Canada Awards for Excellence

As the province’s largest benefits carrier, Alberta Blue Cross provides health and dental benefits to meet the needs of more than 1.7 million Albertans. Employing nearly 1,200 people, the company is a three-time recipient of the Premier’s Award of Distinction for Healthy Workplaces and is ranked one of Alberta’s Top 70 Employers.  Employee health and wellness has been a focus since 1976 when the organization began offering flexible hours for employees; this was followed by occupational health and safety assessments, ergonomic initiatives, on-site fitness classes and a smoking cessation program. The organization considers not only physical health but also psychological, environmental and social factors. Today, wellness initiatives include: an on-site fitness centre, support for healthy eating at work, partnerships with local service providers, Wellness Champions throughout the workplace, a Healthy Communities Grant Program and employee-led charitable work.