Alberta's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 14
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VCA
ALBERTA’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2026)
Calgary-based VCA Canada credits onboarding, mentorship and development programs as competitive advantages when recruiting employees like veterinarians.
Growing labour pool creates opportunities for Alberta’s Top Employers
Competition for talent remains fierce despite rapid population increase
A
lberta is calling, and people
are answering. Driven by
affordability, strong job
opportunities across diverse
sectors and a high overall
quality of life, the Alberta Advantage has
led to a rapid influx of people.
For three straight years, Alberta has
been the most popular destination for
Canadian residents moving within the
country. What’s more, a record number of
immigrants are moving to the province
— contributing to Alberta’s population
surpassing five million midway through
2025.
While this larger labour pool would
appear to bode well for employers,
industry officials say competition for
talent has never been fiercer.
“You think it would be easier to find
employees, but you’re also looking for the
right people. You are competing for those
people with everybody,” says Richard
Yerema, executive editor of the Canada’s
Top 100 Employers project, which honours
the best places to work in the country
based on several criteria.
Many employers are thinking outside of
the box when hiring, whether that’s
expanding their recruitment lens or
distinguishing themselves through benefit
packages.
“This is a very dynamic reality in
Alberta of making sure you keep the right
people,” says Yerema.
Ginger Kryzanowski, manager of talent,
people and organization at VCA Canada,
has noticed a sharp spike in the volume of
applicants for some roles over the past few
years.
VCA Canada, which was recognized
again this year as one of Alberta’s Top
Employers (2026), is a network of more
than 160 animal hospitals that provide
primary care and specialty services across
six provinces. The company boasts a
workforce of more than 4,000 people
across Canada, including around 650 in
Alberta.
“There certainly seems to be so much
competition for every role. The overall
talent pool has definitely grown,” says
Kryzanowski. “But that doesn’t always help
us when it comes to highly specialized
roles.”
To address shortages in Alberta, VCA
has stepped up its interprovincial
recruitment efforts by advertising the
Alberta Advantage within provinces such
as British Columbia and Ontario. The
