Woodfibre LNG Limited, a direct subsidiary of Pacific Oil and Gas (PO&G), has an ongoing project in Squamish, British Columbia. As a result, to show their appreciation for the Squamish community, Woodfibre LNG has approved several grants and projects over the years. These projects have been directly involved with improving the community.
One such way of achieving their goal of community service was through establishing their community scholarship programme, awarding numerous grants to the Squamish Community.
The Woodfibre LNG community scholarship programme
Their first grant dates back to May 12th 2015. They had five recipients receiving $5,000 each:
- Axemen Rugby Club
- Squamish Slo-Pitch Association
- Howe Sound Minor Ball
- Squamish Minor Hockey Association
- Squamish Youth Soccer Association
On November 30th 2015, six new recipients were awarded grants. This was announced during a Community Partnership Celebration at the Woodfibre LNG Community Office in Squamish. These communities play an important role in supporting the local charities and community groups of Squamish. The six new recipients of the programme are:
- Squamish BMX Racing Club ($5,000 grant)
- Howe Sound Secondary, Robotics Class ($5,000 grant)
- 4th Squamish Scouts ($5,000 grant)
- Howe Sound Curling Club ($4,500 grant)
- Squamish Skating Club ($2,500 grant)
- The Nature Trust of B.C. ($2,500 grant)
Over the months of December 2016 and January 2017, the community scholarship programme awarded a total of $22,000 to six new recipients:
- The Squamish Sikh Society ($5,000 grant): to purchase musical instruments for students in the school programmes offered by the society
- Britannia Mine Museum ($5,000 grant): to support museum education programmes focused on natural resource management and sustainability offered to schools in the region
- Spakwus 50 – Squamish Mountain Bike Festival ($3,000 grant): sponsorship of mountain bike races planned for 2017
- 835 Griffin Royal Canadian Air Cadets ($3,000 grant): to pay for Level One first aid training for all the members of the group
- Howe Sound Hitmen Football Club ($3,000 grant): to purchase shoulder pads, helmets and jerseys
- Squamish Field Hockey Club ($3,000 grant): to purchase equipment, jerseys and insurance for players between the ages of 9 and 17
Thereafter, the Community Sponsorship programme was awarded to seven new recipients during the spring of 2017:
- Crisis Centre of BC, with Sea to Sky Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative ($5,000 grant): funding for 26 Sea to Sky service providers to have Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
- Safe ‘n Sound Squamish ($1,500 grant): to support the Safe ‘n Sound lunch programme, which provides youth who identify as LGBTQ a safe place to connect
- BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities – Easter Seals Camp Squamish ($3,700 grant): to help fund two children to attend Easter Seals Camp Squamish, one of the three Easter Seals Camps in BC that provides camps for kids and young adults with physical and/or cognitive disabilities
- 3rd Squamish Guides Unit ($1,500 grant): to support eight Squamish Guides (ages 8 to 12 years old) who will be attending SOAR 2017
- Sea to Sky Forestry Centre Society ($2,000 grant): to fund the production and installation of signage on Floodplain Forest Trail and Smoke Bluffs Viewpoint Trail
- Squamish Soccer Association ($5,000 grant): to support fundraising efforts in progress to build a second artificial turf field at Brennan Park
- Howe Sound Minor Ball Association ($5,000 grant): to help fund the purchase of new equipment, uniforms, and player and coaching development programmes
Their most recent grant approval was a total of $23,500 to eight recipients in the fall and winter of 2017:
- 835 Griffin Squadron – Royal Canadian Air Cadets ($2,000 grant): to help pay for new tents for the Squamish Air Cadets wilderness exercises
- Aligned Collective ($5,000 grant): to help cover start-up costs for the not-for-profit workspace and education centre in Squamish
- Britannia Mine Museum ($2,500 grant): in support of the Britannia Mine Museum’s school programmes
- Howe Sound Marine Rescue Society – RCM SAR Station 4 Squamish ($4,000 grant): to purchase a critical piece of search and rescue equipment–an Automatic Identification System (AIS) data marker buoy
- Howe Sound Secondary School Robotics programme ($2,500 grant): to help pay for the equipment and parts required by the students
- Squamish Minor Hockey Association ($2,500 grant): to help offset the cost of renting ice time for the Squamish Minor Hockey Association
- Squamish Skating Club ($2,500 grant): to help offset the cost of renting ice time for the Squamish Skating Club
- Team Squamish – Mountain Bike Team ($2,500 grant): to help pay for youth athlete development, based in Squamish
Recent updates
Although they were making great contributions to the Squamish community through their scholarship programme, Woodfibre LNG didn’t stop there. A recent contribution was a cleanup of the Woodfibre site.
This included removal of approximately 4,000 creosote pilings, hundreds of old tires, and tonnes of rebar and concrete. This has been carried out through the support of the Squamish Nation and the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
“Since 2013, we have contributed over $3 million to the Squamish community in taxes and contributions, approximately $10 million in contracts to Squamish Nation business partners, and over $12 million in the cleanup and remediation of the Woodfibre site,” said David Keane, President of Woodfibre LNG. “Community has always come first for us at Woodfibre–and we are proud to continue to invest in the community and in our Squamish Nation partners.”
About PO&G
PO&G is an independent energy resources development company, managed by RGE Groups. Their main focus is to produce sustainably developed energy for the emerging Asian market. They are in the process of achieving this goal through their direct subsidiary, Woodfibre LNG Limited.
About Woodfibre LNG Limited
Woodfibre LNG, situated in British Columbia is responsible for successfully executing the largest liquified natural gas (LNG) project in Canada. The project is carried out under the name ‘Woodfibre LNG project’. The Woodfibre LNG project is taking place at a site seven kilometres southwest of downtown Squamish, British Columbia.
The site, previously used for Woodfibre LNG’s pulp and paper mill, was converted to fit the needs of the project. It is valued at $ 1.6 billion, and is expected to produce an amount of about 2 million tonnes annually. The company is set to make their first delivery in the year 2023.
About Sukanto Tanoto
Sukanto Tanoto, Founder and Chairman of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), is a man that places great value on sustainable practices. Therefore, through his managing group, Tanoto ensures this goal is carried out, providing support whenever required.