(FOR A DOWNLOADABLE PDF OF THE INFORMATION LISTED BELOW PLEASE CLICK HERE.)
What is the Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Program?
Since 2005, the Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ program has recognized leading Canadian organizations for having a culture that has helped them enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage.
This popular program begins in the spring of each year with the Canadian Corporate Culture Study™ and culminates in an annual awards gala.
Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ is founded and presented by Waterstone Human Capital, a leading professional recruitment, executive search and human resource consulting services firm based in Toronto.
Scope and Prestige:
The program continues to grow and expand, both in reach and influence:
- In 2009, a record number of nominations – over 400 – were received for the program (nominees and finalists represent a cross-section of leading Canadian organizations);
- In 2009, five prestigious organizations were inducted into the inaugural Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame;
- The 2009 Awards Gala, held at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto ballroom, reached capacity, with 480 senior representatives from the winning organizations in attendance (many organizations bought multiple tables, to celebrate with their teams);
-
In 2010, the program’s growth will result in new regional qualifying events, which will be held prior to the annual awards gala and corporate culture institute.
2010 Timeline:
(Subject to Change)
April 2010: The 2010 Canadian Corporate Culture Study and Nomination Process:
Waterstone Human Capital's Canadian Corporate Culture Study serves as the basis for the Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ award season, which begins in the spring.
The survey asks 500 senior executives a variety of questions about corporate culture. At the end of the survey, respondents are also asked to nominate organizations they most admire for having a corporate culture that has impacted performance.
April 23rd, 2010: Deadline for Completed Surveys and Nominations to the 2010 Program
Early May 2010: Nominated Organizations Notified
Once nominated, organizations are approached by Waterstone Human Capital and asked to make a detailed submission to the program, based on five criteria: vision and leadership; cultural alignment, measurement and sustainability; rewards, recognition and innovative business achievement; corporate performance; and, corporate social responsibility.
June 30th, 2010: Submission Deadline
July 5th, 2010 – September 1st, 2010: Interview Process
Each submitting organization will participate in a ½ hour interview with Waterstone Human Capital. Interviews are to take place with a senior member of the submitting
organization's executive team, as well as the organization’s lead
HR/People person. The objective of the interview is a 30-minute review
of the organization’s submission.
From there, our Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Board of Governors will evaluate the submissions to determine the program finalists and then the national winners, based on the following categories and regions:
Regional Finalists – Western Canada
Regional Finalists – Central Canada
Regional Finalists – Quebec and Atlantic Canada
Special Category: Best Public Sector Organization – Regional Finalist
Special Category: Best Emerging Organization – Regional Finalist
October 2010: Regional Finalists Announced and Feted at Awards Reception
Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Board of Governors will evaluate the 2010 submissions by region and then vote on the 10 finalists per region (Western Canada, Central Canada and Quebec/Atlantic Canada) as well as the special category regional finalists. The finalists will be feted at their respective regional awards receptions.
November 2010: Announcement of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures of 2010
Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Board of Governors will reconvene and choose Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures of 2010, as well as a national Best Broader Public Sector winner and a national Best Emerging Organization, from the finalist organizations.
November 12th, 2010: Winning organizations notified
November 17th, 2010: Official Media Announcement
February 2011: Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures of 2010 Awards Gala + the 3rd Annual Canadian Corporate Culture Institute (Date and Location TBD)
Who is Eligible to Participate in Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ of 2010?
Canadian or Canadian subsidiary organizations, either privately-held or publicly-traded, are eligible. These organizations must have a head office, or a subsidiary office, in Canada.
Canadian public-sector organizations are also eligible (e.g. not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and crown corporations).
The 2010 program is not open to the 2008 and 2009 winners of the program.
What are the Program Benefits?
Joining the prestigious ranks of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ is a significant accomplishment. Since 2005, this popular program has recognized Canadian organizations for having a culture that has helped them enhance their performance and sustain a competitive advantage. Winning organizations have included The Yellow Pages Group, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, RBC, Tim Hortons and WestJet, to name a few.
As a winner of the Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ of 2010 program, your organization will benefit from the following:
- Exclusivity for Canada’s 10: a 3-year exclusive use of the Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ designation, license and trademark;
- Board of Governors Role: the opportunity for a senior member of your executive team to join our Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ Board of Governors;
- Media Coverage: significant media coverage of the Canada’s 10 announcement, as well as coverage of the awards gala in The National Post;
- Networking and Professional Development: the opportunity to interact and share best practices with your senior colleagues from the other winning organizations through special events, speaking engagements and other exclusive gatherings;
- Attracting Top Talent: a unique and exclusive opportunity to incorporate the award designation into your recruitment efforts;
- Celebration: the opportunity to celebrate your organization and your top talent at the Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™of 2010 Awards Gala in February 2011;
- Recognition: as one of the 2010 winners, your organization will be recognized amongst other top business leaders, the media and your peers at the February 2011 awards gala.
How Do Winning Organizations Take Advantage of This Program?
This award is not only a seal of approval by Canada’s leadership community, it’s also a mark of excellence. Past winners of our prestigious program have used the Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ trademark in a variety of innovative ways, to show that their organization is a great place to work and one where strong corporate culture is tied to peak performance.
Being a winner of the program is an unparalleled opportunity to enhance your employee value proposition.
Here are some of the ways past winners of the Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures ™ program have used the trademark:
- Branded signage for storefront operations, or, corporate headquarters;
- Branded flags in front of corporate headquarters (as have past award recipients, Boston Pizza International);
- Branded promotional and marketing materials (e.g. business cards, stationary, etc.);
- Trademark added to company’s newsletter and website;
- Trademark added to advertising materials;
- Trademark added to external hiring or recruitment materials, to attract top talent;
- Branded merchandise or equipment.
