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Our Approach
Effective community and Indigenous relations requires a long-term perspective. Relationships that stand the test of time are built on respect, trust and genuine openness, and go beyond simple engagement. These fundamental characteristics have long defined our approach.
With operations across hundreds of communities all over the world, we have a unique opportunity to engage and find ways to make life easier for our customers and neighbours and to ensure they are meaningfully included in the projects that may affect them.
We focus on creating partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic and social development and are continually exploring new models of collaboration with our Indigenous and community partners.
Our engagement strategies are stewarded by an Indigenous Advisory Board. Members have deep experience and wisdom that enhance how we engage, while developing sustainable economic opportunities for both Indigenous communities and ATCO. With the Board’s guidance, we are continuing to develop genuine relationships with Indigenous groups and exploring how we can best collaborate.
Our Indigenous Relations Committee includes representatives from each of our diverse operating divisions and is overseen by the executive-level Indigenous Relations Steering Committee. Together, we embrace four strategic pillars:
- Employment: focusing on providing opportunities for employment for Indigenous Peoples.
- Education: providing internal and external training employees.
- Meaningful Engagement: tailoring engagement to each Indigenous community and what is important to them.
- Economic Participation: creating equity sharing opportunities for Indigenous communities.
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Our Commitment
We commit to:
- Working to understand and meet the needs and interests of the communities we serve through sincere consultation and transparent engagement.
- Engaging as early as possible with governments, regulators, landowners, and Indigenous and community groups that may be affected by our operations.
- Educating our people on the unique cultural and historical status of Indigenous communities through our Indigenous relations training.
- Striving to provide opportunities for Indigenous employment and pursuing work with Indigenous businesses.
- Pursuing partnerships with communities and Indigenous groups on business opportunities that deliver shared social and economic benefits, and working collaboratively to develop new infrastructure solutions.
- Where possible, developing partnerships with non-profit organizations and offering support through employee volunteer efforts, expertise and financial support.
- Striving to build mutually beneficial commercial relationships with local suppliers.
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$7.9M
invested in communities through gifts in-kind, sponsorships, donations and our matching contribution to the employee-led ATCO EPIC program.
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52
joint-venture partnerships, memorandums of understanding and other partnerships with Indigenous groups.
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$117.7M
in net economic benefit for Indigenous groups in 2022, including partnership payments and payments and fees.
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Over 5,000
employees participated in additional Indigenous cultural training.