Top Employer: First West Credit Union

Recognized as one of BC's Top Employers (2025):

Here are some of the reasons why First West Credit Union was selected as one of BC's Top Employers (2025):

First West Credit Union starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation, increasing to four weeks after three years of service -- longer-serving employees can also apply for additional time off through unpaid and self-funded leaves of absence
First West Credit Union maintains a Compassion Fund for employees experiencing financial hardship due to extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances, and supports a thoughtful "Back on Track" program to provide employees and credit union members with solutions to ease financial hardship
First West Credit Union prioritizes employee health and wellness with quarterly health challenges to promote physical activity, monthly team-based wellness huddles, and access to confidential counsellors on-site -- the credit union also offers mental health care coverage of up to $2,000 annually

First West Credit Union employees Candice (left) and Kevin (right) volunteer at 'Food4Schools'

Industry	Credit unions
Established in Canada	2010
Major Canadian locations	Toronto ON, Victoria BC, Duncan BC, Kelowna BC, Penticton BC, Langley BC
Full-time employees in Canada	1,200
Part-time employees in Canada	137
Average age of employees in Canada	42.3 years
Longest serving employee	47.4 years
Flexible work options	hybrid work option, flexible work hours, compressed work week, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), telecommuting
Long-term savings	matching RSP, non-matching RSP
Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 95% of the premiums
Mental health practitioner benefit	up to $2,000 each year
Maternity top-up (mothers)	up to 100% of salary for 12 weeks
Parental top-up (fathers)	up to 100% of salary for 12 weeks
Adoption top-up	up to 100% of salary for 12 weeks
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Outside survey period	outside consultant surveys are held every 24 months
Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
In-house training initiatives	in-house training, online training, mentoring, leadership development programs
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Employee charitable involvement	employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 3 paid days)