The awards were designed to promote the manufacturing industry as a desirable and viable career choice, provide a forum for sharing best practices and a mechanism to showcase employers within the manufacturing industry.

In the category of Best Manufacturing Employer, the recipients are: Enerflex Systems Ltd., a supplier of oil and natural gas compression, production and processing, and power generation equipment, and Gunnar Manufacturing Inc., a high-end office furniture manufacturer and distributor. In the Employer of Choice category, the awards went to: NovAtel Inc., a provider of precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) components and subsystems, and Optima Manufacturing Inc., a company involved in the design, machining and assembly of precision components.

The companies were awarded for their vision; the caliber of their working environment; physical space; work and social atmosphere; the company's ability to engage and motivate staff; the monetary and non-monetary benefits provided to employees; employee development and training; and environmental and social responsibility.

Since 2007, Careers in Manufacturing has actively worked to raise the profile of manufacturing in Alberta. Careers in Manufacturing is comprised of business leaders in manufacturing, as well as provincial and local organizations. For more information, visit www.careersinmanufacturing.ca.