Union Gas helps CBHC add excitement to Sault Ste. Marie Region school curriculum

$2,500 grant to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Nov. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Union Gas is helping the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre (CBHC) offer quality aviation and environmentally themed educational programs to Sault Ste. Marie students courtesy of a $2,500 grant awarded today. The curriculum-based programs incorporate science, math and technology to ignite student's imagination and interest.

Don Van Daele, Union Gas utility service manager, presented the cheque to Mike Delfre, executive director of the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, today at the centre in Sault Ste. Marie. Councillor Susan Myers, who is a long time Bushplane Centre supporter, also participated in the event.

"Our youth are our greatest resource, and we believe that investing in their future is an investment worth making," said Van Daele.  "We're proud to be partnering with the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre to help them offer their curriculum based programs, which will help Sault Ste. Marie area young people learn and grow."

Between 2,500 and 3,000 students from Kindergarten to grade 8, participate in the CBHC's presentations every year. Many of the volunteers who lead school tours are retired teachers.

"Our mandate is to serve the community with learning opportunities for all ages. Funding from community-minded businesses like Union Gas enables us to reach more kids and keep the cost to deliver these programs more affordable than we could do otherwise," said Delfre. "We appreciate the support from Union Gas and are pleased to welcome them to the Bushplane family".

Over the past 100 years, Union Gas has been privileged to work in more than 400 Ontario communities. In addition to natural gas delivery services for homes and businesses, Union Gas has contributed to the province through significant economic investments, hundreds of jobs, millions in municipal taxes, energy efficiency programs, thousands of volunteer hours for community organizations, major charitable giving and sponsorships. Each year Union Gas contributes millions of dollars to charitable organizations across Ontario, including United Way. For more information visit uniongas.com/community.

About Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
The CGHC has world-class aviation and water bombing exhibits and education programs with many innovative, interactive displays, theatre presentations and curriculum based educational programming. The CBHC's mandate is to collect, preserve, restore, interpret and present Sault Ste. Marie and Ontario's forest management and ecological heritage through exhibits as well as educational and community programming.

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 and 2013. 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

CONTACTS:

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]

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
Michael Delfre
Executive Director
Ph:  705-945-6242 ext. 201
[email protected]