More than 500 employees local to our Waterloo head office came together at "Camp OGC" for this year’s Corporate Fun Day. The day was filled with fun and connection — from rock climbing, archery, games and the bungee run to campfire singing and more. Together, we also partnered with Nutrition for Learning for a Seeds of Belonging activity, assembling 3,352 seed kits that will be shared with local schools to help students build a connection to food, community and belonging. We’re proud to come together not only to celebrate, but to give back in a way that supports the communities around us.
Thanks to the generosity of our employees, our recent shoe drive—held in partnership with BioPed Footcare & Orthotics and in support of Soles4Souls Canada—collected nearly 250 pairs of shoes. This donation is expected to help create more than $2,100 in economic opportunity for families and communities around the world. In countries such as Haiti and Honduras, donated shoes can help families access essentials like food, housing, and education for up to two months. What no longer fit in our closets now has a second life—one that supports dignity, stability, and opportunity for someone else. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this initiative possible.
Our people are the reason we’re able to do what we do—every day. As part of Employee Appreciation Week, we were pleased to host an appreciation lunch for team members local to our Waterloo office, along with virtual activities to ensure colleagues across locations could take part in the celebration. Moments like these remind us that our work is stronger because of the people behind it.
We recently welcomed employees local to our Waterloo office for an International Women’s Day networking event, featuring breakfast, meaningful connections, and an empowerment wall filled with advice, wins, and inspiring quotes. We also brought colleagues together virtually for a powerful conversation with keynote speaker Sonia Edmonds, Managing Partner, Innovation and Change at BDO Canada LLP, who shared insights on AI and women in the workplace. The event also featured employee story presentations, spotlighting the experiences and achievements of colleagues across our organization. Together, these moments reminded us of the impact of connection, shared voices, and continued commitment to equity—today and every day.
Team OTIP showed up in a big way at the Great Food Sort Challenge recently. Our employees sorted an incredible 1,848 pounds of non-perishable food at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region in just 50 minutes, helping to provide approximately 1,540 meals for people in our community.
A Triple Win for OTIP! We’re thrilled to share that OTIP, in partnership with Accenture, has earned three Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards for our learning and development achievements through our Better Together initiative! 🏅 Gold – Best Learning Program Supporting a Change Transformation Business Strategy 🥈 Silver – Best Learning Team 🥈 Silver – Best Results of a Learning Program The Brandon Hall Awards are global recognitions program that celebrates the best human capital program across the world. OTIP has won against companies operating at a global scale, demonstrating the dedication of the company to its employees and members. These awards celebrate the incredible work happening across OTIP to equip our teams for change and foster a culture of continuous learning. Thanks to our partnership with Accenture, OTIP was able to bring together the transformation expertise of our partners with the knowledge of what matters most for us: our employees and quality of service.
We are honoured to announce that OTIP is one of 13 recipients selected across Canada for the Benefits and Pensions Monitor's 2025 Top Employer Award! This recognition extends beyond our benefits - it's a testament to our vibrant culture and the incredible people who work with us.
We’re proud to be named a 2025 CIO Awards Canada winner! IDC Canada Events and CIO have recognized OTIP for our Better Together, Experience 360 project—an enterprise-wide transformation focused on making member experiences easier, faster, and more personalized. Through innovation and a member-first mindset, we’re redefining how we serve Ontario’s education community. 🏆 Thank you to CIO and IDC Canada for this honour. We look forward to celebrating with fellow winners at the CIO Summit in November!
On June 29, OTIP had the privilege of joining the 2025 Pride Festival held in the heart of downtown Toronto. It was an amazing celebration filled with moments of empowerment, togetherness, and joy that attracted thousands of attendees from across Canada and beyond. Employees, along with their families and friends, walked in the parade, radiating pride throughout the event. OTIP also hosted a booth at the Pride Street Fair.
On June 4, we welcomed more than 400 employees to our Northfield headquarters for our annual Corporate Fun Day event. This year's theme was Country Fair. The event featured games, a pie eating contest, line dancing, a petting zoo with therapy dogs and delicious food. Of course, while we were having fun, we also raised funds for a number of charities through our axe throwing competition.
