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Vancouver Island Health Authority, UVic among top diversity employers

VIHA scores double honours, after making it onto top 100 Employers lits last fall

Two Capital Region employers are being recognized for their efforts in creating diverse workplaces.

Both the Vancouver Island Health Authority and University of Victoria made Mediacorp's Top 100 Diversity Employers list for 2013.

The annual national ranking, now in its seventh year of publication, uses five major employee groups to award the accolade: women members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered/transsexual (LGBT) individuals.

“We are particularly proud of our work in the area of aboriginal employment," VIHA CEO Howard Waldner said in a statement. "Since June 2011, VIHA has hired over 150 new employees who have self-identified as being of aboriginal descent.”

VIHA, as well as the B.C. Public Service, also made the Top 100 Employers list last November, which ranks Canadian employers by more general workplace environment criteria.

Other top diversity employers in the province include B.C. Hydro, Telus and the City of Vancouver, while many companies on the list have branches in Greater Victoria.

The top 100 employers are chosen by an academic advisory board from a list of more than 12,500 companies.

dpalmer@vicnews.com