Arctic Co-operatives prioritizes employee wellness

As vice-president, merchandising and logistics, at Winnipeg-based Arctic Co-operatives Limited, Robin Buchanan is responsible for procuring products for 33 independently owned and operated co-op businesses across Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. And while that job can be stressful given the challenges of transport in the North, there’s a reason why she has stayed for eight years.

“I think the core reason is the pride we take in what we’re doing and the camaraderie we have within the organization,” she says. “We have stressful situations that come up on a regular basis, and we work as a team to get through them. We’re all on the same side, and we get there together.”

Arctic, a federation owned by the co-ops it serves, has a number of ways it supports its 140 home office employees, including an inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility committee and a leadership training program that Buchanan was able to take herself.

“It’s a great course,” she says. “It shows people how to build each other up and work toward a common goal. We also have the Co-op Learning Centre, which offers courses on human rights issues as well as on using different systems. If an individual wants to go further in the organization or change their career path, we’re here to support them.”

Angeline Malabanan has been with Arctic Co-operatives for 10 years, starting as an administrative assistant and working her way up to her current role as senior payroll and benefits administrator. She also values the training programs she’s been offered.

“Currently, I’m enrolled in Introduction to Payroll Management, which the company pays for 100 per cent,” she says. “There are also lots of in-house training opportunities, if you want to learn Excel or how to facilitate and lead a meeting. The opportunities are unlimited.”

Malabanan mentions her appreciation for a range of employee engagement programs, from VIP tours of Winnipeg’s Folklorama cultural festival to Indigenous culture and Pride celebrations, free or subsidized arts and crafts workshops, archery and bowling, and a personal spending account that can be used for health and wellness expenses.

“They want employees to be fit and well,” she says. “We have fitness classes and a walking program every day. I’m a single mom and don’t have a lot of time to go to the gym, but if it’s offered here, I can get my exercise, and I like that a lot.”

The company’s health and wellness program is called PACE (People at Arctic Co-ops Engaged), and it arose from employees’ need for connection and engagement activities.

“We’ve been able to listen to our employees and accommodate a lot of their requests,” says Buchanan of PACE, which offers physical activities as well as seminars and guest speakers. “It’s about getting together for different activities: lunch and learns, yoga classes, golf and many other things that help us build those relationships.”

The organization developed a strategic initiative to offer additional mental health services during the pandemic, and it’s proved to be a valuable resource for employees.

“It’s important, especially when there’s so much that everyone is going through on a day-to-day basis,” says Buchanan. “One of our main values is looking after each other. In order for us to be able to do what we do and help the communities and businesses we serve, we have to be strong ourselves. So, we make sure everyone’s mental health is as strong as it can be.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing the winners of this year's Manitoba's Top Employers competition, published March 11, 2025 in the Winnipeg Free Press. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, who did not write or review the content.