The Top 100

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Below are the 100 companies in Canada with the most to offer workers. The companies are not ranked — they are classified by industry and presented in alphabetical order.

(X) Indicates number of Canadian full-time employees

CONSUMER SERVICES

Carswell

Publisher, Toronto. The Thomson Reuters division has compassionate leave top-up payments to 95% of salary for eight weeks; $5,000 in adoption assistance per child. (641)

Compass Group Canada Ltd.

Food services company, Mississauga, Ont. Focused training program to help women advance into management-level positions; compassionate care top-up benefits to 80% of salary for six weeks. (11,942)

Fairmont Hotels Inc.

Luxury hotels & resorts, Toronto. Job opportunities around the world including Cairo and South Africa; discounted rates at the company’s hotels and resorts for employees and their families and friends. (8,836)

IKEA Canada LP

Home furnishings retailer, Burlington, Ont. On-site daycare at some stores; flexible work programs available; career opportunities in over 35 countries. (1,401)

L’Oréal Canada Inc.

Cosmetics company, Montreal. On-site daycare; downtown workplace has specialty coffee bar and bistro, and discount cosmetics boutique; international training courses in Paris and New York City. (1,200)

Mars Canada Inc.

Foodmaker, Bolton, Ont. Canadian candy maker offers snacks at cost in on-site store; vacation purchase program; one-on-one on-site fitness training; generous referral bonuses. (478)

Procter & Gamble Inc.

Consumer products, Toronto. In addition to three paid personal days off, workers can increase vacation days by transferring unused credits from health benefits plan. (2,018)

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Canadian Tire Financial Services Ltd.

Financial services, Welland, Ont. Impressive array of training options; health benefits for retirees; informal discussion sessions with the president. (1,338)

HSBC Bank Canada

Financial services, Vancouver. Carbon neutral through investment in wind power; adoptive parents get $4,000; three paid study days annually; scholarships for kids. (5,777)

Meridian Credit Union

Financial services, St. Catharines, Ont. Tuition subsidies up to $2,000 at outside institutions; paid time off for volunteering. (420)

Opseu Pension Trust

Pension manager, Toronto. Weekly visits by a wellness coordinator; on-site yoga and exercise classes; generous parental leaves; five paid personal days off. (156)

Royal Bank of Canada

Financial services, Toronto. Nearly one-third of workers take advantage of flexible work options; traditional pension plan plus matching RSP contributions. (52,000)

Russell Investments Canada Ltd.

Investment management services, Toronto. Tuition subsidy up to $8,000; eight-week paid sabbatical every 10 years; early closings on long summer weekends. (120)

Toronto-Dominion Bank

Financial services, Toronto. Low-interest home loans, share-purchase plan; training programs for employees with foreign credentials. (31,473)

INDUSTRIAL AND RESOURCES

Aecon Group Inc.

Construction development firm, Toronto. Grand prize for employee recognition program is a trip for two using CEO’s air miles; sunny bistro area with great views. (944)

Alberta-Pacific forest industries Inc.

Pulp facility, Boyle, Alta. Property has a 16-hectare trout pond, baseball field and walking trail; fourth week of vacation can be taken as time or cash. (449)

BD Canada Inc.

Medical equipment manufacturer, Oakville, Ont. Karate and body sculpt classes at subsidized fitness facility; health plan benefits extend into retirement without age limits, matching RSP contributions. (406)

Boeing Canada Technology Ltd.

Aerospace composite manufacturer, Winnipeg. The aircraft firm’s Winnipeg division provides tuition subsidies at outside institutions; financial help for foreign-trained workers to complete educational equivalency programs; matches RSP contributions. (1,568)

CAE Inc.

Flight simulation manufacturer, Montreal. Profit-sharing, year-end bonuses and share-purchase plans; full tuition subsidies to outside institutions as well as on-site training centre; mat leave top-ups to 75% of salary for 18 weeks. (3,328)

Cascades Inc.

Paper products manufacturer, Kingsey Falls, Que. Star employees get to use company properties in Mont-Tremblant or Miami; matching RSP plan. (10,400)

Cementation Canada Inc.

Mine contracting firm, North Bay, Ont. Curling and golf tournaments for workers and their spouses as well as volleyball games; generous tuition subsidies at outside institutions. (1,227)

Enbridge Inc.

Natural gas distribution, Calgary. Four separate health benefit plans plus workers given cash equivalent for unused benefits; vacation starts at three weeks, plus 12 more paid days off per year. (3,745)

Epcor Utilities Inc.

Electricity and water supplier, Edmonton. Worker discounts on home computer equipment purchases; workers can take five personal days off each year in hourly increments; subsidized employee sports teams. (2,582)

Great Little Box Co. Ltd.

Box manufacturer, Vancouver. Books are open to employees; all employees go on free trips when profit goals reached; free on-site fitness centre. (194)

Kodak Graphic Communications Canada Co.

Prepress equipment manufacturer, Burnaby, B.C. Compassionate leave top-ups to 100% of salary for eight weeks; profit-sharing plan; transit subsidies and showers for workers who bike. (1,445)

Laurentide Controls Ltd.

Process automation products, Kirkland, Que. All employees enjoy an annual weekend retreat at a nearby resort for a day of relaxation and an evening dinner-dance; vacation goes to four weeks after five years on the job. (122)

New Flyer Industries Canada ULC

Transit-bus maker, Winnipeg. Full salaries for apprentices during their training; wellness week includes flu shots and nutrition classes; birthdays off with pay. (1,288)

PCL Construction Group Inc.

General contractor, Edmonton. Worker-owned firm with a “promote from within” policy — all senior managers are long-time employees; recently opened a $30-million training facility; huge hockey tournament. (1,678)

Shell Canada Ltd.

Petroleum company, Calgary. Discount on gas purchases; health benefits cover retirees; tuition subsidies at outside institutions. (4,751)

Spruceland Millworks Inc.

Lumber products, Acheson, Alta. Workday ends when production target reached; annual meetings for all employees in exotic locales; share-ownership plan. (140)

Suncor Energy Inc.

Energy company, Calgary. Up to 17 paid personal days on top of vacation; scholarships up to $1,800 for workers’ kids; flexible health benefits. (5,483)

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc.

Automobile manufacturer, Cambridge, Ont. Employees get $1,000 off vehicle purchase; great fitness facilities; prizes at Christmas party include $10,000 for a new car; achieved zero waste landfill target. (5,186)

Ttrican Well Service Ltd.

Oil and gas well equipment, Calgary. Parental top-ups to 100% of salary for 52 weeks for new moms and 36 weeks for dads; phased-in retirement leave program. (1,537)

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & COMMUNICATIONS

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Law firm, Toronto. Top employee volunteers recognized with $10,000 donation to charity of their choosing; $1-million scholarship program for law students. (840)

CH2M Hill Canada Ltd.

Environmental consulting engineers, Toronto. Full-time telecommuting option; sustainability development reward program for employees who undertake environmental projects. (1,196)

Ceridian Canada Ltd.

Human resources services, Winnipeg. Pet insurance subsidy; workers nominate an employee for firm-paid southern vacation; profit-sharing plans and bonuses. (1,346)

FSC Architects & Engineers

Engineering and architectural consultants, Yellowknife. All employees share in year-end bonuses; paid time off to volunteer at favourite charity; phased-in retirement work option. (70)

Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories Inc.

Diagnostic laboratory services, Brampton, Ont. Phased-in retirement options; matching RSP plan; employees start at three weeks’ vacation. (1,567)

Golder Associates Ltd.

Engineering consultants, Burnaby, B.C. International career opportunities through in-house employee exchange program; profit-sharing and share-purchase plans. (2,372)

Halifax Herald LTD.

Newspaper publisher, Halifax. Flexible health plan including retiree benefits; generous tuition subsidies; paid birthdays off. (343)

HOK

Architectural firm, Toronto. Public transit subsidies plus secure bike parking and shower facilities at “green” office; health benefits for full- and part-time employees; paid time off for volunteering. (339)

Hill & Knowlton Canada

Public relations firm, Toronto. Employee lounge complete with bar and media room; weekly office beer cart; bonuses up to $1,000 for course completions. (205)

Jacques Whitford Ltd.

Consulting engineering firm, Dartmouth, N.S. Mat leave top-ups to 75% of salary for 52 weeks; tuition subsidies; summer work placements for engineering students. (132)

KPMG LLP

Audit, tax, corporate finance services, Toronto. Grants up to $20,000 for adoptions; generous fitness subsidy; paid time off for volunteers. (5,165)

Marsh Canada Ltd.

Insurance broker, Toronto. Discounted home and auto insurance; reduced summer hours; full tuition subsidies. (1,211)

Patient News Publishing Inc.

Dental newsletters, Haliburton, Ont. Lakefront office has private dock, on-site fitness facility and outdoor volleyball court; after-hours program for employees’ young children. (69)

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Accounting and professional services, Toronto. Donates $10,000 on behalf of the employee volunteer of the year; annual fitness allowance to $1,200; paid days off to study for CA exams. (5,773)

SaskTel

Communications company, Regina. Massive online training system offers more than 720 courses; free membership to on-site fitness centre; traditional pension plan. (3,363)

Stikeman Elliott LLP

Law firm, Toronto. Flexible work options; referral bonuses up to $1,000; formal earned days off program. (502)

Tamm Communications Inc.

Advertising agency, Toronto. Employees start with four weeks’ vacation; workers have exclusive use of a Quebec island cabin; annual vacation draws; offices in heritage building. (24)

Wardrop Engineering Inc.

Consulting engineering firm, Winnipeg. Subsidized home and auto insurance and low-interest home loans; cash bonuses of up to 50% for good job performance. (649)

Yellow Pages Group

Telephone directories, Verdun, Que. Alternative work options include telecommuting; flexible working hours. (1,330)

PUBLIC SECTOR AND NON-PROFIT

Office of the Auditor General of Canada

Federal government auditor, Ottawa. Unpaid leave of absence program; flexible work arrangements; generous parental leave top-ups. (644)

Business Development Bank of Canada

Crown corporation for business, Montreal. Up to five days off can be bought through the health benefits plan; referral bonuses of up to $2,000. (1,681)

Canada Post Corp.

Postal services, Ottawa. Generous pension plan and phased- in retirement leave program; manages Santa Claus’s letter- writing division. (62,610)

Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Spy agency, Ottawa. Hires older workers and uses previous work experience toward vacation allowance; ethnic recruiting campaign led to more than 50% of intelligence officers hired last year being multilingual; mat leave top-up of 93% for 52 weeks. (2,553)

Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto

Social support services, Toronto. New employees get up to four weeks’ vacation; extended maternity leave for up to three years; in-house training programs and a special education leave program. (597)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Hospital, Toronto. Paternal and adoptive top-up benefits to 93% for 35 weeks; online and in-house training program; downtown property in midst of mixed-use, “urban village” redesign. (2,625)

Certified General Accountants Association of Canada

Accountant representatives, Burnaby, B.C.. Annual $500 transportation subsidy plus communal bikes to explore local trail system; free on-site gym with yoga and boot-camp classes; retiree health coverage. (129)

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

Health care service provider, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ont. Post-graduate tuition coverage for nursing employees; parental top-up benefits; older nurses given a chance to work in less physically demanding jobs. (701)

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Medical regulatory body, Toronto. Tuition subsidies of up to $3,000 per year; women make up more than 65% of management. (247)

Durham Regional Police Service

Police force, Whitby, Ont. Alternative work options include flex hours, job sharing, compressed workweeks and telecommuting; parental top-up to 75% of salary for 37 weeks for new dads and 52 weeks for new moms. (1,345)

Export Development Canada

Crown corporation, Ottawa. Maternity leave top-ups to 95% for 26 weeks; employee language instruction in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Portuguese. (1,076)

Farm Credit Canada

Crown farmers’ agency, Regina. Parental leave top-up payments up to 95% of salary for 50 weeks for moms; unused health benefits can be converted into added retirement savings. (1,295)

George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology

Educational institution, Toronto. Free on-site fitness facility, including regular yoga classes; flex work options; generous parental leave benefits. (1,145)

Hamilton Health Sciences Corp.

Health care service provider, Hamilton. Transitional retirement work program for older employees; alternative transportation plan for commuters; on-site daycare has emergency-care space. (5,682)

Manitoba Liquor Control Commission

Provincial alcohol agency, Winnipeg. No-maximum outside tuition subsidies; maternity top-up to 93% of salary for 15 weeks; five paid personal days. (341)

McGill University

University, Montreal. Subsidized on-site daycare; variety of work options including a shortened week; phased-in retirement program. (5,495)

N.B. Power Holding Corp.

Electric utility, Fredericton. On-site daycare at headquarters; self-funded leave program allows for extended paid leave of up to two months. (2,415)

National Energy Board

Independent regulatory agency, Calgary. Paid educational leave program; personal days off and an annual holiday shutdown; health coverage for retirees. (319)

Ontario Power Generation Inc.

Electricity utility, Toronto. Generous year-end bonuses; extensive support for ongoing education; traditional pension plan; health benefits for retirees; on-site fitness centre. (11,434)

Ontario Public Service

Provincial civil service, Toronto. Lots of opportunities for career advancement and specialization; mat leave top-ups to 93% for 32 weeks. (67,856)

Royal Canadian Mint

Coinage maker, Ottawa. Parental leave top-ups to 93% of salary for a year; generous pension contributions. (793)

SaskEnergy Inc.

Natural gas distributor, Regina. Provincial Crown corporation’s mat leave top-ups to 93% of salary for 52 weeks; extensive training and development opportunities. (997)

Saskatchewan Gaming Corp.

Provincial controlled gaming agency, Regina. Historic headquarters with free on-site gym; mat leave payment up to 95% of salary for 17 weeks. (429)

Saskatchewan Government Insurance

Insurance provider, Regina. Traditional pension plan with phased-in retirement work options. (1,587)

Simon Fraser University

University, Burnaby, B.C. On-site daycare; summer day-camp programs for employees’ children; free fitness facilities. (4,408)

Toronto Community Housing Corp.

Social housing provider, Toronto. Parental leave top-ups to 93% of salary for 52 weeks for moms and 37 weeks for dads; healthy workplace plan including free health clinic. (1,312)

Toronto Hydro Corp.

Electrical utility, Toronto. Employees can win a week off with pay as part of United Way fundraising; generous parental leave top-ups. (1,527)

Toronto International Film Festival Inc.

Film festival organizer, Toronto. Access to film screenings and lectures plus staff pass for the festival; tuition subsidies. (117)

University Health Network

Academic health sciences centre, Toronto. On-site, 24-hour daycare plus suburban child care partnerships; two on-site wellness centres. (8,000)

University of Alberta

University, Edmonton. Free on-site fitness centre; subsidized on-site daycare; transit subsidies plus shower facilities for cyclists. (7,259)

City of Vancouver

Municipality, Vancouver. Discounted passes and unlimited access to pools, rinks and fitness centres run by city; flexible work options, subsidized personal- interest courses. (6,435)

Corp. of the County of Wellington

Municipal government, Guelph, Ont. Offices in heritage area close to daycare facilities; transit subsidies and secure bike parking; generous pension plan. (373)

WorkSafe B.C.

Workplace prevention agency, Vancouver. Self-funded leave plan for employees, tuition subsidies up to $5,000; on-site massage therapy visits. (3,155)

TECHNOLOGY

Adobe Systems Canada Inc.

Graphics and desktop software, Ottawa. “Green” innovations such as running head office from renewable energy sources such as wind and hydro; holiday shutdown. (416)

DeltaWare Systems Inc.

Software development services, Charlottetown. Three weeks’ paid vacation to start; small-city location means most commutes are 15 minutes or less. (81)

Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co.

Computer products, Mississauga, Ont. Discounts on newest HP equipment, including flat screen TVs; workers and their families can use the firm’s lakeside resort north of Kingston, Ont. (3,841)

Honeywell Ltd.

Environmental controls manufacturer, Mississauga, Ont. Employees start at three weeks’ vacation plus four days off during holidays; workers get bonuses up to $2,000 when friend is recruited. (4,590)

Next Level Games Inc.

Video game developer, Vancouver. Health benefits for part-time staff; profit-sharing and share-purchase plans; workers’ pets welcome at work. (102)

Research In Motion Ltd.

Wireless communications devices, Waterloo, Ont. Free BlackBerry and usage fees for all employees; on-site massage treatments; profit-sharing plan. (5,830)

SAS Institute Canada Inc.

Business software, Toronto. “Green” head office with free on-site gym; allowance for home fitness equipment purchases; in-house band plays company functions. (207)

Sapient Canada Inc.

IT consulting and marketing, Toronto. Discounts on home Internet access and computer equipment; four weeks’ vacation after three years; subsidized tuition. (187)

Sophos Inc.

Spam and virus detection software, Vancouver. Referral bonuses up to $2,500; matching RSP plan; compassionate leave top-ups to 100% of salary for four weeks. (199)

Upside Software Inc.

Business software developer, Vancouver. Performance rewards include cash bonuses and trips; profit-sharing open to all workers; referral bonuses to $2,500. (142)

OTHER

Assoc. of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario

Union bargaining agent, Toronto. Parental leave top-up payments to 93% of salary for a year; self-funded leave program; long summer weekends. (24)

Bayer Inc.

Health care and science business, Toronto. Employee lounge with games area and quiet room; discounts on auto leases and computer equipment; free gym. (885)

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.

Transcontinental rail carrier, Calgary. Diverse range of working environments available; outside tuition subsidies up to $10,000; flexible health benefits program includes retired employees with no age restrictions. (13,726)

Monsanto Canada Inc.

Agricultural biotech firm, Winnipeg. Share-purchase plan for all employees; parental and adoptive top-up benefits to 90% of salary for 26 weeks; tuition subsidies to $10,000. (244)

Nycomed Canada Inc.

Pharmaceutical company, Oakville, Ont. Formal succession planning program helps employees move into management; compassionate leave top-ups to 100% for eight weeks. (249)