Corporate Social Responsibility Report

The Star Program recognizes and rewards individual associates for exceptional job performance – all the way from their local store to the national stage.

The program shines a light on associates who go above and beyond to deliver on Walmart’s corporate beliefs and values in their work and community.

Star of the Year 2010: Rafia Moreno

Upon learning she was nominated for Star of the Year, Rafia Moreno’s first reaction was to enthusiastically share credit with her team. That spirit of selflessness is typical for Rafia who as department manager oversees the electronics department and wireless centre at the Grandview store in Vancouver.

Rafia is an exceptional associate with a truly positive outlook on life. During a 2010 store visit, the director of merchandising for electronics commented that her department was best-in-class and wanted to roll it out as a model for the rest of the company.

Rafia is also highly active in her local community and with a number of charities. Amongst other things, she volunteers by working with troubled teens at a local adolescent centre, serves as an assistant softball coach and teaches seniors how to use social media.

She also volunteers actively with Children’s Miracle Network, Breakfast Clubs of Canada, United Way and Canadian Red Cross. Interestingly enough, her passion is recycling, especially electronics. On the strength of her outstanding performance, our 2010 Star has recently been promoted to assistant manager.

Our annual journey to the Stars

Recognition starts at store level where associates can nominate deserving candidates to be a Star. From this group, the store selects their Star of the Month. Every year, stores nominate one Star associate from the previous 12 months to be entered for district and then regional honours.

All 9 winners plus the Star associate from home office are brought to Toronto to attend the annual Walmart Canada Awards Gala. During their stay, the Star nominees tour the city, share a meal with President and CEO David Cheesewright and get to join senior management for the Year Beginning Meeting (YBM).

The highlight of the Awards Gala comes with the announcement and prizes for Star of the Year – one very deserving individual chosen from the eleven finalists from an original pool of more than 78,000 nominations.