Corporate Citizenship
Community investment
TransAlta seeks to develop long-term and mutually supportive relationships with not-for-profit organizations that serve the needs of the communities where our employees live and work. We provide financial, in-kind and volunteer support to these organizations in our different geographies.
In 2004, our company provided more than $3 million in corporate donations and sponsorships in our communities. We continued to leverage key partnerships with not-for-profit organizations, including:
- Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Hull Child and Family Services, and SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary
- Fringe Theatre Adventures and TransAlta Tri-Leisure Centre in the Edmonton region
- interPLAY Festival in Fort McMurray, Alberta
- Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario
- Centralia College in Centralia, Washington state
As we grow our presence in new areas of operation, we are increasing our involvement in community activities. In Mexico, in conjunction with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Terry Fox Foundation, we support the Hospital Infantil de México Dr. Frederico Gómez, a children’s cancer hospital in Mexico City. In partnership with the Canadian Embassy, our Mexico City employees also support the Terry Fox Foundation through the annual Terry Fox Run to raise money for cancer research.
Partnering with Hull Child and Family Services
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Tara Reum was one of 48 members of TransAlta’s Corporate Finance group who demonstrated their caring spirit, painting hallways, bedrooms and a training room at Hull Child and Family Services in Calgary. |
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Our multi-dimensional partnership with Hull Child and Family Services grew with the 2004 opening of the Hull TransAlta Community Connections facility. This building provides much-needed services for children and families in Calgary. Whether it was assembling office furniture for Hull’s new building or knitting sweaters for children or providing assistance at the grand opening, our employees and retirees got involved in a big way. They contributed more than 500 hours in volunteer time.
We also partnered with the agency on a number of community-related initiatives. In 2004, we hosted an arts show and sale at our Calgary head office, raising $2,200 for Hull’s mentorship programs. We supported Hull’s HOPE program by providing work experience opportunities for their young adult clients. And we drew on the expertise of Hull’s aboriginal relations consultants to pilot a new aboriginal awareness training session for our employees.
Our commitment to children and youth qualified us as a Promise Builder program, an initiative of the Government of Alberta.
TransAlta rated leading corporate citizen
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Each year our company helps to fund environmental initiatives such as the G.R.O.W. (Greening and Renewing Our World) program at the Keephills Elementary School near Wabamun Lake, Alberta. In 2004, this outdoor education program received a financial boost from TransAlta through Project Planet, our grassroots environmental granting |
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TransAlta was listed as one of 2004’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada, according to a survey of large Canadian corporations ranking the best corporate citizens in the country. TransAlta was ranked eighth overall, with a score of 75.2, in the third annual survey published by Corporate Knights, a quarterly Canadian business magazine that reports on the role of business in society. We also ranked number one in the utility sector category.
To make the best 50 corporate citizens list, a company must score better than its peers across seven categories, including community relations, employee relations/diversity, environment, international stakeholder relations/human rights, business practices/product safety, and corporate governance and share performance. Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, known for sustainability evaluation, provided the source data.