Manitoba's Top Employers

An empowered, engaged and inclusive environment, where employees are encouraged, supported and recognized through a strong sense of team spirit, unity and fun. • Voluntary & Open Membership • Democratic Member Control • Member Economic Participation Seven Co-operative Principles • Autonomy & Independence • Education, Training & Information • Co-operation among Co-operatives • Concern for Community 06 as accounting, management advisory support, technical support along with human resources and construction services. Arctic Co-operatives also provides financial services to co-operatives across Canada's Arctic though a self-managed fund of pooled financial resources. The Arctic Co-operative Development Fund provides short and long-term financing to member co-ops and is the primary source of funding used to support the annual resupply of product that is moved into the communities by winter road, ship or barge. Arctic Co-ops employs about 100 people at its home office in the Inkster Industrial Park area in Winnipeg. It has another 100 employees at its Iqaluit subsidiaries, Art Marketing Services, Canadian Arctic Producers in Mississauga, Ont., and the Northern Images retail marketing arm in Yellowknife. Employees at its Winnipeg home office range in age from 18 all the way up to 70. One thing they all have in common is a passion for the work they do, says Vice-President of Human Resources Estelle Moore. That might explain why so many of them remain with the company for so long. One current employee has been with the organization for 39 years. "You feel good coming to work. You are providing service and support to a part of the world that is really under-serviced. You are providing something that is very worthwhile and very beneficial," Moore says. "We're not just another retailer out there where you're supporting this big business, like in (Southern Canada). If we were not there helping to provide service and support, and helping those operations in the North I question who would be." Wilson says Arctic Co-ops has made a conscious effort to create a workplace environment where employees feel empowered and engaged, comparing it to a small, family-owned business. That includes providing self-development opportunities and promoting diversity and accountability. Another big part of the workplace culture at Arctic Co-ops is relationship building. Employees have an opportunity to meet with their manager or supervisor at least twice a month to discuss what is working well and where things might be improved. "We really promote the idea with our senior leadership teams… of the importance of listening to staff and creating a mechanism for that dialogue. We want to demonstrate that ideas are meaningful and we will do something (with them)," Wilson says. One of Arctic Co-op's seven guiding principles is concern for community. As part of that commitment, employees helped develop Nunavut's first aluminum can recycling initiative. Groups are invited to participate to raise funds towards their community project and support the return of aluminum cans to Southern Canada on returning resupply vessels. Another way Arctic Co-ops has tried to promote employee engagement is by offering a competitive benefits package tailored to their individual needs, Moore says. In addition to covering 100 per cent of health and dental benefit premiums, the company matches the six per cent employees contribute to a pension plan on a dollar-for-dollar basis. It also offers a purchasing program that allows employees to purchase goods the company distributes at a reduced price, an interest-free employee computer purchasing program and a flex scheduling option that allows employees to begin their work day at a time that best suits their personal or family needs. ❚ ARCTIC CO-OPS GENERATING SOME HEAT By Jim Timlick Since it was formed 35 years ago, Arctic Co-operatives Limited has typically flown under the radar in southern Manitoba. ARCTIC CO-OPS WAS FORMED IN 1981, WHEN CANADIAN ARCTIC PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED AND THE CANADIAN ARCTIC CO-OPERATIVE FEDERATION LIMITED JOINED FORCES. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY A lthough it's well known in northern communities in Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon where it supplies goods and services to 32 member co-operatives, it's far less known in the south. That could soon change. Arctic Co-ops was recently chosen one of Manitoba's Top Employers for 2017. The annual competition is organized by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers and recognizes 25 leading Manitoba companies for their efforts to create exceptional workplaces. This year is the first time Arctic Co-ops entered the competition and company executives are hoping its selection will help to raise the company's profile in Winnipeg and other southern communities. "We see it as a great source of pride in our organization," CEO Rod Wilson says of Arctic Co- ops' selection. "We think this type of recognition is really value- added. We want to get out from under the radar a little bit and let more people know what we do." Arctic Co-ops was formed in 1981, when Canadian Arctic Producers Co-operative Limited and the Canadian Arctic Co-operative Federation Limited joined forces. In 2015, it reported sales of $172 million, with profits being returned to member owners. It serves as a purchasing agent for 32 community- owned co-operatives, which allows it to consolidate the buying power of those businesses. In addition, it provides members with a wide range of services such "You feel good coming to work. You are providing service and support to a part of the world that is really under-serviced."

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