Community Relations

Enbridge is committed to contributing to the quality of the life in communities where we operate. Throughout our operations, we put this commitment into action in different ways, through our focus on reliable and safe energy delivery, our community investments and the volunteer efforts of our employees.

Enbridge's social vision statement

We're Enbridge. In partnership with our communities, we deliver more than energy; we deliver on our commitment to enhance the quality of life in our communities by supporting programs in health, education, social services and the environment. Together with our employees we have the energy to make a difference.

Community investment

Our community investment program supports not-for-profit organizations through financial contributions and human resources. In 2003, this program donated about CDN$3.5 million to 165 charitable and non-profit organizations across Canada and the United States.

Directed by our social vision statement, we invest company funds primarily to initiatives in health, education, social services, the environment, arts and culture and civic leadership.

Several donations in 2003 that reflect this focus include:

1. Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children's summer student program, which allows youth to give back to the community and develop their leadership skills;
2. Eva's Initiatives, a non-profit organization providing shelter and skills train- ing for homeless youth in Toronto;
3. Enbridge Energy 911 Fund, which provides small grants for equipment purchase and training to first responder organizations in the United States in memory of the heroes and victims of the September 11, 2001 tragedy;
4. Enbridge Gas Distribution was a founding sponsor of the Toronto Smog Summit and has contributed to it for each of the last four years. The Smog Summit brings industry and different levels of government together to share information on smog and energy reduction commitments and accomplishments;
5. Alberta's Promise, a multi-stakeholder movement to encourage partnerships among communities, business and agencies to direct more financial resources to benefit children and youth;
6. Green Learning Program, an environmental education website designed by the Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development for use in Alberta and Canadian schools;
7. Keystone Center's Key Issues Program, a national teacher training institute near Silverthorne, Colorado, that provides middle level educators with processes and skills to investigate environmental issues with students. In 2003, we sponsored two teachers from schools in Longview, Texas, to attend the program;
8. Environmental Initiative Program, which provides grants to community- based environmental projects along our Canadian Liquids Pipelines System;
9. Inuvik Justice Program, a not-for-profit program in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, that fosters relationships between young offenders and elders and teaches youth the importance of traditional culture, survival skills and respecting the environment while out on the land;
10. S. Forest Service wildland firefighting training program at the Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, for members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe;
11. Theatre in downtown Houston. We provided funding and worked with the theatre's organization to expand interest in supporting theatre among other companies in the city; and
12. Student Vote 2003, a non-partisan, educational initiative aimed at inspiring electoral participation and awareness among high school students. In 2003, Gas Distribution was a major corporate partner for the organization's trial program in Ontario that successfully engaged students in more than 800 high schools across the province.

Our financial contributions are complemented by our efforts to develop partnerships that help non-profit organizations to achieve their social objectives while raising community awareness among employees. In Ottawa, for example, Gas Distribution provided office space to Christie Lake Kids, a local organization that helps at-risk children to develop skills for success. This partnership has reduced operating costs for the charity and engaged employees in the charity's fundraising events. At an Enbridge Canoe for Kids competition in Ottawa, our employees helped to raise CDN$62,000 last year, enough to send 72 underprivileged children to the organization's summer camp.

United Way

For the fifth consecutive year, Enbridge collectively raised more than CDN$1 million for United Way campaigns across Canada and the United States through employee and corporate-giving.

In our different locations, our employees invested time, energy and money into charitable and community causes. Focusing on raising not just dollars, but also awareness about Corporate Social Responsibility at the community level, employees participated in barbeques, United Way fairs, golf tournaments, 50/50 draws and other events.

Awards for community support

Our good reputation is a valuable asset - and one that we sustain through community investment programs and socially responsible practices. This is reflected in some of the awards and recognition our company received in 2003.

For instance, Enbridge was named by Alberta Venture magazine as "Alberta's most respected corporation for community support for 2003." The recognition cited the company's "thoughtful and integrated involvement with its community at large, through philanthropic activities, contribution of resources such as volunteers or expertise, and/or development of partnerships with community organizations."

Canada's Corporate Knights magazine also placed Enbridge first among utility companies and seventh among Canada's top 50 corporate citizens for community investment. And our company placed 23rd in an annual survey of Canada's most respected companies. The survey, conducted by Ipsos-Reid, asked leading Canadian CEOs to indicate the corporations they most admire and respect in nine categories including Corporate Social Responsibility and corporate governance.

Motivating leaders in Canada's cities

We continue to invest in building leadership strength in the community. Since 1999, we have been a founding sponsor of leadership development programs in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Ottawa, Fredericton and the Region of Peel, Ontario - all communities where Enbridge employees live and work.

Enbridge contributes start-up funds and volunteer assistance and sponsors employees to attend the programs, which are designed, using classroom sessions, team projects and retreats, to motivate aspiring leaders from business, government and not-for-profit sectors.

OCENSA sponsors community education in Colombia

OCENSA, in partnership with the Colombian government and local communities, supports educational processes that promote individual participation in the planning and management of local development.

One example is the company's sponsorship of a social and environmental management education program for municipal administrators and community leaders in Colombia. The program focuses on developing citizenship and promoting participation in local communities to find solutions to social and environmental issues. Since 1998, 16 leadership schools have been established in 25 municipalities in the country and more than 2,400 public officials and community leaders have graduated from the training program.

Employee volunteerism

Our employees devote tens of thousands of hours to volunteer work. Many of our employees help to feed the homeless, coach little league teams, teach "English as a second language " classes, volunteer at schools, churches and charities and provide leadership to our communities.

During 2003, they continued to show their sense of caring and community support in various ways.

For example, employees in Houston participated in home repairs for the elderly and needy in support of the city's United Way Day of Caring program. In Toronto, employees volunteered their time and energy to Junior Achievement, a program that teaches young people about the education and skills needed to achieve success in a changing world. In Edmonton, employees and their families participated in street cleanups and fundraising for charitable causes. In Calgary, our employees repaired furniture and organized social events to benefit needy families through Families in Transition, a program developed by the Aspen Family and Community Network Society.

We are proud of these efforts and take time throughout the year to celebrate their contributions. In Toronto, Gas Distribution honoured 22 outstanding volunteers at its annual employee volunteer dinner. Elsewhere, we profiled our employee volunteers in newsletters and through activities during National Volunteer Week in April.

Nurturing volunteer spirit among young people

Enbridge promotes volunteerism among young people, with the aim of contributing to the growth of a new generation of community leaders.

For example, Gas Distribution helps to fund Youth Assisting Youth (YAY), a Toronto-area organization providing peer mentoring for at-risk youths between the ages of six to 15. With our support, YAY recently opened the Enbridge Volunteers in Partnership Resource Centre to support youth volunteerism in York Region which will provide training, workshops and orientation sessions for volunteers, helping YAY in meeting the growing demand for its services.

In 2003, Gas Distribution also established the Enbridge Youth Volunteers Awards to recognize outstanding youth volunteers in Richmond Hill and Mississauga, Ontario.

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