Brock, Niagara Health among top employers
Niagara Home Builders step up for youths and Project Share; food donations for needy can win prizes at local restaurant
Two prominent Niagara agencies have made the annual list of top employers from the Hamilton-niagara area.
Published since 2008, the release is part of a larger list — Canada’s Top 100 Employers — produced through Mediacorp.
“The employers chosen as this year’s winners have distinguished themselves not just in terms of how they’ve been taking care of employees,” said Mediacorp managing editor Richard Yerema, “but also in how they have been supporting community organizations and local charities.”
Both Niagara Health and Brock University made the list of the top 15 employers from Hamilton and Niagara, compiled with editorial partner the Hamilton Spectator.
Mediacorp noted Brock encourages employees to continue education in-house by waiving tuition fees for undergrad and grad courses.
It was also recognized for its pension plan and for encouraging staff to be active in the wider community.
Brock employs 1,677 full-time and 2,056 part-time staff.
For the third straight year, Niagara Health was lauded for its staff training and development as well as its pension plan and retirement planning for staff.
It was also noted for its Be Well strategy for employees, focusing on healthy lifestyles, exercise and nutrition, and also for giving employees access to local specialists in a wide variety of health-related topics.
Niagara Health employs 2,898 workers full time and 2,398 part time.
Afull list of the top 15 employers from Hamilton and Niagara is at Canada stop 100.com
Niagara Home Builders step up for kids, food bank
Niagara Home Builders Association isn’t letting COVID-19 restrictions stop it from helping people at Christmas.
For more than 10 years, the association has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of north and west Niagara, to raise donations for youth.
Traditionally, donations have been raised through the NHBA’S annual Christmas gala but that wasn’t possible this year due to COVID-19.
“This year has been particularly hard for a majority of people,” said home builders association president Tony Alfieri, in a press release.
“We still wanted to lend our support to these families and children we have helped over the years, and we felt it was imperative to continue with our holiday drive.”
So this year, it is working with Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as Project Share, in Niagara Falls, to carry out two separate holiday drives.
In lieu of the usual unwrapped toys and gifts to children and youths, donations of gift cards can be made at two local businesses: Patene Building Supplies at 39 Seapark Dr. in St. Catharines, and The One Stop Fireplace Shop at 4332 Drummond Rd. in Niagara Falls.
Sealed, touch-free boxes will be at each site for gift cards to be deposited into.
For Project Share, the association is joining its Fill the Virtual Bus campaign.
Association member Enbridge Gas will match donations up to $1,000 for Project Share, which can be made either as a monetary contribution, gift card or food or toy donation.
To donate to either campaign, or both, email the home builders association at info@nhba.ca.
The association has more than 130 members across Niagara including builders, renovators, suppliers, manufacturers and developers.
Barburrito hopes customers will help local food banks
A Canada-wide restaurant chain with two Niagara locations wants to serve up a big order of food for local food banks.
Running until the end of the year, Barburrito venues will have bins on site where customers can drop off non-perishable food items and other supplies for people in need. To encourage donations, customers who donate will be entered in contests to win prizes such as an ipad Air, free burritos for a year or one of 10 $100 gift cards.
Items commonly requested by food banks include pasta and sauce, canned meats and vegetables, toilet paper and other personal hygiene products like soap and shampoo.
There are about 120 Barburrito locations across Canada. In Niagara there are two — at 343 Glendale Ave. in St. Catharines and a second which is currently closed, inside the Niagara Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.