Local employment highlighted in EnCana work - By Jamie Dirom, Daily News Staff

Peace River Block News - April 28, 2003

Local workers were a key part of recent pipeline work by Surerus Pipeline Inc. in the South Peace.

In work for three major energy companies – primarily EnCana – the B.C. Peace company was responsible for nearly 100 kilometres of pipeline and fabrication work in the area.

For the EnCana work, employees on the pipeline portion of the work were 84 per cent local, and 95 per cent of workers on the fabrication work were local, said Surerus’s Darcy Friesen.

In addition to using the local workforce, the projects offered spinoffs for the local hospitality industry and industrial suppliers.

EnCana has said it wants to use local employees and services whenever possible in its work in the region.

“I think we’re really pleased with the success we’ve seen so far with the local community,” said EnCana supply management representative Steve Pella. “Will this continue? I think it will.”

Said Friesen: “They had this plan – do this work in the area with local people.”

Since January, local workers have been among those working on Surerus’s EnCana and other projects. Work is wrapping up temporarily and will resume in June.

With the work, Surerus has injected upwards of $3 million into the local economy so far this year, Friesen added.

“It’s steady work, it’s in our own backyard. It’s going to help boost… And create some employment that’s never been here,” said Friesen. “It’s a definite plus for the area.

“Local people probably haven’t seen that kind of work ever,” he noted, adding that when similar work had been done in the past, many companies brought in their own staff from elsewhere.

But EnCana made it part of its mandate to hire local people for the work. Some outside staff were used – mainly for positions requiring more experience and expertise than the local workforce offered.

“For the most part, the local workers were fabulous,” Friesen said.

Local politicians said the news is exactly what they were hoping the Cutbank Ridge purchase would mean.

“It’s good news, and it’s certainly a real boost to the economy,” said Mayor Wayne Dahlen of the companies’ commitment to contracting work to local people.

“We congratulate them, and we’re looking forward to more (employment) to come.”

Dahlen noted that recent studies have suggested that the city will see significant growth in the next few years.

“It’s going to be a tremendous challenge to meet the demands of the industry.”

Peace River South MLA Blair Lekstrom said he’s happy to see that companies are now taking a good look at the local workforce.

“It’s been something that we’ve been working at for quite some time,” he said. “I think we’re making progress to making sure that local people are getting a chance.”

“It feels good to see that the area is benefiting,” Leksrom added. “The largest benefit (from this activity) should go to the people of B.C. – in more than just royalties as well."

© Copyright 2003 Peace River Block News