Manitoba's Top Employers

22 IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT THE ORGANIZATION BEHIND THE WINNIPEG JETS AND MANITOBA MOOSE IS AS TEAM ORIENTED AS ITS HOCKEY PLAYERS. True North Sports & Entertainment Limited employees work together to make sure the company's values are evident in everything they do. The company recently realigned their values based on input from its employees. The four major values identified were team, trust and respect, do the right thing and continuous improvement. John Olfert, Executive Vice-President and COO, says that identifying and reaffirming True North's values has been an important part of the organization's success. During the summer of 2015, True North relocated its AHL team from St. John's to Winnipeg all while making some major enhancements to the MTS Centre. "Navigating through a year filled with building renovations, an NHL playoff-run, and planning and relocating an AHL team while supporting a steady event calendar that rivals any arena in North America could not be done without the values we have identified," he adds. While many associate True North with the Winnipeg Jets or the Manitoba Moose, it also owns the MTS Iceplex and operates The Burton Cummings Theatre and Camp Manitou. "We're really focused on the values of our organization. We want to live them in our every day, and we're taking the next steps to bring our values into all we do," says Dawn Haus, Vice-President of Human Resources. "Our values have become a key element in human resources, from new hires to performance management." True North has been one of Manitoba's Top employe rs for nine consecutive years. The organization believes healthy employees are happy employees, and is committed to helping its staff make healthy choices. Its focus on wellness includes monthly lunch-and-learn sessions and weekly exercise programs such as yoga, boot camps and strength-training classes. Employees can access on-site gyms, and a wellness subsidy is provided that they can put toward activities outside work, such as team or league fees or other fitness-related memberships. Health and dental benefits are fully paid by the company with no deductible. True North's 900 part-time and 200 full-time employees also enjoy unique perks, such as discounts at the Jets Gear store and opportunities to see concerts or Manitoba Moose games at a reduced price. True North employees are active participants in the charitable arm of the organization, the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation. They volunteer at the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy (WJHA) program run by the foundation. Each week several employees volunteer by assisting students in the WJHA, whether it's on-ice instruction or helping kids with their equipment. Employees who participate say they enjoy the opportunity because they are making a direct contribution to our community. "It's gratifying to see the kids develop and progress through the year," Haus says. "It's a great way for employees to see the positive impact the foundation has on our community, and they take pride in being involved." True North knows it has dedicated and hard-working employees, and it shows its appreciation in a number of different ways. The annual Staff Appreciation Casino Night is held on the event floor during the summer for all employees. Employees have an opportunity to socialize with co-workers and win prizes. The company also hosts an annual Holiday Skate for employees. During this event, the ice is decorated with trees, holiday movies are played on the score clock, and there are photo opportunities with Santa, including gifts for the kids. True North employees work hard to execute a busy event schedule, from hockey games to concerts. These events and concerts usually take place in the evenings or weekends. To keep employees fed with healthy options, each staff member working an event is provided with a nutritious meal. True North aspires to make their vision, mission and values a part of its every day. "From time to time, I have the privilege of speaking to groups or other organizations who want to know how and why things work at True North. In addition to describing our physical buildings and the great full- and part-time employees we have, I will now add our values, which describe how we operate," says Olfert. WE ARE TRUE NORTH. PROUD TO BE ONE OF MANITOBA'S TOP 25 EMPLOYERS Employees can access on-site gyms, and a wellness subsidy is provided that they can put toward activities outside work, such as team or league fees or other fitness-related memberships. True North staff on the ice at the MTS Centre. Submitted photo. TRUE NORTH SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED True North all about Team By Holli Moncrieff MANITOBA'S TOP EMPLOYERS

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