SATURDAYNOVEMBER 25, 2017 Record BUSINESS Section D

WATERLOO REGION — In an atmosphere ofday-to-day technical innovation and lofty cus-tomer expectations, the area’s most highlyrated employers say they understand the needto recruit and retain the very best personnelthey can find — and that means providing thebest possible working environments.

Among the businesses named to this year’sMediacorp Canada list of the top 20 employersin the Waterloo Region area, there’s an un-derstanding that if people are asked to perform

at a consistently high level and rise to the never-ending challenges of a global marketplace theymust feel appreciated. And that means morethan just a good paycheque.

“We’re looking for multifaceted people,people willing to work in an atmosphere ofchaos and uncertainty,” says Eldon Spricker-hoff, co-founder of eSentire, a cybersecurityfirm in Cambridge that, for reasons that areapparent if you pay attention to the news abouthacks, is experiencing phenomenal growth.

Top employers work hard toattract the best employees

PETER LEE, RECORD STAFF

Employees of eSentire, from left, Eldon Sprickerhoff, Matthew Smith, Kellen Bailey, Kathryn Hodge and Andy Fawcett enjoy the challenge ofworking in the field of cybersecurity.

‰ Employers continued on page D6

Dave Pink, Special to The Record

ECONOMYOperating profits top $100B in third quarter OTTAWA — Statistics Canadasays strong performance in thefinancial sector drove Canadi-an corporate operating profitsto just over $100 billion in thethird quarter, up 17.2 per centfrom the same period last year.The federal agency says profitswere up $7.9 billion, or 8.5 percent, compared with the secondquarter. Operating profits inthe financial sector rose 20 percent from the second quarter to$34.9 billion in the threemonths ended Sept. 30. Operat-ing profits for non-financialcorporations increased 3.3 percent from the second quarterthanks to positive returns in 11of 17 industries.

MARIJUANAAurora formally launcheshostile bid for CanniMedVANCOUVER — Aurora Can-nabis Inc. launched its all-stockhostile takeover bid for Can-niMed Therapeutics Friday, onthe condition that the medicalmarijuana producer cancel itsown planned acquisition ofmarijuana company NewstrikeResources Ltd. The Vancouver-headquartered licensed mari-juana company said that itstakeover bid circular for itsoffer, valued at $24 a share, willbe mailed to CanniMed’s share-holders. “We believe that wewill be able to accelerate Can-niMed’s growth more effective-ly than current management,and so we invite and encourageCanniMed’s shareholders totender their shares to the bid,”Aurora CEO Terry Booth said.

GAMBLINGPokerStars owner sells stakein NYX Gaming for $35 millionTORONTO — The Stars GroupInc. has agreed to sell all of itsstake in NYX Gaming GroupLtd. for $35.5 million cash to acompany that’s been workingon a friendly takeover of theLas Vegas-based company. Thebuyer is Scientific GamesCorp., which will pay $2.40 foreach ordinary share of NYXand each preferred share ofNYX Digital Gaming (Canada)ULC purchased from StarsGroup — owner of PokerStars.Scientific Games has alsoagreed to a price adjustmentfor the Toronto-based StarsGroup in certain circumstanc-es if it pays more than $2.40 pershare to acquire the rest ofNYX — which has an enter-prise value of about $775 mil-lion.

E-COMMERCEAmazon workers in Germany,Italy stage Black Friday strikeBERLIN — Workers at sixAmazon distribution centresin Germany and one in Italywalked off the job Friday, in aprotest timed to coincide with“Black Friday” to demandbetter wages from the U.S.online giant. In Germany, Ver-.di union spokesperson Thom-as Voss said some 2,500 workerswere on strike at six Amazonfacilities. In a warehouse nearPiacenza, in northern Italy,some workers walked off thejob to demand “dignified sala-ries.” The German union hasbeen leading a push since 2013for higher pay for some 12,000workers in Germany, arguingAmazon employees receivelower wages than others inretail and mail-order jobs.Amazon says its distributionwarehouses in Germany arelogistics centres and employ-ees earn relatively high wagesfor that industry.

TRANSPORTUber told SoftBank about databreach before the publicSAN FRANCISCO — UberCEO Dara Khosrowshahi re-portedly learned about a largedata breach at the ride-hailingservice two months ago andinformed potential investorSoftBank before making theincident public. In the breach,which took place in October2016, hackers stole names,email addresses and phonenumbers of 50 million Uberriders and seven million driv-ers. Uber said it told SoftBank,the telecom and internet firmthat is seeking to invest about$10 billion in Uber, about thebreach as part of disclosuresabout issues that could have animpact on the company.

IN BRIEF

News services

A look at the top 20 employers of 2018 in Waterloo Region area y Business, D4-D5

TORONTO — The Sobeys gro-cery business will cut about 800office jobs across Canada aspart of efforts to create oneefficient national organizationout of five regional operations,the company announced Friday.

“The future success of So-beys, and our continued serviceto over 900 communities acrossthe country, depends on oursteadfast commitment to trans-form our business,” said Mi-chael Medline, who is chiefexecutive of Sobeys and itsparent company, Empire Co.Ltd.

Local reports of the newsbegan to emerge late Thursdayahead of an internal announce-ment to Sobeys staff. The com-pany confirmed the reportsFriday morning.

Sobeys operates about 1,500stores across the country underthe Sobeys, FreshCo, IGA, Safe-way Foodland and Thrifty Foodsbanners.

Sobeys is Canada’s second-largest grocery company, afterLoblaw Cos. Ltd., and facesmany of the same challenges inthe industry: competition fromnew rivals, higher costs fromrising minimum wages in someareas and technological change.

However, the company hasalso been struggling for severalyears with problems arisingfrom its acquisition of SafewayCanada — which gave Sobeys amuch bigger presence in West-ern Canada.

“The first phase of our planto transform our business,which has been focused onresetting the foundation of

‰ Sobeys continued on D2

Sobeys toslash 800office jobs David Paddon

WATERLOO — He’s one ofCanada’s wealthiest people,with a flair for philanthropythat reflects his philosophy of“doing well and doing good.”

Michael Lee-Chin grew hisfirst acquisition — a Kitchener-based investment firm, Advan-tage Investment Council, laterAIC Ltd. — from a businesswith about $800,000 in assetsunder management to morethan $15 billion at its peak; thebusiness was later sold toManulife.

The privately held invest-ment company he founded andchairs, Portland Holdings,owns businesses in sectorsranging from media and tour-ism to financial services andconsumer goods; the Jamaican-born Lee-Chin is chair of theNational Commercial BankJamaica Ltd., that country’slargest bank, and in 2016, he wasappointed chair of Jamaica’snew Economic Growth Council.

His family name graces anexpansion at Toronto’s RoyalOntario Museum, an institutefor corporate citizenship at theUniversity of Toronto’s RotmanSchool of Management, and thenewly opened patient tower atBurlington’s Joseph BrantHospital.

On Friday, Lee-Chin re-turned to Wilfrid Laurier Uni-versity — where he served aschancellor from 2011to 2016 — toshare some of the secrets of hissuccess with more than 800

students at the school’s Lazari-dis School of Business & Eco-nomics.

One of the keys, he said, is toestablish a framework for in-vesting and stick with it. Adogmatic adherence to thatframework can counter the lackof emotional control that sooften befalls investors.

“It’s not easy to be consistentover the long run,” Lee-Chinsaid. “It’s not easy to persevereover the long run.” But it’s im-perative for success.

People should invest in a fewhigh-quality businesses inlong-term growth industries,and really understand them.Use other people’s money toinvest where possible, but do itprudently, and hold those busi-nesses for the long term.

“I just gave you a frameworkof how wealth is created at theindividual level,” said Lee-Chin, an engaging speaker whocites his mother and famedinvestor Warren Buffett as rolemodels.

The businesses Lee-Chin

seeks to invest in are thosewhere the owner and operatorare one and the same and own-ership is heavily concentrated,with personal identificationbetween the owners and thebusiness. There should be anentrepreneurial, autocraticapproach, and low managementturnover.

He also looks for a system ofsymmetrical risk and rewardfor management, a long-termoutlook and a board that’s fo-cused on growth. The business’value is based on fundamentalslike customers, sales, marketshare and margins. “I figured itout once and I just locked it in,”Lee-Chin said.

“You can live your life basedon your principles and be frus-trated in the short run,” headmitted. “Once you know thatwhat you are doing is the rightthing, it will keep you going …This is my life. This is who I am.This is what I do.”

Michael Lee-Chin sharessecrets to success

BRENT DAVIS,RECORD STAFF

AIC founder and billionaire, and former Wilfrid Laurier Universitychancellor, Michael Lee-Chin speaks Friday at Laurier’s LazaridisSchool of Business and Economics.

bdavis@therecord.com, Twitter: @DavisRecord

Find goodbusinesses, nottoo many, andstick with themBrent Davis, Record staff

Our peoplemake usgreat.

We’ve been one of the area’s top employers nine years running.How do we do it? We’ve got amazing employees who are doingcool and innovative things. Their talent and passion are drivingchange in our business and industry, making it an exciting time towork at Gore Mutual.

Whether your future is insurance, technology or something alittle different, you should check out the unique and challengingopportunities we have to offer.

LEARN MORE AT GOREMUTUAL.CA

MAKE YOUR MARK

By Jane Pinzhoffer

In the ten years that the editorsof Canada’s Top 100 Employershave held the Waterloo Area’sTop Employers competition,Gore Mutual Insurance Com-pany in Cambridge has beenon the coveted list of top fifteencompanies located in Guelph,Cambridge, and Kitchener-Waterloo for the last nine yearsin a row.In business since 1839, GoreMutual is Canada’s oldestproperty and casualty insur-ance company. Despite havinga long history, the companyis not bound by it. Instead,it continues to push forwardby making bold moves andutilizing technology to cre-ate modern solutions to meetthe changing needs of today’sinsurance customers. To matchits innovative, entrepreneurialway of thinking, the companyplayfully refers to itself as an“1839 start-up.”“We have firmly establishedourselves as a future-forwardcompany,” said CatherineLeclair, Vice President, HumanResources at Gore Mutual In-surance. “We leverage technol-ogy to make a difference to ourcustomers, our employees andthe Canadian insurance indus-try as a whole. Our start-upmindset creates unique oppor-tunities for our employees toapply their talent and passionto make a real difference andnot be bound to traditionalinsurance roles.”

Gore Mutual employs morethan 300 employees with awide range of skillsets that havehelped the company to receivesome other very esteemedawards in addition to its Wa-terloo Area’s Top Employersdesignation.Earlier this week, Gore Mutualwas recognized for having oneof Canada’s Most AdmiredCorporate Cultures. The orga-nization has also been includedon the 2017 list of Best Work-places in Financial Servicesand Insurance by Great Placesto Work and winning an RGDIn-house Design Award forgraphic design – a prize mostpeople wouldn’t expect aninsurance company to receive.Last year, Gore Mutual wonthe 2016 Celent Model Insurerfor Digital and Omni ChannelTechnologies Award as well.“Our size and open, collabora-tive work environment reallyallow our employees to see theimpact of their contributions,”says Leclair. “Our employeesare ambitious and like chal-lenges. They all play a huge rolein our continued growth.”Supporting people is what GoreMutual is in business to do. Thecompany does this not onlythrough its insurance products,but also its actions.Gore Mutual Foundation wasestablished in 1998 and hasdonated more than $10 millionto over 650 charities. Gore Mu-tual employees are also givenopportunities to volunteer on aregular basis.

“For our employees, it is notabout just having a career, it isabout making a difference inour community,” says Leclair.“Everyone has the opportunityto give back to the communityvia Hearts in Action, a grass-roots initiative we started in2015 that pays employees tovolunteer their time and exper-tise to help local charities. Wealso believe in building strongcommunities in areas in whichGore Mutual does business viathe Gore Mutual Foundation.”Through its foundation, GoreMutual has been celebratingCanada 150 by donating moneyto better local communitiesin 150 ways. More than $1.3million has been given to datein partnership with insurancebrokers – including $500,000to the Cambridge MemorialHospital Foundation--and thecampaign will continue to rununtil late December.“From the very beginning,Gore Mutual has been builton the idea of people helpingpeople,” says Leclair. “It is inour DNA.”Reasons Gore Mutual Insur-ance Company’s was selectedas one of Waterloo Area’s TopEmployers (2017) include:• A flexible health benefitsplan that allows employees toselect coverage that best suitstheir needs with the ability totransfer unused credits to ad-ditional salary or savings

• Flexible hours, telecommut-ing, and shortened and com-

pressed work week options• Retirement planning assis-tance and phased-in workoptions

• Year-end bonuses and newemployee referral of up to$2,500

• Maternity increased to 100percent for the first six weeksof leave

• Employee sports teams andfree access to an onsite fitnessfacility

Waterloo Area’s Top Employers:

Gore Mutual Insurance Company

– ADVERTORIAL –

Two Gore Mutual employees volunteering at Meals on Wheelsin Breslau, Ontario.

Gore’s executive team volunteering at the YMCA Teen Drop-inZone in Cambridge, Ontario.

Saturday, November 25, 2017 y WATERLOO REGION RECORD y Business, D3

Want to make theworld a better place?

SKIP THE SPANDEX.COME WORK WITH US.

We celebrate this recognition with our

73 employees, who each year provide the

pathways, information and support for college

explorers working towards a brighter future.

For the third consecutive year,OCAS is proud to be recognized as aTop Employer in the Waterloo area.

R00

2456

4573

CrawfordNamedaTopEmployer in theWaterlooRegionFor the 10th year in a row, Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. has been

selected as a top employer in the Waterloo region. We are dedicated to

cultivating a corporate culture that promotes employee innovation through

collaboration, with a focus on quality and customer service, positioning us as

a leading independent provider of claims management solutions.

Our “One Crawford” cultural approach is further supported by our

employees, who play a vital role in our company’s success. We are proud of

our employees and their commitment to quality, customer service teamwork

and dedication to supporting the communities in which they live and work

through the Crawford Cares program.

As a top employer, we are dedicated to attracting and fostering the

development of the best and the brightest within the insurance industry. If you

have a passion for customer service, a commitment to exceptional quality

and the ability to work in a dynamic team environment, consider joining the

Crawford and Company (Canada) Inc. team and grow your career with us.

ONECRAWFORD

LIVETOGETHER

MAKE ADIFFERENCETOGETHER

CELEBRATETOGETHER

GROWTOGETHER

PERFORM& OWN ITTOGETHER

www.crawfordandcompany.com

R00

2456

5101

Saturday, November 25, 2017 y WATERLOO REGION RECORD y Business, D4

Allianz Global AssistanceTravel insurance and assistanceservices4237 King St. E., Kitchener810 employees in Canada‰ Helps employees save for thefuture and offers financial benefits,including signing bonuses for someemployees, year-end bonuses for alland referral bonuses of up to $750 foremployees who recruit candidatesfrom their personal network.‰ Offers tuition subsidies for job-related courses (to $1,000 a year),subsidies for professional accredita-tion, and in-house and online trainingprograms.‰ Supports local and national chari-table organizations, focusing oninitiatives that support children, andprovides employees with a paid dayoff to volunteer in the community.

The Centre for InternationalGovernance InnovationThink tank on international gover-nance67 Erb St. W., Waterloo82 employees‰ Offers on-site meditation andyoga classes, and encourages em-ployees to lead active, balanced liveswith a health-club subsidy of $300annually; it also hosted a health andwellness fair, featuring more than 20vendors, blood pressure and glucosetesting, and free massages.‰ Supports employees who are newmothers and fathers, including adop-tive parents, with maternity and pa-rental leave top-up payments, to 75per cent of salary for up to 10 weeks.‰ Offers starting vacation allowanceof three weeks, paid time off duringthe winter holidays and up to threepaid personal days off, which can bescheduled at the employee’s dis-cretion.

Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.Insurance adjusting and risk man-agement services539 Riverbend Dr., Kitchener920 employees‰ Offers financial incentives, in-cluding a share purchase plan, avail-able to all employees, signing bonus-es for some, profit-sharing and year-end bonuses for all and referral bo-nuses to encourage employees torefer candidates from their network(up to $1,000 per referral).

‰ Offers academic scholarships tochildren of employees (to $2,500 perchild) as well as tuition subsidies foremployees for job-related courses.‰ Supports local and national chari-table organizations and encouragesemployees to give back to local com-munities by providing paid time off tovolunteer and matching employeedonations.

D2L Corp.E-learning software151Charles St. W., Kitchener, Suite400606 employees‰ Head office employees enjoy aunique workspace, featuring anoutdoor patio with hammocks andaccessible WiFi, daily lunch deliveriesand snacks, and an employee loungewith foosball, a Star Wars pinballmachine, guitars and ukuleles, and anassortment of vintage computergames.‰ Recognizes exceptional perfor-mance through a number of incen-tives, including the Bravo recognitionprogram, the Inventor’s IncentiveBonus program for filed and suc-cessful patents (also includes anannual banquet for all inventors withthe president and CEO and exec-utives) and the President’s Club tripfor sales employees who meet orexceed their annual quota.‰ Provides maternity leave top-up

payments for new mothers (to 85 percent of salary for eight weeks) andoffers the option to extend their leaveinto an unpaid leave of absence.

Economical InsuranceProperty and casualty insurance111Westmount Rd., S., Waterloo2,419 employees‰ Supports national charities, fo-cusing on safety and security, youthand education, health and wellness,and arts and culture initiatives; it alsoencourages employees to give backto the community, matching employ-ee donations as well as providingfinancial donations to charities whereemployees volunteer their time ($500for 40 volunteer hours).‰ Provides financial incentives,including signing bonuses for someemployees, profit-sharing for all em-ployees and referral bonuses foremployees who recruit candidates

from their personal network (up to$2,500).‰ Offers flexible health benefits,allowing employees to allocate flexdollars however they choose, as wellas transfer unused credits to savings,additional vacation days, or healthand personal wellness accounts.

Equitable Life InsuranceCo.Insurance and financial services1Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo582 employees‰ Recognizes exceptional perfor-mance through initiatives includingthe President’s Award for top employ-ees (who are invited to join seniorleaders for a performance at theStratford Festival) and the EquitableLife Award for both managerial andnon-managerial staff (up to $5,000 ingift cards).‰ Offers a defined contributionpension plan and health benefits thatextend to retirees (with no age limit).‰ Provides employees with a healthspending account of up to $1,500,allowing employees to top up existinglevels of coverage depending on theirneeds.

eSentire Inc.Provider of cybersecurity services278 Pinebush Rd., Cambridge, Suite101245 employees

‰ Helps employees save for thefuture, and offers signing and year-end bonuses for some employeesand referral bonuses for employeeswho recruit candidates from theirpersonal networks (to $5,000).‰ Offers tuition subsidies for job-related courses and reaches out tothe next generation of talent throughco-op opportunities and paid in-ternships.‰ Offers a busy social calendar witha number of company subsidizedevents, including a summer picnic,tour of a craft brewery, snow tubingevent, holiday celebrations andthemed Star Wars Day.

Farm Mutual ReProvides farm, personal and com-mercial insurance products to insur-ance members350 Pinebush Rd., Cambridge72 employees‰ Offers on-site amenities, includinga quiet room for meditation and reli-gious observance, employee loungewith television and board games, andfree membership to a shared usefitness facility, featuring state-of-the-art equipment as well as instructor-led classes (from kick-boxing toyoga).‰ Offers academic scholarships tochildren of employees (to $1,000 perchild) and tuition subsidies for currentemployees.‰ Helps employees save for thefuture, and provides retirement plan-ning assistance and phased-in workoptions to help those nearing retire-ment transition.

Gore Mutual Insurance Co.Property and casualty insurance252 Dundas St. N., Cambridge350 employees‰ Offers tuition subsidies for cours-es taken at outside institutions, sub-sidies for professional accreditationand financial bonuses for somecourse completion.‰ Helps employees save for thefuture, and supports employee effortsto plan for the longer term with retire-ment planning assistance andphased-in work options.‰ Offers maternity leave top-uppayments to employees who are new mothers (to 100 per cent of salary for up to six weeks) and supports employees who want to

Top 20 employers in Waterloo Region area

‰ Region continued on page D5

RECORD STAFF FILE PHOTO

The Gore Mutual Insurance Co. has appeared on Mediacorp’s list of the top employers in the WaterlooRegion area for nine years in a row.

We’re soaringwith joy!It’s an honour to bea Top Employer inWaterloo Region.

Our talented and caringpeople delight in helpingCanadian travellers, anytimeand anywhere. We answer thecall to assist, inspired by ourmission every day.

Soar with uswww.allianz-assistance.ca/en/careers

R00

2456

5190

Saturday, November 25, 2017 y WATERLOO REGION RECORD y Business, D5

start a family with a subsidy for IVF (if needed).

Intelligent MechatronicSystems Inc.Automotive telematics435 King St. N., Waterloo118 employees‰ Offers a variety of work perks,from 20-minute chair massages tofree yoga classes to free breakfastsserved weekly; employees can rest inan on-site nap room and quiet room,or unwind in the employee lounge,featuring video games, ping pong andfoosball.‰ Helps employees save for retire-ment, and offers retirement planningassistance and phased-in work op-tions to help those nearing retirementtransition.‰ Offers referral bonuses as anincentive for employees to recruitcandidates from their personal net-works, to $2,000 per successful hire.

Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada, Inc.Manufacturer of dental anesthetics25 Wolseley Court, Cambridge337 employees‰ Provides opportunities for stu-dents and new grads to gain mean-ingful career experience throughsummer employment, paid intern-ships and co-op placements, andoffers academic scholarships tochildren of employees interested inpost-secondary studies.‰ Along with maternity leave top-uppayments, supports employees whowant to start a family with a subsidyfor IVF (to $5,000).‰ Offers flexible work hours and upto eight paid personal days off eachyear, which can be scheduled at theemployee’s discretion.

OCAS Application Services Inc.Provides administrative systems andapplication processing services toOntario’s colleges60 Corporate Court, Guelph65 employees‰ Along with more than four weeksof starting vacation allowance, offerspaid time off during the winter holi-days and summer months.‰ Offers generous maternity andparental leave top-up payments toemployees who are new mothers and

fathers, including adoptive parents (to93 per cent of salary for a full year).‰ Offers tuition subsidies for job-related courses (to $2,500 per year),subsidies for professional accredita-tion and a number of in-house andonline training options.

Ontario Teachers Insurance PlanInsurance services for Ontario educa-tion employees125 Northfield Dr. W., Waterloo475 employees‰ Encourages employees to adopthealthy habits, offering on-site fitnessconsultations, wellness programsand challenges, on-site yoga, cardioand bootcamp classes, a wellnessspending account and healthysnacks provided monthly by theorganization’s wellness consultant.‰ Offers tuition subsidies to employ-ees for courses taken at outsideinstitutions and academic schol-arships for children of employees (to$1,500 per child).‰ Provides maternity leave top-uppayments for new mothers as well asparental top-up for adoptive parents(to 90 per cent of salary for 17 weeks)and offers the option to extend leaveinto an unpaid leave of absence.

OpenText Corp.Enterprise information managementsoftware275 Frank Tompka Dr., Waterloo1,626 employees‰ Employees have the opportunityto become owners of the publiclytraded company through a sharepurchase plan.

‰ Supports employees who are newmothers with maternity leave top-uppayments (provided on a sliding scaledepending on length of service) andoffers the option to extend leave intoan unpaid leave of absence.‰ Offers a busy social calendar withcompany organized events, includingsummer barbecues, an Oktoberfestcelebration, Halloween dress-upcontest, evening Christmas party foremployees and their partners as wellas a separate party for children ofemployees, and full-day winter skitrip.

Reid’s Heritage Group of CompaniesHouse construction6783 Wellington Rd. 34, Cambridge212 employees‰ Supports employees who are newmothers with maternity leave top-uppayments, to 80 per cent of salary forup to 17 weeks.‰ Offers flexible work hours, andhelps employees balance work andtheir personal commitments with upto 10 paid personal days, which canbe scheduled at employees’ dis-cretion.‰ Offers referral bonuses as anincentive for employees to help recruitcandidates from their personal net-works, to $1,500 per successful hire.

Sleeman Breweries Ltd.551Clair R. W., Guelph991employeesCanada’s third largest national brew-ery‰ Invests in ongoing employeedevelopment with tuition subsidies (to

$3,000 per year) and offers opportu-nities for the next generation to gainmeaningful experience through sum-mer employment and co-op place-ments.‰ Helps employees save for thefuture, and provides retirement plan-ning assistance and phased-in workoptions to help those nearing retire-ment.‰ Lets everyone share in the com-pany’s success with year-end bonus-es and profit-sharing (varying byemployee group).

TextNow Inc.Develops social media apps for An-droid and iOS mobile devices375 Hagey Blvd., Waterloo, Suite 31073 employees‰ Offers a share purchase plan,available to all employees, and gener-ous referral bonuses of up to $2,500for employees who recruit candidatesfrom their personal networks.‰ Offers opportunities for studentsand new grads to gain career-levelexperience through co-op place-ments, paid internships and summeremployment.‰ Provides introductory maternityand parental leave top-up for employ-ees who are new mothers or fathers,including adoptive parents.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc.Auto manufacturing1055 Fountain St. N., Cambridge8,620 employees‰ Offers 3.8 weeks of paid vacationafter the first year on the job, increas-ing to four weeks after two years of

employment and up to 6.4 weeks forlong-serving employees.‰ Helps employees prepare for lifeafter work with retirement planningassistance and contributions to adefined contribution pension plan;employees can take advantage ofdiscounts for the lease or purchase ofnew vehicles (to $1,000), a perk thatextends to family members (to $800).‰ Offers on-site amenities such asfree membership to a fitness facility(with full gym), employee lounge withgames room, quiet room for medita-tion and religious observance, out-door walking trails, baseball diamond,basketball court, tennis courts, soc-cer field, children’s playground andcommunity garden.

University of WaterlooUniversity with more than 30,000undergraduate and graduate stu-dents200 University Ave. W., Waterloo5,254 employees‰ Encourages ongoing employeedevelopment through its Organiza-tional and Human DevelopmentOffice, which offers a wide range oftraining programs on topics includingbusiness communications, leader-ship development, information sys-tems and technology, and a seven-part inclusivity program.‰ Encourages employees to pre-pare for the future with contributionsto a defined benefit pension plan,retirement planning assistance andhealth benefits that extend to retirees(with no age limit); a retiree associa-tion helps retirees stay connected andrepresents retiree concerns related topension and benefit matters, HRissues and university policy changes.‰ Offers three weeks of vacationallowance to new employees, in-creasing to four weeks after four yearsof employment.

Waterloo North Hydro Inc.Electrical power distributor526 Country Squire Rd., Waterloo121employees‰ Contributes to a defined benefitpension plan and helps employeesplan for the future with retirementplanning assistance.‰ Encourages employees to leadactive, healthy lives and offers sub-sidies for gym membership, up to$300 per year.‰ Offers opportunities for the nextgeneration to gain career-level experi-ence through co-op placements,summer employment and in-houseapprenticeships; about 20 per cent ofthe organization’s employees areformer co-op students.

n

REGION‰ continued from D4

RECORD STAFF FILE PHOTO

Waterloo North Hydro offers its employees subsidies for gym membership, up to $300 per year.

Reid’s Heritage Group of Companiesis honoured to be recognized as oneof Waterloo Area’s Top Employers for

2018, and for the third year in a row, one ofCanada’s Top Small and Medium Employers.

We genuinely thank our extraordinary team membersfor making this award a reality.

Built on a solid reputation of quality, integrity, and service,Reid’s Heritage Group of Companies is one of

Ontario’s leading home builders.

2018

This starts with our team members.We are a growing,family-owned company, with some of the brightest

minds in the region, offering a creative andrewarding work environment.

Our Vision is to Build and Enhance Quality of Life

Build and Enhance Your Career atReid’s Heritage Group of Companies

To learn more about our team,and your next career opportunity,

connect with us online.

R00

2456

5375

AMBITIOUS, FUN, REWARDINGIt’s all in a day’s work.

Passionate people make things happen. Likegoing the extra mile for customers. Or coming upwith better ways to do things. At Economical, oursuccess is thanks to a can-do culture where hardwork and genuine enjoyment meet every day.

Thank you to the editors of Canada’s Top 100Employers for recognizing our exceptionalworkplace and to our amazing staff for making it so.

Economical Insurance includes the following companies: Economical Mutual Insurance Company, The Missisquoi Insurance Company, Perth Insurance Company,

Waterloo Insurance Company, Family Insurance Solutions Inc., Sonnet Insurance Company, Petline Insurance Company. ©2017 Economical Insurance. All rights

reserved. All Economical intellectual property, including but not limited to Economical® and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Economical

Mutual Insurance Company and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates and are registered and/or used in Canada. All other intellectual property is the property of their

respective owners.

R00

2456

5041

Saturday, November 25, 2017 y WATERLOO REGION RECORD y Business, D6

“The people we need to workhere are those who can get firedup and want to solve differentproblems,” he says.

At Kitchener-based AllianzGlobal Assistance, employees notonly sell travel insurance, theydeal with the problems their cli-ents encounter — 24 hours a day,seven days a week in any part ofthe world. The company employsthe kind of people who can bringcalm reassurance to people in atroubling and confused situation.

“We have to be on the pulse ofthe problem. We have to ensurethat the best care is done,” saysPhil Hibbert, the firm’s presidentand CEO. “Our asset is our people.

“We deal with real-life expecta-tions. We’re faced with gettingthem back to Canada, and gettingthem back safely.

“There’s a lot of job fulfilmentin that.”

At Intelligent MechatronicSystems (IMS) in Waterloo, theemphasis is on innovation, andthe creation of a comfortableworking atmosphere that allowsfor collaboration and the ex-change of ideas.

“We’re talking about creativeideas. These ideas foster in differ-ent ways,” says Dale Scott, a tech-nical lead who has been with thecompany for 13 years.

IMS develops telematic sys-tems that can read data from auto-mobiles and analyze the driver’shabits — technology that willchange the way insurance compa-nies set their rates.

“We have an innovation de-partment, but that’s not the onlyplace where innovation happens,”Scott says.

The atmosphere at IMS “allowsdifferent people to share ideas andbring them out,” he says. “We getto know people, and this allows usto be more productive. It’s a veryopen culture, and a very support-ive management. It’s this diversi-ty of culture that allows for differ-ent viewpoints, and this is whereideas come from.

“What comes from this is a lotof respect for other people and fortheir ideas.”

Other companies on the Me-diacorp list of top employers in

the Waterloo Region area are:‰ The Centre for InternationalGovernance Innovation‰ Crawford & Company (Canada)Inc.‰ D2L Corp. (formerly Desire ToLearn)‰ Economical Insurance‰ Equitable Life Insurance Co.‰ Farm Mutual Re‰ Gore Mutual Insurance‰ Novocol Pharmaceutical ofCanada‰ OCAS Application Services‰ Ontario Teachers InsurancePlan‰ OpenText Corp.‰ Reid’s Heritage Group of Com-panies‰ Sleeman Breweries‰ TextNow Inc.‰ Toyota Motor ManufacturingCanada‰ University of Waterloo‰ Waterloo North Hydro

OpenText, Toyota and the University of Waterloo also are on Mediacorp’s list of Canada’s

top 100 employers.Typically, companies on the

local list offer flexible workinghours along with generous ma-ternity arrangements, retirementbenefits and retirement counsel-ling, and almost all of them en-courage regular staff gatheringssuch as barbecues and groupoutings to special events. Mostencourage staff involvement inthe community and support forcharitable causes. Some offercafeteria meals prepared by vis-iting chefs, and gourmet coffee.

Common to almost all of thecompanies on the list is the beliefamong employees that they arelistened to and that their ideasand abilities are respected.

“You’re valued here,” saysAndy Fawcett, a security opera-tions centre analyst at eSentire.“They recognize what you can do,and that’s all you can ask.”

Matt Smith, a solutions engi-neer with five years of service at eSentire, adds that “I’ve had the opportunity to take on new roles, and my ideas have

been listened to.“If there’s a problem, we fix it.”“There is a sense of empower-

ment here, a sense that this issomething you can take responsi-bility for,” says Kellen Bailey, whostarted working at eSentire twoyears ago, right out of UW. “Every-one here wants to try to improvethings, that they can take the bullby the horns and go.”

The company employs 250people and is adding staff as qual-ified people becomes available.

The need for computer securi-ty has never been more evident,says Sprickerhoff. “Everybody isonline. Everybody knows some-one who has been hit by ransom-ware or had their bank accountshit.

“The job has changed since ourbeginning,” he says. “The attacksare different, and their tacticschange every six to eight months.It’s never been so in-your-face as ithas been this last year.

“I think of our people here asone part air traffic controller andone part bouncer.”

As Kathryn Hodge, eSentire’ssenior director of human resourc-es, points out, “this business isnot for the light of heart.

“The people here are OK withunpredictability. The culture hereis really, truly a team-orientedculture.

“It’s an energetic, can-do cul-ture and the people are ready to doleaps and bounds.”

Because eSentire employeesare expected to deal with the un-expected, the company provides aconcierge service, to provide staffwith everything from lunch attheir desks or buying specialoccasion gifts for their loved onesat home.

At IMS, the emphasis is on thecreation of a comfortable andfriendly working environment,says Sharon Wehrle, the compa-ny’s director of human resources.There’s an on-site games roomand “rejuvenation room,” andspace where employees can freelymix and mingle.

n

EMPLOYERS‰ continued from D1

‰ Employers continued on page D7

MATHEW MCCARTHY, RECORD STAFF

Phil Hibbert, right, chief executive of Allianz Global Assurance, and employee Frank Flores say there is a lot of job fulfilment in working for theprovider of travel insurance.

We’re in the business of looking after people and we start with our own. We foster aculture of collaboration, where employees believe in and contribute to our vision andare proud of the work they do every day. Our employees are what make us great!

We’re growing and looking for talented and enthusiastic people to join our team.Think you know what to expect from a career in insurance? Let us surprise you!

Learn more about the OTIP Group of Companies and your next careeropportunity at www.otip.com/careers.

JOIN A GROWING TEAM!Our employees matterand we’re prepared toprove it.

The OTIP Group of Companies iscommitted to providing a rewardingand engaging workplace forour team.

A family-owned Pharmaceutical manufacturer in theTri-Cities, Septodont is dedicated to providing a

dynamic and collaborative culture, with a focus on highgrowth and development.

Join us! www.septodont.ca

CAREERS THATMAKEPEOPLE SMILE.

SEPTODONTIS HONOURED TO BE

RECOGNIZED AGAIN AS ONE OF THE

WHO MAKE UP OUR GREAT TEAM!

We celebrateTHIS RECOGNITIONWITH OUR

EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, AND SUPPLIERS

R00

2456

4080

A career at FarmMutual Re is rewarding andfulfilling. We encourage each other and arecommitted to being our best through work-life balance, healthy choices and life-longlearning. Wemake green choices to protectour environment. We believe in doing whatis right.

We are honoured to be recognized as oneof Waterloo Area’s Top Employers for 2018.

For more information about careers at Farm Mutual Re visit:

www.FarmMutualRe.com/Careers

Collaborate. Empower. Succeed.Farm Mutual Re.

R00

2456

4943

Saturday, November 25, 2017 y WATERLOO REGION RECORD y Business, D7

The company employs 140people — half of them women —most of them with a thoroughunderstanding of cutting-edgetechnology.

“There is a whole culturechange with this generation.People are just looking for thatrelaxed atmosphere, so that theycan be as comfortable here as theyare in their own homes,” saysWehrle.

“We work to be an employer ofchoice, to attract and retain em-ployees.”

Managers have regular lunch-time gatherings with employees,and employees are offered a re-ferral bonus of $2,000 to $4,000 ifthey can entice skilled developersand testers to join the company.

“We need top talent in theseareas in order to be creative andinnovative,” says Wehrle. “We’realways looking for top talent.”

At Allianz, Hibbert also un-derstands the necessity of meet-ing the expectations of a youngergeneration.

“We have a high number ofmillennials working here. Thechallenge is that these peopleneed to be constantly stimulated,”he says.

Hibbert originally is from NewZealand. He worked several yearsfor Allianz in Australia, then didone year in Singapore beforetaking charge of the Canadianoperation in Kitchener just over16 months ago.

Worldwide, Allianz employsabout 1,000 people. “That’s a sig-nificant amount of people, butwhat’s wonderful is the diversityof our people.

“This is truly an internationalcompany.”

Hibbert says the company isgrowing rapidly, with business upby about 20 per cent just over thepast year. He’s forecasting evengreater growth as Allianz contin-ues to attract and represent someof the largest insurance compa-nies in the world

“We touch on a lot of big

brands, and we’re attracting moreof them because of our growth.”

However, what matters toFrank Flores, who works in thecompany’s TD insurance sales

department, is the caring attitudeAllianz shows its employees.

“Coming here was the bestdecision I ever made,” he says.“From the day I was interviewed I

knew this was the right culture.“One of the strengths of this

organization is that it’s not strict-ly regimented, and that is so muchbetter than any experience I everhad before,” he says. “For anyonewho had never had my previousexperiences, it would be hard forthem to imagine how good thisreally is.

“I know that I’m in a goodspot.”

Flores was born in Guatemalaand is fluent in Spanish, and con-sidering the worldwide nature ofthe business, “that’s come inhandy.”

He says that his wife had adifficult time during her lastpregnancy, and the companystood by the couple throughoutsome stressful times. “It was not agood time, but I felt secure here.

“I couldn’t believe the level ofsupport I got. Everybody chippedin and helped us out. That kind-ness is something I will rememberforever.

“When you know that your jobis secure and you can take thetime you need, what more can anyemployees ask of a company?”

n

EMPLOYERS‰ continued from D6

IAN STEWART, SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

Sharon Wehrle and Dale Scott work for Intelligent MechatronicSystems, a Waterloo company that develops technology that can readdata from automobiles and analyze the driver’s habits.