Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 40
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CANADA’S TOP EMPLOYERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (2025)
CSL cultivates talent on its ships and at the office
W
hile attending
law school at
the University
of Sherbrooke,
Audrey Lam
Yuk Tseung envisioned a future
at a law firm. But her career took
an unexpected turn not long after
graduating when she landed a
position as legal counsel with
Montréal-based CSL Group Inc.
“When I started law school, I
didn’t have any ambitions to work
for a shipping company,” says
Lam. “I didn’t even know that
opportunities for young lawyers
existed in marine transportation.”
We encourage young
employees to imagine
where they could be
with the company
in 10 or 15 years. We
make sure they get the
development they need
to grow into higher
positions.
— Stéphanie Aubourg
Chief Human Resources Officer
But after three years with CSL,
she’s discovered a fascinating
industry and a position that is the
right fit for her. “My manager and
the rest of the team support me
when I need them,” Lam says. “I
really love the freedom they give
me to do my job. They trust my
instincts.”
CSL’s onboarding programs
cater to both new employees and
interns, whether they are joining
the company’s fleet of ships or
Employees at CSL Group onboard MV Thunder Bay, a Trillium-class lake freighter cargo vessel.
taking on corporate roles in areas
like finance, human resources or
marketing.
Each year, CSL employs about
50 cadets, who work onboard vessels during the Canadian shipping
season, which generally runs from
April until the end of December.
CSL’s deck cadets are training to
become future navigation officers
on the Great Lakes, while engine
cadets are preparing to become
engineering officers, who work
below deck in the engine rooms
that power the ships.
“Cadet onboarding follows
a structured program,” says
Stéphanie Aubourg, chief human
resources officer. “Supervisors
on board our ships monitor their
progress and the cadets provide
reports of what they’ve learned.
We meet with them regularly to
make sure their training is on
track.”
Onboarding for corporate staff
lasts three months. “Managers
participate to make sure new employees understand our business
model as soon as possible, as well
as all the particularities of the
maritime industry,” says Aubourg.
New employees are also given
the opportunity to go onboard
a ship. “There’s no better way
to learn about shipping than to
experience the vessels and their
magnitude,” says Lam, who has
visited ships when docked in
Montréal. “Our job is to support
the crews, so it’s really nice to
understand their experiences and
challenges first-hand.”
CSL supports ongoing professional development by covering
the cost of external degrees or
accreditations. The company
also runs an internal program
