TD Bank Financial Group and Edward Jones are among the top 25 Best Workplaces in Canada for 2009, the Great Place to Work Institute Canada announced on Monday.

Organizations were assessed using a survey of nearly 30,000 employees in Canada. The survey measures the level of trust, pride, and camaraderie within the workplace.

Other financial services firms within the top 75 workplaces included RBC, ATB Financial, Broadridge Financial Solutions, (Canada) Inc., Daimler Financial Services Canada, Globex Foreign Exchange Corporation, and private insurance firms Omni Companies, Capri Insurance Services Ltd. and Potruff & Smith Group of Companies.

Also on the list are accounting firms Ernst & Young LLP, Fuller Laundau LLP, Grant Thornton LLP, and Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP.

The selection process also includes a workplace culture audit that considers organizational data and details about the firm’s workplace practices, philosophy and work environment.

The results revealed five trust-building dimensions commonly found in the best workplaces: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. The best workplaces prove that trust is the foundation for quality jobs and performance excellence, according to the Great Place to Work Institute.

The institute also found that organizational leaders who develop a high level of trust with their employees see stronger employee performance, which often translates into stronger company performance. The U.S. version of the survey shows that, even with this year’s economic crisis, while S&P has allowed an average of 1.04% yearly gain, the best companies averaged gains of 6.8%.

Gary Reamey, principal at Edward Jones Canada, called the news a great accomplishment. “We are especially proud of this achievement because it is the result of how our associates view Edward Jones. Except for our clients, there is no group whose approval matters more,” he said.

IE