Teams pull together to accomplish goals at AGLC

Luc Gagnon works in an ever-changing landscape at Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC). “It’s challenging but fun,” says Gagnon, field services manager, gaming. “I’ve worked on big projects with others from all over the organization and I’m always impressed at how invested each team is in what they do.”

Headquartered in St. Albert, AGLC is the Crown commercial enterprise and agency that oversees the gaming, liquor and cannabis industries in Alberta.

“AGLC employees show a keen interest in collaboration,” says Ash Tuli, vice president, human resources. “And our leaders are approachable and open to new ideas.”

With up to 1,200 employees at any given time, Tuli finds AGLC still has a caring, small-town feel. In part, this is due to a higher level of flexibility in schedules, a hybrid workplace and a renewed focus on wellness and balance.

There are also initiatives to connect employees province-wide. The CEO and executive team are piloting a video series to spark meaningful conversations between leaders and employees called Coffee Talk. “Right now, we’re focused on innovation, so we have an upcoming episode on that,” says Tuli. “We’re using the platform to learn more about each other, share insights and strengthen our sense of community.

“We regularly survey employees to learn what they want us to tackle, and so it’s casual but informative, and we’re also encouraging some laughs and fun."

Social events run throughout the year, including the Special Thanks and Recognition (STAR) celebration held in hybrid fashion to include watch parties from offices and warehouses across the province. These awards are designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding employee contributions that impact the mission and vision of AGLC and to celebrate the behaviours that reinforce organizational values. Attendees have a chance to hear from winners about their career journeys at AGLC and to acknowledge colleagues’ service awards.

Tuli finds that organizational culture is a journey. A new, employee-led Engage and Evolve working group brings together a diverse employee group to drive this culture work, consider feedback from across the organization and make recommendations. “We’ve done staff surveys and focus groups, and we’ve reached out to other organizations for best practices,” says Tuli. “We want to continue to be responsive to who we are today, but we realize we will continue to evolve.”

Gagnon is a member of the Engage and Evolve working group. “One of the first tasks was to develop a new culture statement and cultural commitments around the values of integrity, respect, collaboration, innovation and inclusion,” he says. “I think our values are one reason people often apply here after being referred by a current employee.”

Gagnon had just recently graduated from the computer engineering program at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) when a former classmate sent him a posting from AGLC. He applied and was hired as a field technician. Within five years, he became a senior technician, and eventually he transitioned into management. Along the way, Gagnon has been supported and mentored by managers.

Right at the start, he was enrolled in a Leaders at Work program that was offered by AGLC in partnership with the University of Alberta. He has since completed a change management program and is constantly learning on the job.

Over his 18 years with the company, Gagnon has taken on various acting positions and corporate projects. And he has had the opportunity to work on different teams and committees. “Now I realize the ceiling of my career may be higher than I thought,” says Gagnon. “I feel there are opportunities ahead of me.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Alberta’s Top Employers winners, published January 28, 2025 in the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.