The North West Company (NWC), which is the leading retailer of food and everyday products and services to remote communities across northern Canada and Alaska, was the large business winner of the Excellence in Workplace Literacy award in 2001. NWC's workplace literacy program was selected for an award because of the improvements it brought, not only to employees, but also to the communities where they live and work. The program's primary objective was to determine the best approach to closing the gap between the skills workers require and those they possess. Its enabling objectives were as follows: (1) use detailed training plans to increase employees' technical knowledge through workplace education and training; (2) overcome the barriers that prevent Aboriginal employees from advancing into management positions; (3) make learning accessible to various literacy levels by offering a variety of training methods and using physically and emotionally centered learning; (4) address all areas of literacy, including interpersonal, technical, and enabling skills that increase overall employability; and (5) promote continuous learning and upgrading through educational institutions by offering tuition reimbursements and recognizing achievements. The NWC workplace literacy program was credited with improving employees' motivation and productivity, reducing turnover costs, and enabling more Aboriginal employees than ever to advance to managerial positions. (MN)