TNM parent Glacier Media donates to Fort Mac

The JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group (JWN) and its parent company Glacier Media (TSX: GVC) (also The Northern Miner‘s parent), are donating $50,000 toward Red Cross efforts in the wildfire-ravaged city of Fort McMurray, Alta.

The donation is also on behalf of other individual Glacier business units, which will undertake their own awareness and fundraising efforts to help the city and its residents rebuild their community and their lives, JWN president and Glacier executive vice-president Bill Whitelaw said.

Glacier, as one of Canada’s leading media and information services companies, has also created an integrated crowdfunding campaign, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross efforts, at www.fundaid.ca/fortmac.

Glacier is deeply involved in communities across Western Canada with community newspapers and business information services,  Glacier’s vice-president of content and audience development Tim Shoults noted.

“This way, we can rally our readers, our customers and our communities to get behind the Red Cross efforts in a way that allows contributions of all sizes,” Shoults said.

From an energy perspective, it’s important for Canadians to have a sense beyond the headlines of how important Fort McMurray is to the Canadian economy, Whitelaw said. “It’s just not an Alberta dynamic … all Canadians need to step up and help get this engine running on all cylinders again, putting people, companies and their welfare front and centre.

“Canada’s oilsands sector is a key part of our energy practice at JWN … we know these companies and these communities well. Like all other organizations that have stepped up with support, we want these folks to know we have their back.”

JWN produces the Oilsands Review and Oilsands Navigator as part of a broad portfolio of oilsands products and services.

“As with our industry association partners such as the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Petroleum Services Association of Canada, we’re putting our contribution towards the Red Cross to ensure the dollars we donate get amplified through provincial and federal contributions,” he added.

Glacier’s other business practices in mining, agriculture, environmental services and community media are also stepping up to raise awareness of the challenges at Fort McMurray and the surrounding area in the coming weeks and months, Whitelaw said.

“In one way or another, all of our businesses touch Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. Besting the fire was just the first among many challenges still to come.”

Meanwhile, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) — representing mining operations active in almost every Canadian jurisdiction — is making a $50,000 contribution to the Red Cross in Alberta to support those devastated by the wildfire.

“Fort McMurray is a major Canadian mining town. MAC members — several of which are active in the oilsands mining industry — wanted the association to make this gesture of support … countless Canadians and Canadian businesses will be doing the same over the coming days and weeks to help the individuals and families who have lost their homes,” MAC’s president and CEO Pierre Gratton said.

The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum is making similar efforts to help those in and around Fort McMurray. To date, pledges for contributions from CIM and its societies exceed $65,000.

The CIM says this number could grow, as appeals go out to all CIM Societies and Branches. Donations will be made through the Canadian Red Cross in Alberta.

“The Canadian mining community is a close-knit one, with a big heart, and it is so inspiring to see this spirit of compassion and camaraderie in action,” CIM executive director Jean Vavrek said.

“We are a resilient community, and it is in times like this that we need to pull together,” CIM president Michael Winship added. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to all of those impacted by this tragedy.”

Teck Resources (TSX: TCK.B; NYSE: TCK) is donating $75,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support emergency efforts relating to  the wildfires, and another $25,000 to match donations made by Teck employees.

“Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in the Fort McMurray area,” Teck president and CEO Donald Lindsay said. “Teck will continue to work with our partners in the region to identify opportunities where we can offer support during this incredibly difficult time.”

Teck’s donation to the Canadian Red Cross will be made through the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) Energy Together: Fort McMurray Wildfire Relief initiative. Teck is a member of CAPP.

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