Union Gas helps inspire future business leaders in Sarnia-Lambton

$2,000 grant to Junior Achievement

SARNIA, ON, July 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Union Gas is helping young people in the Sarnia-Lambton area develop leadership, entrepreneurial and workforce readiness skills through the continued support of Junior Achievement of South Western Ontario, courtesy of a $2,000 grant awarded today.

Greg Wagner, Union Gas utility service manager and Bart Baker, Union Gas assistant support manager presented the cheque to Becky Krukowski, program manager for the Sarnia-Lambton Regional Office of Junior Achievement South Western Ontario, at the organization's office in Sarnia.

Junior Achievement offers elementary and high school programs that help young people discover leadership, entrepreneurial and workforce readiness skills, so they can achieve their highest potential and future successes as citizens in the global community.

"One of our core company values is education. We believe it's the key to building a skilled workforce for the future, and creating economic opportunity for individuals and communities," said Wagner.  "We are very pleased to support Junior Achievement and its programs, whose values align so closely with ours."

"Having Union Gas partner with us further allows JA to mentor the youth of today's world," says Barb Smith, president of Junior Achievement South Western Ontario. "Union Gas has been an integral part of helping us deliver programs for over 45 years, most recently to over 3,800 youth.  They have been a part of the continuous growth within our programs through volunteers and financial support and together we empower youth in southwestern Ontario.  We are giving them the skills necessary to create healthy, robust communities and become the leaders of tomorrow."

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.  In addition, Union Gas employees, retirees, family and friends provided over 17,000 volunteer hours to help strengthen the communities where they live and work. For more information visit uniongas.com/community.

About Junior Achievement South Western Ontario
Junior Achievement has been in Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton for over 40 years and has recently expanded into the Windsor Essex area. As part of an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring young people about business and economics, the organization continues to grow regionally in order to bring its cost free programs to the youth in our areas. The youth who participate in Junior Achievement programs have the opportunity to gain insight and experience which can help them understand the business practices which influence their daily lives.

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

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]

Junior Achievement of South Western Ontario
Barb Smith
President
Ph:  519-352-0151
Fax:  [phone]
[email protected]