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“Building Futures”: Imperial Oil donates $3 million to education and skills
development across Canada
| Calgary, AB,
May 30, 2006
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Imperial Oil is donating $3 million to education programs across Canada to
continue to address the country’s growing requirement for educated youth and
science and technology skills.
Imperial’s Building
Futures program focuses funding on programs that will assist Canada in
competing in today’s technological world by reaching out to students of all
ages to develop an interest in further education.
As
part of this program, Imperial has invested $3 million at McGill University,
York University, Junior Achievement Canada, YMCA Calgary, Let’s Talk Science
and the Canadian Petroleum Interpretive Centre of Alberta. As well, the
company works to build capacity in the Aboriginal community with a scholarship
program designed to encourage and assist students to pursue undergraduate
post-secondary studies in disciplines relevant to the petroleum industry.
A recent study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) suggests Canada should take steps to increase the proportion of
students who choose to study science and technology. In Canada, science and
engineering degrees make up about 20 per cent of all new degrees.
“The skills of our workforce are Canada’s most strategic asset,” said Tim
Hearn, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Imperial Oil
Limited. “Investing in a high quality education system for our young people
is one of the most important investments we can make for the future of our
country.”
“Imperial Oil has a long history of
supporting education and community initiatives,” said Monica Samper,
president, Imperial Oil Foundation. “But now more than ever, we feel very
strongly about doing our part to build the minds of tomorrow, not just for our
industry, but for the country as a whole.”
Over the
past five years, Imperial Oil has invested more than
$15 million in
education-related initiatives across Canada. The company has been a proud part
of Canada for 126 years, contributing to communities from coast to coast since
the company’s inception in 1880. One of the largest producers of crude oil and
natural gas liquids and a major producer of natural gas, Imperial Oil is also
Canada's largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products, sold primarily
under the Esso and Mobil brands, and a major producer of petrochemicals.
Backgrounder
Imperial Oil is donating $3 million to seven
education programs across Canada: McGill University, York University, Junior
Achievement Canada, YMCA Calgary, Let’s Talk Science, the Canadian Petroleum
Interpretive Centre of Alberta and Aboriginal Scholarship Awards.
McGill University
McGill University in Montreal, Quebec
will receive $800,000 to create the Institute of Winners in Wonderment
program. The program develops three-dimensional teaching products for
grade-school students that integrate components of science, math and
technology.
York University
York
University in Toronto, Ontario will receive $500,000 to support its Science
Outreach Program. The program is responsible for launching science camps at
the university, managing the Science Speaker’s Bureau in elementary and high
school science classes, and coordinating the university’s Science Olympics.
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement (JA) will receive
$1 million to fund program delivery and development across Canada. Through JA
programs, students learn about the world of business and how they can make a
positive contribution in the global marketplace.
YMCA
Calgary
YMCA Calgary (Alberta) will receive $250,000 for
the Explorer component of its YMCA Achievement Program. This funding supports
grade 10 students facing language, cultural, academic and/or social barriers.
The program provides academic support to students and will help them gain work
experience through community service opportunities.
Let’s Talk Science
Let’s Talk Science, a national
organization, will receive $200,000 for continued program enhancement and
expansion. The organization is dedicated to improving Canada’s science
literacy through innovative educational programs, research and advocacy.
The Canadian Petroleum Interpretive Centre
The Canadian
Petroleum Interpretive Centre, located in Devon, Alberta will receive $100,000
to support its education programs. The centre’s goal is to preserve and
display oilfield and related artifacts of the past and to educate individuals
about environment and industry-related issues.
Imperial
Oil Aboriginal Scholarships Program
Imperial Oil’s
Aboriginal Scholarships Program provides four individual education awards each
year to any person of Aboriginal ancestry entering post-secondary studies.
The awards cover tuition, fees, text books and supplies and also contribute to
living expenses during the course of the academic year. Over 90 students have
benefited from this program to date.
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