Sphere
#37
2015
26
<<
Burning bright
“This programme has demonstrated
the value of giving young people with
the right attitude and aptitude a chance,
even if they have limited experience,”
says
3
UK’s Celina Benedict, Corporate
Responsibility Manager. One of the
participants, now a permanent staff
member of
3
UK, admits that at the
beginning of the programme, he “hid
behind the counter, too afraid to speak to
customers”, but now he receives positive
feedback from customers. Another
participant says the programme changed
his life from one that was “dull and boring,
with no purpose” to one where he is
“bouncing out of bed” to get to work.
The young people who are now
employees of
3
UK thank the company
for the opportunity they were given and
for changing their lives. “They all feel
sure that, without the experience that
they gained through participating in the
programme, their lives would have been
very different and could have possibly
headed down much less optimistic paths,”
says Ms Garner.
Big cities aren’t the only places Hutchison
is making a difference. In Alberta and
Saskatchewan, Canada, Husky Energy Inc
supports training and job opportunities
that create high-tech careers in rural
areas. Keeping the region’s best and
brightest on the Prairies invigorates local
communities, turning their youth into
world-class engineers.
Husky Energy:
Power on the Prairies
Power engineers are some of the most
sought-after skilled workers for oil
production and refining operations,
especially in rural areas where it can be
difficult to attract talent. However, for
those from these areas, training has been
previously near unattainable without
travelling far from home. This created
a dissonance among industry needs,
personal desires to stay on the Prairies
(Western Canada) and education. Husky
Energy has stepped in to close the gap.
Saskatchewan and Alberta are known
for endless fields of wheat that are the
granaries to the world. The provinces
are also home to massive reserves of
oil and gas—as well as many Husky
Energy operations, including an upgrader,
ethanol plant, pipeline terminal and
refinery. The company also has a suite of
thermal heavy oil projects in production
and development that relies on power
engineers. However, attracting engineers
can be challenging. Getting smart,
qualified local talent to work in Husky
Energy’s expanding operations is the
ideal solution.
Keeping it local
Husky Energy has reached out to two
centres of higher learning in the Prairies
with funding to support education
for power engineers. Saskatchewan
Polytechnic is one institute using
Husky Energy’s financial support and
a close working relationship to create
opportunities for young people. It runs
a network of technical schools across
the province laser-focused on ensuring
graduates emerge from programmes
knowing where to deploy their new skills.
Across the provincial border in Alberta
is Lakeland College. Whereas in the
United States, the terms “university”
and “college” are used interchangeably,
Canadian colleges offer two- to four-year
degrees focused specifically on technical
training. Lakeland does just this and has
a campus in Lloydminster, the city that
straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan
border and is home to Husky Energy’s
upgrader and asphalt refinery.
Husky Energy works with the school to
improve facilities and provide scholarships
for high-potential students. Funding for
labs has topped over CAD1.125 million
for Saskatchewan Polytechnic—the
school’s largest corporate donation ever.
Edward Connolly, Husky Energy’s Senior
Vice President, Heavy Oil, explains the
importance of the project: “The success
of the company, and Saskatchewan as a
whole, is dependent on ensuring we have
the people with the skill sets needed for
today and tomorrow. And one of the areas
of highest demand is power engineering.”
Two-thirds of the donation funds have
gone to the newly renamed Husky Energy
Power Engineering Lab, allowing the
school to work year round to provide
education for power engineers. The
remainder of the donation is dedicated to
scholarships.
In 2012, Husky Energy donated CAD1.1
million to Lakeland College, allowing
improved facilities to help power
engineering graduates better explore the
scientific and technical implications of
their work, making them more prepared
for the workplace. Husky Energy has been
supporting programmes at Lakeland since
1983. “In the college’s almost 100-year
history, Husky Energy stands out as one
of Lakeland’s most generous supporters,”
Glenn Charlesworth, President & CEO
of Lakeland College explains. “This
contribution helps us expand and enhance
our Lloydminster Campus facilities so we
The state of the art Lakeland College Energy Centre is built with industry support including Husky
Energy. Real equipment and Husky Energy support make real education happen.
