Pipeliners think pink on E2H project

The Pink Campaign breast cancer fundraiser in northern Alberta was spearheaded by employees of Enbridge and Michels Canada.

Pink power flexed some considerable muscle on Enbridge’s Edmonton to Hardisty (E2H) Pipeline Project construction site throughout the month of October.

This year’s Pink Campaign fundraiser was spearheaded by representatives of Enbridge and trusted contractor Michels Canada, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After a one-day event in 2013, which raised $5,000, organizers ambitiously targeted a goal of $25,000 – and came through with flying colors, with a final tally of nearly $79,000 that included corporate matches from Michels Canada and Enbridge.

Acklands-Grainger, an industrial supply and safety company, generously stepped up for the cause and donated pink hard hats and gloves for this year’s Pink Campaign. Over the month, a donation of up to $50 earned pipeliners on the project a pair of pink gloves, up to $100 was worth a pink hard hat, and more than $100 got both. Now that’s pink power.

Darel Malcolmson, a superintendent with Michels Canada assigned to the E2H project, added his own flair to the Pink Campaign – promising his team he would dye his hair pink if that $25,000 goal was reached. Malcolmson’s follicles sported a neon glow as he handed over a cheque to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation during a presentation ceremony on Friday, Nov. 7.

“Cancer is something that has touched just about everyone in some way. It’s something that we can’t turn a blind eye to and we need to raise more awareness about it,” says Aimee Hiebert, a Michels Canada employee who co-ordinated this Pink Campaign. “I’ve lost both of my grandmas to breast cancer, so it is a very real thing in my family and anything I can do to raise awareness and help fund research is important.”

Statistics from the Canadian Cancer Society show that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among Canadian women. In the United States, the American Cancer Society reports that breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women.

This year, in Canada alone, it’s estimated that:

• 24,400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer (representing 26 per cent of all new cancer cases in women);
• 5,000 women will die of breast cancer (representing 14 per cent of all cancer deaths in women).

At Enbridge, we believe it’s essential to do our part to make communities healthy, safe . . . and, ultimately, better places to live.

“We are proud of Michels Canada for taking the initiative, and proud to support great causes like breast cancer awareness,” says Al Mohan, assistant construction manager of our E2H project.