The Chilliwack sales team at Westbow Group of Companies.Supplied
When Westbow Group of Companies Ltd. was in its early growth stages, employees worked side by side in a barn in Chilliwack, B.C. Desks were tightly grouped together. Windows stayed open in the summer to make up for the lack of air conditioning. Even senior leadership shared the same space.
“It was humble, entrepreneurial and collaborative. It set the tone that we’re in this together,” recalls Gabor Flor, head of real estate.
Today, Westbow has grown into a diversified construction, real estate and agriculture company with a modern office to support its expanding team. While the workspace has evolved, the culture of hard work, accountability and shared purpose that fuelled its early success remains unchanged.
A central part of that culture is investing in employees’ professional development. Team members are provided with various leadership and development opportunities, including leadership courses, one-on-one coaching and individual development plans. The company aims to develop internal talent and regularly promotes from within.
“It’s high-growth, open-minded and nobody here has an ego,” Flor says. “When we recruit, we look for culture fit over skill, because with the right mindset, capacity and drive, people can learn and grow into their role.”
Kayla Smith’s career path is a clear example. She joined Westbow three and a half years ago as a development administrator after stepping away from a demanding legal career to find better balance for her family. Through consistent performance and initiative, Smith advanced into her current role as executive assistant, a transition that she says speaks to the company’s commitment to internal growth.
Smith says Westbow’s values stood out to her from her earliest interactions with the company.
“They were focused on more than just filling a role. They cared about finding the right fit and building something long-term,” she says. “Right away from the initial interviews, you could tell they genuinely cared — about people, about doing things right, and about building something meaningful.”
She says the weekly “Wins and Brags” meetings, where employees celebrate their collective wins and shout out colleagues for good work or going the extra mile, are a perfect example of the company’s supportive culture. The gatherings reinforce collaboration, transparency and shared responsibility for results, she says.
“You’re acknowledging the teamwork, saying something nice you might not otherwise think to say. I love that our company does that,” says Smith.
Westbow’s impact extends into the local and global communities through Westbow Gives Back, the charitable foundation established by company founder Dick Westeringh. The foundation operates under the bold vision of making a positive difference in one million lives.
Employees participate in local initiatives such as youth shelter meal programs, clothing drives and charity fundraisers, as well as international education projects in Kenya, Haiti and Guatemala. These efforts focus on expanding access to education by building schools and educational facilities, sponsoring students and delivering digital learning resources. Employees are even supported in travelling to contribute directly to this work.
Both Westbow’s internal culture and its philanthropic foundation support the company’s vision for a world where “every person has the skills and opportunities to reach their greatest potential.”
“For us, giving back isn’t separate from the business,” says Flor. “It’s part of our responsibility.”
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Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.