First Avenue Dental was all smiles as they were recognized as the Employer of the Year with the 2025 SCBEX Awards.
Dr. Derek Thiessen was humbled by the nomination and proud to be able to claim his workspace was one of cohesion and camaraderie.
“They’re not really employees, they’re more like friends,” said Thiessen. “We have a really good working relationship, and we have a lot of fun at work.”
Thiessen explained how dentistry is the easy part of his job, and that being the employer is the real work. In order to prevent stress and tensions in the workplace, he engages his crew with plenty of team-building exercises.
“We usually, once a year, go somewhere,” he said. “Last year, we went to Vancouver. We go golfing a couple of times in the summer, and we do lots of staff parties and stuff to keep it like a family.”
Thiessen bought First Avenue Dental in 2017 and currently employs 17 individuals.
