Alberta's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 58
58
ALBERTA’S TOP EMPLOYERS
SAIT provides full-circle support for its employees
W
hen Jennifer
Hussein began
working as an
instructor in
the optician
program at SAIT, the Southern
Alberta Institute of Technology,
she discovered there were plenty
of perks for employees at the
Calgary-based educational
institution, which offers programs
in areas including construction,
hospitality, energy, manufacturing,
health services and more.
As the mother of four children,
all of whom wear glasses, Hussein
has been able to use SAIT’s
generous benefit program —
including an $800 yearly health
spending account — to help with
the cost of specialty glasses. She
also has a flexible work schedule
that allows her to be at home with
her kids when she needs to be.
We want to empower
employees’ personal
and professional
journeys and foster
a workplace where
everyone can thrive.
— Dawn Rappel
Associate Vice-President
of Human Resources
“I’ve been able to adjust my
schedule so I can be here when
my kids are leaving for school
and coming home, which has
been amazing,” she says. “And
when they have professional
development days, I can take
those off too. I feel very well
The Star Awards at SAIT celebrate the outstanding contributions of staff and faculty.
supported here.”
The organization also supports
Hussein’s own professional
development with a range of
career training courses and
opportunities to develop projects
for both students and faculty.
“The resources are there for
everyone and leadership is
proactive in letting us know what
is available and where to find
them,” Hussein says. “I’ve received
funding to develop different tools,
which is wonderful because it
gives me the chance to not only
make my own job easier but
improve student experiences too.”
Dawn Rappel, associate
vice-president of human
resources, cites another perk for
those working at SAIT.
“We have a free seat program
where, if there is space available
in a course, employees can take it
for free,” she says. “We also have
a large continuing education and
professional studies program
that gives employees a 25 per cent
discount. It’s great because they
can explore things they might be
interested in and see if they want
to pursue them.”
The organization recently
refreshed its leadership
development training, and now
offers four programs for four
levels of leadership, as well as
specialized training for new
leaders and a mentorship program
that Rappel will be participating
in. And then there are the extra
advantages that come from
working for an organization that
educates students in so many
areas.
“When you have lunch, you’re
served by a culinary student, and
you can buy meat at our butchery
and birthday cake at our bakery,”
she says. “We even have a travel
centre, thanks to our hospitality
and tourism program. It’s great
to be able to interact with the
students and remember what
