This year’s list of Canada’s Greenest Employers was announced Thursday by the editors of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. Fifty organizations across Canada were recognized on this year’s list, including a few financial institutions.

This year’s list includes some of Canada’s best-known employers, plus more than a few less-familiar organizations with notable environmental initiatives.

Financial services organizations on this year’s list include:

• Certified General Accountants Association of Canada;
• KPMG LLP;
• Royal Bank of Canada;
• State Farm Insurance;
• TD Bank Financial Group; and
• Vancity Group.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of organizations that are incorporating environmental values into their culture,” said Richard Yerema, managing editor at Mediacorp Canada Inc.

“These organizations recognize the importance of environmental values to their employees and customers — their initiatives read like a catalogue of best-practices,” he added.

Now in its third year, the Canada’s Greenest Employers competition grew out of two speeches given by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Al Gore at the annual conference on the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project in 2006 and 2007.

Human resources consulting firm Hewitt Associates has compiled a separate list of Canada’s top employers that are highly regarded for their commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability. Hewitt’s list — the Green 30 — was also published Thursday.

Among the financial services companies on the Green 30 list are:

• Co-operators Life Insurance Co. and The Co-operators group;
• Scotiabank Group;
• TD Bank Financial Group; and
• Vancity Credit Union.

IE