Community
At Shell Canada, we work to find energy in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. This means that everything we do must encorporate economic objectives, meet social expectations of the communities where we operate and minimize the environmental impact of our presence. We apply our continuing effort towrds sustatinable development in our long-standing partnerships and new community projects. We focus our social commitment on three main areas: Education, the Environment and Employees working with the broader community.
CAB Communities |
CAB Community & Synergy Groups
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CAB Synergy Group Involvement
Central Alberta Region supports and endorses the use of Synergy Groups in meeting the goals of Public Consultation/Relations program. In the CAB Region, there are four syngery groups operating in which CAB Region personnel participate, listed below.
Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ)
- Multistakeholder group looking at airshed management on a regional basis
- Community/Industry participation by sector
- PAMZ has two permanent and one portable air monitoring trailer as well as several static monitorting sites
- Shell Canada Limited supports PAMZ through annual fees and participation on the Board of Directors, technical working group and communication working group
Sundre Petroleum Operators Group
- Multistakeholder group which covers a six hundred sqaure mile area in the Caroline Field and Shantz Sulphur Forming Facility area
- Includes approximately thirty industry members, the EUB, municipal representatives and community representation by geographic area
- SPOG has three working groups that deal with environment, mutal aid and community affairs issues
- Shell supports SPOG through paying annual fees, participation on all working groups and the Board of Directors, by having input into the Community Affairs Annual Plan, Goals, Objectives and budget for the SPOG Annual General Meeting and by following the proceses and procedures laid out in the SPOG Managament System Binder
Panther Advisory Group
- Multistakeholder group, which covers the Panther drilling and development projects
- Industry members include both Shell and Suncor
- Community representation is by user group
- Shell supports PAG by supplying facilitation and a chairperson for meetings
Sunpine Public Involvement Roundtable (SPIRT)
- Multistakeholder group in Rocky, Sundre, Caroline areas that deal with the issues involved with Sunpine Forest Products Forest Management Area
- Representation is by user groups
- Shell supports SPIRT as the Oil and Gas Industry representative
CAB Community Affairs
Community Programs
Below are the primary community programs with which CAB is and has been involved with.
Educational Programs |
Educational Resources Environmental Programs
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Community Investment & Support
One of the goals of Central Alberta Region’s Public Conultation/Relations Program is to increase the profile of Shell’s community investments and support and to ensure the benefits of having Shell in the community is realized. Shell Canada provides community investment and support through various programs, including:
- Central Alberta Region Community Donation Program
- Community Investment Fund
- Community Service Fund
- Shell Environment Fund
- United Way of Central Alberta participation
- Education programs
- Science and Technology
- Stay in School initiatives
- Employability skills for youth
- Entrepreneurial skills for youth
- Scholarships
- Aboriginal Program
The CAB Region’s Community Donation Program is a component of the Corporate Community 
Investment Fund. The CAB Region recieves an annual allotment, managed by the CAB Region Donations Committee. The committee has representation from a cross section of the eomployees in the Region so that diverse community views are present. Community groups applying for funding must complete a CAB Region Donations request form. The requests are reviewed quarterly by the CAB Region Donations Committee.
The CAB Region facilities and fields cover an area of approximately 5 000 square miles. Within 50km of the Caroline Gas Plant, Shantz Sulphur Forming and Handling Facility and Burnt Timber Plant there are twelve urban communities, five counties and many rural communities. The CAB Region Donation Committe attempts to spend fifty percent of the communtiry investment budget in the communities located within the Emergency Planning Zones of Shell Canada facilities. Donations are tracked by community and by catergory: Health and Social Services, Culture, Sports, Environment, Education, Civic and Community. When assessing a community request for support, the following benefits are considered:
- Education
- Youth and number of participants
- Within EPZ
- Organized Community Association
- Media exposure
- Value for money as well as community need
Unfortunately, the CAB Regions Donation Committee does not fund:
- Politcal Parties
- Religious causes
- Individuals
- Tours and trips
- Conferences
- Agencies that have already recieved United Way contributions
Quarterly reports from the Donation Committee are circulated to the CAB Region Leadership Team and the CAB Region employees. Annually, a few projects are selected for larger support. In the past, these projects have included the building of a local community hall, a book and toy lending library for Neighborhood Place, a contribution to the Aspen Science Camp, and a new ambulance for the Caroline Volunteer Ambulance Service. Annually, education scholarships are given to ten local high schools and the Alberta Outfitters Association. Aboriginal Community Investments to Sunchild, O’Chiese, Bighorn Reserves, Small Boy Camp, Rocky Native Friendship Center and the Metis Association are coordinated by the CAB Region Community Affairs Associates with input from the Resources Public Affairs Advisor.
CAB Public Donations Criteria
- Priority for communities close to the three CAB Shell facilities: Caroline, Burnt Timber and Shantz.
- Preference to organizations which are Canadian, non-profit, dependent on volunteers and accessible to the broad community without financial barriers or other barriers.
- Donations will not be given to political parties, religious causes, or individuals.
- If a team applies for a donation, the donation needs to be requested by the organization the team is affiliated with. For example, a hockey team is part of the Minor Hockey Organization for its community.
- Requests are reviewed on a quarterly basis.
- An organization is allowed only one donation per year from Shell's various donation funds.
Applications for donations are available here (PDF). The Shell employees application to Community Service Fund form is available here (PDF).
CAB & United Way
The CAB Region promotes and particpates in the Central Alberta United Way Campaign to benefit local communities. Shell employees demonstrate thier commitment through both thier donations and time spent assisting local agencies. This is in addition to the remarkable volunteer efforts that so many individuals are already involved in on a year round basis with the community groups and agencies. Each year a CAB Region Leadership Team member chairs the local United Way Campaign and sets 
up a campaign team and an employee canvas team.
Objectives
These oppurtunities have three main objectives. They are to:
- Increase awareness about the United Way and its agencies
- Provide community support
- Promote team building
Opportunities
- Speakers – A number of the United Way agencies have speakers which are highly recommened by the United Way and can be available to come into Shell to speak at meetings or arranged sessions.
- Tours – A number of United Way agencies provide guided tours of thier premises.
- Days of Caring – A Day of Caring has unlimited possibilities. The day (or a portion of the day) can be a volunteer effort at an agency, for example the preperation and serving of a meal at The Mustard Seed. The effort can be a drive to collect items needed by agencies such as food, soap or toys. The effort could also be to organize a get together for agency recipients such as a party for a children’s group or an awareness session for immigrants.
- Combinations – A day or a portion of a day can combine oppurtunities, like a speaker and a tour of an agency, or combining a Day of Caring with a tour. For example, a toy drive can benefit many agencies. The volunteers may wish to split up and deliver the toys to a variety of agencies and recieve a tour of that agency while they are there.
Days of Caring
It is our hope that all CAB Region employees particpate annually in a Day of Caring event in and around Central Alberta. These days provide an excellent oppurtunity for employees to help the community. The feedback that we have recieved from participants and agencies over the years has been very positive. Days of Caring are conducted in accordance with United Way’s key areas of need, including:
- Caring for community health and well-being
- Preventing homelessness and building self-sufficiency
- Creating oppurtunitiers for children and youth
- Reducing family conflict and violence
- Helping children get a good start in life
- Stay in School programs for youth
- Helping people be more employable and self-sufficient
- Crisis services and shelters
In order to build awareness and have employees understand where and how thier contributions are put to use in the community, the Shell CAB Region employees are also encouraged to particpate in United Way agency yours. Visit United Way online for more information, here.