It just looks like Muskoka: The Ridge Course at Predator is among Carrick’s best work.
Interesting to see something you don’t regularly experience in a business as transitory as golf — a resort being recognized as one of the best employers in Canada.
But that’s exactly what happened to Predator Ridge Resort in BC, when it made a list of Canada’s best employers as posted in the Globe and Mail yesterday:
Announced in the Globe & Mail earlier today, Predator Ridge has been recognized with the honor of being part of the ‘Best Workplace in Canada for 2013’. The award involved companies in all categories and regions with total employees between 49-999. “ We have long established a strong leadership position as a premier resort development and having now been recognized nationally as an employer has established great pride within our team and community” said Brad Pelletier, VP Okanagan for parent company Wesbild.
Best Workplaces Program is a global franchise with a presence in 46 countries and is produced in conjunction with prestigious media partners such as the Globe & Mail, the Financial Times and Fortune. “We are one of the largest employers in the region and recognize that our own special culture is one of the things that sets us apart, I have worked in many of the largest centres in Canada and have consistently stated that we have an ‘All Star Team’ assembled right here in the Okanagan. We are in an industry category that has traditionally had high turnover but of our over 300 employees we have a 70% plus return rate amongst our seasonal staff and last year had a 96% satisfaction rating” added Brad Pelletier.
“Out of all the awards we have received at Predator Ridge, I value this award more than any other as it demonstrates our commitment to our principal asset” concludes Pelletier.
Brad Pelletier’s involvement in this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it is significant that the resort was given the recognition at a time when Pelletier was reworking its business. Last year he moved to improve the golf experience at the resort, which has 36-holes, including one of Doug Carrick’s best efforts, and added PGA Tour winner Richard Zokol and former Canadian LPGA player AJ Eathorne to the staff. Most recently the resort is reworking its practice range, improving that as well.
I’m not all that surprised at Predator’s success. I’ve done some writing for Pelletier (and worked with him on the Mike Weir Design initiative when he was running IMG Canada) in recent years, and have a good understanding of what he brings to an organization. He’s forward-looking and fair — and an innovative marketer.
Pelletier’s latest undertaking is Tee Times, a collaboration with a California-based media company to produce an Internet magazine for the resort. On a personal note, I did some of the writing for the publication — and I think this sort of niche publishing is the wave of the future. I interviewed Hockey Canada CEO Bob Nicholson as part of the magazine about the connection between hockey and golf.
I would have to agree that Predator Ridge is doing a great employment job, in fact they seem to excel in creating jobs for people with no resort experience.:-)