Alberta's Top Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 76
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ALBERTA’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2025)
Unleashing generosity and creativity at Western
L
isa Colbert has always
excelled with figures
and finances. However,
what she truly loves
about her job at
Western Financial Group is the
encouragement she receives to
support the people behind the
numbers.
“The work we do at Western has
ignited a new passion in me which
includes our social impact,” says
Colbert.
“One of the things that sets us
apart in the industry is the way we
protect our clients by offering all
lines of business, especially when
times are tough. It’s an incentive
to keep moving forward and
continue to improve every day.”
Western Financial Group is
a national insurance brokerage
with headquarters in High River.
It provides diversified insurance
services at over 180 locations
across Canada and employs over
2,000 people from coast to coast.
The company invests millions
of dollars in local communities
through its Western Communities
Foundation.
Western is also committed
to sustainability efforts and
promotes diversity, equity and
inclusion (DEI) initiatives to
create, it says, a more inclusive,
environmentally responsible and
sustainable future for its people,
customers and communities.
Colbert and her colleagues
extend their support beyond just
the office, assisting clients affected
by disasters and engaging in
community service. Inspired by
the company-wide Good Heart
Day, where employees receive a
paid day off in their communities
to work for causes they care about,
Colbert's in-office wooden hearts
symbolize this commitment.
“I give them my wooden heart
award. It’s a time-off incentive
they can accumulate and take an
extra-long lunch break or come
in late one day or leave early,”
Colbert says.
Colbert instituted the program
to show employees a little professional love by rewarding them
when she sees someone going the
extra mile to help another team
member or client.
Giving back is not a
corporate strategy for us –
it’s just who we are.
— Michelle Mak
Director, Western
Communities Foundation
A Western Financial Group employee celebrates the opening of a new branch location.
Western’s caring culture
shines through its commitment
to employee support initiatives
such as gender pay equity, work
flexibility, training opportunities,
volunteer days off and donation
matching programs, says Michelle
Mak, director of the Western
Communities Foundation.
“We are dedicated to supporting
our team and the well-being of
our community,” says Mak.
“We continuously seek ways to
be a better employer, ensuring we
take care of our people so they can
take care of our customers and the
communities where we operate.”
Colbert appreciates other
benefits, like Western’s continuous
learning programs including
leadership learning solutions and
insurance-specific training resources, which keep her up to date
and fully qualified. Competitive
health and vacation benefits, 14
