Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 26
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CANADA’S TOP EMPLOYERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (2026)
Young people spark ideas at the City of Calgary
S
aad Baig has been with
the City of Calgary
for two years and in
that time, he’s had
the chance to explore
three different roles within
the engineer-in-training (EIT)
program, building new skills and
discovering where he can make
the most impact.
We fundamentally
value these young
employees and
creating opportunities
for them to thrive.
— Heather Johnson
Director of Recreation and
Social Programs
“The main thing that attracted
me to the City of Calgary was the
development pathways for young
graduates like the EIT rotation
program, the chance to grow and
try different roles and make an
impact,” says Saad.
“Your career doesn’t have to take
a linear trajectory. There are a lot
of different opportunities here,
and this is great for me as a young
professional.”
The City of Calgary serves more
than 1.6 million residents through
a wide network of locations across
the city, delivering services such
as parks and recreation, waste and
recycling, transit and social programs that help meet the needs of
Calgarians every day.
Saad started with the City as
a summer student, contributing
to engineering projects that
support flood-prone communities and improve energy use at
water facilities. He now reviews
development plans to ensure new
The City of Calgary offers young people an array of professional development programs and mentorships to
help them grow.
neighbourhoods have the right
water infrastructure in place for
Calgarians. He hopes to build his
career as a professional engineer
there.
Saad says one of the best parts
of his job is that colleagues at the
City are invested in his growth.
“From the get-go, I was given an
opportunity to put my engineering
skills to the test and contribute to
projects centred around improving
the lives of Calgarians,” says Saad.
“From day one, they set you up for
success.”
Part of that recipe for achievement is the City’s extensive
training and education programs,
says Heather Johnson, director of
recreation and social programs.
“We have a number of professional development programs and
mentorship opportunities like
speed mentoring and short-term
mentoring and City staff are quite
willing to lend their expertise and
experience to our young employees,” says Johnson.
“There are over 300 career
streams available to employees
within the City, including for
young people. We’re really focused
on building their confidence and
their career skills. We fundamentally value these young employees
and creating opportunities for
them to thrive. That’s what sets us
apart.”
Young employees are also
supported by a holistic approach to wellness that includes
mental health resources, access
to employee fitness facilities, and
flexible work options for many.
Johnson says from the start,
young employees are given the
message that their work makes
a difference, something she says
resonates with them.
“They know that what we do has
an impact on Calgarians’ quality
of life. I think that’s important to
all of us and is a perk of the job,
particularly with younger people
who generationally are looking to
make meaningful contributions,”
she says.
