Alberta's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 4
4
DE HAVILLAND
ALBERTA’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2026)
Calgary-based De Havilland Canada offers a 12-week training academy for new hires and is developing a “2.0” version intended for employees looking to advance
their careers within the company.
Alberta’s Top Employers know their people are key to success
Training, in-house development vital, say organizations on 2026 winners
S
arah Cameron with Covenant
Health says the secret to being
one of Alberta’s Top Employers is
simple. “It’s about staying
focused on the people,” says
Cameron, chief people, strategy and
technology officer for the Catholic
health-care provider, which has been
named one of Alberta’s Top Employers for
the 12th year.
“It’s about taking the passion that each
person brings to our organization and
connecting it to our mission so that we get
this supercharged culture that’s focused on
doing the right thing.”
From leadership-focused “communities
of practice” to a menopause matters
support program, Covenant Health is
committed to its more than 11,500
employees and 1,200 volunteers.
“We talk about caring for our patients’
body, mind and soul. We care about our
employees the same way,” says Cameron.
This emphasis on people has emerged
as a recurring theme among this year’s Top
Employers. The annual best-of list judges
Alberta employers in eight general
categories: (1) Workplace; (2) Work
Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial
& Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time
Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6)
Performance Management; (7) Training &
Skills Development; and (8) Community
Involvement.
“There’s obviously a deep commitment
to their people, first and foremost, and recognizing that people drive the success of
the organization,” says Kristina Leung, managing editor of Canada’s Top 100 Employ-
ers, which runs the Alberta competition.
In addition to common themes such as
leadership development, evolving family
benefits and flexible health plans,
organizers of the competition note a
renewed emphasis on employee training.
“Because Alberta has a young workforce,
on average, training has become a bigger
issue,” says Richard Yerema, executive
editor of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers
project.
Yerema notes training has become vital
for Alberta employers wanting to stand