Maples Group welcomes all with arms open wide

Most of what Artem Patyka knows about Canada and Montréal he’s learned through his employment at Maples Group. Patyka came to Canada via Ireland in 2022 from his hometown of Kyiv, Ukraine. Though the move was unplanned, he had 13 years of experience in digital marketing and, nine days after landing in Montréal, got a job with the financial and legal advisory firm as a digital marketing executive.

“I came to Canada and started to work right away,” says Patyka, who’s since been promoted to senior digital executive. “I’m happy to be at Maples as it has given me a community that has helped me integrate into my new life in Canada.”

He didn’t feel at all out of place amid Maples Group’s diverse, largely international workforce. Though the Montréal office is a major hub with 361 employees, Maples has 14 other offices globally. Once a year it hosts an in-house food festival where employees bring dishes from their home countries or cultures to share in the office.

“What I like most is the diversity, the friendly environment and the opportunities for career growth, for professional development,” Patyka says.

The onboarding program and in-house training opportunities allowed him to find his footing quickly, he notes. “If you have something you need to know, there is always someone willing to help and explain.”

He’s also gotten to know colleagues from various departments at company-paid outings, such as skating and laser tag.

“As teams, we can decide the social activities that we would like to do,” Patyka says. “It’s a good opportunity to connect.”

Maples Group celebrates Black History Month and Pride Awareness Week and has participated in an array of initiatives to benefit the community. This year, the office participated in a clothing drive to support Dress for Success Montréal, which helps disadvantaged women find jobs, and a school supplies campaign to benefit the students at Saint-Bernardin Elementary School, mostly of whom are immigrants. Last year, Maples worked with Moms Against Poverty and the Women’s Centre of Montréal.

But Maples’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goes beyond such events. Managers meet with employees once a year to set goals and measure progress to ensure advancement is tied to performance and not unconscious bias.

“With Maples, we can be who we are, and we can be our best professionally and personally,” says Jiza Jimera, senior vice-president with the fund accounting team. Jimera cites the company’s DEI statement: “The company is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and diverse group where all of us have equal access to either promotion or opportunities for advancement, regardless of any personal characteristics.”

Jimera notes that 52 per cent of managers and senior managers are women. A mother of two children, she herself has taken advantage of Maples’ flexible work schedules and 20-week maternity leave top-up over her 12 years with the company. She says she felt fully supported through what might otherwise have been a tough transition from individual contributor to manager, including going on a three-day management boot camp.

“The leadership training really made an impact on me. It increased my leadership and interpersonal skills,” says Jimera, who is also a member of the company’s Women’s Professional Networking Group.

Meanwhile, Patyka is digging deeper into his life in Canada. With the help of Maples Group, he’s learning French and — after a complimentary session with a financial advisor — joined the company’s group RRSP. The company has a contribution-matching plan worth up to three per cent of employees’ pay.

“I see a lot of opportunities here,” he says.

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Montreal’s Top Employers winners, published March 18, 2025 in the Montreal Gazette. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.