How Canada’s Top 10 oil and gas producers are investing in local communities

Canada’s oil and gas industry is committed to responsible resource development, and that means reducing environmental impacts and supporting the communities where companies operate.

In 2021, Canada’s largest oil and gas producers invested more than $110 million in local communities.

Here are examples of community investments in 2021 from each of Canada’s top 10 oil and gas producers’ latest environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance reporting.

Companies are ranked by production measured in barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), according to data in the Daily Oil Bulletin’s 2022 Top Operator’s Report.

10. Peyto Exploration & Development

2021 production: 91,051 boe/d

Peyto invested $55,000 in communities where the company operates. They contributed to charitable and volunteer organizations like STARS Air Ambulance and the Calgary Food Bank.

9. MEG Energy

2021 production: 93,733 boe/d

MEG Energy invested over $1.8 million in local communities, focusing on mental health programs. This includes a $200,000 investment in Trellis Society’s Calgary-based Youth Housing Programs.

8. Whitecap Resources

2021 production: 112,222 boe/d

Whitecap Resources invested $531,000 in communities where the company operates. These initiatives include supporting operating costs for Drake’s Handi-Bus in Drayton Valley, Alta., minor hockey in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and Inn from the Cold.

7. Crescent Point Energy

2021 production: 112,632 boe/d

Crescent Point Energy invested over $1.4 million in 380 local non-profit organizations and community groups including the Calgary Zoo, where the company provided a $100,000 donation to support construction of a new breeding and research centre for burrowing owls.

6. ARC Resources

2021 production: 302,003 boe/d

ARC Resources invested $1.7 million in communities where the company operates. This includes donations to the Canadian Red Cross, the United Way and the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau’s Toy Drive to support families impacted by the 2021 B.C. floods.

5. Imperial

2021 production: 383,167 boe/d

Imperial invested $17 million in Canadian communities, donating to around 1,000 non-profits including $3 million for United Way organizations across the country. Imperial also donated $2.5 million in free fuel to front-line healthcare workers.

4. Tourmaline

2021 production: 441,145 boe/d

Tourmaline reports it has invested over $2.6 million in the last three years in communities and surrounding areas where it operates. This includes Veterans’ Angels, which provides financial and emotional support to Canada’s veterans, and foodbanks across Alberta and B.C.

3. Suncor Energy

2021 production: 698,600 boe/d

Suncor invested $36 million in communities across Canada, and nearly $5 million through its ownership of the Syncrude project. This includes $500,000 in local grants across nine provinces through the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation. Some of the foundation’s early successes include launching online learning modules to educate Canadians about caregiving.

2. Cenovus Energy

2021 production: 731,300 boe/d

Cenovus invested $19.3 million in communities where the company operates. Investments include sponsorship of the Canada-Wide Science Fair, Canada’s largest annual youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics event, which brings together the country’s top young scientists. The 500 young finalists compete for medals, cash prizes, scholarships and opportunities that will help them develop their skills and shape their future.