Eleven Manitoba institutions make Forbes’ best employers list

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This article was published 02/02/2022 (1695 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eleven Manitoban institutions have cemented themselves as the country’s top employers, according to Forbes magazine.

The University of Manitoba, Princess Auto, Shared Health and Canada Life were among the top 50 in Forbes’ 2022 list titled Canada’s Best Employers.

“UM has a vibrant and forward-thinking working and learning environment,” Chris Rutkowski, who works in media relations for the university, wrote in a statement.

The post-secondary institute ranked highest of all Manitoban organizations; it was listed 39th of 300 across Canada. The university employs over 9,000 people depending on the time of year.

Forbes ranked organizations after surveying over 10,000 Canadians who work for businesses with at least 500 employees. It partnered with market research firm Statista.

Rutkowski pointed to staff professional development and advancement opportunities as reasons for the university’s positive title. Driving discovery, supporting Indigenous achievement and building an inclusive community are in the university’s blood, he said.

“UM continually questions its systems and processes in an effort to eradicate all systemic inequities and biases in order to create a safe, equitable and inclusive environment,” he wrote when asked how the university achieved this status following last year’s strike.

The University of Manitoba made the list in 2021 and, at the time, was named one of Canada’s best diversity employers by Forbes.

Winnipeg-based Princess Auto placed second of Manitoba companies on the 2022 list; it ranked 43rd overall.

Shared Health was right behind, taking the 44th spot.

“We are thrilled,” Olivia Baldwin, the organization’s provincial lead for strategic communications and stakeholder relations, wrote in a statement.

“The past two years have not been easy for anyone, but especially for those working in health-care,” Baldwin wrote. “Shared Health is a product of our people… who come together every day to support one another and to deliver integrated health service for all Manitobans.”

The entity was created in 2018 to support provincial planning and delivery of Manitoban health services. It grew from a few thousand staff to around 12,000 quickly, after taking on Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg operations, emergency response services and other areas of the health-care system, Baldwin said.

“Care is being taken to build a culture that places enormous value on the contributions of individuals and teams who support one another,” Baldwin wrote.

Canada Life placed 49th on Forbes’s list. Boeing, Wawanesa Insurance, Maple Leaf Construction, Manitoba Hydro, St. Boniface Hospital, Manitoba Public Insurance and Bison Transport were also among the 300 noted.

Hydro-Québec took highest rank nationally.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com