Regina, SK December 10, 2020– The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is proud to be included on the 2020 list of the Best Workplaces Managed by Women. NCC received the honour following a thorough and independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work®, which surveys employees of companies, government agencies and charitable organizations around the world. NCC has been a certified Great Place to Work since 2017 and has continued to work hard at being an employer of choice.
“It’s wonderful to hear that NCC earned this recognition. I believe having an inclusive culture in our workplace boosts morale and opportunity. For me personally, I value the meaningful work that NCC offers and I’m proud to lead a passionate team in a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation,” said Jennifer McKillop, regional vice president in Saskatchewan.
A not-for-profit land trust with roughly 300 employees, NCC has actively promoted female leadership. It is led by Catherine Grenier, president and chief executive officer, and guided by a Board of Directors chaired by Elana Rosenfeld, CEO of Kicking Horse Coffee. Over 52 per cent of NCC’s senior management identify as women, and females make up nearly 70 per cent of NCC’s full-time workforce. This is part of NCC’s overall commitment to inclusion in its work and governance.
“Many staff who identify as women are driven to work on behalf of nature in the not-for-profit sector because they have a deep and passionate belief in the mission and what it means for our families, our communities and our planet. At NCC we are blessed to have committed staff who are innovative, talented and all care about protecting Canada’s special places and about the trust we earn from donors,” said Catherine Grenier, president and chief executive officer.
In Canada, Great Place to Work® produces the annual Best Workplaces list and over a dozen other lists, including the Best Workplaces for Millennials, Women, Diversity, as well as for many different industries. To be eligible for this list, organizations must be Great Place to Work- Certified™ in the past year and have a female president or CEO.
2020 saw some important conservation gains in Saskatchewan. They included the purchase of 866 hectares (2,140 acres) of native grasslands at Buffalo Pound Lake. Grasslands are one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. The site, 40 kilometers from Moose Jaw, includes seven kilometers of shoreline along the north shore of Buffalo Pound Lake. The lake is also important because it stores the drinking water for a quarter of Saskatchewan’s population, including the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw. The native grasslands around the lake help filter the water, trap carbon and hold back flood waters. The area is an important wildlife habitat corridor and home to many species at risk such as Sprague’s pipit, American badger and northern leopard frog.
NCC also purchased 124 hectares (307 acres) near Asquith, approximately 45 minutes from Saskatoon. The site features native and tame grasslands as well as aspen forest. It brings the total conservation area to 543 hectares (1,343 acres). These properties contribute to a common habitat corridor located in the Saskatoon Prairie Natural Area. Known for its grasslands, forests, stabilized sand dunes and wetlands, the area is important for wildlife conservation. Conserving the area helps avoid further habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural activity and urbanization. In 2021, NCC is improving public access at two of its Asquith properties. Thanks to support from the Saskatoon Nature Society, NCC is installing walking trails and interpretive signs so people will be able to explore the sights and sounds this area has to offer. These will be added to NCC’s national Nature Destinations Program – which promotes eco-tourism.
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The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect 14 million hectares (35 million acres), coast to coast to coast. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.
Great Place to Work® (GPTW)is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services and certification programs, GPTW recognizes the world's Best Workplaces in a series of national lists. including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (U.S.). Great Place to Work®provides the benchmarks, framework and expertise needed to create, sustain and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit greatplacetowork.caor find GPTW on Twitter at @GPTW_Canada.
