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Kelowna, BC's Disney Online Studios Chosen As One of Canada's Best Places to Work
Tuesday, April 12, 2011Company Profile | Follow Company
Vancouver, BC, April 12, 2011--(T-Net)--Disney Online Studios, the Kelowna, BC-based organization that turned colorful, animated penguins into an international Internet sensation is now officially one of the best places to work in Canada.
The Great Place to Work Institute selected Disney Online Studios Canada, which produces the award-winning children's virtual world Club Penguin and other family-focused products, out of more than 230 organizations nominated across the country in the annual Best Places to Work competition. The studio ranked 19th out of the top 100 employers.
“Ever since we launched Club Penguin in 2005 we've focused on creating a fun and rewarding work environment that's driven by strong values, and we work really hard to maintain it, particularly as we continue to grow and expand globally,” says Lane Merrifield, one of Club Penguin's co-founders and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios.
Two-thirds of the total score an organization can receive in the Best Places to Work competition comes from responses to an employee survey. The remaining third of the score is the result of an in-depth review of the organization's culture, including an evaluation of HR policies and procedures. The culture review and employee survey results provide crucial data relative to the five trust-building dimensions of a great place to work®: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.
“It's gratifying to know our staff's responses to the employee survey confirm they love coming to work every day,” says Merrifield. “For the members of our team, this isn't a job, it's a passion. They put their hearts and souls into making our products fun and safe for kids and families around the world, and we're grateful for all that they do every day.”
Club Penguin is Disney Online Studios' flagship product. It's one of the largest virtual worlds for children with a proven reputation for providing fun for kids and peace of mind for parents. Millions of children and families around the globe play Club Penguin in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Word filters and live moderators monitor chat and activity on the site and work to prevent the sharing of inappropriate or personally identifiable information. Club Penguin is free to play, however special features such as front-of-the-line access to game features, exclusive parties and opportunities for players to customize their penguin and igloo require a membership.
Founded in 2005 by three dads from Kelowna, Club Penguin was purchased by The Walt Disney Company in 2007. Now operating as Disney Online Studios, part of Disney Interactive Media Group, the organization also produces World of Cars Online, based on the hit Disney/Pixar animated feature Cars; Fairies Pixie Hollow, Pirates of the Caribbean Online and Toontown Online. Disney Online Studios employs more than 350 people in Kelowna.
Disney Online Studios nurtures a collaborative, team-based environment with extensive learning and development opportunities and a strong commitment to community involvement and philanthropy. Employees also appreciate great medical benefits and perks such as a games room, complimentary refreshments and snacks, and regularly scheduled social events and activities. In addition, employees and their families get free admission to Disney theme parks around the world.
About Disney Online Studios
Disney Online Studios (DOS), part of Disney Interactive Media Group, develops and publishes an industry-leading suite of online virtual worlds for kids and families. Products under the DOS business include Club Penguin, one of the largest virtual worlds for children, World of Cars Online, based on the hit Disney/Pixar animated feature Cars; Fairies Pixie Hollow, Pirates of the Caribbean Online and Toontown Online.
About Club Penguin
Club Penguin (www.clubpenguin.com), a product of Disney Online Studios, provides one of the largest virtual worlds for children. Club Penguin works to maintain a fun and safe online entertainment experience by using filtering technology and live moderators. The award-winning virtual world of Club Penguin contains no third-party advertising and is free to use and enjoy, however a subscription membership provides access to additional features that enhance the play experience. Club Penguin is headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, and is enjoyed by parents and children around the world in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.
For more information contact:
Karen Mason
250-764-6222
media@clubpenguin.com
Photo credit: Disney Online Studios