By: Namish Modi (he/him)

Despite the ever-changing world of work, employers who hire University of Waterloo co-op students continue to stand out among the best.

Seventy-three of Waterloo's standout employers are in Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2023.

The Globe and Mail and Mediacorp announced the winners of the 23rd annual editorial competition on Friday, November 18. A special magazine published in The Globe and Mail recognizes and features each of the winners.


We’re thrilled that so many of our employers continue to be recognized on this level. I want to congratulate each of our employers and thank them for continued contributions to our program and for providing our students with amazing work-integrated learning experiences.

Ross Johnston (he/him), Executive director of co-operative education, university of waterloo


For the winners of this year’s competition, which are selected by Mediacorp Canada Inc., flexibility is paramount as employers adapted to different forms of work and focused on personal wellness. Many of the employers listed in the Top 100 have instituted some sort of hybrid-work program.

“In the past 20 years, the changes in employment practices we tracked were evolutionary in nature,” says Richard Yerema, executive editor at Mediacorp Canada, via press release. “Benefits and policies would improve and expand, one by one over time. But the last couple of years has really challenged everybody in how to manage the workplace. It’s been revolutionary in its speed.”

Earning this recognition each year highlights the caliber and value of Waterloo’s co-op employers and their ability to adapt to the future of work.

The selection process for Canada’s Top 100 Employers uses eight criteria including health, financial and family benefits, work atmosphere, community involvement, performance management, and more. Employers of any size with a head office or principal place of business in Canada are eligible to apply for the competition.