Back(pack) In Action: Supporting Students During Back to School

At Inter Pipeline, fostering a sense of community is more than just a saying – it’s a part of our culture. This August, employees from across our operating areas, including Calgary, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Conklin, and Cochrane, came together to support their communities in an impactful way. Through a series of volunteer events, our teams built and distributed over a thousand backpacks, ensuring that kids in their communities had the supplies they needed to start the school year strong.

The backpack building initiatives are a great example of what we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose. I was fortunate to participate in the backpack build at our Calgary office and Heartland Petrochemical Complex. These efforts not only highlight the commitment of our employees as good neighbours, but also reflect the importance of supporting social impact programs that strive to build a self-sustaining legacy in our communities.

Cory Neufeld, Senior Vice President, NGL

Learn more about the backpack programs we supported near the communities where we live and work:

Women in Need Society (WINS) – Calgary

Ahead of back to school, volunteers from our Calgary office filled backpacks to support WINS. IPL has supported WINS for nearly a decade and this year more than 60 volunteers built enough backpacks to ensure over 400 kids were ready for the school year.

“My team and I had a great time building backpacks for students in the Calgary area,” says Shay Naaykens, Director, NGL Marketing. “Volunteering with your team at events like this is a great way to connect with each other beyond just your scope of work.”

WINS is a Calgary based charitable organization that was founded in 1992. Since then, they have been actively providing women and their families with their basic needs and continuous support. The backpack program sets kids up for success, one backpack at a time.

Mini Thni Back to School Fair

This year, IPL partnered with the Mini Thni Recreation Center team and Child and Family Services to host a free back to school event for the community. Parents and students from the community who attended the event received school supplies and backpacks. A group of IPL volunteers helped build over 300 backpacks for students in the Mini Thni community.

“I’m proud to work for a company that encourages us to give back to the communities we live in,” says Leanne Barker, Environment Advisor, NGL. “Being able to volunteer for causes like this makes me feel connected to IPL and our community.”

Fort Saskatchewan Boys and Girls Club

Employees from our Heartland Petrochemical Complex and senior leaders from our Calgary office spent an afternoon assembling backpacks in support of the Fort Saskatchewan Boys and Girls Club. Over 100 backpacks were built by over 30 volunteers.

Strathcona County Boys and Girls Club

Our Sherwood Park office came together and filled backpacks for the Strathcona County Boys and Girls Club.

“Volunteering with my team members to support local families is a reminder of what community really means,” says Daylene Kutnikoff, Coordinator, Office Services at our Sherwood Park office. “It was a great day for us, as we filled 100 backpacks for students in need.”

Conklin Back to School Event

IPL partnered with Wolf Midstream to bring a Back-to-School Community Day to Conklin in support of the students from the Conklin Community School. Students and parents received a free lunch and were able to fill a backpack with much-needed supplies. During the event, IPL sponsored the backpack and school supply station, craft stations and a hairdresser offering free haircuts for students. Wolf Midstream set students up for success in their gym classes by providing a selection of running shoes where students got to choose.

Additionally, IPL donated school supplies to the Paul Band School to support their back to school needs.

“Seeing the smiles and appreciation from students and parents as they filled their backpacks made the day very special,” says Julie Sidloski, Administrative Assistant from our Conklin field office. “The event wasn’t just about handing out school supplies – it was about connecting with the community and making sure these students feel excited and ready for the school year ahead.”