Spirit of Sherritt Program
In 2020, Sherritt’s Fort Site continued to roll out the Spirit of Sherritt program, launched in 2017. This program is composed of two initiatives: the Giving Program and the Volunteer Program.
The Giving Program allows employees to apply for a $250 donation to a charity for which they have volunteered a minimum of 20 hours of their personal time. The Volunteer Program allows eligible employees to use one work day per year to volunteer for eligible non-profit organizations during work hours.
Over the course of 2020, Sherritt’s Fort Site donated $750 in recognition of employees who collectively volunteered 123 hours of their own time to non-profit and charitable causes in their local communities (outside of work hours). No volunteer hours of company time were recorded due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed early in 2020.
In 2020, the Fort Site’s United Way campaign raised over $60,000 for the Capital Region, with contributions totalling more than $345,000 in the last six years. Funds were raised through events and employee contributions as well as a $15,000 company donation.
The annual Make-A-Wish Rope for Hope event was rescheduled for 2021. In 2020, the Fort Site executed the annual Tannis’ Toys for Tots and the Food Bank drive by moving to online donations due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Additionally, every December the Fort Site and the Technologies Division support the local Fort Saskatchewan Food Gatherers Society. Our employees assist in collecting food, toys and monetary donations for those in need. In 2020, COVID-19 did not stop the Fort Site from raising money, and Sherritt and its employees proudly donated $5,900 and collected 131 pounds of toys and 168 pounds of food for the Food Bank. One tradition at the Fort Site includes our annual ugly holiday sweater challenge, where for every “ugly” holiday sweater worn, the leadership team makes a contribution to a local non-profit organization. The local leaders donated over $4,000 to Families First as part of this campaign.
In 2020, Sherritt’s Corporate office employees continued to support Make-A-Wish Canada. With support from our employees, Sherritt raised $10,000 and funded the wish of a smart, sushi-loving 14-year-old boy who wished to have electronics to play video games and to help him with his schoolwork.
“The Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank is very grateful for our relationship with Sherritt. As a supportive community partner, Sherritt’s donation in 2020 of food, toys and $5,000 contributed greatly to both our 2020 Christmas Hamper & Toy Campaign and to our ongoing efforts of addressing the food insecurity needs of the vulnerable members of our community.”
–Kassandra Gartner, Executive Director, Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank