Sustainable Communities

An important part of our success will be measured by how effectively we work with northern peoples to address the cultural, economic and regulatory concerns related to development. To manage these concerns, we continue to focus on building relationships, collaborative and transparent decision-making and local benefits.

We continued our support of local business opportunities in 2008 and 2009 by:

• Contracting a local environmental consulting firm to assist with community consultation and fieldwork.
• Hiring local wildlife monitors to assist with fieldwork.
• Working with a northern-owned and operated expediting company to assist with local logistics.
• Using local air charter companies and hotels.

Contributions to our community programs will continue at a level appropriate to our activity in the region.

Building a Skilled Workforce

We estimate the Parsons Lake Project will provide 600 jobs during peak construction and drilling periods and approximately 19 full-time, long-term positions. In 2008, to help support the Project and eventually fill these positions, we made a sustainable development commitment to continue to build local and regional employment capacity.

Our investment in training, bursaries and educational initiatives aims to increase the benefits northern communities receive from development. In the past few years we have supported initiatives like trades apprenticeships through the Petroleum Operators Training Committee.

These training and education initiatives support employment and business opportunities for local people in the Parsons Lake Project. However, we also need to be considerate of the project’s potential impacts on hunting and traditional lifestyles. Our plans include:

• Accommodating hunting activities by local people through modified work schedules.
• Providing cultural resources such as books and movies in work camps.
• Integrating traditional foods into camp meals.

Investing in Communities

Our community investment in the Arctic is shaped by our 2008 sustainable development commitment to better understand the investment priorities of key communities in the Parsons Lake development area and to use this understanding to invest in a manner that benefits the community and the Project. In 2008 and 2009, we invested nearly $129,000 in programs and initiatives including:

Learn more on Community Investment

• Canada-wide
• Western Canada Gas
• Oil Sands

• Traditional activities and education through on-the-land camps, upgrading the historic Reindeer Station, elder and youth initiatives and culture and language programs.
• Support of formal training and education through institutions like Aurora College, Beaufort Delta Education Council and community schools.
• Sir Alexander Mackenzie School’s Swim to Survive Program in Inuvik.
• Inuvik Volunteer Firefighters safety programs.