Pros
I worked at Pixelcarve as a web developer coming from an internship program into being accepted as a full-time employee. Considering that I absolutely was unskilled and lacked in experience, the day I got the job in Pixelcarve was the happiest day in my life. I have nothing but respect for Pixelcarve and its boss, Curtis Priest. A lot of bosses assume their workers know their employers would go and beyond for them; Curtis is different: he clearly told me that he had my back, and that he believed in me! This for me had been a helpful emotional and material relief as I changed careers with web development. Being Asian and new in Toronto, I had foolish inferiority issues which had its fair share in my self-awareness: how I respected myself and the quality of my work. Despite this, Curtis respected me and lifted me up. He was there to make me feel appreciated. He was there to celebrate my strengths. He was there to guide my way to success. Thank you, Curtis. I will never forget you. At times that I would feel let down, I will rest assured that in the past, someone believed in me and actually cared for me in a land foreign to me, not because of what I can give or what I can do in the company, but because you are a leader--an ally, a mentor and a coach--who genuinely wanted to motivate your people to bring out their best selves. To Ryan Priest, our creative director, you were such a creative genius and a light in the workplace. You cared for our projects like your own, and with more than words, you made sure to thank each who worked with you. I learned to take risks and improve my decision making because you reassured your support in me, with just a single "pat on the back". I will always admire your ideas that are fresh and inventive. I will be forever grateful for your high tolerance on my mistakes, just so I wouldn't be afraid to learn and do my thing. To Slava Yakobson, our full-stack developer and technical director, it was an honour to work with you. You had that magic in your hands that solved all my problems at work: a wizard with solutions ready in mind; a funny, intelligent yet humble all-around guy whose voice in politics and entertainment is enlightening. Because of your traits, you created a safe environment where I knew I could--and should--think, act and speak with reason, like a man of class. Thank you for never forgetting my contributions in our projects, no matter how little they were. Without even trying--and though you didn't have to--you encouraged me a lot more than you will ever know. To our women in Pixelcarve: Nathalie, Daria, and Dulce--our project manager, our web developer, and our design intern, respectively--you were among the reasons why my experience in Pixelcarve had been rewarding. Thank you for sharing a vision with me that demonstrated how all of us in Pixelcarve were engaged in a larger purpose. Now that I no longer work in Pixelcarve, I can only look back and feel gratitude for Curtis for trusting in who I was and who I would be. Thank you for the motivation your company gave me! Thank you for the confidence that in this big city, I have a family in you. The future is getting brighter for the brand Pixelcarve has been, Sir Curtis! I believe in you and in your leadership. Cheers, Pixelcarve! I will miss you (...and the office parties).
Cons
Personally, I encountered nothing that affected me negatively as I worked here.