Disney targets Penguin for layoffs

Photo: Contributed

Just days after a major glitch caused a global shutdown of the Club Penguin website, the children's online community site is in the news again.

The Kelowna-based company has laid off an undisclosed number of employees.

"As part of our ongoing strategy to best position Disney Interactive Media Group for success in digital media, we continually evaluate and refine our business," company spokesperson Mariam Sughayer says in a brief e-mail statement.  

"As part of this process we are making targeted layoffs within the division." 

The decision didn't sit well with at least one employee of the company who moved to Kelowna for a job with the company.

"We came from Calgary a year ago and now we have no job.  Our daughter relocated here in grade 11, and now what to do for her graduating year?"

Club Penguin was started in Kelowna in 2005 and was purchased by Disney Online Studios in 2007 for $350 million.

If you have been affected by the layoffs, contact Castanet at [email protected].