People Come First: Inside and Outside the Workplace
We are proud to share that Longboard has been named to the 2025 list of Best Workplaces™ for Giving Back in Canada. For us, this speaks volumes, our culture of giving back isn’t just a policy, it’s something our people genuinely feel connected to and proud of.
At Longboard, our “People Come First” value extends far beyond our clients and employees, it’s the core of how we show up externally too. When community calls, Longboard answers. This means planting trees, cleaning up local parks, or preparing meals for unhoused youth. Other times it entails raising funds in creative ways, like literally jumping out of an airplane to support Cyrus Centre, at the yearly ‘Leap of Faith’ event, a non-profit that provides shelter and support to unhoused youth. We support a myraid of causes close to our hearts, and are constantly looking for new ones to contribute to.
One of the charities we support in a unique way is Mackie’s Place. Since 2017, they have been providing mentorship, life skills, and a nurturing community for youth, guided by their vision of radical love, breaking barriers, and creating opportunities. By contributing through a monthly pie subscription, we get our pie fix while supporting this truly inspiring cause. “Pies are often associated with comfort… that is what Mackie’s Place is about,” says Sylvia Shury, Co-Founder & Director of Philanthropy at Mackie’s Place.
A Culture of Kindness and Belonging
For many new team members, Longboard’s giving culture is one of the first things they notice. Take Red Ramsey, our Business Development Manager, for example. On his very first day with us, he was invited to take part in the annual “Leap of Faith” skydiving fundraiser, set to happen just two days later. With no hesitation, he said yes. That moment set the tone for Red’s Longboard journey, highlighting how passionately our new and existing team members embrace our culture and values.
“Plenty of companies say they put people first. Longboard proves it. On my 4th day here, work wrapped up early for something extraordinary: skydiving with 24 coworkers at Leap of Faith, a fundraiser dedicated to helping vulnerable youth hosted by the Cyrus Centre. It was more than just a jump, it was a celebration of community spirit.”, he states.
The ‘Best Workplaces for Giving Back’ reflects what makes our workplace special: a philosophy rooted in compassion, generosity, and shared purpose. It also echoes what many of our team members say they’ve experienced. Our People and Culture Manager, Cody Klassen, sums up his experiences:
“At Longboard, I’ve had the privilege of taking part in many of the charitable initiatives we’ve supported. What always stands out to me is the kindness, generosity, and passion of our partners, and the incredible impact they make in the lives of those they serve. Each organization we work with goes above and beyond to maximize their resources, and it’s been deeply meaningful to contribute, no matter how small, in helping them fulfill their mission to support our communities.”
About the Award
Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Its mission is to build a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces. In Canada, Great Place to Work produces industry- and demographic-specific Best Workplace lists as part of the world’s largest annual workplace study, spanning more than 50 countries.
About Longboard Architectural Products
Longboard Architectural Products is committed to inspiring the design and construction community with innovative architectural solutions that breathe life into their projects. Our diverse range of aluminum products, spanning from cladding systems to architectural screens and beyond, serves both interior and exterior applications.
We prioritize innovation, quality, and sustainability, ensuring that each product is aesthetically pleasing, environmentally responsible, and durable.
