Union Gas helps preserve natural resources in Waterloo Region

$5,000 grant to rare Charitable Research Reserve for conservation programs

CAMBRIDGE, ON, June 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Union Gas is helping rare Charitable Research Reserve preserve, protect, restore and improve the natural resources and environment of lands in the Waterloo Region, courtesy of a $5,000 grant awarded today.

Murray Costello, Union Gas district manager for Waterloo/Brantford presented the cheque to Patti Leather, director development and community relations of rare, today at Springbank Farm - site of the charity's community and education gardens. Staff from rare and grade 6 students, teachers and parents from St. Aloysius Catholic School in Kitchener, joined in the event.

Founded in 2001, rare Charitable Research Reserve has preserved over 900 acres of land in the Waterloo Region and stewards the property on behalf of the public. Hiking trails, nature programs and community gardens are just a sample of opportunities available to the community. The charity makes environmental education for children a real priority through its Every Child Outdoors initiative. The Union Gas grant will help rare undertake environmental restoration projects with the help of students from across the Region, as part of their learning at the Nature Reserve.

"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 Costello. "We're very pleased to support rare and its conservation program, whose goal aligns so closely with ours."

"The Union Gas support is tremendously helpful to rare. In practical terms, thousands of school children will meaningful field trips, getting their hands in the dirt, reconnecting with nature and doing their part for the environment," said Leather. "It is also incredibly beneficial to have corporate leaders, like Union Gas, endorse our work by recognizing its importance and agreeing to help."

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 rare Charitable Research Reserve
At rare, we believe that there are many reasons to live and work in Southern Ontario. We believe one of those reasons should be that, here, children are given unprecedented opportunities, including the opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle, with access to natural areas and are offered education programs that help create the next generation of environmentally-literate citizens. The vision is to offer the community, including the international community and future generations, a natural area, protected intact and in perpetuity. The Reserve's natural landscape is a common possession set aside for its ecological value and to provide unprecedented opportunities in ecological and cultural research, education, and passive recreation. For more information visit raresites.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 and 2013. For more information, visit uniongas.com.

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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]

rare Charitable Research Reserve
Patti Leather
Director, Development and Community Relations
Ph: 519-650-9336 ext. 118
[email protected]