"It must be worthy of a rock show where our employees with 25 years of service are the star."

Boring galas have never existed at Olymel. This company's innovative approach to employee engagement makes the annual "Quart de siècle" event an eagerly awaited moment by all Olymel employees.

Honouring up to 70 people in a single ceremony walks the delicate balance between an assembly line and a long, drawn out affair. Avoiding slow transitions is critical while each honouree needs to be properly recognized.

To address this, TKNL chose a four stage design from which speeches alternated in succession, creating a fresh view for each, and at an engaging pace. Regional and departmental seating around each stage meant each honoured employee would be among "their gang", adding a local touch to the company-wide sense of belonging.

Treating employees to gourmet food, panoramic images, spectacular sound and lighting, a massive dance floor, and a fantastic band are all hallmarks of Olymel’s approach to engaging their employees. Olymel expects the best from their staff and gives their best in recognition.

The clear highlight of the event was the presentation of humorous vignettes focused on the honourees. To create them, TKNL producers travelled across Quebec with noted comedian Steeve Diamond. With him, we produced films featuring each of the 70 employees being recognized for 25 years of service. It really touched the honourees and guests to see that the company cared enough to invest in such a personal touch rather than just reading some prepared remarks.