Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2021) and Manitoba's Top Employers (2021):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 12, 2020)
Here are some of the reasons why Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. / APTN was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2021) and Manitoba's Top Employers (2021):
- APTN helps employees through alternative working arrangements, including flexible hours and working from home
- 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 supports ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies for courses related and not directly related their current role (to $1,800 annually) as well as offering unique programs such as educational partnerships with the National Film Board and the Canadian Association of Journalists

An APTN employee uses a standing workstation
Employer Background
Industry | Television broadcasting |
Established in Canada | 1999 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Vancouver BC, Montréal QC, Ottawa ON, Winnipeg MB |
Full-time employees in Canada | 147 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 2 |
Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 9% |
Average age of employees in Canada | 44 years |
Longest serving employee | 20.7 years |
Physical Workplace Rating: B+
Commuter amenities | secure/sheltered bicycle parking |
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, sit-stand workstations, religious observance room, self-serve lunchroom |
Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, music, television, board games, book swap and quiet reading area, puzzles, cribbage boards, cards |
Other food options at main location | newly renovated lunchroom features gourmet single-serve coffee makers and distilled water coolers, and healthier option vending machines, offering health bars, hemp seeds, nuts, veggie chips and more (upon employee consultation, snack vending and soft drink machines were upgraded to feature healthier items) |
Other nearby amenities | YMCA, GoodLife, SNAP Fitness, Air Canada Window Park, Japanese Gardens, Central Park, The Exchange District, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Bell MTS Place, The Forks National Historic Site |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: A
Employee social committee name | APTN Social Committee (est. 2001) |
Past social events | children's Christmas party with a visit from Santa, catered holiday lunch, Halloween costume contest and 13 Days of Halloween trivia contest, Valentine's treats and "Help Find Nanook" polar bear scavenger hunt, payday 50/50 draws, holiday tree up all year and decorated to reflect each season |
Cultural aspects | dress-for-your-day policy, music while working |
Employee communications | company newsletter |
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 |
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 |
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) |
Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $500 each year |
Additional health plan information | EAP/EFAP offers an extended component for family members and includes counselling services by traditional elders, Best Doctors, has established a formal return-to-work program in partnership with Vital Life, with the goal to bring each employee back to work as quickly and safely as possible |
Wellness initiatives | meditation Mondays (employee-led and meets once per week), onsite reflexology, massage therapy and cranial sacral therapy |
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 |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, telecommuting |
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 2 personal days off each year, as needed |
Unpaid leave maximum | 3 months |
Additional time-off information | after 5 years on the job, employees move to 21 days of paid vacation, after 8 years, employees receive 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 |
Managers receive performance review training | yes |
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 | 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), established a dedicated committee focused on increasing employee engagement throughout the year |
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 | mentoring, in-house training, online training, leadership 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 |
Unique training & development programs | interdepartmental opportunities expose employees to work experiences across the organization, 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 |
Community highlight | APTN encourages employees to volunteer and support Indigenous groups and organizations in the community. APTN also maintains a Community Connections website to support ongoing communication between First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and organizations from across the country. |
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2021):
By Kristina Leung, Stephanie Leung, and Jing Wang, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 18, 2021)
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 (2021):
- 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 (an Indigenous investigative news program in Canada)
- APTN manages a work experience program for high school and post-secondary students of Indigenous descent -- upon program completion, participants may also apply for paid internships, which expose students to a practical overview of television broadcasting and the skills required to start a successful career in broadcasting
- As part of the broadcaster's relationship with the Journalists for Human Rights organization, APTN accepts up to four interns per year who are dedicated to reporting Indigenous content

APTN employees in the head office's break room
Highlights
Industry | Television broadcasting |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Vancouver BC, Montréal QC, Ottawa ON, Winnipeg MB |
Full-time employees in Canada | 147 |
Student opportunities | summer jobs, co-op opportunities, paid internships |
In-house training programs | orientation program, in-house training, online training, in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory, mentoring, leadership training |
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 |
Additional highlights | scholarship program for First Nation, Inuit and Métis students, work experience placements for Indigenous students in human resources, IT, and news 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.

An APTN employee sets up a shot
Highlights for New Grads
Industry | Television broadcasting |
Full-time employees in Canada | 101 to 250 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Vancouver BC, Montréal QC, Ottawa ON, Winnipeg MB |
Student opportunities | paid internships for studio roles, reporting research and writing, marketing, and finance, 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 $45K |
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