Union Gas Supports Environmental Rehabilitation Projects

$2,500 grant to Friends of the Coves

LONDON, ON, Oct. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Union Gas is supporting Friends of the Coves rehabilitation projects as well as the water monitoring and outdoor education programs through a $2,500 grant awarded today. 

Joe Gregorio, Union Gas commercial industrial account representative and member of the Union Gas London green team and Ian Ross, Union Gas district manager London/Sarnia, presented the cheque to Thom McClenaghan, president of Friends of the Coves, at the organization's office in London.

"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 Gregorio. "We're very pleased to support Friends of the Coves and its efforts, whose goal aligns so closely with ours."

The Friends of the Coves Subwatershed Inc. recently embarked on a multi-year, largely volunteer-driven effort to remove an estimated 400,000 lbs of non-native European Buckthorn Shrubs (20,000 lbs were removed this year) from several forested areas consisting of about 60 hectars. In place of the buckthorns, fourteen thousand native shrubs, and small trees, and over six million seeds from ground layer plants such as Trillium, will be planted by more than 2,000 volunteers. A network of trails in and around this environmentally significant area will be established beginning in 2015.

In addition to the grant, Union Gas lead a group of volunteers which include employees, family and friends as well as members of the Westminster Secondary School Environmental Club in planting over 150 plants to promote indigenous foliage growth in the area of Easton Park.

"Friends of the Coves is indeed grateful for the ongoing support of Union Gas for these various projects and their recognition and understanding of the place that it has in improving the quality of life within this part of the city, with a population of 11,000," said McClenaghan.

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 Friends of the Coves
Friends of the Coves Subwatershed Inc. is a non-profit, environmental organization whose goals and objectives aim to engage residents, businesses, community organizations, agencies and all levels of government, in the protection, rehabilitation, and stewardship of the Coves Subwatershed. Our mission statement is: The quality of life in our community is enhanced through the protection, rehabilitation and wise stewardship of the Coves Subwatershed. For more information, visit thecoves.ca or on facebook at friendsofthecoves.

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]; Friends of the Coves: Thom McClenaghan, President, Ph: 519-640-5757, [email protected]