Manitoba's Top Employers (2025) - Flipbook - Page 16
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MANITOBA’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2025)
Arctic Co-operatives prioritizes employee wellness
A
s vice-president,
merchandising
and logistics, at
Winnipeg-based
Arctic Co-operatives
Limited, Robin Buchanan
is responsible for procuring
products for 33 independently
owned and operated co-op
businesses across Nunavut, the
Northwest Territories and the
Yukon. And while that job can
be stressful given the challenges
of transport in the North, there’s
a reason why she has stayed for
eight years.
“I think the core reason is the
pride we take in what we’re doing
and the camaraderie we have
within the organization,” she says.
“We have stressful situations that
come up on a regular basis, and
we work as a team to get through
them. We’re all on the same side,
and we get there together.”
Arctic, a federation owned by
the co-ops it serves, has a number
of ways it supports its 140 home
office employees, including an
inclusion, diversity, equity and
accessibility committee and a
leadership training program that
Buchanan was able to take herself.
“It’s a great course,” she says.
“It shows people how to build
each other up and work toward a
Employees at Arctic Co-operatives Limited attend a trade show together.
common goal. We also have the
Co-op Learning Centre, which
offers courses on human rights
issues as well as on using different
systems. If an individual wants to
go further in the organization or
change their career path, we’re
here to support them.”
Angeline Malabanan has been
with Arctic Co-operatives for 10
years, starting as an administrative
assistant and working her way
up to her current role as senior
payroll and benefits administrator. She also values the training
programs she’s been offered.
“Currently, I’m enrolled
in Introduction to Payroll
Management, which the company
pays for 100 per cent,” she says.
“There are also lots of in-house
training opportunities, if you want
to learn Excel or how to facilitate
and lead a meeting. The opportunities are unlimited.”
If an individual wants to go
further in the organization
or change their career
path, we’re here to support
them.
— Robin Buchanan
Vice-President,
Merchandising and Logistics
Malabanan mentions her appreciation for a range of employee
engagement programs, from VIP
tours of Winnipeg’s Folklorama
cultural festival to Indigenous
culture and Pride celebrations,
free or subsidized arts and crafts
workshops, archery and bowling,
and a personal spending account
that can be used for health and
wellness expenses.
“They want employees to be
fit and well,” she says. “We have
fitness classes and a walking
program every day. I’m a single
mom and don’t have a lot of time
to go to the gym, but if it’s offered
here, I can get my exercise, and I
like that a lot.”
The company’s health and
wellness program is called PACE
(People at Arctic Co-ops Engaged),
and it arose from employees’ need
for connection and engagement
activities.
“We’ve been able to listen to our
