St. John’s, NL; 16 April 2007 –  Newfoundland & Labrador’s oil and gas industry proved on Saturday night that it really is better to give than to receive.

A buoyant crowd of 430 filled the St. John’s Convention Centre to celebrate NOIA’s 30 years as an industry association. Guests were treated to a gala dinner, entertainment by Wonderbolt Circus’s Voodooville Circus Cabaret, a fun and fundraising casino (conducted by the Progress Club) and live music by Bill and the Bruisers.

The event was an anniversary party with a twist – rather than receiving gifts, NOIA used the opportunity to give back. Chosen from 40 nominations by an arm’s length selection committee, four Community Champions were honored during the Gala for their outstanding charitable and volunteer contributions within Newfoundland and Labrador.

Bren/Kir Industrial Supplies, Spectrol Energy Services, North Atlantic Refining and ExxonMobil Canada each received a beautiful commemorative award designed by noted Newfoundland & Labrador artist Ray Cox, as well as $5,000 each for their chosen charities. Proud representatives of the companies were on hand to receive their awards from NOIA Vice Chair Caron Hawco and Award Selection Committee Chair Stephen Henley.


“A 30th Anniversary is a remarkable milestone,” says Hawco, “and we chose to recognize it in a remarkable way – by giving back still more to the communities where we live and work.

“For the past three decades our province’s oil and gas community has rolled up our collective sleeves and reached into our pockets to support causes, donating millions of dollars and millions of hours. We are pleased to honor these companies for their outstanding contributions.”

Throughout the event, speakers told moving stories from the nominations, each telling how petroleum industry support had made a difference to their causes:

 an animal rescue organization wrote that THEIR champion “not only makes a difference in the lives of many animals, but those precious animals they’ve rescued make a difference in the lives of many people.”

 a literacy organization wrote that THEIR champion created a ‘read aloud’ program that put $90,000 worth of books into school libraries across the province and influenced the ability and reading habits of 8000 children in less than 3 years!
 a young man with Down’s Syndrome described his champion’s support through a golf fundraiser as having “shot a hole-in-one in the hearts and minds of individuals with Down’s Syndrome, helping spread the word that Down’s Syndrome is not about disability, it’s about ability!”

 a poverty reduction organization wrote that when “a family receives a hamper … it is like a miracle. [A] generous donation brings incredible relief for the parents and such excitement for the children.”

 and a high school student told how a food-sharing organization changed his educational career: “In grade six I used to be so tired in the morning and I would be falling asleep in class. When I came to Junior High, I saw that there was a place to eat breakfast. I would come every morning … When my first report card came, the marks went up - and that’s why I eat at the Breakfast Club every morning.”

Community Champion Award winners represented each of the corporate categories defined in NOIA’s membership structure (small, medium and large), as well as one petroleum company (an operator or oil and gas license-holder). Community impact or contribution was measured in terms of financial support, employee time and charitable donations to arts and culture, the environment, sports and recreation, education and/or health and community services.

Nominations were reviewed in confidence by an arm’s length selection committee that included representation from the petroleum and not-for profit sectors. The Community Champion Awards Selection Committee comprised: Selection Committee Chair Stephen Henley, Enersea Canada; Paul Barnes, Manager – Atlantic Canada, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers; Newfoundland Environmental Industries Association Executive Director Bonnie Andrews; United Way Executive Director Steve Kent; Community Services Council CEO Penny Rowe; and NOIA President & CEO Ted Howell.

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NOIA (Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association) is Canada's largest offshore petroleum association and has been headquartered in Newfoundland and Labrador since its founding in 1977. With over 450 members in this province and around the world, NOIA is the information hub of the province’s oil and gas industry.  NOIA members provide products and services for the petroleum sector; associate members include petroleum companies, trade associations, educational institutions and government bodies and agencies.

Backgrounders:

 CCA Small Winner: BREN/KIR Industrial Supplies
 CCA Medium Winner: Spectrol Energy Services
 CCA Large Winner: North Atlantic Refining Ltd.
 CCA Petroleum Winner: Exxon Mobil Canada Ltd.

Media Contact:
Deirdre Greene, NOIA Vice-President, Policy & Communications
709-758-6617; 709-691-2208
drgreene@noianet.com