Project Discovery

Project Discovery is very much on track to raise $6.4 million in support of a major expansion of the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre. The Private sector has raised some $2.6 million, the Alberta Government has provided $1.4 millions and we are pursuing the Federal Government to provide $1,000,000 in support funding.

The first task was the physical expansion of the Centre from 11,000 sq. ft. to 26,660 sq. ft. and that has been done. Included in the new structure is a major theatre and a Learning Lab. The expanded space will hold some 220 new exhibits that will help all understand more abut the hydrocarbon world. About 60 of the new exhibits have been completed, it will take well into 2009 to complete all of them.

Companies of the patch big and small have come together to support Project Discovery, but we still need to raise $1.4 million from the private sector.

The new direction of the Centre is paying dividends in many, many ways. With an absolute commitment to education, attendance at the Centre is increasing sharply. In 2000, attendance to the Centre was about 9600 people. In 2007, attendance reached 32,600 people of which more than 11,000 were school children. Career oilfield workers are coming in increasing numbers to the Centre and so are corporations. In the past several months major companies like Ledcor, Imperial Oil, Lufkin and Deloitte Touche are exposing their employees to the Centre to undertake a better understanding of the industry and our hope is that more business sectors will come. Three major Safety companies are using he Centre facilities for training. Enform is taking new workers to the Centre for orientation to the patch.

A strong team of volunteers is working hard to raise funds for project Discovery including Lorne Larson, Chair; Paul Gagnon of Joli Fou Petroleums: Ron Shannon and Stephen Smith of Strike Energy, Doug Haughey of Spectra Energy, Jay Park of MacLeod Dixon, Nasie Schnell, John Boyd of Boyd Exploration Consultants Ltd., Neil McCrank of Alberta Energy & Utilities Board, Paul Schoenhals, Randy Findlay of Provident Energy and Ron Shannon of Strike Energy. Norm Haines of Haines Elliott is advisor to the project.

If you would like a copy of the fundraising package to review sponsorship opportunities please call us at 1-866-987-4323.