve. “I’m proud to work for an organization that keeps our community safe.” STAFF SERGEANT MAJOR OBST AT THE SASKATOON POLICE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

one career,” says Obst, “and each one comes with additional training. You never stop learning – and each morning, when you go to work, you never know what is going to happen next.” It’s not the life for everyone, he adds. “To make it in policing, you have to embrace change and adapt quickly. Some people find that hard

to do, while others thrive on it.” The job also comes with some unique stresses. “We often have to deal with critical and traumatic situations,” says Obst. “Police officers are human beings, not robots, and we know there is going to be an emotional toll from some of the work we do. But our police service has been very progressive about mak-

663

FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

717

JOB APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST YEAR

CHARITIES HELPED LAST YEAR

2,500

STAFF VOLUNTEER HOURS LAST YEAR

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

A passion for student success at Southeast College

t was a moment Margaret Fuchs will not forget. In 2016, she was voted by her peers and the students at Southeast College as the recipient of the inaugural TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Award, one of the President’s Awards series that recognizes staff for exemplary dedication to students and the college. “It was very moving, and a total surprise,” Fuchs recalls. “It brought tears to my eyes.” Fuchs has worked at Southeast College since 1997, serving as Student Services Advisor since 2002. “I advise the students about our courses, what the educational requirements are, how to enroll and how to obtain a student loan. If one of our programs does not fit them, I help them find something else. Working with the students is my passion.” We have a dedicated group of employees who do fantastic work, to ensure success both for the learners and for the employers with whom we’re partnering.

Dion McGrath

President and CEO

Through partnerships with post-secondary institutions, the college delivers a wide variety of career, vocational, and academic

A SOUTHEAST COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR LEADING STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM

programming to over 70 communities in southeastern Saskatchewan. It operates campuses in six communities: Assiniboia, Estevan, Indian Head, Moosomin (where Fuchs is located), Weyburn and Whitewood. The college graduates about 5,500 students annually. Fuchs’ passion for helping students is widely shared at Southeast College. “We have a common goal and purpose as employees of the college and that is to provide a relevant and

timely educational experience for our students,” says Dion McGrath, President and CEO. He adds: “We have a dedicated group of employees who do fantastic work, to ensure success both for the learners and for the employers with whom we’re partnering. We strive to make sure the learners have the requisite skills to fill the labour market’s needs. All of what we do starts and stops with the committed staff of the college.”

In addition to hiring instructors, the college recruits frontline employees, including both student advisors such as Fuchs and staff who connect directly with the business community. It is not uncommon for graduates to stay in contact with their former instructors and advisors as they follow their career paths. Southeast College offers new employees three weeks of starting vacation (senior personnel receive four weeks to start) as well as additional time off during the Christmas holidays and up to five paid personal days off each year. The college also provides one paid volunteer day annually to encourage employees to be involved with the community. Fuchs uses her volunteer day to help organize the fundraising campaign of the local Shrine Club.

FULL-TIME STAFF IN CANADA

JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR

78%

OF EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN

85%

OF MANAGERS ARE WOMEN

“We help students find a program that is a fit for them, working with students is my passion.” www.southeastcollege.org 1-866-999-7372

- Margaret Fuchs Student Services Advisor

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOP EMPLOYERS 2018

Synergy is not your typical financial institution

hen Tamara Sayer first viewed the Synergy Credit Union website, she was stunned by what she saw. Here was a financial institution that values its members and employees before its profits. The site declared that Synergy is a place “where people come first.” “That resonated with me,” says Sayer, now a Synergy Account Manager who was working with a for-profit financial services firm at the time. “That’s not how financial institutions usually describe themselves.” She adds: “When you put people before money, it changes the game. It’s also reflected in how employees are treated – at Synergy, you are empowered to make decisions to serve your members.” EMPLOYEES AT SYNERGY CREDIT UNION PARTICIPATING IN A DOWNTOWN CLEAN-UP DAY

When you put people before money, it changes the game.

Tamara Sayer Account Manager

Synergy, headquartered in Lloydminster, is a co-op credit union with more than 27,000 members. Each year, the credit union returns a portion of its revenues to its members through its ProfitShares program and contributes significantly to non-profits and other organizations to help improve

the lives of residents in its communities. Indeed, community engagement is the co-op’s core value. Sayer embraces that commitment full scale. She donates some 100 hours annually, some of it paid time off, to various charitable causes. “It brings me closer to my community,” she says. For his part, Synergy CEO Glenn Stang says people naturally want to help others. “Synergy is not about the money,” he says, “but about rolling up your sleeves to serve the community.

When people have a purpose, they are more apt to have a skip in their step.” Among his charitable activities, Stang joins his wife to prepare and serve meals every third Friday for a local community outreach organization, “we clean up afterwards, too.” He has also spearheaded a unique financial literacy program in which aspiring Synergy leaders develop their skills while providing free workshops to children and community groups. For its employees, Synergy offers

strong support for them to achieve their professional goals. Sayer, for one, is working toward professional accreditation as a business lender, with the company picking up the tab for her coursework and offering flexible hours to accommodate her studies. “For Synergy to invest in me, to improve myself, enhances my ability to assist members and helps me increase my contribution to the organization’s overall success.” she says. To further build and maintain employee engagement, Stang visits every one of Synergy’s 10 service centres at least once a year. Most days, he takes lunch with staff. Word about Synergy’s positive workplace is getting around. Last year, 17 credit unions visited its offices to learn about Synergy’s culture. “That was a first,” says Stang. “I guess we must be doing something right.”

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EMPLOYEES IN CANADA

1,187

JOB APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST YEAR

CHARITIES HELPED LAST YEAR

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STAFF VOLUNTEER HOURS LAST YEAR

Tell us your story If you are an exceptional employer with progressive human resources programs and initiatives, consider applying for next year’s edition of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers. Now entering its 19th year, our national project is Canada’s longest-running and best-known editorial competition for employers. For information on next year’s application process, visit:

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