Unleashing generosity and creativity at Western

Lisa Colbert has always excelled with figures and finances. However, what she truly loves about her job at Western Financial Group is the encouragement she receives to support the people behind the numbers.

“The work we do at Western has ignited a new passion in me which includes our social impact,” says Colbert.

“One of the things that sets us apart in the industry is the way we protect our clients by offering all lines of business, especially when times are tough. It’s an incentive to keep moving forward and continue to improve every day.”

Western Financial Group is a national insurance brokerage with headquarters in High River. It provides diversified insurance services at over 180 locations across Canada and employs over 2,000 people from coast to coast. The company invests millions of dollars in local communities through its Western Communities Foundation.

Western is also committed to sustainability efforts and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to create, it says, a more inclusive, environmentally responsible and sustainable future for its people, customers and communities.

Colbert and her colleagues extend their support beyond just the office, assisting clients affected by disasters and engaging in community service. Inspired by the company-wide Good Heart Day, where employees receive a paid day off in their communities to work for causes they care about, Colbert's in-office wooden hearts symbolize this commitment.

“I give them my wooden heart award. It’s a time-off incentive they can accumulate and take an extra-long lunch break or come in late one day or leave early,” Colbert says.

Colbert instituted the program to show employees a little professional love by rewarding them when she sees someone going the extra mile to help another team member or client.

Western’s caring culture shines through its commitment to employee support initiatives such as gender pay equity, work flexibility, training opportunities, volunteer days off and donation matching programs, says Michelle Mak, director of the Western Communities Foundation.

“We are dedicated to supporting our team and the well-being of our community,” says Mak.

“We continuously seek ways to be a better employer, ensuring we take care of our people so they can take care of our customers and the communities where we operate.”

Colbert appreciates other benefits, like Western’s continuous learning programs including leadership learning solutions and insurance-specific training resources, which keep her up to date and fully qualified. Competitive health and vacation benefits, 14 personal days off a year, and a robust employee assistance program are also part of a holistic approach to employee support at Western.

Colbert especially values the company's efforts to create a culture where she can bring her own unique perspective to solving workplace challenges.

“I love being my authentic self. Everyone is very supportive of how out of the box I can be for the betterment of the company,” she says.

Making the difference where they live and work is something the company’s employees take deep pride in, says Mak.

“It feels good to know we’re giving people the tools they need to create the changes they want to see in their communities,” she says.

“Giving back is not a corporate strategy for us – it’s just who we are.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Alberta’s Top Employers winners, published January 28, 2025 in the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.