Giving back

EmPowering Communities - the power of volunteers

EmPowering Communities encourages employee volunteerism and recognizes the valuable gifts of time, skill, and knowledge that employees give to the community.

Employees and their families who volunteer a combined minimum of 35 hours in a calendar year can apply for a $500 grant to be donated by Capital Power to a non-profit organization of the employee’s choice.

Employees who refer co-workers to participate in the program for the first time are eligible to direct a referral grant of $250 to a non-profit or charitable service organization.

In 2013, 134 employees were involved in the program and 13 employees participated for the first time after being referred by a colleague. Nearly 12,000 hours in volunteer time were reported by employees and their families. In recognition of this dedication, we contributed $70,000 to non-profit organizations across North America.*

_{* These numbers include contributions of $8,000 from 16 employees at our New England facilities. Capital Power’s New England facilities were sold in November 2013.}

2013 EmPowering Communities

Grants were provided to a wide variety of organizations including, but not limited to:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
• Boy Scouts of America, MA, NC, ME
• Breton Minor Soccer, AB
• Campbell River and District Adult Care Society, B.C.
• Canadian Cancer Society Alberta/NWT Division, AB, NWT
• The Canadian Heritage Arts Society, B.C.
• Hope Mission, AB
• Londonderry Child Development Society, AB
• McCleod Community League, AB
• Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society, B.C.
• Parkland Food Bank Society, AB
• Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, AB
• Southern Alberta Myeloma Patient Society, AB
• Spruce Grove Minor Hockey Association, AB
• Strawberry District Society, AB
• West Suburban YMCA, MA

Celebrating volunteerism – Propellus Leadership Awards

For the second year in a row, Capital Power was a proud sponsor of the Propellus Volunteer Awards (formerly Volunteer Calgary Leadership Awards), which recognize the extraordinary efforts of volunteers who demonstrate exceptional community support.

Capital Power was nominated for the Outstanding Employee Volunteer Program, which recognizes the volunteer programs and employee involvement of corporations.

Team building by volunteering

Capital Power employees volunteer together to build camaraderie with their colleagues and connections with the community.

Employee teams regularly participate in group volunteering activities at various agencies serving needy and underprivileged citizens within their communities. Further, within our corporate sponsorships and community partnerships, Capital Power works with community partners to offer volunteer opportunities for our employees and their families and friends with the Edmonton Eskimos, PaceKids Programs, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Wellspring Edmonton, and a number of charitable military organizations including Valour Place and the Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre. We encourage the partner organization to bring volunteers to work alongside our employee volunteers to increase engagement and further inform our employees of the impact of the community partner’s work.

These activities are well received and hours volunteered through these initiatives can be applied to the EmPowering Communities program.

The Solarthon for GRID Alternatives, San Diego, California

A group of Capital Power employees teamed up with over 200 volunteers for the GRID Alternatives 2013 Solarthon, which installs solar photovoltaic systems for low-income families. People from all walks of life worked side-by-side on a common mission to help others.

This volunteer opportunity covered 11 houses in San Diego, as an extension of the Habitat for Humanity project. Working with other sponsor volunteers, safety supervisors, and the homeowners, participants installed two sets of solar panels per residence.

Employees were able to use their volunteer hours to apply for an EmPowering Communities Employee Volunteer grant. Capital Power also gave a cash donation to support this worthy cause.

Community Leadership Program

Our Community Leadership Program matches our executive leaders with organizations that contribute to the betterment of our community. Our leaders gain greater insight into the community’s needs while helping non-profit organizations achieve their goals. In 2013, our senior executives served on the following boards of directors:

• Brian Vaasjo – Chair & Director, Alberta Shock Trauma Rescue Society (STARS) Foundation
• Kate Chisholm – Director, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region
• Darcy Trufyn – Director, Art Gallery of Alberta; and Director, Wellspring Edmonton
• Stuart Lee – Director, Citadel Theatre; and Audit Committee, University of Alberta