This is community spirit.
Our passion for improving quality of life in the communities where we live and work pushes us to find new and creative ways of strengthening the community.
For communities across North America – United Way
Employee generosity and company-matched contributions have raised more than one million dollars for United Way in the past three years. During our third annual United Way campaign, employees contributed more than $170,000 through personal pledges, which were matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.
Employee-led fundraising events boosted the amount of money raised, bringing the 2012 campaign total to more than $374,000.
United Way of the Alberta Capital Region nominated Capital Power for two Awards of Distinction in the categories of Campaign Special Event of the Year (for the Oktoberfest Kickoff), and Employee Campaign Chair of the Year, Private Sector.
In appreciation of our military
For the second consecutive year, we sponsored Military Appreciation Night at an Edmonton Eskimos home game. Funds raised were donated to Valour Place, which supports injured soldiers and veterans (and their families) who need a place to stay while receiving rehabilitation and medical care in Edmonton.
Over the past two years, Capital Power and Edmonton Eskimos' fans have raised more than $111,000 for Valour Place. Employees were also able to use their time towards the EmPowering Communities Employee Volunteer Grant.
Our employees and their families, together with volunteers from Valour Place and the Canadian Military, gave away limited edition ‘Support Our Troops’ t-shirts in exchange for a donation. The 4,000 t-shirts were gone by game time, and nearly $36,000 was raised. We matched these funds, for a total contribution of $71,000 to Valour Place. Major Mark Campbell, who lost both legs from injuries suffered in Afghanistan, accepted the donation from Senior Vice President Bryan DeNeve. "Valour Place is going to go a long way to supporting our troops and their families when they need it the most" said Major Campbell.
Our sponsorships
Arts and Culture
For the love of art - Art Gallery of Alberta
The Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA), the National Gallery of Canada, and Capital Power have been working together since 2009 to bring important works of art to Alberta. The Capital Powered Art Program helped to bring 10 exhibits from the National Gallery to the AGA between 2009 and 2012.
Capital Power was nominated by the AGA for Innovative Support by a Business for the Arts, through the annual Mayor's Celebration of the Arts in Edmonton.
The power of performance – Citadel Theatre
We were thrilled to sponsor the Citadel Theatre’s production of the beloved musical, The Sound of Music when it returned to the Edmonton stage in 2012. The production played to 97% capacity for a five-week run, and was performed for more than 25,000 people.
Generating new ways of thinking – Festival of Ideas
The University of Alberta’s Festival of Ideas is an interactive and inclusive forum that facilitates creative thinking. As the festival’s founding sponsor, we help sustain this biennial festival, with a commitment to multi-year funding until 2014.
In 2012, we were presenting sponsor of the signature lecture by Dr. Steven Pinker, Harvard Professor, award-winning novelist, and one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World Today.” Dr. Pinker’s lecture was centred on his latest book, The Better Angels of our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined.
During the five-day festival in November, 6,000 guests attended the Festival’s 16 events in Edmonton, Camrose and Calgary.
Connecting people, places and community – Pecha Kucha Nights
Edmonton’s NextGen is a group of young, passionate, community-minded citizens working together to connect people, places, community and ideas. We supported NextGen’s three Pecha Kucha Nights in 2012, and each event attracted more than 500 people. The concept originated in Tokyo as a platform for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and show their work in public. By supporting Pecha Kucha Nights, we are helping the next generation of leaders contribute to the growth of Edmonton’s vibrant community.
Restoring Heritage - The Barnum Museum Foundation
After suffering damage during a tornado that ripped through downtown Bridgeport in 2010, the landmark Barnum Museum has been undergoing restoration efforts of the 119 year-old building. Capital Power was pleased to once again sponsor the annual Barnum Museum Gala which raised over $46,000 in support of the ongoing restoration work. The gala took place in the new “Recovery in Action” exhibit where guests can view artifacts in various stages of restoration while watching conservators at work.
Health and safety
Saving lives with critical emergency response - STARS
“Capital Power believes in the value of STARS’ life-saving capabilities and its ability to provide critical emergency medical transportation and care to communities — including those locations where Capital Power has operations and where Capital Power employees and families live.”
We continued our three-year partnership with STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) to support the Critical Care and Transport Medicine Academy. STARS is an integral part of our emergency response plan at the Genesee Generating Station in the Village of Warburg, Alberta.
Vital health-care education is delivered to rural and urban medical professionals through this innovative education and training opportunity. Between 2009 and 2012, the Academy graduated 99 emergency-care professionals who now have a uniquely and highly specialized skill set.
Following a nomination by STARS for our support of the Academy, our company was recognized at the 14th annual National Philanthropy Awards in Edmonton
Saving children’s lives – Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
As a first-time sponsor of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Snowflake Gala, we joined Edmonton's only kid-friendly holiday gala offering entertainment for the whole family. The 2012 event raised $630,000, which will be used towards the purchase of the newest and best technologies as well as educating children's health professionals and supporting leading-edge research in pediatrics.
A safe and welcoming place to play - Brookside public school playground
In the community of Lucknow, Ontario, Capital Power and the K2 Wind partners helped improve a playground area at the Brookside Public School. The donation makes the playground more accessible to children with disabilities, while further developing the green space.
Supporting fitness - Maine Maritime Academy
We supported an event for the Maine Maritime Academy near our Rumford facility which raised funds for the Athletic department at the school. Funds raised enabled the renovation and upgrade to the Academy’s fitness center and weight rooms further promoting healthy lifestyles of staff, faculty and students.
A new Gazebo for Tiverton Bulgarmarsh Park
At one time, Bulgarmarsh Park in Tiverton, Rhode Island was a great place for Tiverton youth, but wear and tear over the years has made the park virtually unusable. In 2012, we contributed to the development of a gazebo in the park, where community groups can present concerts and town events, and families can hold personal celebrations and gatherings.
Suspension bridge and trail development in Campbell River
As a major sponsor of the Campbell River Rotary Club’s TV auction, we supported the organization in raising nearly $95,000 for the completion of a suspension bridge over Elk Falls, located in a provincial park just outside of Campbell River. The Elk Falls project also includes the development of two new viewing platforms and expansion to the trail system around the Falls. The project will showcase one of Campbell River’s most spectacular natural wonders by providing a clear, unobstructed view of the falls and canyon.
Learning and Development
Growing careers – Young Professionals in Energy
“There is tremendous value to be had in young professionals coming together to develop, grow, share information and gain greater understanding of the energy industry and we are proud to support the Edmonton Chapter.”
In 2012, we began a three-year commitment as a Founding Partner of the Edmonton Chapter of Young Professionals in Energy (YPE). YPE has more than 20,000 members worldwide and provides networking and career development for energy-industry professionals.
Rumford Power Scholarship
In Rumford, Maine, we awarded scholarships to two graduating high-school students to assist with their post-secondary education in the field of Engineering or Business. The merit of the awards is in recognition of academic achievement, community involvement and participation in extracurricular activities.
Welding at Warburg School
Warburg School in Alberta approached us in 2012 to ask for support in bringing back a welding program that was discontinued 10 years ago. We are pleased to contribute to an even better version of this program, in which students learn about the welding trade while receiving high school credit for welding courses. We helped with the purchase of new safety equipment in the training areas to help students to maintain a safe work environment.
A career in Trades – Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trades Scholarship
We funded two Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trades Scholarships in 2012:
The Capital Power Aboriginal Scholarship and The Capital Power Genesee-Keephills Scholarship-Instrument Technician.
Improving classroom technology – Tiverton Education Foundation
Classrooms in Tiverton High School now have interactive whiteboards and LCD projectors thanks to our contribution to the Tiverton Education Foundation in Rhode Island.