CAMH named to Maclean's Magazine’s Top 100 Employers in Canada

CAMH has been selected by Maclean’s Magazine for its Top 100 Employers in Canada Award in a special edition on newsstands Thursday, October 2^nd, 2008.

Maclean's selected CAMH from more than 2,000 applicant organizations for its 9^th year of this award, which rates employers on a wide variety of categories including physical environment, work atmosphere and communications, health benefits, training and development, to name a few.

Janet Mawhinney, Senior Diversity Consultant at CAMH Human Resources, led the effort to put CAMH forward for consideration, initially for the diversity component of the award. Janet felt that CAMH deserved recognition for its progress in advancing the quality of its workplace and particularly for our leadership in the area of diversity and our dedicated efforts and significant progress in becoming a more equitable and inclusive place to work.

It’s a credit our staff that CAMH was named to Maclean’s Top 100 Employers list this year. Janet Mawhinney, Senior Diversity Consultant (left) believes our diversity record and initiatives were a key factor, and some of its ‘champions’ include Julia Greenbaum, Publishing Developer; Kwasi Kafele, Director Diversity Programs; Michael Taylor, Manager Spiritual and Religious Care and Volunteer Resources; Lorrie Simunovic, Education Specialist; Mary Quartarone, Organizational Development.

“We were pleasantly surprised, I’d have to say,” says Janet, adding that the diversity award winners are still being decided and will be announced separately.

Janet points out that any workplace advances CAMH has made are due to dedication from across the organization, from staff at every level, their managers, as well as the contributions of CAMH’s unions, ONA and OPSEU, and key community partners.

“I think there’s a lot of credit to spread around amongst our staff when you look at all the initiatives we are rolling out as part of the People Plan and our Employment Equity Plan,” says Janet. “But it’s the people that really make CAMH a great place to work. CAMH launched its People Plan in August 2007 as a comprehensive array of initiatives intended to lead, manage and support its staff and make it the best workplace possible.

“CAMH staff are extraordinarily dedicated to their jobs and to our clients — for them, it’s a calling. Something that I see consistently with the staff and managers I meet working on diversity initiatives and in training is their level of commitment — it really sets our workplace apart.”

Being a better diversity employer directly benefits CAMH in its service to clients, family and community, according to Janet Mawhinney. This owes to dedicated champions - among them are Dennis James, Deputy Clinical Director, Addictions and Shayla Gutzin, Director, CATS who were among clinical leads in CAMH Clinical Cultural Competency pilot projects.

CAMH will continue to improve its workplace conditions and make it the best workplace it can be, according to Eric Preston, VP of Human Resources and Organizational Development, which champions the People Plan.

For CAMH President and CEO Dr. Paul Garfinkel, the Maclean’s Award is ‘tremendously encouraging’ for an organization whose staff members are so committed to its values.

“[In receiving this award] I’m reminded of how complimented we were by our Accreditors a few months ago, who pointed to our staff’s awareness of our values and how they connect to their work,” Dr. Garfinkel continued. “I think this speaks volumes about the progress we’re finally making in this area and I hope they’re as proud of it as I am.”

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