Having the best workplace isn’t about having the perfect workplace, at least not according to Daniel Giroux.
The president of Collège Boréal thinks it’s how they strive for perfection that makes Boréal the best place to work, not necessarily achieving it.
“We’ve always had a great relationship with our faculty and support staff,” said Giroux, the president of the Sudbury-based college since 2016.
“We’re the first one to admit that no college is perfect, but we will always work towards being that perfect employer.”
Boréal’s work towards perfection is made up of a combination of employee commitment, a strong multicultural environment, and high-quality professional development.
Giroux has been at the college for 21 of its 22 years in existence, moving up from support staff to senior management in that time.
Giroux’s not alone.
Over 50 per cent of Boréal’s staff have been with the college for more than 15 years.
“Our most important asset at Collège Boréal is not the building, not the equipment, it’s our staff,” said Giroux. “They want to do everything they can to help that client or student succeed.”
And the students recognize it.
According to the 2016-2017 performance indicators recognized by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, 84 per cent of students feel that Boréal staff members care about their success. That’s 21 per cent higher than the provincial average.
“From the person cleaning the hallways to faculty to management, we take pride in the quality of those bilingual students who come out of our college,” said Giroux.
“To see them succeed and find employment and be successful in life is what makes us tick.”
Some of Boréal’s values have been in place since the college opened in 1995. Others have developed over the years.
From what started as a small Sudbury campus, Boréal has expanded to six locations and 37 access centres in 25 communities across the province.
The expansion has provided jobs to francophone and French-speaking Canadians who teach at the college, and language training for the future workforce.
“Our clientele and our employees are from multiple cultures and backgrounds,” said Giroux. “It’s completely evolved with the addition of so many new Canadians. The intercultural aspect has brought Collège Boréal to a new state.”
Multicultural growth is essential in today’s workforce, he said.
“There are 10 million people in Canada who speak French, and currently there are 29 independent countries where French is one of the official languages. It’s huge for our students to master the French language.”
“Our employees are key to the economic development of this province because they’re giving our future students and clients that chance to succeed.”
For employees, there are professional development opportunities, for all levels, 10 days a year.
“It’s key in attracting a skilled workforce and retention of that qualified workforce,” said Giroux. He is an example of this growth.
“I had an opportunity to grow with the college,” said Giroux. “It gave me a chance to return to school for my MBA, the opportunity to become vice-president, and then the presidency.”
Giroux said this drive towards perfection shows.
“It’s part of the culture. If you ask anyone who’s ever visited any one of our sites whether it’s a minister, a student, or a parent, they just can’t believe the passion and the energy the employees have not just for la Francophonie, but for the college.”
