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Throughout
our 20 year history, community relations have been an important part of our
company culture. For the past two decades we have given back to the community
through contributions to specific charities, fundraising campaigns and local
organizations. In 2005, we continued our focus on four areas of giving:
- Health, Research and Wellness is a key part of our community
involvement. We donate to causes that further medical research and well-being
because it's an area that has an impact, directly or indirectly, on all individuals.
In 2005, we provided support to 22 organizations within this area.
We embarked on a partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta,
NWT & Nunavut with a donation of $150,000 over five years. As part of our commitment,
we will be the major sponsor of the Becel Heart & Stroke Ride for Life from 2006
to 2011. This was also the fourth year of our five year pledge to the Alberta
Children's Hospital. Our five year commitment of $100,000 is dedicated to building
the new hospital that will serve 370,000 children and is expected to open September
2006.
In 2005 we continued our support for cancer research, donating to the Tom Baker
Cancer Centre and other cancer projects in Alberta. Other worthwhile organizations
we assisted included the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, American
Red Cross (Hurricane Katrina) and Alberta Easter Seals.
- We believe an investment in education is an investment
in the future leaders of our industry and a way to ensure the successful future
of oil and gas operations. There is a pressing need in the sector for additional
workers in virtually every capacity, so in addition to the five bursaries and
awards we endowed in 2004 at SAIT and the University of Calgary, we established
two new awards in memory of long-time Enerplus employees. The Wayne Foch Memorial
Bursary at the University of Calgary will be awarded annually to a continuing
undergraduate student in the Haskayne School of Business in the Finance faculty
based upon both academic merit and financial need. The Joe Slavik Memorial
Scholarship at Grande Prairie Regional College is an annual award available
to students in the Power Engineering Certificate Program and will be awarded
based upon academic merit and financial need.
In 2005 we also supported Bow Valley College and the Canadian Institute
of Chartered Accountants.
- Enerplus places a high priority on protecting the
health and safety of our employees, contractors and the public as well as preserving
the quality of our environment. A commitment to causes that further these concerns
means a better, healthier place for all of us to live and work.
In the area of Environment and Safety, 2005 was the second year of our five
year, $100,000 pledge to STARS Air Ambulance. STARS provides emergency medical
transport for the critically ill and injured throughout Alberta and into British
Columbia. Other major gifts went to Alberta EcoTrust Foundation and Ducks Unlimited
Canada. Alberta EcoTrust Foundation is an organization dedicated to protecting
and preserving the environment across the entire province. In 2005, Alberta
EcoTrust Foundation funded programs in the areas of clean air and climate, water
and wilderness conservation. Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages
wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl.
- Enerplus provides support to community programs to
help those less fortunate as a way for us to have a positive impact on residents
of the cities, towns and regions where we have operations. A major recipient
of our contribution in the area of Community Involvement/Volunteerism is United
Way of Calgary and Area. United Way provides funding and support to a wide
variety of social programs and agencies. We are a long-time supporter of United
Way and in 2005, employee fundraisers, donations and corporate matching contributed
in excess of $300,000 to United Way Calgary and Area.
2005 was our fourth year working with Habitat for Humanity. With our partners,
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, CIBC World Markets Inc. and Nexen Inc., we continued
our work from 2004, building an additional two townhomes in a multi-home project
in Calgary. From May to December, Enerplus employees were able to take paid time
off to dedicate a day to helping build affordable housing for low-income families.
We are also pleased to advise that we lent our support to the Calgary Handi-Bus
Association with the purchase of a new Sprinter Handi-Bus. Bethany Care Foundation,
Sherriff King Home and Ronald McDonald House Calgary were other organizations
we assisted in 2005. In 2005, Enerplus created the position of Community Relations
Coordinator to enable us to build relationships and better connect with residents
of the communities in which we operate. Having this dedicated position will help
us continue to build positive relationships and become a stronger community partner.
Through relationship building and the constructive mitigation of issues, we gain
a better understanding of landowner concerns and are better able to accomplish
our operational objectives.
Working with our 12 district offices across western Canada and now one in the
United States, we supported organizations such as:
- Boys & Girls Clubs, Canadian Mental Health Association,
Communities in Bloom, First Responders, Loaves & Fishes, Kinsmen, Rainbow Society
of Alberta, Safe Grad 2005, SPCA, volunteer fire departments, food banks, agricultural
societies, community wellness associations and public libraries.
Enerplus is committed to supporting the communities where our employees live
and work. We are proud of the volunteer spirit that exists within our organization
and strive to support those efforts wherever possible.
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