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Manitoba’s Top Employers: 2025 Winners

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This article was published 11/03/2025 (252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winning companies exemplify an inclusive and caring culture

One of the best team-building activities Margaret Proven, executive vice president, human resources at Pollard Banknote Limited, ever participated in was building the company’s first Pride float to show support for the LGBTQ+ community in Winnipeg.

“It was a labor of love that brought our team closer together,” says Pollard. “It took months of preparation with over 100 employees volunteering their time after work. We had never done a float before, but we have lots of creative people.”

Community involvement is a top priority for Manitoba’s Top Employers (2025), published by Mediacorp Canada. Many offer employees paid time off to volunteer, as well as matching donations and partnering with charities in the communities they serve.

“People have a strong philanthropic mindset in Manitoba,” says Proven. “One of the reasons I’m here is because I want to work for a company that helps the community.”

Jennifer Johnston, vice-president, human resources at Payworks Inc., says Winnipeg is a very generous city, especially around the United Way, which is a big part of giving at Payworks through its annual workplace campaign.

“We’re proud that we’re local to Winnipeg and well known in the community for our spirit of generosity and service,” says Johnston. “Every employee has Pay It Forward days for volunteering and giving back to their communities.”

Payworks has also incorporated local pride into its new office space, with meeting rooms named after iconic Winnipeg landmarks.

“We have a Blue Bombers room, a King Edward room and one named for The Leaf in Assiniboine Park,” says Johnston. “Payworks has put a lot of thought and effort into creating a positive employee experience, with amenities, wellness initiatives and a focus on community and giving back.

“We recently did an engagement survey in September asking what three words employees would use to describe Payworks. Then we took all the responses and threw it into a fun word cloud. The words that jumped out were inclusive, caring, innovative, fun, welcoming, friendly.

“What we’re hearing back is that employees feel heard. It’s a space for them to grow their careers, have a little bit of fun and help people.”

Manitoba’s Top Employers 2025: Methodology

Now in its 19th year, the Manitoba’s Top Employers competition recognizes industry-leading organizations that offer exceptional places to work. The province is home to a diverse economy and a highly skilled workforce, with approximately half of the working age population holding post-secondary education.

To determine competition winners, employers are compared to organizations in similar industries and of similar size. Employers are evaluated on eight selection criteria, which are: (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.

While the underlying criteria have remained consistent since the project’s inception, areas of review have expanded and evolved with the advent of new programs and policies. Examples include workplace safety, hybrid and remote work options, and health and wellness.

Any employer with its head office or principal place of business in Manitoba may apply for consideration. Detailed reasons for selection, explaining why each of the winners was chosen, can be found on the competition’s website: https://www.canadastop100.com/manitoba/

• Kristina Leung

Manitoba’s Top Employers: 2025 Winners

The following organizations have been chosen as Manitoba’s Top Employers for 2025 (employee count refers to full-time staff):

Access Credit Union Ltd., Stanley. Credit unions; 877 employees. Helps employees balance their personal and working lives with alternative options, including flex hours and hybrid work.

APTN, Winnipeg. Television broadcasting; 150 employees. Guides the development of younger employees through apprenticeship programs and formal mentoring opportunities that incorporate unique Indigenous learning components.

Arctic Co-operatives Limited, Winnipeg. Community co-operatives; 134 employees. Encourages employees to volunteer and support charitable initiatives in their local community with one paid volunteer day, along with matching charitable donations, to $1,000 annually.

Artis REIT, Winnipeg. Real estate investment trusts; 131 employees. Starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation and offers seven paid personal days along with early Friday closures in the summer months.

Assiniboine Community College, Brandon. Post secondary education, college; 399 employees. Helps employees transition to life after work through phased-in retirement work options and offers the security of a defined benefit pension plan for when they retire.

Assiniboine Credit Union Ltd., Winnipeg. Credit unions; 478 employees. The long-standing, employee-led wellness committee organizes numerous events throughout the year such as a steps challenge, annual soccer tournament and an employee walking club.

Calm Air International LP, Winnipeg. Air transportation; 503 employees. Helps employees reduce their transportation costs by participating in the city’s EcoPass program, offering generous 50 per cent discounts on transit passes.

Canada Life Assurance Company, The, Winnipeg. Direct life insurance carriers; 12,891 employees. Supports a formal Workplace Strategies for Mental Health program that offers a range of resources and the employee health plan includes generous mental health practitioner coverage, to $5,000.

Canadian Canola Growers Association, Winnipeg. Business associations; 81 employees. Supports ongoing professional and personal development with tuition subsidies for courses related and not directly related to an employee’s current position.

Efficiency Manitoba, Winnipeg. Energy conservation advocacy; 79 employees. Offers retiring employees peace of mind with a defined benefit pension plan along with continuing enrolment in the health benefits plan, with premium coverage and no age limit.

Fusion Credit Union Limited, Hamiota. Credit unions; 159 employees. Helps employees manage their personal budgets with discounted rates for personal loans as well as low-interest home loans.

IGM Financial Inc., Winnipeg. Financial services; 3,659 employees. Reaches out to the next generation of through the formal Onboarding Ambassador program that pairs experienced personnel with newly-hired employees.

Johnston Group Inc., Winnipeg. Insurance and group benefits; 361 employees. Makes it a little easier for employees to keep fit with free memberships to an on-site fitness facility that features a variety of instructor-led fitness classes, including yoga and kickboxing classes.

Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg, Winnipeg. Aircraft equipment manufacturing; 610 employees. Encourages employees to become recruiters for the firm with new employee referral bonuses, up to $1,000 depending on the position.

Manitoba Blue Cross, Winnipeg. Insurance and group benefits; 334 employees. Extends health benefits to retirees, offering 75 per cent premium coverage and no age limit.

Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg. Hydroelectric power generation; 5,097 employees. Encourages employees to get involved in their communities with paid volunteer time and matching charitable donations, offering $400 for every 50 volunteer hours.

NFI Group Inc., Winnipeg. Transit bus manufacturing; 2,934 employees. Helps employees plan ahead with retirement planning assistance services and assists them with the transition into life after work with phased-in retirement work options.

Payworks Inc., Winnipeg. Payroll services; 580 employees. Offers hybrid working options and, when working on-site, employees have access to multiple break spaces, a games room, a mini library and even a golf simulator.

Pollard Banknote Limited, Winnipeg. Specialty printing; 1,196 employees. Helps employees get started in their careers with summer employment, paid internships and apprenticeship opportunities.

Red River Cooperative Ltd., Winnipeg. Grocery retail co-operatives; 295 employees. Donated more than $1.7 million over the past year to over 70 community initiatives and encourages employees to get involved with one paid volunteer day annually.

Red River Mutual Insurance Company, Altona. Insurance services; 173 employees. Offers a variety of alternative work options including a hybrid work program that lets employee work from other locations in Canada or temporarily outside of the country.

Riverview Health Centre Inc., Winnipeg. Rehabilitation and long term care; 253 employees. Helps employees plan ahead with retirement planning assistance services along with the security of a defined benefit pension plan.

St.Amant Inc., Winnipeg. Child and youth services; 740 employees. Offers new mothers maternity leave top-ups to 93 per cent of salary for up to 17 weeks, along with the convenience of an on-site child care centre when they return to work.

StandardAero Ltd., Winnipeg. Aircraft engine maintenance services; 1,926 employees. Employees provide feedback on where company charitable donations are made, and paddle, run, cycle, bake and host pancake breakfasts in support of numerous causes every year.

St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, Winnipeg. Elementary and secondary schools; 150 employees. Workplace is a 23-acre campus along the Red River offering employees a range of amenities, including a fitness centre, staff hockey, walking groups, and winter ski and snowshoe equipment.

Transcona Roofing Ltd., Winnipeg. Roofing contractors; 72 employees. Encourages employees to become recruiters for the firm with new employee referral bonuses, from $250 to $1,000 depending on the position.

True North Sports + Entertainment, Winnipeg. Sports and entertainment; 304 employees. Manages the True North Youth Foundation that supports disadvantaged youth through a variety of activities and initiatives, including the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy and Camp Manitou.

Turning Leaf Community Support Services Inc., Winnipeg. Community support services; 392 employees. Offer generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments for new moms, dads and adoptive parents to 80 per cent of salary for 52 weeks.

Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg. Post secondary schools, university; 235 employees. New parents returning from their leave may be able to phase in their return to work and take advantage of the convenience of on-site daycare services.

University College of the North, The Pas. Post secondary schools, university; 292 employees. Offers subsidized memberships to its fully equipped on-site fitness facility that provides a range of fitness classes, including nutrition classes, and a variety of intramural sports.

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Post secondary schools, university; 5,310 employees. Encourages employees to adopt healthy lifestyles through a formal Live Well program and hosts an annual Wellness Week to create greater awareness among employees.

Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, The, Winnipeg. Insurance services; 3,545 employees. Hosts the annual My Community Day program, providing employees with a full day of paid time for volunteering and follows up with a $100 donation to match their efforts.

Westoba Credit Union Ltd., Brandon. Credit unions; 228 employees. Helps employees balance their work and personal responsibilities with alternative work options as well as the option to apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc., Winnipeg. Airport operations; 246 employees. Supports its new mothers with maternity and parental leave top-up payments to 93 per cent of salary for 32 weeks.

Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Workplace health and safety programs; 599 employees. Helps employees plan for the future with retirement planning assistance services along with generous contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.

– Richard Yerema & Kristina Leung