Syncrude Canada Ltd. 2005 Sustainability Report
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Community Involvement

Syncrude’s reputation as an employer of choice is earned in part through our work to improve the communities where our employees live and work. Our active involvement is making a positive difference to the way people live, and is helping meet the challenges presented by robust growth. It also enhances our ability to attract and retain top quality employees.

Syncrude Festival of Trees

For the third consecutive year, the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre and Syncrude partnered on the Syncrude Festival of Trees. Through this three-year partnership, $75,000 in corporate support from Syncrude was leveraged to raise a total of $750,000 toward the purchase of surgical and diagnostic equipment needed by the Health Centre. The event’s success was also enabled by volunteer support from Syncrude employees and their families, including that of Syncrude employee Lorraine deSeguin, who served as volunteer Chair of the event in 2005.

Aid for Food Bank Action taken by Syncrude in response to stakeholder concerns raised during our stakeholder engagement processes.

In November, Syncrude provided lead support of $50,000 for the annual fundraising drive of the Fort McMurray Food Bank. The donation provided a vital kick-start to what became the Food Bank’s most successful drive ever: more than $263,000 and 32 tons of food were donated by area residents, beating the goal of $200,000 and 30 tons. The Food Bank served 1,338 families in need through the course of 2005, making it the busiest year ever for this community service agency. Syncrude has historically supported Canada’s Food Banks through the Huron Carole, a recently ended national fundraiser that raised $3.55 million and countless tons of food over its 18-year life span.

University Transfer Program Action taken by Syncrude in response to stakeholder concerns raised during our stakeholder engagement processes.

In May, Syncrude provided $55,000 in support for a new initiative to increase access to university level education in the Wood Buffalo region. Syncrude’s support will enable Keyano College to increase its intake of Aboriginal students starting undergraduate degree programs. This support builds on our $500,000 commitment to the University of Alberta’s Aboriginal Transitions Initiative. University level transfer opportunities between Keyano and the U of A for non-Aboriginal students are also being strengthened.

Career Development Programs

In 2005, Syncrude renewed a multi-year commitment to CAREERS: The Next Generation. Syncrude funding of $260,000 over two years will support the organization’s provincewide programs, including the Aboriginal Youth Initiative, as well as the Fort McMurray affiliate, the Community Careers Cooperative. Four Syncrude leaders provide guidance to these organizations through their volunteer service as board members.

Science Learning Resource Action taken by Syncrude in response to stakeholder concerns raised during our stakeholder engagement processes.

Wood Buffalo school students now enjoy priority access to a popular science education program thanks to a $200,000 donation from Syncrude. As a result, the Science Alberta Foundation’s Science in a Crate learning resource has been booked by 17 local area schools for the 2005-06 school year, with more expected to book for 2006-07. Science in a Crate is designed to make learning about science and math more effective, relevant and enjoyable for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Tsunami Relief

Syncrude and its employees responded quickly and generously to support relief efforts in the wake of the tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia in December 2004. Syncrude provided a corporate donation of $50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross and matched $86,000 in donations from employees. This brought the total support from the Syncrude family to $222,000. The Government of Canada also provided $80,000 in matching support, raising the overall giving effect to $302,000.

Good Neighbours Program

Syncrude’s Good Neighbours program supports the community minded efforts of our employees by providing grants to the groups for which they volunteer. In 2005, $48,500 was disbursed to 41 not-forprofit organizations to recognize the volunteer efforts of 90 employees. An additional 11 educational institutions received $5,244 to match contributions made by employees. Greg Hilsenteger is one of the Syncrude employees whose volunteer groups have benefited from the program. He says the grants help defray expenses incurred by Fort McMurray’s Minor Hockey and Little League Baseball teams for such things as equipment and travel to out-oftown tournaments. Says Greg, "It’s great to have my company stand behind me and support my volunteer efforts in the community."
Chart: Corporate and Employee Donations to United Way
Pie Chart: Community Investment Program 2005 Breakdown

Community Programs 1

  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Corporate Giving 2 $ 2,693,478 $ 2,777,700 $ 2,852,740 $ 2,047,672 $ 1,805,788
Consultation and Monitoring 3 $ 2,940,597 $ 3,962,000 $ 4,201,000 $ 2,946,025 $ 2,502,000
1 Includes donations made under the Community Investment Program, Aboriginal Community Investment Program, sponsorships, and gifts-in-kind.
2 Syncrude’s corporate giving programs are subject to formal audits and are also governed by three committees of Syncrude employees to ensure strategic objectives are met.
3 Figures shown include Syncrude funding for Aboriginal Industry Relations Corporations; the Athabasca Tribal Council; and community monitoring and management groups including Regional Issues Working Group, Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program and Cumulative Effects Management Association.

Actions taken by Syncrude in response to stakeholder concerns raised during our stakeholder engagement processes are noted throughout this report; these actions are indicated by the symbol.