donor stories

ENERPLUS RESOURCES FUND INVESTS $5 MILLION TOWARDS A NEW INNOVATION AND APPLIED RESEARCH FACILITY AT SAIT

On April 10, 2006 Enerplus Resources Fund announced that as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, it is making the largest ever corporate contribution to SAIT Polytechnic in its 90-year history - $5 million.

The record contribution will go toward a new applied research and innovation centre at SAIT, to be named the Enerplus Innovation Centre.

“The investment by Enerplus in trades and technical training puts SAIT a step closer toward realizing its dream of building a new state-of-the-practice Trades and Technology Complex,” says Irene Lewis, President and CEO of SAIT Polytechnic. “Enerplus has put us in a better position to increase our capacity, offer training to more students, and address the shortage of skilled labour in Alberta.”

The energy industry as a whole will benefit from Enerplus’ donation. Sixty per cent of the applied research and innovation services in the new Enerplus Innovation Centre will go toward supporting applied research for the oil and gas industry.

“We recognize the growing demand for skilled workers in our industry and believe that we need to work with both educational institutions such as SAIT and government to develop a strategy to meet these needs” says Gordon Kerr, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enerplus.

“Our founder, Marcel Tremblay, was an innovator and visionary in his creation of Enerplus and we feel that this contribution to SAIT is a fitting tribute to him and one that will create a legacy for the future innovators of Alberta’s oil and gas industry.”