Union Gas supports environmental stewardship

$5,000 grant helps Royal Botanical Gardens train Botany Intern

HAMILTON, ON, Sept. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Union Gas is contributing to the training and mentoring of a new environmental intern through a $5,000 grant awarded today. Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) interns help address essential terrestrial and aquatic habitat restoration projects, engage in wildlife and species-at-risk monitoring as well as participate in protection activities, conduct research, manage horticultural landscapes and educate the public about the importance of environmental stewardship.

Neil Veenstra, Union Gas utility service manager for Hamilton, presented the cheque to Dr. David Galbraith, Royal Botanical Gardens head of science, today at Princess Point, Hamilton.  Others in attendance included a group of Union Gas employees from the company's Hamilton office that were involved in a Helping Hands in Action community improvement project, to clean up the woods surrounding Princess Point.

"At Union Gas, we believe in investing to safeguard the environment so we can all share in its many benefits," said Veenstra. "That's why we support important environmental programs in the communities we serve, like this one."

The botany intern participates in researching, predicting, and assessing changes in plant populations in RBG's urban and near-urban nature sanctuaries and gardens. This includes ongoing floristic research and long-term monitoring projects which will help develop a diversity of skills and techniques relevant to plant species, community and ecosystem monitoring. The Intern plays a role in the delivery of RBG's plant identification services to professionals and the interested public while gaining practical experience in the collection, identification, and curation of wild and cultivated plants.

"Royal Botanical Gardens nature sanctuaries have been recognized as environmentally significant on a national scale.  We are a living laboratory for science, a connecting point for children in their early embrace of nature, a leader in sustainable gardening and the standard-bearer for ecological restoration and plant preservation," said Runciman.  "These funds will help us mentor a Botany Intern, who will provide the support needed to protect this and other important landscapes for generations to enjoy."

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 Royal Botanical Gardens
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is the largest botanical garden in Canada, a National Historic Site, and registered charitable organization with a mandate to bring together people, plants and nature. For more information visit rbg.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 over 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 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]

Royal Botanical Gardens
Nick Kondrat, Manager of Communications
Ph: 905-527-1158 (1-800-694-4769), ext. 223
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]