Tag: 3BL

At peak output, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power nearly 23,000 homesIncome-qualified customers who are enrolled in the community solar program will see guaranteed savings on their bill every month

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 9, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Duke Energy announced the completion of two solar projects in Alachua and Suwannee counties, the latest sites in the company’s community solar program portfolio, Clean Energy Connection. Together, the sites at peak production are delivering 150 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the grid to benefit Florida customers.

The High Springs Renewable Energy Center is built on 700 acres in Alachua County, Fla. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 216,000 single-axis tracking solar panels.The Hildreth Renewable Energy Center is built on 635 acres in Suwannee County, Fla. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 220,000 single-axis tracking solar panels.

At peak output, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power what would be equivalent to around 23,000 homes.

With a combined investment of over $2 billion, Duke Energy Florida’s solar generation portfolio will include 25 grid-tied solar power plants that will benefit all of the company’s 1.9 million Florida customers. These projects will provide about 1,500 MW of emission-free generation using approximately 5 million solar panels by 2024.

“The company is well on its way to meeting a major milestone by placing its 21st solar project in operation by the end of this year, delivering on our customer commitment to provide reliable, affordable, clean energy,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “These investments allow Florida customers to enjoy renewable energy, while also providing cost savings by reducing fuel use.”

Based on Duke Energy Florida’s current fuel mix, each 74.9-MW solar facility displaces about 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil and 12,000 tons of coal each year.

Clean Energy Connection program

Through the Clean Energy Connection program, Duke Energy Florida customers can subscribe to solar power and earn credits toward their electricity bills without having to install or maintain their own equipment.

Customers subscribe to a portion of solar energy from the company’s Clean Energy Connection solar portfolio. The monthly subscription fee will help pay for the cost of construction and operation of the renewable energy centers and is conveniently added to a customer’s regular electric bill. Customers also receive a corresponding subscription credit that represents their share of the energy produced by the solar centers in a given month, multiplied by the subscription credit rate, which escalates over the life of the subscription.

Enrolled income-qualified customers will receive immediate bill savings, as monthly credits will always be greater than the program fees. Current participation in any of these or related programs can be used to qualify: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP-EBT, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Duke Energy Neighborhood Energy Saver.

Duke Energy Florida customers who are interested in the program can learn more through the Clean Energy Connection website.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Audrey Stasko 
Media line: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS

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Originally published by National Parks Foundation

A multi-year waste reduction initiative funded by NPF and its partners, including Subaru of America, Inc., at three national parks – Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali – led to new recycling and composting infrastructure, dedicated staff for educational outreach, and marketing and labeling efforts to decrease contamination in recycling bins. Since its 2015 launch, there has been a 32% reduction in waste sent to landfills, keeping 18 million pounds of waste out of landfills while increasing recycling best practices among visitors.

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1. What is CORSIA?

CORSIA is the world’s first mandatory sector-specific compliance carbon pricing scheme. The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is a global scheme to ensure the low carbon growth of the international aviation sector from 2020 onward. Agreed in October 2016 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, it obliges most airlines to monitor and report their emissions from 2019 and to purchase emission reduction units generated by carbon projects in other sectors to compensate for any growth in the sector’s CO2 emissions above 2020 levels from 2021.

To comply with CORSIA, the international aviation sector has several options (baskets of measures):

The surrender of eligible carbon creditsThe consumption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)Improved ground operations, air traffic management, and infrastructure and the deployment of more fuel-efficient aircraft

2. Does CORSIA affect your airline?

CO2 emissions monitoring and reporting is mandatory for all CORSIA-regulated operators from 1st January 2019. Offsetting will not be mandatory for a few years, but if you operate internationally, it is very likely it will affect your airline particularly if you meet the following criteria:

Aircraft weighs more than 5,700kg on takeoff10,000 tonnes of CO2 emitted annually on international routesOperating for more than three yearsBoth states connecting the route your airline is flying are participating in the Pilot or First Phase of the scheme

Many countries have already signed up to the Pilot Phase of the scheme for 2021-2023. Read more here.

3. What do you need to do to comply with CORSIA and when do you need to do it?

2019-2020: Monitoring and reporting

All qualifying airlines in ICAO member countries were obliged to begin monitoring reporting emissions on 1st January 2019. The final deadline to submit a monitoring plan was 28th February 2019. Operators had to hire an accredited third party to verify their emission report before submitting it to the relevant national authority by 30th May 2020.

Data collected in 2019 and 2020 was used to establish an emissions baseline and help determine offset requirements for 2021.

Starting from 2022, emission reports for the previous year are due by 30th April.

2021-2026: Offsetting in the early phases

CORSIA makes use of a route-based approach, meaning that compliance obligations apply to flights between CORSIA-participating countries. Participation in the market-based mechanism is voluntary between 2021 and 2026. Countries with large international aviation markets opting into the scheme during this six-year period include the UK, the U.S. and Australia. Notable non-participants are China, Russia, India (joining from 2027) and Brazil.

In any year from 2021 when international aviation CO2 emissions covered by CORSIA exceed the average baseline emissions, these emissions must be compensated for via the surrender of eligible carbon credits. Between 2021 and 2029, sectoral crediting obligations are being divided among participating airplane operators based solely on the sector’s global average growth factor of emissions in a given year. Beginning in 2030, crediting obligations will be determined based on the average growth factor in emissions not only of the sector but also of individual operators.

2027-2035: Mandatory offsetting in Second Phase

Beginning in 2027, participation in CORSIA will become mandatory for most states and so apply to almost all international routes. The only exemptions after 2027 will be those to and from states with low aviation activity, or classified as “Least Developed” “Small Island Developing”or “Landlocked Developing”.

Every three years starting in 2025, operators will have to acquire and retire the number of emissions units that match their offsetting obligation for the relevant compliance period.

CORSIA Baseline

Originally, the baseline that was to determine the cap on CO2 emissions for the entire 2021–2035 period was to be based on the average of international aviation’s 2019 and 2020 emissions. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and airlines’ lobbying for this baseline determination to be modified, on 30 June 2020, the ICAO Council announced that, for the scheme’s pilot phase, the value of 2019 emissions would be used for 2020 emissions to avoid inappropriate economic burden on the international aviation industry. Consequently, offsetting obligations are likely to be rather minimal during the pilot phase.

In October 2022, the ICAO Assembly agreed to a new CORSIA baseline for the first and second phases of the scheme: 85% of the international aviation sector’s CO2 emissions in 2019. This lowering of the baseline––relative to that which applies in the scheme’s Pilot Phase – will lead to larger offsetting obligations for the sector than what it currently faces.

How can South Pole support you?

We can support you to build an offset procurement strategy for CORSIA. We can model your offset demand, help navigate offsets eligibility rules, determine best sourcing pathways and assist you in offset tenders.We offer you offsets for CORSIA compliance from our project portfolio, the world’s largest, at competitive pricing.We help you engage with environmentally conscious passengers through voluntary carbon offset programs.We develop carbon calculators built into your checkout process, assist in engagement campaigns to increase take-up rates and offer high-quality offsets.We provide CORSIA workshops, from basic 101 CORSIA to customised learning sessions for your Airline.

Originally published on the IBM Blog

By Sherry Wynn

In Texas, 2022 was one of the driest years on record. With failed crops, low yields for farmers and diminished grazing for cattle, the Texas Department of Agriculture identified climate change as a potential threat to the state’s food supply.

Smallholder farmers, particularly those in arid and drought-prone regions, struggle to manage their farms because they lack access to guidance on how much water to use for specific crops to ensure a good yield.

“We’re in hills, so some areas need less water, and some areas need more,” said David Chapin, a farmer and IBMer in Lampasas, Texas, that has been helping IBM test water management solutions. “I don’t really know which areas I’m overwatering, and which areas I’m underwatering, so I just take a chance and make adjustments by eye. That’s not always the best way to do it. I need a more scientific approach.”

That’s where digital agriculture comes in.

Developing a solution for real-world impact

What if there was a tool that could recommend when and how much farmers should water their crops, resulting in a reduction in input costs, improved yields and a reduction of polluting runoff? With IBM and Texas A&M AgriLife’s partnership through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, a pro bono social impact program, the development of such a tool is well underway.

Apply to the 3rd cohort of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator by May 31, 2023

IBM and Texas A&M AgriLife are working together to help farmers receive insights for water usage, which can further crop yield increases while decreasing economic and environmental costs. Texas A&M AgriLife and IBM will deploy and scale Liquid Prep, a tech solution that provides “when to water” decision support to farmers, in arid regions of the United States.

Using data to inform crop management strategies

To generate high-quality insights for farmers, it takes huge quantities of data from various sources.

The tool works by placing low-cost sensors developed by IBMers into the soil to record moisture and temperature levels, which are then uploaded to the IBM Cloud.

The Liquid Prep app will combine weather forecast data from the IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite, crop-specific information from the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) (which is co-managed by Texas A&M AgriLife and the United States Department of Agriculture), and real-time soil moisture data from the new sensors. The app will analyze the combined data using artificial intelligence to provide farmers with recommendations on when and how much to water via a smartphone app.

“Different soil has different water retention capacity, crop information and crop demands that differ during the season,” said Gurjinder Baath, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Research. “We are trying to integrate all these important pieces of information together in this app so a more effective, reliable decision for irrigation can be generated.”

What’s next for Liquid Prep

Liquid Prep is currently in the second phase of the 2-year IBM Sustainability Accelerator program, which is centered on the development and implementation of the tool. Within the first phase, a technical roadmap was produced via the IBM Garage to guide solution design, development and deployment of the solution. New versions of the app and sensor are currently being tested.

To ensure the tool was adequately meeting farmers’ needs, the researchers also needed to generate feedback from those whom the tool will be targeted to help. Farmers, researchers and water managers in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas tested the previous version of the solution throughout 2022. Over 100 smallholder farmers will be targeted in 2023 to test the solution in Louisiana.

“We are trying to get in touch with as many farming communities as possible, and we are trying to get their feedback, because farmers’ issues are different,” Gurjinder said.

In addition, IBM is bringing in strategic allies to contribute even more value to the project. For example, the team will work with the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute to gather more data to train and fine-tune the machine learning models used to generate recommendations to farmers. Ukraine is known as the “breadbasket of Europe,” so the distinct properties of the region will provide a valuable dataset to help improve the tool.

Through this partnership, the tool will also be given a new use case: to guide recovery and resource management amid the war in Ukraine. With information and farming resources difficult to access, the researchers are working on developing a flood and drought assessment system to identify the most affected regions that need the most resources and support.

There is power in partnerships

By uniting experts and technology with the purpose of improving the lives of populations most affected by environmental threats, we have the potential to make lasting, scalable impact on populations in need. IBM’s technology and expertise, combined with the background and resources of Texas A&M AgriLife, has increased Liquid Prep’s potential to help people around the world.

The IBM Sustainability Accelerator helps populations most vulnerable to environmental threats, and has also empowered smallholder farmers in Latin America in the fight for food security. In March, IBM announced a new opportunity to support even more organizations developing solutions like Liquid Prep. The company is currently accepting proposals for the 3rd cohort of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, which will focus on water management solutions. Nonprofit and governmental organizations are encouraged to apply.

Apply to the 3rd cohort of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator by May 31, 2023

BOYD COUNTY, Ky., May 8, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Thanks to Mae Ward, 15 local high school students and graduates have additional financial resources to help fund their collegiate experiences. The recipients will share $28,000 in scholarships in pursuit of their academic and professional dreams.

Mae Ward was a schoolteacher in Boyd County, Kentucky, for 43 years. During her career, she observed many students who earned good grades and were active in their schools, churches and communities, but who were unable to secure scholarships. Based upon an idea from another scholarship trust, Mrs. Ward established her trust for students who are graduating or who have graduated from Boyd County, Kentucky high schools

Recipients of the Mae Ward Educational Trust Scholarships must possess outstanding character and promise as reflected by their record of service to their neighbors, community, family and their reputation for honesty and integrity. They are required to have attended high school in Boyd County, Kentucky for at least three years preceding their application and have applied for acceptance at an accredited college or university.

They must maintain a cumulative grade point average between 3.0 and 4.0, computed as of the end of the first semester of the year of application. They must also achieve an ACT score of 20 or higher. Scholarships are awarded annually to current high school or college students who are attending, or are alumni of, Boyd County High School, Fairview High School, Paul G. Blazer High School, Rose Hill Christian School, or Holy Family Collegiate High School. The 2023 scholarship recipients are:

From Boyd County High School:

Emma SparksDalton Hale, graduated in 2022, and attends the University of KentuckyOlivia Parsons, graduated in 2021, and attends Asbury University

From Paul G. Blazer High School:

Sydney ClarkAubree HayGracie MaddenKinsey Duncan, graduated in 2022, and attends Morehead State UniversityHope Harris, graduated in 2022, and attends Morehead State UniversityAlyssa Tygart, graduated in 2022, and attends Marshall UniversityClare Huff, graduated in 2020, and attends Morehead State UniversityKatie Hutchison, graduated in 2021, and attends the University of KentuckyCaleb Tackett, graduated in 2021, and attends the University of KentuckyChris Thornburg, graduated in 2021, and attends the University of Louisville

From Fairview High School:

Alex WesselRachel Hanshaw, graduated in 2020, and attends Morehead State University

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Mae Ward Educational Trust Scholarships.

About the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank

The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, National Association, also serves as trustee, co-trustee or agent for more than 300 private and corporate foundations that grant millions of dollars annually to worthy charities across the United States. The foundations support a variety of causes, from education to the arts and from basic-needs organizations like shelters and counseling centers to environmental projects and animal rescue. To learn more about The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, please visit: www.53.com/foundationoffice.

Originally published on bloomberg.com

Bloomberg recently observed the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day. This day of recognition unfortunately comes at a time in which journalists in various countries are put at risk simply for doing their jobs, and freedom of expression is increasingly under attack.

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day, which is observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and mark the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek, Namibia in 1991.

“Now more than ever we need to support journalists who are reporting under extremely difficult circumstances in far too many countries around the world,” said John Micklethwait, Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief. “The detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia is a chilling example of the urgent need to protect independent journalism and the people who do this hugely important work that is essential to any democratic society.”

Bloomberg is committed to protecting journalists, accuracy in the media, and a free and fair press around the world. Since 1994, the company has invested over $40 million globally to support non-profit organizations to train and protect journalists, promote free speech, and advance human rights.

We continue to support organizations advocating for press freedom such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, International Women’s Media Foundation, International News Safety Institute, Reporters Without Borders, and globally, many more journalism organizations and associations.

In addition, to help develop and support journalism talent worldwide, the company established the Bloomberg Global Business and Financial Journalism Education Initiative. Over the course of 20 years, the initiative has expanded to having 41 journalism training programs to advance business and economic reporting, with more than 25,000 students participating to date. As part of this initiative, we work to inspire the next generation through bespoke mentorship programs, including the Bloomberg Journalism Diversity Program targeting US and UK based students, as well as those intended to support experienced professionals through the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa.

RAHWAY, N.J., May 8, 2023 /3BL Media/ – To support the work of nonprofits dedicated to improving the well-being of underserved populations in communities around the world, Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has announced a new global grants program, Solutions for Healthy Communities (SHC). 

SHC will invest in strategies that are designed and led by local stakeholders to meet local health needs and priorities. Grants will cover two years of project implementation, and awards will range in size from $50,000 – $300,000. 

SHC aims to catalyze innovation and facilitate access to quality health care. The strategies that the program invests in should reach populations that are historically underserved by the health care system, including:

Black, indigenous, and other people of color;People experiencing poverty;People living in rural areas;Migrant populations;People with diverse gender identities and/or sexual orientations;People living with disabilities.

SHC will be available in all of the regions in which the company operates, including the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Canada, Latin America and Asia Pacific, and the program will prioritize nonprofits that operate within 50 miles of a company site.

Apply here, if your organization is based in the United States. If your organization is not based in the United States, apply here. The deadline for applications is June 2, 2023. 
 

About Merck

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Learn more about Merck’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach by visiting merck.com/company-overview/esg.

Energized by Edison

By Ben Gallagher ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s busiest ports. Handling more than 9 million 20-foot containers and cargo valued at $200 billion each year, port operators move about 90 million metric tons of cargo through their terminals annually. One-third of the loaded containers moving through California ports and nearly one of every five in the U.S. pass through the Port of Long Beach every year. Terminal operators at the ports are making significant advances in transitioning to all-electric power.

SSA Terminals, which operate three berths out of a 201-acre site at the port, worked with Southern California Edison to retrofit its existing cranes to be entirely electric, converting nine 1,000-horsepower diesel engines to fully electrified versions. The cranes are used to transport imported containers, which are offloaded and stored at the terminal, to trucks that deliver them to logistical hubs or their ultimate destination. 

The benefits were almost immediate. 

“We were burning about 10 gallons of diesel per hour, so that’s our main cost savings right there,” said Scott Hainlen, superintendent for SSA Terminals. Beyond cost benefits were those that extended to their employees. “The operators definitely like driving these machines. They’re not sitting up there next to a smokestack anymore, and they are much quieter.”

Successfully integrating the new machines into their existing operations took some firsthand experience. The new cranes initially reacted more quickly than their diesel counterparts, so SSA’s crane operators made the necessary adjustments, and now they’re working seamlessly. Ultimately, Hainlen said that they’ve seen a net increase in both efficiency and operator comfort. 

Hainlen expects other port operators to make the change to zero-emission machines soon as well, as the port aims to meet that threshold by 2030. The knowledge and experience gained through this project will extend to those operators, and SCE will play a critical role in enabling their transitions. 

SSA also worked with SCE to electrify 33 terminal tractors, which are used to move containers around the terminal yard.

“The Port of Long Beach is an incredible economic driver not only for our region but for California and the entire nation,” said Michael Bushey, director of SCE’s Business Customer Division. “We take pride in our role in helping the state reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, and working with the Port of Long Beach operators to reach zero emissions is a critical part of that process.” 

Each of those future projects will bring the port closer to its 2030 zero-emissions target, and achieving that goal will mark a significant milestone on the Pathway to 2045, SCE’s groundbreaking analysis of the steps California must take to clean the electric grid and reach carbon neutrality. 

To learn more about SCE’s clean energy initiatives, visit edison.com/clean-energy.

Originally published by Ericsson

By Caroline Berns

Welcome to the latest edition of our Diversity & Inclusion News Round-Up. Today we are talking about work-life balance, a new gender pay gap report, cultural representation in video games, and an IWD campaign from Australia.

Work life balance

Surveys show that a lot of people ask for a healthy work-life balance, and even prioritize it over pay. But how has the meaning of the term changed in the past years, and what does this mean for employees and employers? Insightful article!

Gender pay gap

Pew Research Center just released its latest study of census data in the US – looking at the gender pay gap. Interesting report, worth reading!

Representation

Global telco company Orange, together with creative agency Publicis Conseil, just launched the campaign Cultural Avatars #MaxTaFierté (#MaxYourIdentity). The goal of the campaign is to allow gamers from the Middle East and Africa to feel represented, offering traditional outfit “skins”.

IWD 2023

According to a study from the World Economic Forum, women leaders are twice as likely to work on D&I initiatives as their male counterparts. Ahead of IWD (International Women’s Day) on the 8th of March, an eye-catching Australian campaign is now inviting men to “Show up for Equality”.

After immigrating to Canada, in the midst of unpacking and settling into a new life, taking in a ballet performance might seem like an unlikely night out.

But Alberta Ballet’s Welcoming Newcomers program was created just for this purpose—and, since 2019, has connected over 2,000 new Canadians to the magic of dance by offering free performance tickets and now, recreational dance classes to newcomers in Edmonton, Calgary and other communities across the province.

“There are so many benefits of attending and participating in performing arts activities,” says Janis Galloway, Community Impact Officer at Alberta Ballet. “You meet new people, are inspired, and learn more about your new community. We know from our agency partners that immigrants look to arts and culture organizations to learn about their new homes, and we want to be a space for that community connection.”

Tickets for the 2022-23 season, which runs from September until May, have brought Welcoming Newcomers program participants to all sorts of ballet productions, from holiday classics such as The Nutcracker to contemporary performances like Love Rocks, which featured music by R&B and hip-hop artists Lenny Kravitz and Kendrick Lamar.

In May, audiences will enjoy the premier of BOTERO, a production from a Colombian-Belgian choreographer that features the iconic characters in the paintings of Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

“While we’e relieving the financial burden on newcomers who might not otherwise be able to afford a ticket to the ballet during their settlement journey, we’re also increasing awareness about the performing arts opportunities here in Alberta,” says Galloway. “We’re ensuring that they know they’re welcome to our theatres, and opening up a collaboration channel that values feedback from diverse Albertans.”

Enbridge is committed to creating vibrant communities near our operations, by supporting opportunities to be enriched by cultural experiences, and to learn, grow and lead. Our $70,000 Fueling Futures grant to Alberta Ballet allows the dance company to offer about 1,000 tickets for new Canadians to attend performances in Edmonton and Calgary.

“Enbridge has been one of our most valued supporters,” says Galloway. “Our community impact goals align so well, and they have been a reliable partner for decades.”

Alberta Ballet works with local partners to reach newcomers, gather feedback about their experience in performing arts spaces and distribute tickets. Namely, those partners include Immigrant Services Calgary, the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Edmonton Immigrants Services Association, Saranay Filipino-Canadian Association, Action 4 Healthy Communities, and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship Canoo program.

Alberta Ballet also recently launched a new pilot program at its Edmonton and Calgary studios for immigrant youth, which Galloway describes as “the next evolution” to the Welcoming Newcomers program.

“We want to take our impact a step further—from the theatre to our studios, continuing to reduce barriers to participate in dance” she says.

Everyone is encouraged to check out the ballet season for themselves, but those especially inspired by Alberta Ballet’s efforts to support the arts and live dance can contribute directly on the website.

“I get a bit choked up thinking about it, because it’s an experience that some of us take for granted, and do not realize what a special experience it is to be able to attend a live dance performance or step into a studio and feel like you belong,” says Galloway.

“Our performances are unique—they provide a space where everyone enjoys a shared experience that transcends language barriers.”