our commitment to building better communities
Habitat Systems has always nurtured the “why” within our organization. Why parks and playgrounds? Why does our work matter?
A child that uses a wheelchair getting to play on the playground with their friends for the first time — a parent with a chronic condition able to stay at the park for hours because there’s shade and a comfortable bench — trees being planted to offset the manufacturing process — these are what our employees tell us are their “whys”.
We firmly believe in the importance of designing for inclusivity, providing innovative solutions that stand the test of time, and treating our environment in a sustainable way so that we’re providing support for the children and communities of the future as well as the present.
As one of the largest distributors of park and playground equipment in Western Canada, we are a leader in green initiatives and value preserving green spaces. We partner with manufacturers that incorporate environmentally friendly policies into their products and services, such as Landscape Structures, the first playground equipment manufacturer to achieve ISO 14001:1998, the highest standard for environmental commitment. We also support various philanthropic causes, including the YWCA Presents of Peace Initiative, local food banks, disaster relief funds, Qmunity, BC Ride to Conquer Cancer, and Autism Awareness groups.
As a certified Living Wage employer, Habitat Systems ensures all staff are paid a living wage rate for their region, reflecting our commitment to ending poverty. We offer comprehensive training for youth, covering areas such as Chainsaw Safety, Forklift operation, and First Aid, at no cost to the participants. Our employees benefit from a full benefits plan through the Chamber of Commerce after three months of employment. We are an Equal Opportunity workplace, offering equal employment opportunities to all, regardless of race, color, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, marital status, family status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability. Notably, 46% of our team are women, including our Vice President, Lisa Schmidt.
Habitat Systems has a long history of community involvement. In 2018, we partnered with the City of Calgary and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities to build Calgary’s largest universally accessible playground at Shouldice Park, opening in spring 2019. Since then, we have built universally accessible playgrounds at five additional locations across Western Canada. Our product manufacturers, committed to socially conscious and environmentally sustainable policies, use processes like lean manufacturing to minimize waste. Landscape Structures Inc., for example, collaborates with the Global Releaf Program to offset the carbon footprint of their play systems by donating trees to areas in need.