Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023), Atlantic Canada's Top Employers (2023) and Nova Scotia's Top Employers (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 17, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. / FBM was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023), Atlantic Canada's Top Employers (2023) and Nova Scotia's Top Employers (2023):
- FBM offers a family-friendly work environment, with a generous maternity and parental leave top-up policy and up to 12 personal days each year -- the company also recently introduced a compressed work week option, which enables employees to work extra hours throughout the week in order to take Fridays off
- FBM lets everyone share in the company's success with profit-sharing and year-end bonuses -- and offers generous referral bonuses for employees who successfully recruit friends (ranging from $1,500 to $3,000)
- FBM takes a thoughtful approach when helping employees manage unexpected challenges, offering compassionate leave top-up for those called upon to care for a loved one (to 100 per cent of salary for up to eight weeks)

FBM's recreational ball hockey team, the Frank Lloyd Wright Wings
Employer Background
Industry | Architectural services |
Established in Canada | 1917 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Halifax NS |
Full-time employees in Canada | 43 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 2 |
Average age of employees in Canada | 39 years |
Longest serving employee | 51 years |
Work Environment Rating: B
Hybrid work | longstanding hybrid work program including work-from-home option and flexible hours |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), compressed work week, telecommuting |
Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, transit subsidies, secure/sheltered bicycle parking |
Onsite workplace features | industrial open-concept office is located in the heart of Halifax's historic downtown, near Citadel Hill and the waterfront, inside, the workplace features continuous, 6-foot long workstations that allow personal space to merge with design space and create a collaborative working environment, sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, self-serve lunchroom, and shower facilities |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+
Employee social committee name | FBM Social Committee (est. 1999) |
Past social events | office-wide boat cruise on Halifax Harbour, holiday party for employees and their families |
Cultural aspects | business-casual dress daily, dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, can bring pets to work when needed, employee sports teams |
Employee communications | traditional/email suggestion box |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B+
Employee salary reviews | individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months |
Long-term savings | matching RSP, non-matching RSP |
Long-term planning | retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options |
Share purchase plan | available to all employees |
Profit-sharing plan | available to all employees |
Year-end bonuses | available to all employees |
Referral bonuses (max) | new employee referral bonuses (up to $3,000) for some positions |
Additional financial benefits | discounted home insurance, discounted auto insurance |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A
Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 50% of the premiums |
Flexible coverage | health plan is flexible with adjustable premiums and coverage levels |
Waiting period | there is no waiting period for coverage |
Retiree coverage option | up to 70 years of age |
Dental coverage | routine, restorative, orthodontics |
Eyecare | $100 every 2 years |
Paid sick days | employees receive 12 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 $300 each year |
In vitro fertilization (IVF) | $3,000 per lifetime |
Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 95% of salary for 16 weeks |
Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 95% of salary for 61 weeks |
Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 95% of salary for 77 weeks |
Adoption top-up | up to 95% of salary for 77 weeks |
Additional family-friendly benefits | phased-in return to work for new parents, compassionate top-up to 100% of salary for 8 weeks |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: C+
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 2 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 4 weeks of vacation over their career |
Previous experience | considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees |
Paid holiday shutdown | during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 5 days off |
Unpaid leave of absence option | yes |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B
Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months |
Confidential employee feedback | employees can also provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance |
Exit interview | exit interview option is available for departing employees |
Performance recognition | individual performance bonuses |
Training & Skills Development Rating: A
Career planning | in-house career planning services |
In-house training initiatives | mentoring, in-house training, online training, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation, mentoring to transfer retirees' skills |
Tuition subsidies (related to job) | yes |
Tuition subsidies (unrelated to job) | yes |
Unique training & development programs | Design Discussions (in-house lecture series on current projects) |
Community Involvement Rating: B+
Scope of charitable involvement | local |
Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer |
Total employee volunteer hours (on company time) | over 214 hours last year |
Total number of charities supported last year | approximately 6 charitable and community organizations were supported last year |
Some of the community organizations supported | Out of the Cold, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, IWK Children's Hospital, Plaid for Dad, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, The Youth Project |
Charitable giving | matches employee donations |
Community highlight | FBM established a Community Connections group to carry out the development of long-term community initiatives such as sustainability, affordable housing advocacy, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. |
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 4, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. / FBM was selected as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2022):
- FBM Architecture encourages employees to become recruiters to the firm through a generous new employee referral bonus program, from $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the position
- FBM Architecture quickly moved employees to work-from-home arrangements and worked to ensure that everyone had the required equipment to set up their home workspaces -- the transition was made easier by building upon its existing flexible work options

Employees at the FBM Architecture head office
(Photo credit:
Greg Richardson)
Highlights
Industry | Architectural services |
Established in Canada | 1917 |
Publicly traded | yes |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Halifax NS |
Full-time employees in Canada | 46 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 2 |
Full-time employee growth in the past year | 27.8 % |
Average age of employees in Canada | 39 years |
Longest serving employee | 50 years |
Long-term savings | matching RSP, non-matching RSP |
Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 50% of the premiums |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), telecommuting |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 2 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
In-house training initiatives | in-house training, online training, mentoring, paid internships |
Tuition subsidies (related to job) | yes |
Performance recognition | individual performance bonuses |