Community Connections – January 2014

1/31/14 A welcome to OSCA’s inaugural e-newsletter, Community Connections

us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=33868f661d5ea7ac7458b076a&id=8131be3c87&e= 1/7

OSCA's bi-monthly update to our stakeholders View this email in your browser

January 31, 2014

In this issue:

Transition update from the Executive DirectorCatching up with the new focus areasCheck out the new websiteRead some news from our communities

From the Executive DirectorWelcome to our inaugural Oil Sands Community Alliance(OSCA) newsletter.

If you’re not familiar with our name or logo we werepreviously called the Oil Sands Developers Group. Sowhy the new name? Well, our organization hasundergone some changes - including a new mandatethat is focussed exclusively on the socio-economicissues.

Our organization represents oil sands companies in theregion. This includes the companies which operateexisting or planned mines, the growing in-situ operationsfurther south in the region, as well as companies withlease holdings seeking regulatory approval.

With more than $82 billion in annual investment, morethan 40 projects and thousands of workers in the regionin the region at any given time, it is important the oilsands industry work together with our local stakeholders

RegionalSpotlight Province AddressGrowth issues inFort McMurrayResidents of Fort McMurraywill see more landdevelopment and roadimprovements as part ofland exchange agreementbetween the province andmunicipality. Learn moreabout the land exchangeagreement.

Alberta EnergyCorridor ReleaseQuarterly NewsletterHave a read and catch upwith the AEC and its work.

Nominations nowopen!Nominations are now openfor the 2014 Heart of WoodBuffalo Leadership Awards.

Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate



to manage the impacts of resource development and

maximizing the benefits.

And while the industry is driven by business principles,

the companies that operate in the region also

understand the value of converting the abundant natural

resources into local financial resources which in turn

supports the development of social programming,

infrastructure and employment. Beyond the financial

contributions to the local economy our industry also

understands the importance of building communities

which have a high quality of life – including education,

recreation and cultural opportunities.

As an organization our focus going forward is on

identifying the issues and solutions for a number of key

socio-economic issues that are important to the future

success of our communities and our industry. The four

key areas for OSCA are:

Workforce – how to attract and retain the labour

force we need to extract this resource

Community well-being – providing the quality of

life in our communities to ensure employees in the

industry and their families choose to live in the

region not just work there. This includes providing

an adequate supply of housing in the market as

well as affordable housing.

Aboriginal – how do we ensure our local aboriginal

population participate in the economic opportunity

through by enhancing skills and business capacity

as well as support community well-being.

Infrastructure – providing the infrastructure to

support the movement of products and people into

the region as well the utilities and services to

sustain the growth of our economy and our

communities.

The industry goal of responsible development is

anchored by a shared set of mutual benefit goals with

local communities including creating vibrant, diverse,

inclusive, welcoming, resilient and safe communities.

This focus reflects the fact that our communities in the

region will only fully realize their potential if the industry

reaches its potential and vice-versa. It reminds me of a

saying… ”A rising tide floats all boats but we must make

sure the littlest vessels are not swamped.”

Nominate someone who you

think is the Heart of Wood

Buffalo and recognize their

achievements, dedication

and passion for their

community. Nomination

deadline is February 7th,

2014. Read more here.

Leading the North

conference

Be part of the conversation

on the development of

Alberta’s energy resources

and diverse economy,

Register for Leading the

North conference.

Two new schools

for Fort McMurray

These school projects are

two of six new Alberta

schools being announced

this December. Together,

the new schools will provide

4,200 new student

spaces. Read more.

New Pipeline

Training Centre a

first in Canada

Pipeline training centre will

help with Northern Gateway

expansion plans. Read

more.

Groundbreaking oil

and gas training

technology

Athabasca University has

partnered with Qatar

University to develop

groundbreaking oil and gas

training technology. Read

more.

YMM Hits Record

Passenger Numbers

Fort McMurray Airport

reached new heights as



It has been a busy few months as the Oil SandsCommunity Alliance moves from transition to intoimplementation. Most of our stakeholders if not all havebeen informed of our transition into the OSCA and wecontinue our work under the re-focused socio-economicmandate. Engagement from our industry partners isramping up as our three active focus areas – aboriginal,community well-being and infrastructure - are attractingindustry members who have already rolled up theirsleeves and have started meeting and getting to work,setting priorities. Our continued success depends on thecommitment and participation of our industry members.We are confident you will continue to support the OSCAto ensure its success in meeting industry’s renewedfocus on collaboration in proactively responding tochanges in the communities where we operate. To learnmore please visit our website at www.oscaalberta.ca.

If you have any questions or comments about ourmandate or work with stakeholders in the region, pleasedo not hesitate to contact us.

I look forward to working with many of you as we pursueinnovative solutions that build thriving communitiesbased on shared values and enable the responsiblegrowth of Canada’s oil sands.

Lee FunkeInterim Executive Director

passenger numbers for 2013soared to nearly 1.2 millionpassengers. Read more.

Global 100 Most

Sustainable

CorporationsCongratulations to OSCAmembers Cenovus, Statoil,Shell and Suncor forrecognition on the Global100 Most SustainableCorporations. Read more.

A Year in ReviewHave a look back on the topstories in Lac La Biche,from the first and secondhalf of 2013. RMWB Top News Looking back on 2013's topnews stories in the RMWB.

New OSCA website up and running

As the Oil Sands Community Alliance continues to settle into its new role, we wanted tolet you know that our new website, oscaalberta.ca, is live. A snapshot of our homepage isoffered below.

Our new portal showcases our four focus areas, noteworthy events from membercompanies and community stakeholders as well as a link to Twitter. Numerous links are



also provided for visitors to our site to get more information about key organizations and

programs in the region that support the people who work in the industry and the

communities.

We invite you to visit our new site and check back frequently for more information about

the OSCA’s activities.

Aboriginal Focus Area

Building on successful relationships within the Wood Buffalo and Lac La Biche Aboriginal

companies, who performed over $1.8 billion in contract work with OSCA member

companies in 2012, the Aboriginal Focus Area strives to incorporate best practices and

to collaborate in maximizing opportunities for aboriginal participation in economic

development in Alberta’s oil sands. The Aboriginal Focus Area has completed a

framework for an education and employment environmental scan that they are

undertaking in 2014 to understand current programs, services, existing needs and gaps.

This work will help define the industry’s strategic priorities in the aboriginal education and

skills development space. An aboriginal business development task group will be



established in early 2014 to focus on identifying and building synergistic partners with

aboriginal business organizations and associations to enhance aboriginal business

capacity, skills and knowledge.

For more information on this focus area please contact Brandi Gartner,

[email protected].

Community Well-being

OSCA members are dedicated to community well-being and they continue to support

local community groups and social profit organizations. Our members made corporate

donations of over $10 million in 2012 to groups and organizations in the Wood Buffalo

and Lac La Biche regions. Additionally, our members contributed over $8 million in 2012

to Aboriginal communities in the Wood Buffalo and Lac La Biche regions for school and

youth programs, celebrations, cultural events, literacy, community projects and other

programs. The Community Well-Being Focus Area is actively working with industry

members to identify priorities that enhance their support and community involvement

within the oil sands region. Currently, a health task group is discussing community-

specific public determinants of health and identifying opportunities, resources and

programs that will enhance community and employee health. Early in 2014, we will be

developing a task group to work with community partners in identifying a common

community sustainable indicators strategy that will provide a basis for a data-oriented

approach to regional planning, priority setting and strategies.

For more information on this focus area please contact Brandi Gartner,

[email protected].

Infrastructure

A new OSCA Infrastructure Focus Area committee has been established and is

dedicating its attention to four priority working areas. Two of these, Ground

Transportation and Aviation, have task groups already actively engaged in initiatives to

ensure the region has appropriate infrastructure in place to improve public safety,

increase productivity, promote sustainability and ensure the competitiveness of Alberta’s

oil sands industry. These include efforts to prioritize and bring about the timely

completion of key transportation infrastructure projects, identify quick wins for reducing

congestion and improving safety, and ensure that the burgeoning aviation sector

develops in an efficient and coordinated manner. The groundwork is also being laid for

the establishment of task groups to promote collaboration in the areas of Camps and

Power & Co-Generation, beginning in early 2014. The OSCA continues to pursue

projects with its partners including the Government of Alberta that address traffic



congestion issues. We’re pleased to have participated in local infrastructure projects thathave now been completed to improve the traffic network. The re-furbished GrantMacEwan Bridge opened even months ahead of schedule this year meaning there arenow three bridges crossing the Athabasca River as a single network. The AthabascaBridge, completed in October 2011, has Alberta’s largest bridge deck, and theSteinhauer Bridge, completed in early 2013, was widened and the deck was completelyrebuilt. The completion of this work highlights industry’s continuing efforts in increase thesafe transport of people and goods in our area.

For more information on this focus area, please contact Marvin Schneider,[email protected].

Top Tweets

Cenovus Energy

@cenovusCheck the label on your clothes – where were they made? #Oil helped transport themhere http://t.co/ayzHZdGtsh #oilsands101

Alberta Education @AlbertaEdHonor a great teacher – submit a nomination for the Excellence in Teaching Awards byFeb 7 http://t.co/AZPuaxotow #AbEd #BuildingAlberta

Oilsand Developments

@OilsandNewsHot of the press! Oil Sands Daily is out! Edition of Jan 28 , 2014. http://t.co/WzPKdlMGbS

Don't Tweet & Drive

@DontTwive If you are driving, your Tweets can be killer. Don't Tweet & Drive #TweetSafe

Conference Board Cda

@ConfBoardofCdaDownload a FREE report by our @CFN_Team that highlights several strength-based #Aboriginal youth wellness strategies. http://t.co/1vnjUr4osG

Shell Oil Company @Shell_USIn wintry weather, use the recommended engine oil to help improve fuel mileage. Getmore tips. http://t.co/Gntew3ppoX pic.twitter.com/hmAk2ycdMD



Syncrude Canada Ltd. @SyncrudeCanadaSyncrude turns 50 this year! To celebrate we'll be tweetingachievements/milestones/photos each week using #Syncrude50. #ymm #oilsands

Copyright © 2014 Oil Sands Community Alliance, All rights reserved.

Date post:	05-Jan-2017
Category:	Documents
Upload:	trinhminh
View:	217 times
Download:	1 times

Community Connections – January 2014

Documents