Helping hands
SUNCOR AWARDED SILVER PAR CERTIFICATION
JSUNCOR HAS PARTNERED WITH INDSPIRE, AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ABORIGINAL EDUCATION AND YOUNG PEOPLE, SINCE 1998. WE HOST YOUTH AT THE ANNUAL INDSPIRE GALA. WE FLY THEM OUT, THEY HAVE A LUNCHEON AND INTERACT WITH ABORIGINAL [INDSPIRE] AWARDS WINNERS. THEY GET TO BE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH ROLE MODELS — JOCELYN KELLN, SUNCOR ABORIGINAL RELATIONS ADVISOR
ocelyn Kelln is listing off the many kinds of aboriginalowned companies with which Suncor, the Calgarybased energy giant, does business. “They provide a variety of services from safety on-site to catering to lodging,” she says. “We also have long-term, wellestablished relationships with manufacturing companies providing equipment for mining operations— wristolets, for example.”
Wristolets? Kelln, one of Suncor’s aboriginal relations advisors, explains that wristolets are worn as personal protective equipment when operating machinery. Wristolets are made entirely of Kevlar, and are 20 times stronger than steel, fire retardant and slash resistant.
Kelln says Suncor is proud of the number of contracts it has awarded to aboriginal businesses, particularly in the oil sands. Since 1999, when the company began collecting the data, it has spent some $2.5-billion on goods and services from aboriginal businesses. Almost $1.5-billion of that has been allocated since 2009.
In recognition of that commitment and others, Suncor recently achieved silver-level Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) certification from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB). “We’d been a patron member of the CCAB for a while, so this was a logical next step. This is our first time being PAR-certified,” says Kelln. Suncor’s commitment to aboriginal communities reaches across its business, including the oil sands, gas stations, wind power, offshore and refineries.
“In becoming PAR-certified, we really relied on strong support from [Suncor] leadership to drive the process. Looking ahead, PAR certification provides a catalyst for ongoing improvement and best practices. It builds momentum.”
PAR certification provides a third-party perspective on how well companies are working with aboriginal peoples, as part of the PAR process involved an independent jury of aboriginal people assessing Suncor’s submission. “It’s a message from communities and stakeholders — not just us — that says how we’re doing.”
Along with business development, Suncor’s outreach to aboriginal peoples focuses on community engagement, employment and community investment, and the PAR framework will give Suncor the tools to track its progress.
The company employs a team whose focus is building and maintaining strong relationships with aboriginal communities. One of the goals is to be visible and take part in community events, celebrations, treaty days and chief-to-chief meetings. “Our philosophy is engage early and engage often,” says Kelln.
Kelli Stevens, Suncor spokesperson, says these initiatives are producing results. “We’re at a point now where some chiefs will directly text-message our executives because they feel comfortable reaching out to us.”
With regard to employment, another key performance area, Suncor wants to increase aboriginal participation in the workforce through full-time employment and contracting opportunities. It has a recruiter in Fort McMurray whose role is to work with aboriginal communities.
Community investment involves helping aboriginal communities prosper. As just a few examples, Suncor supports Actua, a national science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program for youth. Suncor provides funding to help Actua develop and deliver STEM programs to aboriginal youth in communities across Canada, including summer science and technology camps.
Suncor has also partnered with Indspire, an organization dedicated to aboriginal education and young people, since 1998. The company recently pledged an additional $1.7-million to support Indspire scholarships and research for educators. “We also host youth at the annual Indspire gala,” says Kelln. “We fly them out, they have a luncheon and interact with aboriginal [Indspire] awards winners. They get to be up close and personal with role models.”
Suncor will have its next PAR review in 2017. Completing its first report has provided it with a platform to monitor improvements. “Something really near and dear to me is that it has helped provide a framework for us to talk about aboriginal relations,” says Kelln.