 | | | Community & social performance |
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Relations with communities
With operations throughout Canada, Imperial is a part of many communities. Building and maintaining a strong relationship with these communities is a priority for the company.
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Community investment
Corporate contributions play a key role in funding many non-profit organizations that provide needed services and enrich local quality of life. As a company with deep roots in Canada, we view these contributions not simply as a responsibility, but essential to building strong communities.
| Recently, we have refocused our corporate donations. In 2006, we completed a strategic review of our community investment program to better align business and social priorities. Our updated community investment program will focus on education, the environment, and civic and communityissues. In addition, we | | | will increase our funding of programs that address Aboriginal peoples’ needs,especially education. We will concentrate our investment dollars in areas of Canada where many employees live and work, and where we have growing business interests. |
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Over the year, we contributed $12.4 million to support community initiatives across Canada. Investment highlights in 2006 included:
> $1 million over five years to Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta to deliver school programs that help to prepare young people for future work opportunities
> $800,000 over five years to McGill University to develop new technologies to advance science, math and technology education
> $500,000 over five years to York University to support its science outreach program for schoolchildren
> $350,000 over three years to the London Health Sciences Centre to attract new expertise in cancer metastasis research
> $250,000 over five years to expand YMCA Calgary’s Explorers Achievement program, which provides academic support and work opportunities in the non-profit sector to culturally diverse youth
In early 2007, we also awarded a $1-million donation to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to support trades and technology training centres in Edmonton and Grande Prairie, Alberta.
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Promoting environmental awareness
We invest in community initiatives that increase environmental education, conservation and understanding in the areas of air, land, water and energy. Through the Imperial Oil Foundation, we contributed $300,000 in 2006 to environmental initiatives across the country.
In Toronto, our funding enabled about 600 students to participate in Winged Migration, a bird studies program, under the instruction of natural habitat experts. In Cold Lake, Alberta, we sponsored Project Webfoot, a Ducks Unlimited-Beaver River Naturalist Society collaboration that teaches local Grade 5 students about wetland ecosystems through classroom studies and field trips.
We also support the Society, Environment and Energy Development Studies (SEEDS) Foundation, a non-profit organization that develops educational programs in energy and environment for Canadian schools. In early 2007, we committed $500,000 to SEEDS to develop “Habitat in the Balance,” a new curriculum program designed to educate junior high and high school students about biodiversity issues.
| Supporting cultural diverse youth
As our communities grow and change, one of our priorities as a corporate sponsor is to invest in local initiatives that provide new learning opportunities for young people. In 2006, our company committed $250,000 to YMCA Calgary’s Explorers Achievement Program, which targets culturally diverse youth in Calgary’s high schools with language, academic and social needs. Through this program, participants learn about Canadian culture and norms, and participate in workshops designed to build confidence, teamwork and communication skills. Our contribution will enable the program to be expanded in the summer months to offer academic support and paid work experience at non-profit organizations.
Corporate philanthropy award
Our company received the 2006 Eric L. Harvie-Glenbow Award from Calgary’s Glenbow Museum in recognition of our community investment contributions in the city. Established in 2003, the award annually honours an institution and individual that the Glenbow deems to exemplify museum founder Eric Lafferty Harvie’s legacy and vision to the arts and heritage in the Calgary area.
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