Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 14, 2024)
Here are some of the reasons why World Vision Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):
- World Vision Canada encourages employees to recruit their friends though referral bonuses when they help to successfully recruit a new candidate, from $500 to $1,500 for each person referred
- World Vision Canada helps employees prepare for life after work with retirement planning assistance along with a defined contribution pension plan -- and helps employees make the transition a little easier with phased-in work options
- World Vision Canada manages the unique Orange Days program, offering full-time employees an additional six paid days to extend their holiday long weekends throughout the year -- and full-time employees can further extend their time off with the purchase up to 10 additional vacation days
World Vision Canada employees celebrate Our World Vision Day, an in-person event for employees to interact and connect
(Photo credit:
Andrew Musselman)
World Vision Canada employees celebrate Our World Vision Day, an in-person event for employees to interact and connect
(Photo credit:
Andrew Musselman)
World Vision Canada employees celebrate Our World Vision Day, an in-person event for employees to interact and connect
(Photo credit:
Andrew Musselman)
Employer Background
| Industry | Charitable organizations |
| Established in Canada | 1957 |
| Parent company | World Vision International |
| Parent company head office | London, England |
| Major Canadian locations | Mississauga ON |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 436 |
| Part-time employees in Canada | 15 |
| Full-time employees worldwide | 444 |
| Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 4% |
| Average age of employees in Canada | 53 years |
| Longest serving employee | 42 years |
Work Environment Rating: B+
| Flexible work options | hybrid work option, flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), telecommuting, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, formal "WorkAway" program ensures offsite employees can reserve workstations and meeting rooms when coming to work onsite, employees may also apply to work remotely outside of Canada for up to 2 months each year |
| Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, free parking |
| Onsite workplace features | telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, nap room, religious observance room, self-serve lunchroom, outdoor patio, outdoor barbecue, discounts at local restaurants |
| Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, music, television, table tennis, natural plants and large windows with natural light, small library areas throughout the building, and a piano available in the auditorium for all to use) |
| Other food options at main location | vending machines (stocked with a variety of snack and meal items), hot chocolate, lattes, coffee and tea always available |
| Onsite fitness facility | while not a traditional fitness facility, the head office auditorium offers storage for weights and fitness equipment as well as space for CrossFit, running, and other onsite training and fitness activities (and an outdoor area available in the warmer months), shower facilities |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+
| Employee social committee name | WVC Social Committee (est. 2019) |
| Past social events | World Vision Day (summer barbecue for all employees at the head office), Day of Prayer (global event bringing employee to the head office for a day of "healing and renewal of spirit, reflection, and praise and focus on our mission, vision, and values") that precedes the Kick-Off Event of the upcoming year), and holiday celebrations during the year |
| Cultural aspects | dress-for-your-day policy, music while working, can bring pets to work when needed, organized social activities for retirees |
| Employee communications | intranet site, company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box, internal social media |
| Other in-house communications | CEO and COO podcasts and blogs |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B+
| Outside salary surveys | participates in outside salary surveys every 24 months |
| Employee salary reviews | individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months |
| Long-term savings | defined-contribution (DC) pension, matching RSP |
| Long-term planning | retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options |
| Referral bonuses (max) | new employee referral bonuses (up to $1,500) for some positions |
| Additional financial benefits | corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.), 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 85% of the premiums |
| Minimum hours worked for coverage | 20 hours per week |
| Waiting period | there is no waiting period for coverage |
| Family coverage option | yes |
| Dental coverage | routine, restorative |
| Eyecare | $250 every 2 years |
| Paid sick days | employees receive 10 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, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services |
| Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $1,000 each year |
| Health spending account | up to $500 each year |
| Additional health and wellness initiatives | formal staff care and wellness program, including hosting a Staff Care Week focused on five areas of staff well-being, including webinars and resources addressing mental, social, physical, financial, and spiritual wellness |
| Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 80% of salary for 17 weeks |
| Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 80% of salary for 10 weeks |
| Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks |
| Adoption top-up | up to 80% of salary for 12 weeks |
| Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave, phased-in return to work for new parents, compassionate top-up to 80% of salary for 27 weeks |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A+
| Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
| Vacation jump | vacation increases after 8 years of employment |
| Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation over their career |
| Previous experience | considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees |
| Personal paid days off | employees can schedule 7 personal days off each year, as needed |
| Company paid days off | employees receive 6 personal days off, as determined by their employer |
| Unpaid leave maximum | 3 months |
| Self-funded/deferred salary leave maximum | 4 months |
| Additional time-off information | unique Orange Days program offering all full-time employees an additional 6 paid days off (scheduled to extend holiday long weekends throughout the year), personal days are divided into 2 personal days and 5 wellness days used to help balance day-to-day responsibilities, formal Milestone Days programs (employee anniversaries celebrated with 1 extra paid day for every 5 years of service, to 5 days) |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B+
| Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months |
| Managers receive performance review training | yes |
| 360° feedback option | as part of the review process, performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work |
| 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 | online recognition platform, peer-to-peer recognition awards, long-service awards, tailored and unique rewards (e.g. travel) |
| In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 1 month |
| Outside survey period | outside consultant surveys are held every 12 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: B+
| Career planning | in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory |
| In-house training initiatives | mentoring, in-house training, online training, leadership development programs, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation, mentoring to transfer retirees' skills |
| Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 20% of tuition per year |
| Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $2,500 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Community Involvement Rating: A+
| Scope of charitable involvement | local, national, international |
| Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities |
| Total number of charities supported last year | approximately 100 charitable and community organizations were supported last year |
| Some of the community organizations supported | Courage Polar Bear Dip (recently held the 39th annual January swim in Lake Ontario -- the famous event raised over $100,000 last year in support of freshwater projects water projects in Ethiopia and Zambia) |
| Community highlight | Beyond its raison d'être, World Vision Canada provides several opportunities for employees to volunteer and get involved in giving back, either directly or indirectly, with employees working with humanitarian relief agencies in over 50 countries worldwide providing programs to support and advocate for "children, families, and communities to experience a fuller life" |