~ by Odia Reimer, Vice-President of People & Culture
When I think about inclusivity at Friesens, I picture faces…coworkers greeting each other on the production floor, a new employee learning the ropes with a patient mentor, a team sharing food from different cultures in the lunchroom. For me, inclusion isn’t a program. It’s how we treat people every single day.
It means you can walk into work and feel like you belong. Your ideas matter. Your voice is heard. You’re respected for who you are and for what you bring. That’s the kind of workplace I want for every employee‑owner here.
Friesens is made up of people from many countries and backgrounds. Different first languages. Different stories. Different ways of seeing the world. I see those differences as strengths. They make us more creative, more caring, and better at solving problems together.
We are located in Altona Southern Manitoba, a small town of about 4,500 people. Many of us don’t just work together…we live together. We bump into each other at the grocery store, cheer at the rink, meet at school events, and wave on the sidewalk.
Because of that, caring for employees and caring for our community go hand in hand. When someone on our team is doing well, our town is stronger. And when our town is healthy and welcoming, our employees thrive. That’s the circle I want us to keep building.
Inclusion shows up in small, steady actions:
- People feel welcomed and valued from day one.
- We celebrate the unique backgrounds of our employees.
- Everyone has opportunities to grow through career path discussions.
- We help remove barriers so people can succeed with English at work classes or our Culture training.
- We show kindness in small, everyday ways.
- We treat each other with respect, even when we disagree.
- We support our community because we are the community.
- We gather to build connection and belonging through culture club events.
- We work together like owners.
I want to assure you we are not finished. Inclusion is a journey, and I know we still have work to do. We’ll keep learning from each other. We’ll keep listening for feedback. We’ll keep looking for better ways to welcome, support, and uplift every person who becomes part of this story.
Read more about The Friesens Way.
