Union Gas helps ERCA protect and restore natural habitats

$4,000 grant to Essex Region Conservation Foundation on GivingTuesday

ESSEX, ON, Dec. 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Union Gas is helping Essex Region Conservation Foundation support ERCA's Nature in Education program, courtesy of a $4,000 grant awarded today. The hands-on study course teaches students about habitats, water and wildlife using environmental science-based studies.

Andrea Seguin, Union Gas district manager for Windsor/Chatham presented the cheque to Essex Region Conservation Foundation board chair, Ken Schmidt and executive director Richard Wyma. Essex Regional Conservation Foundation and Essex Region Conservation Authority board members joined in the event.

"We're particularly mindful of environmental conservation because nature provides the fuel that we deliver to our customers and also because it's an important way to ensure our children's future will be as bright as ours," said Seguin. "We're very pleased to support Essex Region Conservation Foundation and the Nature in Education program, whose goal aligns so closely with ours."

The program which is linked to the Ontario curriculum, is aimed at students from senior kindergarten to Grade 12, and includes field activities such as map courses, hawk banding and stream table experiments at Essex Region Conservation Authority Conservation Areas. More than 300,000 children have participated since the program began more than 25 years ago.

"Education is a key factor in creating a future of sustainability," said Schmidt. "These programs provide a unique, alternative learning environment to allow children to reconnect and interact with nature."

In addition to natural gas delivery services for homes and businesses and contributing to the province's economy through investment, job creation, municipal taxes and energy efficiency programs, Union Gas has a clear set of best practices regarding the environment and actively encourages and promotes those practices via community groups throughout its distribution area. This value is reflected each year, as the company supports communities across Ontario through thousands of volunteer hours for local charitable and non-profit organizations, major charitable giving and sponsorships. Last year alone, Union Gas contributed about $3 million to charitable organizations across the province, including environmental programs and projects. For more information visit uniongas.com/community.

About Essex Region Conservation Foundation
Essex Region Conservation Foundation supports ERCA by raising the funds required to reforest and green the Essex region, provide conservation education, protect those significant natural areas that remain, plant new forests in strategic locations, restore wetlands, protect cultural heritage, and increase green connections through acquiring and developing trails.  For more information visit www.ourgreenlegacy.org

About Union Gas
Union Gas Limited, a Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) company, is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with 100 years of experience and service to customers, assets of over $5.8 billion and approximately 2,200 employees. The distribution business serves about 1.4 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across Ontario. Union Gas is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. For more information, visit uniongas.com or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/uniongas, Facebook: facebook.com/uniongas and YouTube: youtube.com/user/uniongas.

SOURCE: Union Gas Limited

Union Gas Limited 
Andrea Stass
Manager, External Communications and Media Relations
Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5005490
Cell: 519 365-1010
[email protected]

Essex Region Conservation Foundation
Susanne Tomkins
Communications Specialist
519 776 5209 ext. 366
519 984 2650 (cell)
[email protected]