Union Gas helps improve access to Mark's Bay Conservation Area

$2,500 grant to Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority for trail improvements

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Sept. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Union Gas is providing a $2,500 grant to Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA), to assist with new signage, trail improvements and maintenance, to improve access and safety for visitors.

Don Van Daele, Union Gas utility service manager, presented the cheque to SSMRCA Board chair, Brian Watkins and general manager, Rhonda Bateman at the Conservation Authority Office.

SSMRCA owns and maintains several conservation areas such as Mark's Bay, Fort Creek, Hiawatha Highlands and Shore Ridges. These areas are widely used for a variety of outdoor activities. The Union Gas grant will help to increase awareness and identification of conservation areas like Mark's Bay by both residents and visitors to our community.

"The energy we provide comes from the earth, so we are mindful of the role that nature plays in heating your homes and providing your electricity.  We are proud, as well, that our conservation programs not only cut energy costs but remove pollution from the environment," said Van Daele "We're very pleased to support Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority whose goals align so closely with ours in their efforts to improve recreational and educational opportunities at local Conservation areas like Mark's Bay."

"We are pleased to accept this grant from Union Gas to help improve our conservation area signage and trail maintenance," said Bateman. "Union Gas has assisted in the past with funding for our Children's Source Water Festival which supports the Conservation Authority's education program. We appreciate their continued support of our conservation programs." 

For more than 100 years, Union Gas has been privileged to work in more than 400 Ontario communities. Each year, the company supports the communities where its employees live and work through thousands of volunteer hours for local charitable and non-profit organizations, major charitable giving and sponsorships. Last year, Union Gas donated close to $3 million to community and charitable organizations in Ontario, including over $928,000 to United Way. Union Gas employees, retirees, family and friends provided over 17,000 volunteer hours to help strengthen communities. For more information visit uniongas.com/community.

About Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority
Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA) is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario, which are a network of organizations involved in a variety of programs and services including integrated watershed management. SSMRCA operations and programs can be found at our website www.ssmrca.ca .

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 $6.4 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 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

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]; Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority, Christine Ropeter, Assistant Manager & Communications, Ph: 705-946-8530 ext. 201, [email protected], www.ssmrca.ca