Background
Since 2001, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers have published an annual list of the best workplaces for older Canadians. These employers are Canada's leaders in creating special programs and benefits of interest to employees aged 40 years and older. Until 2007, this competition was called the Top Ten Employers for Experienced Workers and published annually as an appendix to the Canada's Top 100 Employers paperback. In 2010, the competition was renamed the Top Employers for Canadians Over 40 to reflect the broad range of pension and other initiatives considered in selecting the winners. Read the special editorial feature published in The Globe and Mail on June 7, 2011 announcing this year's winners.

Selection Process
Each employer is evaluated by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers in terms of whether: (1) they offer interesting programs designed to assist older workers; (2) they actively recruit new workers aged 40 years or older; (3) their HR policies take into account the unique concerns of older workers, such as by recognizing prior work experience (at previous employers) in determining vacation entitlement; (4) they offer a pension plan with reasonable employer contributions; (5) they assist older employees with retirement and succession planning; (6) they create opportunities for retirees to stay socially connected to former co-workers through organized social activities and volunteering; (7) they extend health coverage and similar benefits to employees after retirement; and (8) whether they offer any programs, such as mentorship and phased-in retirement, to ease the emotional challenges of retirement and ensure older employees' skills are transferred to the next generation.

Media Partner
Our media partner on the Top Employers for Canadians Over 40 competition is The Globe and Mail newspaper, which announces the winners of the competition each year in its Report on Business section. Our 2011 winners were announced in a special editorial feature published in The Globe on June 7, 2011.

2012 Winners
Our 2012 winners will be announced in a special editorial feature to be published by The Globe and Mail early in 2012. Full editorial calendar »

Eligibility Requirements
Any employer operating in Canada may apply for this competition. Employers of any size may apply, whether private or public sector.

How to Apply
Employers apply for this competition through the Canada's Top 100 Employers application process. Employers complete a single application package for both competitions. Request an application.

Annual Conference
To learn more about the competition, we invite you to join us at the Top Employer Summit, our annual conference on the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. This event lets you discover the latest best-practices from winners, meet competition organizers and writers, and hear inspiring stories from world-class speakers — all presented in a commercial-free format. The conference is Canada's largest annual event for senior-level HR professionals. More info »

Further Information
For more information on the Top Employers for Canadians Over 40 competition, please contact us.

Read the special editorial feature published in The Globe and Mail on June 7, 2011 announcing this year's winners.

2011 WINNERS:

Click below to read why each employer was selected!
(in alphabetical order)

Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
BMO Financial Group
British Columbia Lottery Corporation
Business Development Bank of Canada
Cameco Corporation
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
EllisDon Corporation
Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited
Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Ontario Public Service
Royal Bank of Canada
Saskatchewan Government Insurance
Shell Canada Limited
Siemens Canada Limited
University of Toronto

For this competition, our editorial reasons for selecting the above winners are incorporated within the Reasons for Selection published on each employer for the larger Canada's Top 100 Employers competition.

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