If you have any articles or ideas for this newsletter, contact Human Resources ONE THE MAGAZINE FOR GFS BC
SERVICE AWARDS APRIL-JUNE BC DIVISION 1 Year
Arvind Singh, WH Jester Warren Palad, WH Sneil Kumar, WH Jiwan Subedi, WH Daniel Kabaki, WH Inder Nagpal, WH Gursimran Goraya, Trans Harry Pujara, Sales Manpratap Dhaliwal, WH Mocha Muca, WH Monesh Manik, Sales Vinay Vinay, WH Kamaljeet Singh, WH Malkit Singh, Trans Dalvir Singh, WH Guramandeep Singh Gill, WH Alfredo Larios, WH Bien Carlo Liwanag, Trans Rajwinder Singh Sekhon, Trans David Lussier, Trans Harjinder Narula, Trans Karandeep Singh, Trans Rees Butcher, Trans Ryan Schmidt, Trans Samuel Carretero, WH TJ Hamilton, Trans Caleb Campbell, Trans Dilpreet Singh, Trans Narpinder Saharan, Trans Abdul Jaiyeola, Trans Cole Chasca, Sales Emily Ratson, Sales Heather Sharp, Sales Kyle Singh, WH Raymund Barnes, WH Kai Okuyama, Sales
5 Years
Simon Conway, Sales Matt Stevenson, Sales Kevin Williamson, Trans Brian Mckeown, Trans Sukh Athwal, Trans Livai Cama, WH Kevin Van Geemen, Trans Jubin Jacob, WH Tenzin Samphel, WH Reece Gallvitz, WH
10 Years
Tempa Tsering, WH Anoop Sooch, Trans Jordan Warner, Trans Nino Dacanay, WH Gilbert Marcos, WH Jamie Sabbe, Trans Craig Eisenhut, Sales Ahmad Farid Behzad, WH Antonio II Balbuena, WH Ariel Ermino, Trans
A MESSAGE FROM RICHELLE AKIMOW, VICE PRESIDENT, GFS BC
Riding a wave of success into summer 2026 Richelle
We haven’t even hit the peak of summer yet, and our team is already performing at a level that deserves recognition. Year to date, we have shipped 16% more cases than we did last year, and our execution keeps getting better. The proof is in our Customer Experience Indicator (CEI), which is moving in the right direction across some of our most vital metrics in Period 7: 94.78% of all invoices went out with zero credits n On-time delivery sits at 89.95% n 87.65% of invoices shipped 100% full n
CEI holds us accountable to our Cornerstone Value CUSTOMER IS KING, and our progress here shows me how well this team is working together. Thank you! We also had a tremendous response rate to our Employee Opinion Survey. I have personally read all 3,500+ comments from BC, and we will be taking action on them. The time you took to share your feelings, positive and constructive, means a lot, and I take it seriously.
20 Years
Tyler Gibson, Sales Cindy Bergunder, WH Michael Dela Cruz, Trans Kuldip Sidhu, WH Les Pelyhe, Sales Mike Metcalfe, Trans Chris Rayburn, Trans
25 Years
Sean Mandrake, WH John Ducharme, WH
30 Years
Antonio Batista, WH
35 Years
Mike Sutton, Trans William Chan, WH Van Petheriotis, Trans Victor Orpilla, WH
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I don’t have all the answers, neither does our leadership team; we aren’t supposed to. The best ideas in this business come from the people closest to the work. You see the opportunities, roadblocks, and things that are not working long before they show up in a report. I know that giving feedback can sometimes feel like sending your insights into the void. I recognize that things do not always move as quickly as you would hope, or that you do not always hear back about what happened to an idea you raised. Stronger communication and better recognition came through loud and clear in the survey, and we are committed to improving both. When you share something with us, you deserve to know whether we are acting on it, what the timeline looks like, and, if we are not moving forward, why. The months ahead will be as busy as ever. Let’s have some fun and take care of each other along the way.
—Richelle
On the move!
15 Years
Pablito Sandaga, WH Debbie Jiawan, Sales Edmond Chow, WH Antonio Aguilar, WH Jason Tse, WH
SUMMER 2026
It’s an exciting time at GFS, as one of our employees has recently taken on a new role and responsibilities. We asked them to tell us a bit about what they’re excited about.
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I’ve been with GFS for five years, as of this April, and I’ve spent that time as a Key Account Representative on the street sales team with larger Chris restaurant groups, chains, and cruise ships. I collaborated extensively with the previous Divisional Merchandising Manager, so when I heard she was moving on to new opportunities, I was curious who might take her place. Eventually, I realized I might be a good fit for the role, and I’m excited to be stepping into it now. I’m passionate about helping others, and I look forward to leveraging my skills to support our sales reps, bring in new items, fill gaps in the portfolio, and find the right case at the right price for our customers. I’ve been treated like a member of a family at GFS, and everyone has invested in my development. It’s a team sport, not an individualistic one. I’ve never felt that anywhere else, and I want to help others feel the same. — Chris Charles Divisional Merchandising Manager
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SERVICE AWARDS APRIL-JUNE CANADA NATIONAL DIVISION 1 Year Vicky Wu, RMU Jackie Vuilleumier, NMU Sanam Singhania, CC Sean Kim, SC
5 Years Chris Charles, Merch
40 Years Mark Skalak, IS
WELCOME ABOARD The following people have joined the BC family since March 2026:
BC DIVISION Harjot Singh Sran, Trans Jangchup Pelzang Dorji, WH Pardeep Singh, Trans Anmoldeep Singh, WH Britany Patchett, WH Dylan Turner, Trans Jaspreet Singh, Trans Marcus Kwon, WH Aidan Horgan, Trans Daniel Udemba, WH Martin Villanueva, WH Ankit Ahlawat, Trans Caleb deHoog, Trans Harinder Singh Tathgur, Trans Nelson John, WH Damanpreet Singh, WH Gagandeep Singh, Trans Harpreet Singh, WH Justin Bore, Trans Mandeep Kaur, WH Sati Grewal, Trans Tejinder Singh, Trans Chase Metcalfe, Trans Sagar Mann, WH Shehraj Singh Sandhu, Trans Shubhkaran Singh, WH Buddhika Kumarasingha, WH Jarrett Moscrop, Trans Jaskaran Singh, Trans Karanbir Singh, Trans Nawab Singh, Trans Nick Munroe, Trans Harmanpreet Chahal, Trans Tiffany Tillack, Sales
CANADA NATIONAL DIVISION Sharonne Lee, Merch Joshua Michalik, Innoserv Alvaro Villanueva, Innoserv Jun Han, Merch
Transportation = Trans l Warehouse = WH Maintenance = Main l Administration = Admin Information Services = IS l Customer Care = CC Regional Multi Unit Sales = RMU National Multi Unit Sales = NMU Supply Chain = SC l Marketing = Mkting Inventory Control = IC l Credit = CR l Routing = RTG Talent Aquisition = TA l Inventory Control = IC Merchandise = Merch l Revenue Management = RM
Record-Breaking Results: The 2026 “Because of You” Employee Survey! A few weeks ago, we asked you to share your feedback in the 2026 Because of You Employee Survey. We know how busy things are right now, which is why we are so grateful that you took the time to make your voice heard. Because you showed up and spoke up, we exceeded the goals we’d set out for this survey. This year’s turnout represents a level of connection and engagement we have never seen before: Across North America, we exceeded our 65% goal by over 15% n Across Canada, we hit a phenomenal 87% participation rate, which is a massive leap from last year’s 61.5% n In British Columbia, our BC teams rallied to reach an unprecedented 87% participation n
Your feedback is incredibly valuable to our divisions and organization. It ensures everyone in our organization is seen and heard, and it gives our leadership team the insights needed to make informed, positive business decisions for our future together. But we know that gathering your feedback is only the first half of the equation.
The most important part of this process is turning your words into meaningful change. We want you to know exactly what is happening behind the scenes with your answers and what you can expect over the coming weeks: Beginning of June: Leadership and HR teams began reviewing the anonymous, confidential feedback from the survey to understand our strengths and pinpoint exactly where we need to improve.
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Mid-June: Managers will begin sharing overall survey results directly with their teams. Expect to look over the data together during upcoming team meetings.
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By July: Every team is required to build an Action Plan by July 3. Managers and HR will be partnering directly with you to co-create these plans, ensuring we turn your feedback into positive workplace changes.
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Thank you again for stepping up, sharing your perspective, and shaping the future of our team. We are excited to take these next steps forward together.
Announcing a new people and culture team for Canada GFS Canada has formed a new team dedicated to supporting our people across the country. Led by Scott MacDonald, the team brings together Christie Thompson’s strategic focus on culture and inclusion with Curtis Tateyama’s deep operational background, creating a holistic approach to employee support, engagement, and workplace culture across Canada. “This combination allows us to ensure that every employee feels heard, valued, and supported,” shared Scott. “I’m incredibly excited to see the impact this team will make as we work together to strengthen our workplace culture and better serve our GFS family.” Here’s a closer look at what each of them will focus on. Christie Thompson Focuses on Canada-Specific People and Culture Initiatives After returning from maternity leave in March, Christie Thompson’s role as People and Culture Strategist shifted from supporting North America to focusing
exclusively on Gordon Food Service Canada. In her refocused role, Christie supports teams and leaders in employee inclusion, learning and development, community engagement, and Indigenous Relations. Her current priorities include: Creating practical learning opportunities n Strengthening team engagement n Helping employees better understand different cultures and perspectives n Leading Gordon Food Service Canada’s Indigenous Relations Strategy and PAIR journey n
Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) is a nationally recognized framework that helps organizations strengthen Indigenous Relations through leadership commitment, education, community engagement, employment, and procurement practices. Through this work, Gordon Food Service Canada aims to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities, continued on page 3 2
Announcing a new people and culture team for Canada continued from page 2 create long-term positive impact, and continue strengthening how we support employees, customers, and communities across Canada. The team is also refreshing the program’s vision and brand to create a more approachable and relatable experience for employees across the business. “I’m excited to continue building programs and resources that support our employees and communities across Canada,” shared Christie. Curtis Tateyama Transitions to Senior Employee Relations Specialist Role Curtis Tateyama is bringing his operational expertise and HR experience to a new position as Senior Employee Relations Specialist, transitioning from his role as Director of Warehouse. In his new role, Curtis will support leaders and employees across Canada in positive employee relations, workplace support, and team engagement. His extensive operational leadership brings a practical, people-first perspective to the Employee Relations team and will help strengthen support across the business.
Christie, Scott, and Curtis
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I’m excited to continue building programs and resources that support our employees and communities across Canada
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With a strong understanding of warehouse and operations environments,
Curtis will play an important role in supporting leaders, navigating employee relations matters, and helping teams continue to build positive workplace experiences. “I’m excited for the opportunity to continue supporting our people in a new way and bring my operational experience into this role,” shared Curtis.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COLUMN BY MARK BETHELL
Recapping the HeroWear Exo-suits pilot project GFS divisions across Canada are now several weeks into the HeroWear Exo-suit pilot, which wraps up at the end of June. Each division received four suits, distributed to volunteers from the Warehouse Selection and Transportation Delivery Service Representative teams, and results in most divisions have been very positive. What does the suit do? The Exo-suit reduces strain and peak force on the lower back muscles by up to 40% when lifting, bending, or leaning during repetitive lifting. Our BC volunteers: n W arehouse Selection: Stefano Rabit and Joseph Divinasflores
(L-R) Joseph Divinasflores, Stefano Rabit
Kevin Green
Troy McDonald
Gagandeep Sran
Transportation Delivery Service Representatives: Troy McDonald (Team 51) and Gagandeep Sran (Team 13)
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A suit not being used in the Winnipeg division was also sent to BC and, as of June 6, has been fitted for warehouse selector Kevin Green. Results in BC have been very positive, with volunteers reporting reduced stress on the lower back when lifting and carrying items. What the volunteers liked: n I t supports my back and has reduced end-of-shift stiffness I feel less fatigued at the end of my shift and work week
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It took two weeks to adjust to the suit, but it’s now very comfortable to use
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Easy to get on and off
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Comfortable to wear even when driving
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Constructive feedback: n Th e suit is very hot to wear If I forget to disengage the suit, it pulls on my shoulders and limits some movement when reaching in tight spaces
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The suit can get hung up while working in tight spaces in the trailer
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A big thank you to our volunteers for taking part in the eight-week project, and to GFS Health and Safety for putting the pilot together to find ways of reducing injuries and fatigue.
Engaging the suit when needed for heavy lifts has helped a lot For more information, please reach out to Mark Bethell.
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A RECAP OF RECENT EVENTS: Playland and Employee Lunch It’s been a busy and fun stretch in BC, with plenty of chances to step away from the floor and connect as a team. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to!
ANNUAL PLAYLAND FAMILY DAY On Sunday, June 14, we hosted our Annual Family Day at Playland, welcoming over 600 attendees for a day of rides, games, and fun on the midway. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate and make the day so special!
Colleen Wong and family
Rommel Palomares and family
John McHugh and family
Justin Alexander and family
Brandon Aven and family
Sean Kim and guest
Kevin Green and family
(L-R) Tenzin Gyurme, Lobsang Rabgyal, Tsundu Sangpo, and their families
Khaled Karami and family
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A RECAP OF RECENT EVENTS (continued) EMPLOYEE LUNCH Build Your Perfect Lunch Bowl On May 26, we hosted a Build Your Perfect Lunch Bowl event featuring a variety of global ingredients, with employees mixing and matching their way to a custom creation. We’d like to extend a big thank you to our incredible chef, Michael Viloria, and our amazing team of volunteers for bringing this event to life!
(L-R) Michael Viloria, Mark Jacobi
(L-R) Helen Wiacek, Linda Chalmers, Shalvin Chand
(L-R) Jackie Cheung, Craig Rudder, Sydney Yap, Steve Rosengarten
WHAT’S COMING The Annual Celebration returns this fall!
Mark your calendars
There’s more on the calendar for the second half of the year, starting with the biggest one of them all. Our Annual Celebration returns Saturday, November 21. We will share more details in the coming months, but we are incredibly excited to be in the planning phase. Mark your calendars!
Watch for the next issue of ONE Magazine coming in the Fall 5