We presented a Vice President’s Award to the Mandaree Fire Department in North Dakota for going above and beyond in fighting the Little Swallow grass fire in early May of 2021. The Department’s swift and efficient response assisted us and the community in keeping people safe. In addition, their actions prevented significant potential damage to property in the area. Pictured, Marle Baker, Director of Fire Management accepts the award from Nate Fisher, our Vice President – United States Business Unit, and Josh Ruffo, West Region Field Coordinator. Also shown are Chairman Mark Fox and Tribal Business Council members Gladys Sherry Turner-Lone Fight, Mervin Packineau, Cory Spotted Bear and Dr. Monica Mayer. Giving recognition is an important part of our culture at Enerplus, and we are pleased to recognize Marle and his team for their exceptional work.
We strive to develop and work hard to maintain strong, mutually-beneficial relationships with our communities. We believe communication must be based on honesty, trust and – above all – respect. It’s not just what we say, it’s what we do, and we believe living our values gives our stakeholders confidence in our commitment to responsible operations.
We build relationships at the local level wherever we can. Our people are often members of the community where they work and share a vested interest in the community’s development. We connect regularly with our stakeholders to provide updates, seek input, help identify opportunities and find ways to address potential concerns.
Because we often work on or near traditional indigenous land – both in Canada and the United States – connecting with our indigenous neighbours regularly is our way of maintaining positive, respectful relationships. Learning about traditional culture, wildlife and each community’s connection to the environmental landscape is critical to our understanding of how best to operate in the area.
At this year’s Bakken BBQ in North Dakota, we partnered with the So Chill treat truck out of Dickinson. Averie Wood (an entrepreneur at 8 years old!) served up treats while we showed our appreciation for first responders, our real life superheroes. We were so happy to be out in the community again, in support of Make-A-Wish North Dakota.
As the saying goes – when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Our colleagues Josh Ruffo and Teresa Presser responded to a call for supplies from our community members in North Dakota with a truckload of items they picked up from their local hometown businesses (yes, toilet paper included!). Health and safety were top of mind throughout the operation, as everyone followed health authority, Enerplus and community protocols. For Josh and Teresa, who are active in their communities to begin with, they knew the question was not if we could help, but how safely and how quickly we could do it. Thank you both for inspiring us all at Enerplus!
Engagement Planning
When we start developing an engagement plan, we consider all stages of the associated project’s lifecycle. From development through operations and to eventual decommissioning, we consult early and often to identify concerns and opportunities. Our goal is to encourage mutual understanding throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Engagement is not about checking a box or satisfying regulatory requirements. It’s about the benefit of long-term relationships. We value the relationships we have built over the years and recognize the key to their success is putting in the work, demonstrating respect and staying open to ongoing dialogue.
Community Investment
We believe our role as an engaged corporate community partner is to support our communities’ ability to improve their social, economic and environmental situation. We rely on our people in each of their individual communities – wherever we work and live – to tell us what is most needed and where we can have the most impact.
Giving back isn’t always about cutting a cheque. It’s about making an investment with our time and talent too. That’s why we support our communities through donations, sponsorships, in-kind contributions and volunteerism.
In 2021, Enerplus contributed nearly $350,000 to support our communities through partnerships with non-profit organizations and matching employee giving. We encourage employee volunteerism by offering one paid day specifically for volunteering, and by organizing employee volunteer opportunities. Supporting employee volunteerism is a visible way we live our values and culture.
Pillars of Giving
Our pillars of giving focus our support where it can have the greatest impact:
A few examples include:
- Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- American Indian College Fund
- Southeast Regional Library – Oungre Branch
A few examples include:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter
- North Dakota Safety Council
We take a proactive approach to corporate giving, looking for partners whose mandates align with our pillars rather than waiting for requests to come to us. We assess our partner relationships on an annual basis so that we know we’re supporting them the best way possible – we want people to feel like their community is better with Enerplus as a part of it.
Questions?
Contact us using the online form on the Contact Us page. An automated response is sent when contact is received.
Returns & value focused
We’re focused on creating long-term value for our shareholders through a disciplined, returns-based capital allocation strategy and a commitment to safe, responsible operations.