Manitoba's Top Employers

We're committed to helping talented and engaged professionals grow their careers with us. Discover your opportunity at: Greatwestlife.com Londonlife.com Canadalife.com Careers are growing here 10 Another upside for employees is the central location of the Head Office at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Osborne Street. "Being in downtown Winnipeg definitely has its advantages. We are steps away from the Assiniboine river walk, a couple of minutes from Osborne Village, and close to Broadway and its food trucks," Embury van Wyk says. "Our campus also has a significant amount of green space outside and quiet sitting areas inside for employees to enjoy, giving an opportunity for them to decompress." The downtown location makes it easy for employees to take public transit, as there are various bus routes that stop nearby. It's also a short walk to the Winnipeg Art Gallery and MTS Centre, which add to the excitement of the area. With a focus on work-life balance, the campus includes an on-site fitness facility with state-of the-art equipment that is available to employees 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a nominal fee. And in the 600-seat cafeteria, employees can enjoy a variety of nutritious hot meals created by an executive chef. Many employees also take advantage of the Tim Hortons located right on site. For those looking for after-hours connections with co-workers, the company offers many recreational sports teams from curling to hockey to Ultimate Frisbee. Arts-minded employees can assist in curating the company's impressive art collection. "We have become a community unto ourselves," Embury van Wyk says. "Our employees not only contribute through their work but they can also develop their connections with one another and become a community in a greater sense." With this ongoing commitment to its employees, it's no surprise that Great-West Life has again been named one of Manitoba's Top Employers. "It's great to be recognized," Embury van Wyk says. "We want to make sure that as an organization, we continue to be forward-thinking and an employer of choice in our region." ❚ GREAT-WEST LIFE CELEBRATES 125 YEARS OF HELPING CANADIANS By Jennifer McFee For the past 125 years, Great-West Life has maintained its focus on providing for the well-being of Canadians. G reat-West Life first opened its doors in 1891 right here in Winnipeg, marking a milestone that few companies ever attain. Now, together with subsidiaries London Life and Canada Life, Great-West Life serves the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada. The company has grown to become a leading insurer with 22,000 employees worldwide, including 3,400 employees in Manitoba, where the company is a major employer. "Winnipeg remains a great place to grow a business and serve our customers from coast to coast," says Stefan Kristjanson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada. "We have access to strong talent here and a wonderful sense of community. With the perspective of 125 years, Great-West is looking to the future with confidence. We're proud to call Winnipeg home." As part of its anniversary celebrations — which included a series of outdoor employee celebrations at major locations across Canada — Great-West Life offered employees an opportunity to apply for 125 grants of $1,000 each which were donated to the charitable organizations where employees volunteer. This is in addition to Great-West Life providing employees with opportunities to volunteer as a team, with initiatives such as Habitat for Humanity or Canadian Cancer Society's Dragon Boat Festivals. "We also have a very robust United Way campaign within our organization. Annually, we've been able to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to United Way, which supports community organizations here within the province," notes Michael Embury van Wyk, Manager, Talent Sourcing and Onboarding at Great-West Life. At Great-West Life, employees have the chance to grow their careers through training and development programs that also bolster workplace retention. "Each of our employees has access to $2,000 per year towards ongoing education outside of the organization. To supplement that, last year we had 16,000 hours of in-house sessions that were offered to employees. That's industry-related education courses that we offer internally as well as online learning," Embury van Wyk says. "We also believe that ongoing education is an opportunity for people to stretch or to look beyond their current position." For those who are just starting out, Great-West Life works with post-secondary schools in the province to provide internships for new graduates. And when it comes to careers with the company, the options are almost endless. "We have an opportunity for everyone. Usually when people think of insurance organizations, they think of finance, accounting and actuarial positions," Embury van Wyk says. "While we have a lot of those roles, we actually employ people everywhere from cafeteria staff and landscapers all the way to nursing, IT people, marketing and other professionals." At Great-West Life, employees have the chance to grow their careers through training and development programs that also bolster workplace retention. GREAT-WEST LIFE ENCOURAGES EMPLOYEES TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT BY BIKING, WALKING OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT TO WORK. GREAT-WEST LIFE PHOTO

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