May 2006 ISSUE
Enerplus Resources Invests in SAIT
APEGGA permit holder Enerplus Resources Fund is making the largest corporate contribution to SAIT Polytechnic in the school’s 90-year history. The $5-million contribution — part of the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations — will enable SAIT Polytechnic to increase its applied research and innovation services for the energy and related sectors.
“The investment by Enerplus in trades and technical training puts SAIT
a step closer to realizing its dream of building a new, state-of-the-practice
trades and technology complex,” says Irene Lewis, president and CEO of
SAIT Polytechnic. “Enerplus has put us in a better position to increase
our capacity, offer training to more students, and address the shortage of skilled
labour in Alberta.”
The $5 million will go towards creating a centre that will specialize in applied
research and innovation. It will be named the Enerplus Innovation Centre.
“We recognize the growing demand for skilled workers in our industry and believe that we need to work with both educational institutions such as SAIT and government to develop a strategy to meet these needs,” says Gordon Kerr, president and chief executive officer of Enerplus.
“We’ve enjoyed tremendous growth and success in our 20 years as an income fund and without talented and dedicated people, that success would never have been possible.”
Enerplus is the first oil and natural gas income fund in Canada. With operations throughout Western Canada and in the United States, it is one of the largest oil and gas income funds in North America.