BioTalent Canada Awards 2023 Catalyst Award for Top New Hire

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioTalent Canada today announced that Jade Bouchard, a Pricing Operations Co-op, at STEMCELL Technologies in Vancouver, BC has won the 2023 Catalyst Award for Top New Hire. The Catalyst Award for Top New Hire demonstrates the transformative contributions wage subsidies can have on organizations in the bio-economy, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources to hire qualified workers on their own.

Jade earned this recognition for her work as a co-op student at STEMCELL Technologies, a Vancouver-based biotechnology company that develops specialized cell culture media, cell isolation systems, accessory products, and scientific services that are used by life sciences researchers working in the cell therapy, cancer research, and regenerative medicine fields.

“It is an honour to receive the Catalyst Award from BioTalent Canada,” says Jade Bouchard. “If it weren’t for the Student Work Placement Program, I would not have gained valuable work experience at STEMCELL Technologies, and learned skills that I can now carry forward in my career.”

Jade joined the STEMCELL Technologies team as part of a work placement in January 2023. While there, she distinguished herself with a strong work ethic and positive attitude. Specifically, Jade helped the organization optimize its pricing processes to better serve its customer base.

Jade worked with colleagues across STEMCELL Technologies’ Global Pricing team to understand the different types of interdependencies and then build a new program that would analyze the company’s entire catalog and find price discrepancies that needed to be addressed.

Thanks to the hard work and collaborative spirit of Jade, the Pricing team is now able to check proposed price changes before they are undertaken and minimize future discrepancies.

“Jade Bouchard has been an outstanding addition to our team and made a significant contribution in a short period,” says Helen Sheridan, Chief Human Resources Officer at STEMCELL Technologies. “Bringing Jade into the fold would not have been possible without support from BioTalent Canada’s wage subsidy program.”

BioTalent Canada’s Labour Market Information (LMI) study identified a need to hire an additional 65,000 workers by 2029 to meet current and future demand in the rapidly growing bio-economy.

“Our wage subsidies continue to support biotech companies as they grow, innovate and compete on a global scale,” says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. “This honour recognizes bright young minds and the contributions they make to employers nationwide.”

Launched in 2015, The Catalyst Award has celebrated young talent from across the country with the Award’s inaugural winner hailing from PEI. Ms. Bouchard’s win marks the second time a wage subsidy participant from STEMCELL Technologies has been recognized as the winner of the Catalyst Award for Top New Hire.

To learn more about which programs your organizations may qualify for, please visit: www.biotalent.ca/programs

Rob Henderson is available for comment to the media.

About BioTalent Canada:
BioTalent Canada supports the people behind life-changing science. Trusted as the go-to source for labour market intelligence, BioTalent Canada guides bio-economy stakeholders with evidence-based data and industry-driven standards. BioTalent Canada is focused on igniting the industry’s brainpower, bridging the gap between job-ready talent and employers, and ensuring the long-term agility, resiliency, and sustainability of one of Canada’s most vital sectors.

Recently named a Great Place to Work® and Best Workplaces in Healthcare for 2023, by Great Place to Work Canada, as well as being listed as a Best Workplace by HRD Canada for 2023, BioTalent Canada practices the same industry standards it recommends to stakeholders.

About the Catalyst Award:
Launched in 2015, the Catalyst Award for Top New Hire recognizes the impacts and achievements of young employees who are wage subsidy recipients in Canada’s bio-economy. The award grants a $1,000 prize to the young employee who has contributed most significantly to a Canadian biotechnology organization. It also spotlights employers that give young people opportunities and has previously been awarded to some of the bio-economy’s top young talent.

About STEMCELL Technologies:
STEMCELL Technologies provides high-quality cell culture media, cell separation technologies, instruments, accessory products, and educational resources to scientists around the world working on stem cell, immunology, cancer, regenerative medicine, and cellular therapy research. At STEMCELL, we are dedicated to improving lives through advanced knowledge and scientific discovery, through our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in STEM and the life sciences industry, and through our investments in sustainability, community, and social responsibility. Rooted in scientific expertise and rigor, we are a company of Scientists Helping Scientists, and we care deeply about making the world a better place.