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Cenovus Energy is building on its Indigenous reconciliation targets by partnering and donating $1 million over four years to Indspire.
Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people across Canada.
The investment by Cenovus includes funding of 25 annual scholarships of $5,000 each for Indigenous students, matched by the Government of Canada for a total of 50 awards.
The donation also supports a gathering for Indigenous youth as well as the yearly Indspire Awards, recognizing outstanding individual achievement.
“We have supported the creation of long-term economic and social value for Indigenous communities, and provided meaningful opportunities since Cenovus was created more than a decade ago,” said Cenovus director, community and Indigenous affairs, Trent Zacharias.
“This partnership is an opportunity to further directly invest in supporting education initiatives that can bring sustained change for Indigenous people and their communities across Canada, and contribute to advancing overall reconciliation.”
The commitment by Cenovus recognizes and honours the history and contributions of Indigenous people in Canada during National Indigenous History Month in June.
Preference for scholarships will be given to Indigenous students pursuing programs with the potential to lead to a career in the oil and gas industry such as the energy programs at Lakeland College in Lloydminster.
A spokesperson for Lakeland called it exciting news for students while noting it’s too early to comment on how it will directly impact the college.
Cenovus has donated almost $400,000 to Indspire since 2012 to support the scholarship program as well as the Indspire Awards and youth empowerment event.
