Top Employer: Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. / APTN

Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023) and Manitoba's Top Employers (2022):

Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 17, 2022)

Here are some of the reasons why Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. / APTN was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023) and Manitoba's Top Employers (2022):

APTN provides new mothers with maternity and parental leave top-up payments (to 93 per cent of salary for one week, followed by 80 per cent of salary for 16 weeks) and extends parental leave top-up to new fathers and adoptive parents (to 80 per cent of salary for 16 weeks) -- and parents can apply to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence
Along with helping employees save for the longer term, APTN contributes to a defined contribution pension plan for all employees -- and offers northern living allowances (reviewed annually) and housing allowances for its Iqaluit-based employees
APTN encourages ongoing employee development through tuition subsidies for courses at outside academic institutions (to $1,800 annually), in-house training programs (including paid internships, apprenticeships, interdepartmental opportunities) and a formal work experience program to recruit Indigenous high school students

Employees at APTN

Employer Background

Industry	Television broadcasting
Established in Canada	1999
Major Canadian hiring locations	Winnipeg MB
Full-time employees in Canada	152
Part-time employees in Canada	3
Workforce engaged on a contract basis	9%
Average age of employees in Canada	45 years
Longest serving employee	22.66 years

Work Environment Rating: B+

Hybrid work	most employees worked from home during the pandemic, has implemented a gradual return-to-work program, along with reviewing options for a formal hybrid work program
Flexible work options	flexible work hours, telecommuting
Commuter amenities	walk to public transit, secure/sheltered bicycle parking
Onsite workplace features	circular-shaped studio features artifacts representing Indigenous cultures from the north, south, east and west, office space is painted using an Aboriginal colour scheme of blue, red and yellow, and features a custom-made boardroom table that reflects the traditional medicine wheel, telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, religious observance room, shower facilities for cyclists
Employee lounge amenities	comfortable seating, music, television, board games, book swap and quiet reading area, puzzles, cribbage boards, cards

Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B

Employee social committee name	APTN Social Committee (est. 2001)
Past social events	a number of virtual events hosted during the pandemic, from bingo to a virtual blessing with APTN's Elder to weekly social chats -- and Friday lunches every two weeks with onsite employees
Cultural aspects	business-casual dress daily, music while working
Other in-house communications	televisions in public areas highlight information from across the company

Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B+

Outside salary surveys	participates in outside salary surveys every 24 months
Employee salary reviews	individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months
Long-term savings	defined-contribution (DC) pension, life & disability insurance
Referral bonuses (max)	new employee referral bonuses (up to $500) for some positions
Additional financial benefits	northern allowance (reviewed annually) and Iqaluit housing allowances

Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A

Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums
Minimum hours worked for coverage	21 hours per week
Waiting period for coverage	90 days
Family coverage option	yes
Dental coverage	routine, restorative, orthodontics
Eyecare	$200 every 2 years
Paid sick days	employees receive 9 days off each year
Health plan includes	traditional coverage (e.g. prescription drugs), employee assistance (EAP) plan, semi-private hospital room, physiotherapy, medical travel insurance, homecare, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, nutrition planning, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services
Mental health practitioner benefit	up to $500 each year
Wellness spending account	up to $150 each year
Additional health plan information	EAP/EFAP includes counselling services by traditional elders, access to Teladoc Medical Experts
Additional health and wellness initiatives	virtual meditation Mondays weekly
Maternity top-up (mothers)	up to 93% of salary for 1 week
Parental top-up (mothers)	up to 80% of salary for 16 weeks
Parental top-up (fathers)	up to 80% of salary for 16 weeks
Adoption top-up	up to 80% of salary for 16 weeks
Additional family-friendly benefits	extended parental leave to unpaid leave

Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A

Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3.6 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Vacation jump	vacation increases after 5 years of employment
Maximum vacation allowance	employees move to a maximum of 5 weeks of vacation over their career
Personal paid days off	employees can schedule 1 personal day off each year, as needed
Unpaid leave maximum	3 months
Additional time-off information	after 5 years on the job, employees move to 4.2 weeks (21 days) of paid vacation, after 8 years, employees receive 4.8 weeks (24 days) of paid vacation (the maximum vacation allotment), senior-level employees start with 4 weeks of paid vacation, moving to 6 weeks after 12 years of employment

Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B

Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
360° feedback option	as part of the review process, performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work
Exit interview	exit interview option is available for departing employees
Performance recognition	individual performance bonuses, on-the-spot rewards, peer-to-peer recognition awards, long-service awards, tailored and unique rewards (e.g. travel), long-service awards which include a customized Star Blanket (to celebrate 10 years of employment) and framed birch bark biting art (to celebrate 15 years), $500 certificate to Manitoba Mukluks (20 years)
In-house survey period	in-house surveys are conducted every 24 months

Training & Skills Development Rating: A

Career planning	in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory
In-house training initiatives	apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, mentoring, in-house training, online training, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Annual tuition maximum	employer pays up to $1,800 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Unrelated tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year for courses unrelated to current position
Unrelated tuition maximum	employer pays up to $1,800 in tuition subsidies per year for courses unrelated to current position
Education leave	educational leaves of absence are available
Unique training & development programs	interdepartmental opportunities, formal work experience program to recruit Indigenous high school students for internships, educational partnerships with the National Film Board, Canadian Association of Journalists, Journalists for Human Rights

Community Involvement Rating: B+

Scope of charitable involvement	local, national
Employee charitable involvement	employees receive paid time off to volunteer
Some of the community organizations supported	United Way, Alpha House Project, Christmas Cheer Board, Broadway Neighborhood Centre, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, I Love First Peoples, Gimli Film Festival, Inuvik Sunrise Festival, Montreal First Peoples Festival, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Yorkton Film Festival, Vision Quest Conference, to name a few
Community highlight	APTN maintains a Community Connections website (and encourages employee volunteerism) in support of First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and organizations from across the country.

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):

Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 23, 2023)

Here are some of the reasons why Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. / APTN was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):

APTN offers a formalized mentorship program that incorporates Indigenous elements for learning and provides opportunities for Indigenous employees to develop the necessary skills required to apply for management vacancies as they arise
APTN partners with the Canadian Association of Journalists to provide a paid 12-week journalism fellowship -- the selected participant has the opportunity to produce a full-length piece of original investigative journalism which will air on APTN Investigates (the first Indigenous investigative news program in Canada)

APTN employee enjoys a lunchtime break

Highlights

Industry	Television broadcasting
Major Canadian hiring locations	Winnipeg MB
Full-time employees in Canada	152
Student opportunities	summer jobs, co-op opportunities
In-house training programs	orientation program, in-house training, online training, in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory, mentoring, leadership training, apprenticeship/skilled trades programs
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Annual tuition maximum	employer pays up to $1,800 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Unique training and development opportunities	occasionally offers internal opportunities for employees to gain experience in other departments, mentorship program that incorporates Indigenous elements for learning
Additional highlights	scholarship program for Indigenous students, work experience placements for Indigenous students in various departments
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3.6 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

The Career Directory

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. / APTN has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.

Owen, an employee at APTN

Highlights for New Grads

Industry	Television broadcasting
Full-time employees in Canada	101 to 250
Major Canadian hiring locations	Winnipeg MB
Student opportunities	paid internships, summer jobs, co-op opportunities
Training	subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, in-house career planning services, leadership training
Annual tuition maximum	employer pays up to $1,800 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Other info for new grads	Offers Journalists for Human Rights internships and a Canadian Association of Journalists Fellowship.
Typical new grad positions	Researcher/Writer Trainee, Camera Operator/Editor, Reporter Correspondent, Finance Assistant, Junior Accountant, Marketing Intern
Starting salary	$40K to $50K
Work benefits	health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting, employees receive paid time off to volunteer
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3.6 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Academic fields recruited

Community College Diploma
- Accounting
- Business
- Communications / Public Relations
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Journalism
- Marketing / Sales
- Office Administration
- TV/Radio Arts / Broadcast

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. / APTN

Visit website