Columbia Power Corporation has been named one of BC’s Top Employers for 2016. This is the third consecutive year Columbia Power has been honoured with this award that identifies the company as one of the province’s best places to work.
Now entering its 12th year, BC’s Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes BC employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.
“We are honoured to be recognized as one of BC’s top employers for the third consecutive year,” said Frank Marino, director of human resources and corporate services for Columbia Power, in a press release. “We value our employees and are committed to providing a satisfying work environment and meaningful benefits to ensure we can recruit and retain excellent staff.”
Employers are evaluated using the same eight criteria that the editors use in the national competition: physical workplace, work atmosphere and social, health, financial and family benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and skills development, and community involvement.
Columbia Power was selected as one of BC’s Top Employers this year because the company “supports new moms with generous maternity top-up payments (to 85% of salary for 17 weeks) and follows up with parental leave top-up payments (to 75% for 35 weeks)” and “also extends its parental leave top program to new fathers and adoptive parents (to 75% for 35 weeks).”
The company also received the award because its “head office employees are surrounded by great mountain views and enjoy easy access to an incredible array of recreational activities when not at work, including golfing, cycling, canoeing, fishing, hiking and swimming.”
Columbia Power has 50 employees and provided the equivalent of 1,200 jobs through the construction of the Arrow Lakes Generating Station and Brilliant Expansion Generating Station near Castlegar, and the Waneta Expansion Generating Station near Trail.
