The 12th annual Newfoundland and Labrador Oil & Gas Week celebrations were officially launched today during a ceremony at the Alexander Murray Building of Memorial University of Newfoundland.
The audience, comprised of students, oil and gas industry leaders, government representatives and the general public, heard about the impact the industry is having on this province and the opportunities it presents for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
“Oil & Gas Week provides an important opportunity for us to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of our industry while teaching the next generation about the opportunities the industry holds for them and the importance of giving back to our local community,” noted Caron Hawco, Chair of the 2014 Oil & Gas Week Steering Committee.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Alison Newell, a Memorial graduate holding a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Geology and a M.Sc. in Geology/Geophysics and currently working as a Staff Geophysicist with Husky Energy.
Four Oil & Gas Week scholarships were presented to post-secondary students from Memorial University, the Marine Institute and the College of the North Atlantic. The scholarships, valued at $1,000 each, have been established for students from rural Newfoundland & Labrador enrolled in petroleum-related programs at the province’s public post-secondary educational institutions.
This year’s scholarship recipients are:
- Colin Taylor of Bell Island, completing a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Earth Sciences and minor in Mathematics at Memorial University
- Hilary Mercer of Upper Island Cove, enrolled in year three of the Bachelor of Commerce program at Memorial University
- Keith Dalley of Twillingate, completing his second year in the Marine Institute’s Nautical Science program
- Christine Abbott of Grand Falls – Windsor, studying Business Management (Accounting) at the Grand Falls – Windsor campus of the College of the North Atlantic.
“Hosting the 12th annual Oil & Gas Week launch event is an honour for Memorial University’s Earth Sciences Department,” said Dr. John Hanchar, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University. “It highlights the importance of Earth Sciences and Geology to the industry while providing us with an opportunity to increase awareness of the earth sciences as a career option to young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
At the reception following the event, junior high students representing almost 600 of their classmates, displayed their projects on careers in the oil & gas industry developed as part of Oil & Gas Week’s Junior High Career Exploration Program.
Oil & Gas Week is a partnership initiative between Noia (the Newfoundland & Labrador Oil & Gas Industries Association), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), three levels of government and the education sector.
The weeklong celebration was developed to raise the profile of the oil & gas industry in Newfoundland & Labrador and build an appreciation for the impact that it has on the province’s economy. This is achieved through a variety of promotional and educational activities. A particular focus is placed on educating students about potential career opportunities in the industry.
Oil & Gas Week is being celebrated in the province from February 24 – March 1.
For a detailed schedule of events, please visit: www.nloilandgasweek.ca
