Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has once more been recognized for its efforts to offer an inclusive workspace for all its team members. Recently, the Crown agency revealed it was selected for Forbes’ list of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity for 2023. Out of 150 companies in the honourable list, OLG ranked in 70th place for the current calendar year.
Via its gambling operations, OLG delivers all of its profits to Ontario, while also trying to create an environment where all of its employees are included and always feel welcomed. For the 2022-23 FY, the Crown generated its highest-ever annual net profit to the province, which will now help support government priorities and improve the quality of life for Ontarians.
Promoting and Celebrating Inclusivity
OLG’s President and CEO, Duncan Hannay, said the Crown’s strength was in its collective differences and that every employee brought value to the team. He remarked OLG was honoured to see that so many of its staff members see it as a workplace that encourages diversity. Mr. Hannay shared that the organization was pleased to be included in the Forbes prestigious list.
The inclusion in the list is the latest recognition which indicates OLG’s progress in its devotion to creating a culture of inclusion where its employees’ differences are valued, celebrated and seen as strengths. It should be explained, that Forbes and Statista Inc. compiled the list in 2023 via an independent survey of employees of companies with more than 500 personnel.
Earlier this year, OLG completed a third Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Employee Census. This helped the Crown better understand how its employees experienced its culture, programs, and policies. With this, the company witnessed an 11% improvement in its inclusion score compared to the EDI from 2021, hence placing the corporation well above industry standards.
Esther Zdolec, OLG’s Senior Vice President of People and Culture claimed that the Crown wants to have the space to be themselves and feel empowered to use their imagination and skills for a better Ontario. She added that the EDI was one of the reasons for its success, in her words, together the organization was more creative, innovative, and last but not least, inclusive.
It should be also mentioned that for 2022 and 2023, the Crown corporation was also featured in Forbes’ list of Canada’s Best Employers. This marked the second year in a row, the company made the list. Also, in 2023, OLG climbed a few ranks and it is now placed in the top 15% of the top employers which were recognized for their efforts.
Honouring Indigenous Basketball Player
At the end of June 2023, OLG also paid tribute to an Indigenous basketball player, Emily Mandamin, by revamping a basketball court in Northwestern Ontario. Skatewizaagegan #39’s new court was presented in June and the special ceremony featured the player herself. Ms. Mandamin was the first member of the Independent First Nation to get a college basketball scholarship in a U.S. college.
Source: “OLG recognized as one of Canada’s Best Employers For Diversity” PR Newswire, July 11, 2023
