Enerplus Resources Fund of Calgary is making the largest-ever corporate contribution to SAIT Polytechnic.
Enerplus is making the $5-million donation as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, the company announced this week.
SAIT officials say they will use the donation - the biggest corporate donation in its 90-year history - for applied research and innovation services for the energy and related sectors.
"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," said SAIT president and CEO Irene Lewis. "Specifically, the $5 million ... will go toward creating a new centre in the Trades and Technology Complex that will specialize in applied research and innovation."
The new centre will be named the Enerplus Innovation Centre.
"Our founder, Marcel Tremblay, was an innovator and visionary in his creation of Enerplus," said Enerplus CEO Gordon Kerr.
"We feel that this contribution to SAIT is a fitting tribute to him and one that will create a legacy for the future innovators of Alberta's oil and gas industry."
SAIT's applied research and innovation services department connects industry with SAIT experts, enabling organizations to refine products and processes, as well as develop and incubate new business and commercialize innovative technologies.
With the new Trades and Technology Complex, SAIT plans to double the number of seats it will offer in energy, construction, manufacturing and automation, and transportation - all industry areas with huge demand for more skilled workers.
Over the past 20 years, Enerplus has grown from a $9- million initial public offering to having an enterprise value of more than $7 billion. It has operations throughout Western Canada and the United States, and is one of the largest oil and gas income funds in North America.
Web Watch: www.sait.ca/appliedresearch
