Tag: community

Hope During the Holidays – Drax Volunteers at Ronald McDonald House B.C. & Yukon

17 December 2025

Opinion

Every year, over 2000 families and their children travel from around British Columbia to stay at the Ronald McDonald House while their children receive treatment at BC Children’s Hospital. This home away from home serves as a comforting place for families when they can’t be in the surroundings and schedules they are accustomed to.

This year, Drax employees volunteered on two separate occasions during the holiday season to support families at the house. Preparing, serving, and cleaning up after dinner for families, employees also toured the house and saw firsthand the services and feeling of being at home that families experience daily.

“Volunteering for the families at Ronald McDonald House is such a privilege,” said Sandy Sung, Canadian Community Manager for Drax. “The home and staff provide an invaluable resource and feeling of community for the residents while they are going through difficult times away from home. This year, I am thrilled to see the Ronald McDonald House expand their reach to Prince George with the opening of their new family room at the University Hospital of Northern BC.”

From the feeling of relief knowing that families can stay together during times of uncertainty to helping lessen the financial and emotional burden of being away from home, Ronald McDonald House helps to promote better health outcomes for patients while also providing wellbeing to parents and siblings.

“This year, one of my goals for myself and my team was to organize an initiative that gave back to the communities that Drax operates in, and I’m grateful that I could partner with the Drax Canada Community team to bring it to fruition,” said Nadine Evans, Senior Payroll Manager for Drax Canada. “Volunteering at the House at this time of year is even more special as it’s a time where what is truly important is put into perspective for us all.”

To learn more about Drax’s commitment to giving back to the communities we operate in, visit here.

To learn more about Ronald McDonald House B.C. & Yukon, visit Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Their History, Our Recognition

30 September 2025

Opinion

By Mark Puglas, Director, Indigenous Engagement & Partnerships, Drax

While only recently given a statutory holiday, the history behind National Day for Truth and Reconciliation goes back for generations. We acknowledge the atrocities of residential schools, remember those who never returned home, honour survivors, their families and communities, and work to build equitable partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. By doing so, we as companies, individuals, and society can recognize and work toward meaningful reconciliation.  

Drax is committed to reconciliation, and with the support and direction of senior leadership, has implemented multiple actions to move the company’s reconciliation efforts forward. The Indigenous Advisory Committee is made up of eight members from Indigenous communities where Drax operates. By ensuring Indigenous voices are heard, this committee guides Drax’s efforts, ensuring decisions made are thoughtful, impactful, and inclusive. Drax has also developed a Reconciliation Action Plan, focused on awareness, education, employment, procurement, and capacity-building initiatives to support Indigenous communities. Drax’s Indigenous Peoples Policy enshrines the concept of Free and Prior Informed Consent as fundamental in our sourcing decisions.  

At Drax, we know that reconciliation is not a single act or one day commitment –it’s a continuous effort to learn, listen, and take meaningful steps that contribute to positive change. That’s why we have committed to joining the Canadian Council of Indigenous Business (CCIB) Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program.  

The PAIR program is a nationally recognized framework that supports organizations in measuring, improving, and reporting on their Indigenous relations and engagement performance across four key areas: leadership, employment, business development, and community relationships. 

“By engaging in the PAIR program, Drax demonstrates a meaningful commitment to action and accountability, which is a significant step towards integrating economic reconciliation throughout their operations,” said Tabatha Bull, President and CEO of Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. “We are proud to annually recognize a growing number of organizations that achieve accreditation for their commitment to building strong and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses.”  

Drax’s participation in PAIR underscores its ongoing efforts to advance reconciliation through partnerships, employment pathways, and procurement initiatives that benefit Indigenous peoples across Canada. 

Mark Puglas, Director, Indigenous Engagement & Partnerships, Drax added, “This commitment provides us with an accountability framework that challenges us to do better and to measure our progress in a transparent way. It is about walking the journey together with Indigenous communities, listening, learning, and taking action that makes a lasting difference.” 

By joining PAIR, Drax reinforces its pledge to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities, enhance inclusion within its workforce, and contribute to sustainable economic growth. 

This commitment also marks an important step in Drax’s reconciliation journey and demonstrates alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. 

To learn more about CCIB and the PAIR program, visit CCIB PAIR – CCIB 

To learn more about Drax’s commitment to the communities we operate in, visit Our Communities – Drax Global 

Featured image caption: Commemorative walk for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Quebec, Canada 

Outland Youth Employment Program Opens Doors

19 September 2025

Opinion

By Tamara Shaw, Community Liaison Officer, Drax

In Canada, unemployment and training levels for Indigenous peoples runs between 11 and 22 percent, with youth unemployment rates routinely making up a large portion of those who are unemployed. For over 20 years, Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP) has been working to change these statistics and better the lives of Indigenous youth across Canada. Through a network of land-based education, training, and work opportunities for high school aged youth, OYEP “is a six-week work experience providing training and education in a supportive space that replicates various work environments.”

OYEP students guess the types of fibre used to make Drax pellets.

This summer, a group of Drax employees from Vancouver and Prince George joined 19 OYEP students and staff to present a cheque for $100,000 from the Drax Foundation. They discussed what Drax does, career opportunities, the skills Drax looks for, and gave practical resume building tips. The Drax Foundation grant will help OYEP to continue providing Indigenous youth with the skills training and career preparation to build and inspire the next generation of the workforce.

“Meeting with the Summer 2025 OYEP students was a great experience,” said Tamara Shaw, Community Liaison Officer for Drax. “Speaking with them about their career aspirations and engaging in hands-on activities such as guessing fibre types and practicing a safety drill on the proper use of PPE was a fun way to show students a different side of the industry.”

OYEP students participate in a proper use of PPE safety drill.

The OYEP program “takes an inclusive approach to Indigenous education, recruitment, retention and provides a safe and predictable learning environment that can be tailored to meet the needs of local communities and partners.” OYEP collaborates with local Indigenous communities and consults with Elders to ensure youth feel culturally and spiritually supported in the workplace.

This visit on location strengthened our partnership with OYEP and reinforced Drax’s commitment to a Just Transition by improving access to STEM education and green skills training for people.

To learn more about OYEP, visit OYEP – Home

To learn more about Drax’s commitment to the communities we operate in, visit Our Communities – Drax Global

Featured image caption: Drax colleagues present a $100,000 donation from the Drax Foundation to OYEP.