Manitoba's Top Employers (2025) - Flipbook - Page 64
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MANITOBA’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2025)
Wawanesa Insurance cultivates inclusion and belonging
P
ri Mediwake heard good
things from several individuals about Winnipegbased Wawanesa
Mutual Insurance
Company before joining the
organization last August. After
coming aboard, she was delighted
to discover the company’s culture
is just as she heard — welcoming
and inclusive.
“We’re a mutual insurance company that exists for the benefit of
our members,” says Mediwake,
manager of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. “The people
who work here care deeply about
supporting our members and one
another.”
The company’s commitment
to diversity, equity, inclusion and
belonging (DEIB) is reflected in
its new, 21-storey, environmentally-sustainable headquarters
in downtown Winnipeg, which
opened in March 2024.
“People want to work in a
place that’s inclusive, considers
belonging and has a stance on
what diversity means for the
company,” says Lisa Osachoff,
senior vice-president and chief
people and culture officer. “Our
headquarters is a state-of-theart, inclusive building designed
to be accessible and meet the
highest standards for employee
well-being.”
Among other things, the building includes collaboration spaces,
diverse options for workstations,
reflection rooms (that can be used
as quiet spaces, for meditation or
spiritual observation), lactation
rooms equipped with fridges,
universal washrooms (with free
feminine hygiene products) and
a food market that offers a range
of dietary options. There is also a
free, in-house wellness centre that
offers a gym, fitness classes and
facilities for massages.
Wawanesa has nine employee
groups that further reflect
their commitment to DEIB and
help enhance their culture of
inclusion. This includes the
following groups: Women, Pan
Asian, Indigenous, Abled and
Disabled, Black, Latin / Hispanic,
2SLGBTQIA+, Environment and
Climate Action, and Parents.
“Our employee groups are
inclusive and open to anyone to
join, whether they identify as a
member of the community, an
ally or want to learn more,” says
Osachoff. “We have tremendous
grassroots participation. Twenty
per cent of our employees are
involved as group members,
with widespread employee
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Employees at Wawanesa take part in the organization’s annual tree planting initiative in Winnipeg.
participation in the events and
activities the groups plan for us.
Each group also has an executivelevel mentor to help advance their
work and provide guidance where
needed.”
Our headquarters is a
state-of-the-art, inclusive
building designed to be
accessible and meet the
highest standards for
employee well-being.
— Lisa Osachoff
Senior Vice-President
and Chief People
and Culture Officer
The 21st floor of the new
Wawanesa headquarters features
an open event space, perfect for
special gatherings for employees.
Last fall the company’s Indigenous
group held a National Day for
Truth and Reconciliation event
featuring Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair as guest
speaker. “Over 400 employees
attended in person and others
accessed it online,” says Osachoff.
“People really do appreciate that
we give space for events like this.”
Osachoff notes that Wawanesa
is a national organization with
some 3,600 employees. “Once
you start, you can have a really
amazing career over time and
progress to different roles within
the company,” she says. “There are
lots of different opportunities.”
The company recruits from
colleges and universities and it
supports career development
