NWC trainees can receive valuable hands-on practice at the Training Centre in Winnipeg, MB.

Just a year since its launch, The North West Company (NWC)’s Training Centre has earned remarkable recognition for its program that helps employees learn to better serve customers.

The Training Centre supports the onboarding and training of Northern and NorthMart store management. Its program assists trainees in gaining the skills and confidence they need to succeed in store. In addition to Certification Training and Operations Training, on-site courses include Leadership, Cultural Awareness and Department Foundations.

Thanks to the effort of those who work at and have contributed to the training program’s successful first year, NWC has been nominated for two awards at the upcoming HR Excellence Awards 2020, presented by the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Manitoba in April. Our nominations include The Ascent Award for investing in leadership and talent development, and The Unity Award for advancing diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility at work.

The new training facility is an example of NWC’s testament to deliver the best services in the North. Since its opening, the Centre has seen enormous interest and achieved major success with both current store personnel and new hires. Trainees come from all regions of Canada – from Kugluktuk, NU to Umiujaq, QC to London, ON and many more. They proudly represent different backgrounds and occupations, proving that Northern Canada is an area with great potential for community and economic development.

As the “graduated students” return to their communities, many stores have seen increasingly encouraging customer engagement.

“The foundations they built for me in terms of routine and theory behind ordering have been crucial. However, the emphasis put on community relations and positive interaction have been key to my success,” commented a staff member who successfully completed the training program in Winnipeg.