62SPONSOR CONTENTBC’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2025)The City of Maple Ridge focuses on its peopleWhen MichelleLewis was hiredfive years agoas executive director of humanresources for the City of MapleRidge, she was given a mandate tobuild a new, more people-centredculture in the organization inpreparation for the rapid growthanticipated in the Lower Mainlandcommunity over the next decade.“We’re going through a culturaltransformation,” says Lewis. “It’sabout putting people first, andcreating policy, practices andprocedures that provide opportunities for more collaboration.”The City recently completedan engagement survey to gatherinsight from staff, which will helpshape future initiatives. Theseinitiatives will be tackled byjoint staff- and management-ledcommittees in partnership with itsunions.It also expanded its learning anddevelopment programs, whichinclude both employer-led andemployee-led training, and addedinitiatives like a new employeeorientation and a dynamic Kirk McLeod, superintendent of roads and fleet, at the City of Maple Ridge.onboarding program called CityChase, which sends groups ofemployees from different departments out into the city to connectwith each other and learn howMaple Ridge works.“Employees have the opportunity to make new connections withtheir peers while discovering Cityservices and locations together,”says Lewis, “and when they return,they’re just vibrating with energyand excitement.”The City also runs educationand training programs in partnership with local institutions likethe British Columbia Institute ofTechnology (BCIT) and SimonFraser University (SFU) to buildemployees’ skillsets and helpthem realize their potential.It’s about putting peoplefirst, and creating policy,practices and proceduresthat provide opportunitiesfor more collaboration.— Michelle LewisExecutive Director ofHuman ResourcesLewis is also working on developing a three-year equity, diversityand inclusion (EDI) training program. “We’ll have 30 individualsgo through this training, whichwill make a huge difference,” shesays. “They’ll not just be learningthe concepts of EDI, they’ll belearning how to adapt it into theworkplace and champion it, so itwill be fully in the fabric of theorganization.”Kirk McLeod started workingfor the City 10 years ago as anengineering inspector, and threeyears ago he was promoted tosuperintendent of roads and fleet.Along the way he’s been able totake advantage of several professional development programs.“They really encourage you tofind the courses and training thatwill get you to where you want tobe,” he says. “They’re always verysupportive. They provide coursesand internal programs, but theyalso encourage you to go on yourown path and find what works foryou.”
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