Union Gas brings Earth Rangers' Outreach Program to Cornwall

$5,000 grant will help spread message to Cornwall students about biodiversity

CORNWALL, ON, June 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Union Gas will help ensure hundreds of kids in Cornwall learn more about biodiversity with a $5,000 grant that brings Earth Rangers' School Outreach Program to five schools in the Cornwall area, including East Front Public School.

"Environmental conservation is one of our core company values, so Earth Rangers, which educates over a million children a year across Canada about the importance of biodiversity, fits nicely as a partner with Union Gas," said Jake Lapierre, Union Gas utility service manager for Cornwall.

Through live shows, an extensive online community, national television presence and the Bring Back the Wild™ program, the reach of Earth Rangers is impressive as they inspire kids to take action to help protect animals and preserve the environment.

The School Outreach Program focuses on natural science and the challenges facing Canadian biodiversity. The program makes things interesting and creates a connection with school kids by incorporating the power of live animals. Telling the stories of four unique Canadian species, it inspires students to want to learn more about animals and their habitats. Most importantly, it inspires them to help protect biodiversity.

"We are very grateful to have Union Gas make the Earth Ranger presentation a reality here at East Front because it fits so well into the mission and vision of both our school and our board, from the perspective of building positive community partnerships and how it strongly relates to our character education initiatives," says Joe Harty, principal of East Front Public School. "Opportunities for children to recognize their place and role in caring for the environment and all things living are so important to our future as a society, and we recognize the fact that Union Gas has made it a priority as they continue to model corporate citizenship, with our most valuable resource; our children."

The Earth Rangers' School Outreach Program will be available in fifteen schools during the school year. Recipient schools will be located in Sarnia, Owen Sound and Cornwall, and Union Gas employees have had the opportunity to play an active role in selecting them.

"Earth Rangers is proud to be partnering with Union Gas to expand the scope of our School Outreach Program in Ontario," said Peter Kendall, Earth Rangers' Executive Director. "This program allows us to connect directly with children, encouraging them to protect the environment through their own initiatives and empowering them to take action through a Bring Back the Wild fundraising campaign."

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 Earth Rangers
Earth Rangers is a kids' conservation organization dedicated to educating children and families about biodiversity loss and empowering them to Bring Back the Wild™.  Building on children's natural connection to wildlife, Earth Rangers' focus is to communicate to children a positive science-based message on the importance of protecting biodiversity and adopting more sustainable behaviours. Through programs including a children's website, www.earthrangers.com, a permanent studio at the Royal Ontario Museum and a School Outreach Program featuring live Animal Ambassadors, Earth Rangers is able to reach, inspire and enable millions of children each year to take action to help ensure the lasting survival of species in Canada.

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

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]

Earth Rangers
Lori Marier, Media Relations and Communications Manager
905-417-3447 ext. 2281
[email protected]