Setting Students up for Success, One Backpack at a Time

“Inter Pipeline has been a longtime supporter of this effort recognizing it plays an important role in preparing kids to confidently return to school each fall,” said Breanne Oliver, Vice President, People & Stakeholder Relations.

“Packing the backpacks is one of our most popular volunteer events each year. We know that many of the most vulnerable families are struggling with cost of living increases these days and this is one way we can help. We had more than 100 Inter Pipeliners volunteer their time, and that spirit is always amazing to be a part of.”

Women in Need Society (WINS)

For the past eight years, our Calgary office has been dedicated to helping the Women in Need Society (WINS) with getting backpacks ready to ensure kids at a financial disadvantage have a stress-free transition into the new school year. More than 80 Inter Pipeliners took time out of their day to pack over 400 backpacks for the WINS backpack program.

The Women in Need Society is a Calgary based charity 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.

Tools for School

This year, our teams in Fort Saskatchewan and Sherwood Park partnered with the United Way on their Tools for School initiative, packing 261 backpacks in Fort Saskatchewan and 346 backpacks in Sherwood Park for students grades K-12. These supply-filled backpacks were shipped out to schools in Sturgeon County, Strathcona County and Lamont County.

For almost thirty years, Tools for School has helped provide backpacks full of school supplies to vulnerable students, reducing one known barrier preventing children from successfully participating in school. Through corporate sponsors and community donors, Tools for School provides vital school supplies to set students up for success from day one. Annually, thousands of low-income children in the greater Edmonton region start school on an equal footing with their peers, thanks to this program.

Conklin Community School

Inter Pipeline partnered with Wolf Midstream to bring a Back-to-School Community Day to Conklin in support of the students from the Conklin Community School. Participants received a free lunch and were able to fill a backpack with much-needed supplies. In total, 45 backpacks were handed out to students. In addition to the backpack station, the event had craft stations, a hairdresser offering free haircuts for students, and a selection of running shoes that students got to pick a pair from to set them up for gym class.

Stoney Nakoda Nations

Inter Pipeline was proud to sponsor a Back to School Fair & BBQ for students from Stoney Nakoda Nations. The first of its kind in the community, school-aged kids were invited to the Mînî Thnî Recreation Centre to fill a backpack of their choosing with the supplies they needed for the upcoming school year. The Inter Pipeline team was proud to support 260 kids from the Nation with back-to-school supplies to set them up for a successful year ahead.

Bonnyville Friendship Centre

The Bonnyville and Conklin Community Investment Committees partnered to support the Bonnyville Friendship Centre’s back-to-school campaign. A total of $3,000 and 30 backpacks were donated to the Centre to purchase school supplies and food bank items in support of local youth and families preparing for the back-to-school season in the Bonnyville region.