Local tech companies stand out as B.C.’s top employers

If you’ve been considering switching roles, now may be the time — the annual list of B.C.’s best employers was just released by MediaCorp Canada, organizers of the national Canada's Top 100 Employers project. Now in its 20th year, B.C.'s Top Employers is a special designation that recognizes the British Columbia employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. 

Employers are evaluated against eight criteria: workplace; work atmosphere and social; health, financial, and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.

"British Columbia has always been one of the most progressive regions in the country in terms of benefits, flexibility, and forward-thinking environmental policies — and this year's winners are no exception," said Richard Yerema, executive editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "The province is home to many fearless, progressive organizations that are not afraid to push the boundaries and stand out from the crowd in a way that attracts new employees from across B.C. and throughout Canada."

This year’s winners include all manner of organizations, from crown agencies like the BC Financial Services Authority and the BC Utilities Commission to homegrown favourites such as Clio and Safe Software. 

The list also highlights what makes the province’s top employers stand out from their peers. More progressive vacation policies was a common theme. Trulioo, a Vancouver company which provides global identity verification, bumps employees up to four weeks of vacation after three years with the company. Some businesses take it even further, with development platform Boomi and commerce solutions provider iQmetrix offering unlimited vacation. 

While those companies boast significant headcounts, it wasn’t only B.C’s bigger businesses that made the roster. 

"This year's list also includes 19 employers that have less than 100 full-time employees," said Kristina Leung, managing editor of the annual Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "It sends an important message to other B.C. organizations that you don't need to be a large employer to create first-class workplaces that also protect our shared environment. Often, it's an advantage to be smaller because these employers quickly recognize the positive effects of such policies both on their employees and in the community."

One of those smaller companies is Acuitas Therapeutics, a Vancouver-based biotech company working on lipid nanoparticle technology to support nucleic acid therapeutics. Acuitas has 62 full-time employees in Canada — an approximate 20 percent growth over the last year. The company gives all of its employees year-end bonuses. For new hires (and everyone else), Acuitas offers in-house training and mentorship programs. And for employees wrapping up their careers, the company provides phased-in work options with a gradual reduction of hours.

Binary Stream Software — a Burnaby-based company with offices in Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Toronto — also puts an emphasis on workers’ health and wellness. The company’s 83 employees are allowed to choose their preferred work style, whether it be fully remote, hybrid, or on-site daily. Its people also have access to health and wellness spending accounts, mental health benefits, and tuition subsidies for job-related learning.

The list of B.C.’s top employers is part of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project, which includes 19 regional and special-interest editorial competitions. Applications for the 2026 listing open later this month.

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