SEPT-ÎLES, July 3, 2014 — Having met the requirements of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ – Québec standards bureau), Aluminerie Alouette, a forerunner in its field, becomes the first aluminium industry business to obtain the BNQ’s Entreprise en santé – Élite (“Healthy Enterprise – Elite”) certification. The only organization in the North Shore region to hold this certification, Alouette is one of just 25 Elite enterprises across Quebec.

The BNQ 9700-800 standard recognizes enterprises that focus on prevention, promotion and organizational practices with a positive impact on health and wellbeing in the workplace. Obtained following an extensive audit, Alouette’s certification confirms the company’s commitment to a healthy work environment, a management approach that promotes health and work/life balance, and promotion of healthy lifestyles at work and at home. The company’s Elite ranking shows that health and wellbeing are an integral part of the corporate culture, and obtaining this status is an important milestone in Alouette’s history.

According to Jules Côté, Vice President, Business Improvement and Asset Management, “This new certification illustrates our commitment to being an employer of choice, day after day, for hundreds of North Shore residents. Our employees are the pillars of our organization, and their health and wellbeing are crucial in a context where retaining specialized manpower is essential for us to maintain our leadership in primary aluminium production.”

Since its beginnings over 20 years ago, Alouette has put forward a system of participative management designed to involve employees and provide them with an environment where they can achieve their potential, both professional and personal. Numerous initiatives have been deployed over the years. Since 2010, a dedicated Health and Wellbeing Committee, made up of employees and management representatives, has offered an annual Health and Wellbeing Program featuring a variety of awareness and promotion activities. A trained ergonomics team, an impressive salad bar in the cafeteria, stop-smoking initiatives and financial support for active employees through physical activity memberships are just a few examples of the means that the company deploys. The committee is led by Katy Langlais, Superintendent, Training and Organizational Development. She is pleased with Alouette’s performance: “Our continuous improvement culture comes through in our health and wellbeing approach, and leads us to innovate constantly so that our employees opt for healthy lifestyles. We are convinced that this recognition will have a significant snowball effect, both internally and throughout the community.”