Canadian Resources for Good: From Coast-to-Coast

Canadian Resources for Good: From Coast-to-Coast

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I love Canadian resource workers

The extraction and production of natural resources contribute immensely to Canadian society at large. Whether it be through providing millions of job opportunities or by generating billions in government revenues, the prosperity created by Canada’s resources sector plays a huge role in the high standard of living and quality of life Canadians enjoy.

Apart from employment and the public purse, natural resource companies also provide substantial monetary donations, volunteer hours, and other community supports to Canadian communities and families therein across the country.

Canada Action’s Resources for Good series highlights some of the good deeds of resource-based companies and their workers. In Part 5 of our series, we take a look at some of those actions happening in every province and territory across Canada. Also see:

Alberta - $150,000 to Foothills Hospital Campaign

(June 2021) - Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) committed $30,000 a year over the next five years for the Foothills Medical Centre's Newborn Need Campaign in Calgary. The $150,000 in funding will be put towards upgrades for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which specializes in care for premature and critically ill newborns.

These upgrades will support world class care for families and their children and provide hope for the best possible outcomes for fragile and vulnerable infants in desperate need of advanced care. New and improved protocols will also be developed under the program to better treatments for future generations of newborns.

Manitoba - $10,000 of Food and Cash to Support Families in Need

(March 2021) - Manitoba Pork, the representative organization for all pork producers in Manitoba, and H@MS Marketing Services Co-op Inc. made a donation of a combined $10,000 worth of product and financial support to Harvest Manitoba. Harvest Manitoba feeds 80,000 Manitobans in the province each month and gathers and distributes 11 million pounds of healthy food to feed those who are experiencing food insecurity.

“We are proud to support food banks across the province with this one tonne donation of pork breakfast sausages and ground pork to Harvest Manitoba,” said Manitoba Pork chair George Matheson.

“Manitoba Pork is pleased to donate thousands of pounds of fresh and processed pork products every year, and thanks to Harvest Manitoba, we know that these goods will make their way to individuals and families in need across our great province.”

British Columbia - $750,000 to Support Coastal Whales

(May 2021) - LNG Canada committed $750,000 over three years to support the expansion of Ocean Wise’s North Coast killer whale/humpback whale conservation research programs and deliver ocean literacy programs to Kitimat and Terrace-area schools.

“We understand the importance of marine stewardship to local and Indigenous communities in the northwest and are keen to continue our support of marine research and educational opportunities in recognition of these shared priorities,” said Denita McKnight, Director of Corporate Affairs at LNG Canada.

New Brunswick – Donating Blood to Save Lives

(January 2021) - Énergie NB’s employees gave the gift of life earlier this year through Canadian Blood Services. The biggest obstacle for most new blood donors is getting over their fear of needles, but knowing it’s for a good cause eases the pain.

“I feel it’s really important to give back,” said Erik Matchett, Manager of the Learning and Change team. He added that “…giving blood definitely isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it works for me. It is really meaningful to know that my blood could help save the life of a fellow New Brunswicker. The average donation can save three lives.”

Newfoundland and Labrador - $100,000 to Improve Family & Patient Rooms

(May 2021) - Newfoundland Power President and CEO, Gary Murray, alongside his employees announced a $100,000 donation to improve the Family and Patient Rooms on Unit 4 North A of the Health Sciences Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Newfoundland Power’s support of the Health Care Foundation is truly improving hospitals and health centres, right here at home,” said Health Care Foundation President and CEO Paul Snow. 

The donation will provide renovations and upgrades to family and patient rooms on Unit 4 North A of the Health Sciences Centre to help patients and their families while undergoing care during cancer treatment

Nova Scotia – Educating Online During a Pandemic

(April 2021) - Every year, Nova Scotia Power (NSP) teams up with elementary schools across Nova Scotia to offer the Grade 6 Electrical Safety Program. With the challenges of the learning during the pandemic, they sought to accommodate and offered a free video resource for parents and educators.

NSP employee, Yvon LeFort, brought the resources to a high level with engaging material and visuals developed specifically for the Nova Scotia Grade 6 curriculum.

Ontario - $50,000 in Support of Tree Planting

(April 2021) - Enbridge Gas donated $50,000 to Forests Ontario on behalf of its new employee-led initiative, the Local Environmental Action Fellowship (Enbridge LEAF) program, and the company's pre-existing Corporate Citizenship program.

The contribution from the Enbridge LEAF program will support the planting of 6,250 of tree seedlings across roughly 14 acres of land. The 6,250 trees represent the estimated number of new customers who are projected to switch to natural gas in the region in 2021. The initiative will also help to reduce the organization’s carbon footprint by almost 300,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2).

“The Enbridge LEAF program is one example of how we're taking measures towards creating a more sustainable future by investing and partnering locally," said Cynthia Hansen, Enbridge EVP and President of Gas Distribution & Storage.

Prince Edward Island – Supporting Women’s Shelter Initiative

(May 2021) - Maritime Electric gave support to Blooming House, a Women’s Shelter with a mission of creating a safe environment for women to navigate their way out of homelessness. Previously, the shelter was open 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., and now opens at 4 p.m.

"The women have been really happy that we're open earlier," Tammy Denning, Blooming House's executive director. Their donation will go towards assisting women accessing the shelter and increased expenses due to a change in operating hours.

Northwest Territories – 1,200 Spare Mattresses to Those in Need

(May 2021) - After Cenovus completed their yearly mattress change Christina Lake and Foster Creek camps, they had nearly 1,200 spare sets. Their community partner, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) Edmonton was able to assist them by donating them to communities and organizations in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories (NWT). SSVP’s North of 60 Program aims to address poverty north of the 60th parallel (the Alberta-NWT Border). The program distributes food and basic needs to isolated northern communities.  

“We were able to place the donation of bed sets from Cenovus camps into homes in need. Donations like these substantially help us address living standards in these communities,” explained Peter Ouellette, Western Regional Council Member with SSVP.

Quebec - $139,000 to Addictions Organization

2021 - Hydro-Québec contributed $130,000 to the Portage foundation in the Montréal area. Portage is a Canadian organization that helps people suffering from substance abuse-related problems to overcome their dependencies and live healthy, happy, and productive lives.

Dalie, a resident of a program from Portage for francophone girls at Lac Écho, said “The "Maître de sa vie" is a group program that gives us tools to alleviate the impact of one or more traumatic events. These tools help us manage our anxiety as well as certain feelings that may be overwhelming and certainly unsettling.”

Yukon - $17,700 to the Humane Society Yukon

(June 2021) - Victoria Gold is excited to sponsor the inaugural Victoria Gold Klondike Ruff Virtual Charity Run in support of the Humane Society Yukon. With a donation of $7500, and collected donations of $17,729.08 so far, their efforts will go a long way in supporting the many animals the Yukon Humane Society helps.

The 5 km, 10 km, and half-marathon virtual run is open to everyone and can be completed anywhere on any surface. Participants help support animal welfare in the Yukon.

Saskatchewan - $9,000 to Support Ongoing Education

(June 2021) - Vermilion Energy has set a $3,000 annual contribution for the next three years to support the ongoing education and student success of Southeast College students. The Government of Saskatchewan through the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship program will match contributions from Vermilion Energy.

“Southeast College is grateful to Vermilion Energy for choosing to invest in our students,” said Jacquie Becker, Director of Strategic Development for Southeast College. “It’s continued partnerships such as this that are so valuable for our students as it is able to ease some of the financial pressure that pursuing a post-secondary education can bring.”

Nunavut - $500,000 Towards Pandemic Supplies

(May 2021) - Baffinland Iron Mines turned nearly $500,000 into 3,400 boxes of cleaning supplies, facemasks, food and other donations to residents in Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Iglulik, Pond Inlet and Sanirajak.

Mining company employees on standby in those communities played an integral role in distributing the donated supplies. When coronavirus outbreaks occurred in Arviat, Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove, Agnico Eagle shipped food hampers to all the Kivalliq communities, along with 15,000 surgical masks and other personal protection equipment. In total, the company spent more than $1 million on donations.

Natural Resources Support Canadian Communities

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The stories above are just a few examples of Canada's mining, oil and gas, agriculture and forestry companies giving back to communities across the country.

We should all be proud of our world-class natural resources sector and the commitments they’ve made towards sustainability and Canadian families.

If you have an example of how a natural resource company is giving to your local community in Canada, we would love to hear about it! Tag us @CanadaAction or #CanadaAction on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter, or send an email to [email protected] – we greatly appreciate it!