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S P O N S O R E D
organization's HR practices were cutting
edge. The company prides itself on how
it treats its people, and rightfully so.
BioTalent Canada leads by example.
And it's this example that led to the
company's inclusion on the 2020 List
of Best Workplaces in Ontario.
But there's more to the BioTalent
Canada story than that. I've worked for
a lot of companies that claim to have
a conscience. It's a wonderful thing
to say, but it is often little more than
a buzzword. What BioTalent Canada
displayed to me after three days was
Having just joined the bio-economy company in June, Howard Miller of
BioTalent Canada quickly found out that his new employer practises
what it preaches when it comes to HR best practices such as celebrating
inclusion and diversity and embracing health and safety during a
pandemic
WHAT I LEARNED
IN MY FIRST WEEK
AT BIOTALENT CANADA
Three employees
of colour shared
their real-life
experiences as
minorities in
Canada. To call
this powerful
would be an
understatement.
Canada is the human
resources partner and
catalyst for growth in Canada's bio-
economy. It's also one of Ontario's best
places to work.
These two facts are not mutually
exclusive. It's important that an
organization that is responsible for
teaching best HR practices actually
practises those same principles within
its own walls — even virtual ones.
My first day on the job at BioTalent
Canada was June 8, 2020. It was
clear from the word jump that the
TOP E M P L O Y E R
BIOTALENT
much more than a conscience — it was a
genuine heartbeat.
BioTalent Canada deserves its place
on the list of 2020 Best Workplaces in
Ontario and I can tell you that it took no
less than three days for me to understand
why. On that day, they invited me to
attend a lunch-and-learn session about
systemic racism in Canada.
Inclusion is a right, not a privilege
for a select few
Three of BioTalent Canada's employees
of colour hosted the presentation.
They shared their real-life experiences
as minorities in Canada. To call this
powerful would be an understatement.
Their stories inspired me as a father.
This is not an easy discussion to have.
It impressed me how open management
was to this difficult conversation. Our
CEO, Rob Henderson, empowered his
employees with a platform. They used it to
educate those who have never experienced
racism. It took incredible courage for my
colleagues to approach Rob; it took true
leadership for Rob to be receptive.
These are the kinds of employees and
employers I want to work with and for.
T h i s l u n c h - a n d - l e a r n s e s s i o n
accomplished a lot. It gave the presenters
— Hannah, Benita and Jules — an
outlet that they needed. And it showed
