Top provincial honours for Syncrude’s support of Aboriginal apprenticeships

2/11/2008

Syncrude’s leading role in developing Aboriginal apprentices was recognized Friday at the Alberta Apprenticeships and Industry Training Board Awards. The oil sands operator and B.G. Industrial Doctors Inc. shared the provincial honour of Top Employer for Aboriginal Apprentices

Syncrude is a founding supporter of the Alberta Aboriginal Apprenticeship Program and has committed to hire at least 32 Aboriginal apprentices over the next four years. That represents the largest commitment of the participating employers. The program provides apprenticeship opportunities for Aboriginal people in key industries across Alberta.

“This commitment is about building a positive future for young Aboriginal people and an industry that needs skilled workers,” said Marc Theriault, Syncrude vice-president of Production.

“Although Syncrude is proud to be named Alberta’s Top Employer of Aboriginal Apprentices, we are even more excited about the shared opportunity we are helping to create.”

Syncrude is one of Canada’s largest industrial employers of Aboriginal people with more than 400 First Nation and Métis employees.

The Syncrude Project is a joint venture operated by Syncrude Canada Ltd. and owned by Canadian Oil Sands Limited, ConocoPhillips Oilsands Partnership II, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Limited, Murphy Oil Company Ltd., Nexen Oil Sands Partnership, and Petro-Canada Oil and Gas.

Trading Symbols for Public Syncrude Joint Venture Owners:

Canadian Oil Sands Trust                             COS.UN – TSX                

ConocoPhillips Oilsands Partnership II

(wholly owned by ConocoPhillips)               COP – NYSE

Imperial Oil Resources                                  IMO – TSX/AMEX

Murphy Oil Company Ltd.                               MUR – NYSE

Nexen Inc.                                                         NXY – TSX/NYSE

Petro-Canada                                                  PCA – TSX/PCZ – NYSE