Think of EPCOR and it’s all about power and water, right?
But think again.
There’s also the Winter Olympics, Cirque du Soleil and wrestling.
How can that be?
EPCOR takes pride in its commitment to support the communities where it operates, and has a series of sponsorships and programs in place.
For example, in late October EPCOR’s water treatment plant manager in Strathmore presented a cheque for $1,711 to a 13-year-old dancer at a local school. The money will help the young dancer attend special training in Los Angeles. Some day, she hopes to join Cirque du Soleil. In another community, EPCOR funding allowed a wrestling club to travel to a competition.
Those are just two examples. EPCOR support stems all the way from youth in small communities to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, where EPCOR holds Official Supplier status. EPCOR’s Olympic involvement reflects not only support for Canada’s podium aspirations, but also a business concept of peak performance. It is this spirit of excellence that the company seeks to spread throughout the communities where it operates.
Here’s a quick look at some of EPCOR’s community involvement programs.
Over four years, EPCOR has awarded almost $195,000 to 30 young people demonstrating excellence in arts and culture as well as 29 community sports programs through its Road to Champions Program. The initiative was developed in conjunction with EPCOR’s involvement in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and was delivered each year in communities across EPCOR’s regions. A local community review panel made the award selections.
In conjunction with GE, EPCOR presents Gold Medal Plates dinners in major cities across Canada. These culinary competitions feature some of the top chefs in the country, and support Canadian athletes in their medal quest. Funds raised from Gold Medal Plates are divided between the Canadian Olympic Foundation’s two initiatives: Own the Podium 2010 and Road to Excellence, supporting winter and summer athletes.
At its home base in Edmonton, EPCOR has been a long-time supporter of a variety of organizations and events, including the Citadel Theatre, the Telus World of Science, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
Its presence is felt in a number of areas, from sports to education to culture. At the grassroots level, EPCOR participates in local summer festivals such as NextFest and The Works. In cooperation with the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, EPCOR sponsors Comedy Cares, a program under which performers take their acts to hospitals and long-term care facilities in Alberta and BC.
EPCOR supports community volunteerism through sponsorship of the Edmonton Timeraiser event. The Timeraiser is a silent auction with a twist: instead of bidding money, participants bid volunteer hours to community agencies that need their skills and energy. This year’s event saw a total of 4,145 volunteer hours pledged to community agencies and over $12,000 invested in the careers of local emerging artists who received fair market value for their art.
EPCOR encourages volunteerism among its employees through its support of the United Way, as well as a program that recognizes the volunteer hours they contribute to a charity or organization with a donation.
EPCOR’s investment in the community is far-reaching. It is shaped by a desire to be a good neighbour and a responsible citizen, and a commitment to help create healthy, vibrant communities.
(Please note that all requests for support must be received through EPCOR’s online application system at www.epcor.ca/citizenship)