Lori Rilkoff, CHRP
HR director
City of Kamloops

Lori Rilkoff, MSc, CHRP is the HR director at the City of Kamloops.  As a 2010 BC HRMA Innovation Award finalist, Lori was recognized or her work with the City’s employee wellness program, Wellness Works.  In 2011, she was selected to be a member of the Excellence, Innovation and Wellness Advisory Committee for Excellence Canada.  Lori is currently a member of the Central Interior Advisory Council and has been involved with BC HRMA for over 18 years.

As one of the City’s five principles, innovation was the basis of the unique change we recently made to our long service award program.  We’ve gone from the standard gift selection from a third party vendor to creating one that is community-focused, supporting the City’s own programs, community groups, and local artists.

Based on their years of service, employees are given choices of tickets to the Kamloops Symphony or to Western Canada Theatre Company productions, or passes to our City fitness and aquatics facilities.  If employees choose local art as their gift choice, they are given a certificate to take to local art galleries where they can make their personal selection. They also have the opportunity to donate the value of their gift to the City’s United Way campaign or to a registered charity of their choice.

Through this program, as a municipal government we are able to support our community while recognizing our employees’ contributions and years of service.

Brian Bonia
HR director
Yukon College

As director of HR with Yukon College, Brian has a track record of providing support and risk mitigation at a strategic level.  Exercising passions for communications, performance management, and relationship development, Brian provides coaching, direction and support to his internal clients— and is responsible for all aspects of recruitment, as well as employee and labour relations.

While impressed by the generosity of the paid leave programs available to all our staff, for me, the Volunteering Leave program sets us apart. It supports the employee and promotes the College’s participation in the community.

Within this leave program, staff who have taken on certain roles for national or international events are eligible. If such an event is being hosted in the Yukon, our staff may take up to 15 days paid leave leading up to and during the event. During the recent Arctic Winter Games, a number of our staff stood out as project managers for their contributions. We’ve seen capacity grow through these experiences, which may not have been available in their staff role.

Moreover, for employees who continue to pursue amateur athletics as competitors, coaches or referees, they are able to represent the Yukon at such events without loss of pay or loss of vacation time.

Gena Teesdale, CHRP
compensation analyst
Prospera Credit Union

Gena Teesdale is the compensation analyst for Prospera Credit Union and has worked in a variety of positions within the financial services industry for nearly ten years. Holding her CRHP designation, in her spare time, Gena volunteers with BC HRMA and is becoming a Toastmaster.  Her vision for the future of HR involves harnessing the power of talent, culture, and leadership to create a vibrant workplace where inter-generational groups can work collaboratively.

Prospera recognizes that employees play an integral role in our success and future growth, and that it’s important that we support employees with programs that fit their lifestyle. Married, single, or a single parent the flexible benefits program can be tailored to individual needs while taking advantage of tax-effective choices.

Flexible benefits allow employees to choose their preferred level of coverage in dental, extended health, MSP, life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance, and short & long term disability coverage. Our plan features a coordinating option allowing employees to spend flex dollars where they add value, rather than spending on duplicate coverage available through a spouse’s plan.

A great feature of the plan is if employees have flex dollars remaining after selecting benefits they can deposit them into a Health Care Spending Account, an RRSP, or purchase additional vacation days. This plan provides the optimum level of flexibility for our employee’s needs.

Peter Tonkin, CHRP, CMS
HR manager
Mission Group Enterprises Ltd.

Peter Tonkin, CHRP, CMS, AIBS(SI) is the human resources manager for Mission Group Enterpises Ltd based in Kelowna with over 20 years of HR generalist and compensation experience in the hospitality, forestry, government and banking industries.  The experience of leading and being involved in numerous total compensation related projects prompted him to follow his passion and complete his Compensation Management Specialist designation through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Peter is an active member of the Southern Interior BC HRMA community.  

Getting back to compensation basics and communicating what actually goes on behind the scenes! Total compensation, as any seasoned HR professional knows covers many facets. All good organizations conduct compensation surveys, upgrade salary levels and report compensation trends to senior executives. How often do regular employees actually know that this is happening?

Having recently moved into a role in a newly merged company gearing up for some exciting expansion, my initial task was to conduct a compensation review to ensure market competitiveness, internal equity and introduce and update variable pay programs.

The process, methodology, results and new incentive programs were well communicated to all employees. The anticipation, as it always is when it affects employee compensation, was high. The end result was well worth the effort. Employees engagement increased and a lot of niggling compensation issues were resolved. Seeing the behavioral change was an incredible experience.

Jania Picton, CEBS
compensation and benefits manager
Canadian Forest Products Ltd.

Jania Picton, CEBS, is the compensation and benefits manager for Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (“Canfor”) with 15 years experience working with compensation, benefit and pension programs. In 2006, she achieved her Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation through Dalhousie University and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Canfor is a leading Canadian integrated forest products company and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013.

With a robust Total Rewards package including a competitive salary, comprehensive benefit plans, and pension, Canfor invests in its greatest asset: its employees. All salaried employees also enjoy a short term incentive plan and a wellness program that pays partial reimbursement for gym memberships.

However, we believe the greatest aspect of our Total Rewards package for our employees is the opportunity for career growth. We encourage employees to apply for apprenticeships as well as to obtain professional designations such as the Certified General Accountant (CGA).

The size and diversity of our company, with offices in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, provides many opportunities for employees to grow and develop their skills. We work hard to help employees develop their leadership skills so today’s employees can become tomorrow’s leaders, and many leadership roles within the Company are filled by internal promotions.

(PeopleTalk Summer 2013)