Employees at Université Laval gather to share New Year’s wishes for 2026.

Yan Doublet, Université Laval

When André Darveau, Université Laval’s executive vice rector and vice rector of human resources and finance, took his turn at the mic to speak to the 500 employees gathered last week at the university’s annual New Year’s wish exchange, he didn’t wish for improvements to performance-related KPIs. Instead, says Darveau, “I told them that I wish for them to take care of themselves and to take care of their colleagues also. It’s tough times, and it is very important to put our employees at the center.”

Darveau’s wish for the university’s employees was not a holiday platitude. “We repeat it all the time,” he says. And “every time we talk to them, we make sure that we thank them and we recognize their work.” The result is a community of colleagues who feel connected to their jobs and to each other, which was evident from the hugs and New Year’s wishes that everyone shared at the event that day.

Sophie D’Amours, rector at Université Laval, adds that the university prioritizes the wellbeing and growth of its employees in part because the hope is for employees to stay long-term and build their careers at ULaval. “This impacts how we hire, how we onboard, how we care for them, how we develop them—and it has an impact on the way we provide benefits,” she says. “We’re in it for the long haul.”

The employees at Université Laval seem to be in it for the long haul too, because the university earned the No. 1 rank on this year’s list of Canada’s Best Employers 2026.

This 11th annual ranking—produced in partnership with market research firm Statista—reflects the survey responses of more than 37,000 Canada-based employees working for businesses with at least 500 workers in Canada. Participants (who remained anonymous so that they could answer freely) were asked if they would recommend their employer to others and to rate it based on a range of criteria, including compensation packages, work flexibility, training opportunities and leadership programs. Participants were also asked if they would recommend employers they knew within their industry or through friends or family who worked there.

The responses were tallied and combined with survey data from the last three years, which allowed for a more long-term assessment of organizations that ranked well over the past few years versus companies that may have had just one good year. The more recent data and survey responses from current employees were weighted more heavily than others. Ultimately, each employer was given a score, and the 300 organizations with the highest scores made our list of Canada’s Best Employers 2026.

This year, education organizations and government agencies dominated the ranking, including the top five spots: Following ULaval was business law firm McMillan (No. 2, up from No. 6 last year), Université de Sherbrooke (No. 3, up from No. 27), Parks Canada (No. 4, up from No. 12) and Concordia University (No. 5, previously No. 3).

Healthcare and social services organizations also had a strong showing, with eight such employers ranking in the top 100, including Canadian Blood Services (No. 9), Bethany Care Society (No. 36), Oak Valley Health (No. 44), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (No. 48) and Cambridge Memorial Hospital (No. 51).

While this 2026 edition of Canada’s Best Employers has a 66% overlap with the 2025 edition—and the top 100 of both lists have an 85% overlap—this year’s ranking also includes 34 companies that are new to the list, many of which are small businesses with just over 500 employees. One of these companies is Flanagan Foodservice (No. 151), a family-owned food distributor in Ontario, approaching its 50th anniversary.

An operations team at Flanagan Foodservice

Flanagan Foodservice

“One of the standout aspects of working here is the profit-sharing program, which reflects the owner’s commitment to sharing the company’s success with every team member,” says Pam McCartney, the vice-president of human resources at Flanagan Foodservice. “It’s not just about financial rewards—it’s about recognizing hard work and fostering a sense of shared achievement.”

Flanagan also encourages a culture of teamwork and mutual support, which drives employees to do their best work and take pride in offering excellent, reliable service. “It’s easy to get caught up in the rush,” says McCartney, but “every action matters: a damaged case could disrupt a customer’s carefully planned catering event, and double-checking an order could be the difference between a new restaurant’s smooth grand opening or a stressful setback.”

In addition, the company offers a range of benefits that support the personal and professional growth of employees. For instance, Flanagan Foodservice provides leadership development programs, reimbursement for ongoing learning, bonus incentives, a pension plan and perks such as a paid day off for birthdays.

Generous benefits are also a priority at Université Laval, where employees have access to onsite daycare centers, mental health counseling, workout facilities and a substantial retirement program.

At the No. 4-ranked Parks Canada, the organization’s mission is a key component of employee engagement. “Our dedicated team members, serving in rural and remote communities, in urban areas, and in northern hamlets, bring an unwavering commitment to their work in protecting and presenting the ecological and commemorative integrity of national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas for future generations,” says Parks Canada CEO Ron Hallman. Purpose-driven employees also benefit from competitive pay, training, career growth, work-life balance and a wide range of jobs spanning diverse subject areas and diverse locations.

So, as far as New Year’s wishes are concerned—whether the job involves preserving Canada’s land and legacy, educating university students, delivering high-quality food service, or working for an entirely different type of organization on this year’s list of Canada’s Best Employers—2026 appears to be filled with promising and prosperous possibilities.

For the full list of Canada’s Best Employers, click here.

Methodology

Forbes’ ranking of Canada’s Best Employers 2026, produced in partnership with market research firm Statista, reflects the survey responses of more than 37,000 Canada-based employees working for businesses with at least 500 workers in Canada. Participants (who remained anonymous so that they could answer freely) were asked if they would recommend their employer to others and to rate it based on a range of criteria, including compensation packages, work flexibility, training opportunities and leadership programs. Participants were also asked if they would recommend employers they knew within their industry or through friends or family who worked there.

The responses were tallied and combined with survey data from the last three years, which allowed for a more long-term assessment of organizations that ranked well over the past few years versus companies that may have had just one good year. The more recent data and survey responses from current employees were weighted more heavily than others. Ultimately, each employer was given a score, and the 300 organizations with the highest scores made our ranking of Canada’s Best Employers 2026.

As with all Forbes lists, companies pay no fee to participate or be selected. To read more about how we make these lists,click here. For questions about this list, please email listdesk [at] forbes.com.