Top Employer: Toronto Zoo

Recognized as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2021):

Here are some of the reasons why Toronto Zoo was selected as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2021):

Toronto Zoo offers employees unique opportunities to work in the zoogeographic regions of Indo-Malaya, Africa, Americas, Tundra Trek, Australasia, Eurasia and the Canadian Domain -- all located within 287 hectares alongside the largest urban protected park in North America, the Rouge National Urban Park
Toronto Zoo supports ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies for courses related and not directly related to their current position (to $1,500 annually) as well as in-house training and apprenticeship programs
Toronto Zoo supports the longer term goal of its employees through a defined benefit pension plan as well as a health benefits plan that extends to retirees

Toronto Zoo staff engage in hands-on conservation action, such as the Blanding's Turtle Headstart Program

Industry	Zoos and botanical gardens
Established in Canada	1974
Major Canadian hiring locations	Toronto ON
Full-time employees in Canada	267
Part-time employees in Canada	125
Average age of employees in Canada	39 years
Longest serving employee	41 years
Benefits note	Toronto Zoo has multiple employee groups, the following programs and policies may vary by position
Long-term savings	defined-benefit (DB) pension
Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums
Flexible work options	flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay)
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Outside survey period	outside consultant surveys are held every 12 months
Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
In-house training initiatives	apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 75% of tuition per year
Annual tuition maximum	employer pays up to $1,500 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Employee charitable involvement	employees are involved in selection of charities