Community Investment Program

Every year, we fund grassroots initiatives in communities where we live and work. We partner with community leaders who have passion, creativity and insights into the specific needs of their communities. And together we collaborate on developing innovative solutions uniquely suited to each community. That’s how we can help make a difference—one relationship and one community at a time.

Where we invest

We invest in four key areas because we believe that together, they help contribute to the well-being of BC’s communities:

  • Safety – projects that promote natural gas and electrical safety, personal safety and accident avoidance
  • Education – projects that promote natural gas and electrical trades, literacy and leadership
  • Indigenous initiatives – projects that meet the unique needs of Indigenous groups, organizations or communities
  • Environment – projects that directly benefit the environment

Who we’ve supported

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Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC)

The DEWC provides a safe, non-judgmental environment for women from all walks of life, who live and/or work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It’s one of the few spaces in the area for women and their children who are in need of refuge. FortisBC employees offered a helping hand late last year when they picked up some of the DEWC’s printed newsletters, stuffed them and returned them to the centre to be mailed out to subscribers. Learn more about the DEWC.

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FortisBC Trauma Pup Program

Since 2002, FortisBC has funded the Trauma Pup Program, providing 1,200 stuffed Fire Pups to the Township of Langley Fire Department every year. The pups are distributed to other fire halls, then given to distraught children at the scene of fires, vehicle accidents or medical emergencies to comfort them.


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Jarrett Beaulieu, PGNAETA Piping Foundations Program student

 

The Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association (PGNAETA)

PGNAETA is dedicated to providing full cycle employment support for Indigenous Peoples. Based in Prince George, it works with people from 18 Indigenous communities across Northern BC. We’ve provided funding for PGNAETA’s Trades Discovery and Piping Foundations Programs to help students acquire the necessary training and skills to embark on trades-based careers. We’ve also provided PGNAETA students with work experience opportunities.

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The BC Lions Indigenous Youth Program provides Indigenous youth with an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of flag football with current BC Lions players. In the process of learning the game, students acquire teamwork and leadership skills that they can benefit from on or off the field. In addition to supporting the flag football initiative, our partnership with the Lions also includes support for its Skills for Life Program and Orange Shirt Day/National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Learn more about the BC Lions’ Indigenous Youth Program.

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Myra Bailout and the Friends of South Slope (FOSS)

Brad Wright, a retired FortisBC employee, volunteers with FOSS, a local organization that maintains a network of trails in southern Kelowna, the Traditional Territory of the Sylix (Okanagan) Peoples. As a long-time supporter of FOSS, we were thrilled to supply funds for the tools and equipment Brad and others will be able to use to maintain our adopted Myra Bailout trail. Learn how we’re helping more community groups protect and maintain BC’s trails.

Apply for community investment funding

Do you have a project or know of an organization that focuses on safety, education, Indigenous initiatives or the environment? We try to allocate community investment funds equitably across our service area and take into account any relevant existing sponsorship activities. We also consider providing employee volunteers where appropriate.

How to apply

To help us evaluate your request, complete the community investment application and email it to [email protected].

Please submit requests at least four weeks before your event or project. We’ll review your application and respond within 30 days.

  • organizations or initiatives normally funded through any level of government
  • advocacy groups (such as social, political, religious, economic, fraternal or labour organizations)
  • sports teams, events or individual sports/athletic pursuits
  • conventions/conferences not related to FortisBC
  • projects located outside the FortisBC service areas
  • parent advisory councils (PAC)
  • third-party fundraising events (such as golf tournaments raising money for a local charity)
  • operating costs (salaries, rent, service fees, advertising costs, travel costs for individuals or groups, etc.)
  • reducing or donating the cost of gas/electricity services

Did you know?

We also support our employees giving back through community giving days and give where you live programs.