Training and Awareness
Employee engagement and participation is a critical element of Enbridge’s CSR strategy. We believe our employees – and the company as a whole – reap many benefits when everyone is engaged in our CSR efforts:
- increased pride in and loyalty for Enbridge.
- increased employee retention.
- development of new skills.
- expanded internal networks, visibility and recognition within Enbridge.
- enhancement of our reputation as a desirable place to work.
- an increase in employees’ sense of connection to their community.
Enbridge’s specific commitment to environmental initiatives extends through every level and to every employee. For example, in the week leading up to Earth Day 2007 (April 22, 2007), we hosted a screening of the film An Inconvenient Truth as part of an employee-development course. Following the film, we presented Enbridge’s position on the issues the film raised, and discussed the actions Enbridge is taking to be part of the solution.
Employees’ responses to the screening were positive. In a survey we conducted after the event, more than 95 per cent of respondents said that, as a result of having seen and discussed the film, they had gained a better understanding of the world’s climate change challenges. They also said that they believe Enbridge is taking a leadership role in addressing these challenges.
As another example, in September 2007 and June 2008, Enbridge employees and their families worked together to make the world greener by partnering with Tree Canada and Strathcona County, Alberta to plant trees in Centennial Park in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Enbridge provided the volunteers and funding to purchase the trees, while Tree Canada and Strathcona County provided the technical support and ongoing maintenance. On each of those days, Enbridge volunteers planted over 500 native conifer tree seedlings. Plans are in the works to erect a sign to recognize the “Enbridge Urban Forest” in the area where the trees were planted.
As a final example, Enbridge routinely integrates environmental training into the operations training we provide, underscoring our belief that, like health and safety, environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility. We give field employees specific environmental training every three years.