Excellence Canada is a non-profit organization that champions organizational excellence and performance across the nation. They provide a range of Standards that organizations can aim to be certified in.

In 2021, our dedication to creating a healthy workplace environment was recognized with a ‘Bronze’ level certification in the Healthy Workplace Standard from Excellence Canada.

Since 2021, we have sought to build upon the foundations of the ‘Bronze’ level and increase our programs and support for employee health, safety and well-being.

In September 2024, after holding several on-site Focus Groups with all employee levels – we have successfully received the ‘Gold’ level certification and Canada Award for Excellence (CAE)  in the Gold Level of the Healthy Workplace Standard.

Our unwavering focus is on the Healthy Workplace Standard. By strictly adhering to this standard, we’re committed to creating an environment where our employees can not only work but also thrive. We are also demonstrating the effectiveness of our Healthy Workplace Management System.

The Healthy Workplace Standard identifies four drivers which are Leadership and Commitment, Planning and Risk Management, Implementation and Evaluation, and People and Well-being and through our evidence submission, we have to prove we meet a number of desired outcomes per each driver.  Excellence Canada evaluates these drivers through a rigorous accreditation process.

As we journey towards Gold, we’re preparing our Evidence Summary to demonstrate how we’re addressing each of the four drivers within our organization.

We demonstrate our senior leadership team’s commitment to employee health, safety, and well-being through their vision, actions, and communication. We illustrate our clear governance structure and roles and responsibilities for managing and implementing the Healthy Workplace Plan. We highlight our culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement, where leaders at all levels model and promote healthy workplace practices. We showcase our policies and procedures that support physical and psychological health and safety, diversity and inclusion, and employee engagement. We reveal our decision-making process that considers the potential impact of choices on employee health, safety, and well-being, as well as on organizational performance and sustainability.

We demonstrate our well-communicated People plan that aligns with our overall strategic plan and guides our actions and initiatives. We show how we’ve developed and implemented a Healthy Workplace Plan with input from various stakeholders, such as employees, managers, clients, and partners. We illustrate how we’ve conducted regular assessments on employees’ health, safety, and well-being to inform our planning and improvement process and to measure our progress and outcomes. We highlight how we’ve identified and eliminated barriers related to employees’ health, safety, and well-being, such as physical hazards, ergonomic issues, psychosocial factors, and accessibility challenges. We reveal our effective health and safety risk management system that complies with relevant legislation and standards, prevents and reduces injuries and illnesses, and promotes a culture of health and safety.

We demonstrate how we’ve designed and implemented programs and processes for a healthy workplace based on the needs, preferences, and risks of our employees and organization. We show how we’ve embedded change management in all aspects of implementation, such as communication, training, feedback, and support. We illustrate how we’ve monitored, reviewed, and evaluated the Healthy Workplace strategy and its impact on employee health, safety, and well-being, as well as on organizational performance and sustainability. We highlight how we’ve communicated the results and feedback to all stakeholders, celebrated successes, and identified areas for improvement. We reveal how we’ve informed and educated our employees about the healthy workplace plan, programs, and the various resources available to them.

We demonstrate how we enable the health, safety, and well-being of our employees by addressing the physical, psychological, social, and community elements of a healthy workplace. We show how we embed and reflect equity, diversity, and inclusion in our daily practice, policies, and programs. We illustrate how we engage our employees in a robust performance management and development system that provides feedback, recognition, coaching, and learning opportunities. We highlight how we establish a learning culture that fosters innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement.