Ledcor Cares

PRESS RELEASE - EDMONTON, AB -The Ledcor Group is investing $1.5 million to establish the Ledcor Group Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Environmental Sustainability at NAIT. The institute will be matching the funding to create a $3 million endowment, which will fund industry-driven applied research. 

“Ledcor is showing outstanding leadership by joining forces with NAIT to set up an applied research chair in oilsands sustainability,” says Dr. Sam Shaw, NAIT’s President and CEO. “What makes this so unique is that Ledcor is helping its clients develop environmental solutions while being competitive.” 

The Chair will focus on applying green chemistry and engineering principles in oilsands production. "It is Ledcor's expectation that the Applied Research Chair at NAIT and the work that they conduct will help identify practices and processes that are of material benefit to the industry and can be applied to enhance and improve our operations in the oilsands,” says Don Breen, President, Ledcor Industrial Group. “If we are to truly make practices in the oilsands sustainable, we need to make changes now. However, these changes need to be based on a reasoned approach and sound science and be conducted in a collaborative manner making use of all research being conducted in this area.” 

The Chair will develop applied, real-world solutions that can be integrated within current and future oilsands operations in the form of new processes and technologies. The decision on what research will be done will come from close consultation with industry. 

“As an applied research institution, NAIT’s core focus is developing practical solutions for real-world issues,” says Dr. Shaw. “We expect the Ledcor Group Applied Research Chair to be the first of many at NAIT. We want to play a vital role in bringing innovation into business, which generates wealth for the companies we partner with and the Canadian economy as whole and leads to important social change.” 

About the Ledcor Group of Companies: Founded in 1947, the Ledcor Group is a leading, North American, privately-held, employee-owned collection of construction companies, specializing in building, civil, industrial and telecommunication projects. In addition to a diversified portfolio of projects, Ledcor is an award-winning contractor as well as a recipient of numerous safety honors. Ledcor brings an established history of construction excellence with a team of professionals who measure their success by client satisfaction. 

NAIT is one of the preeminent institutes of technology in Canada, providing real-world education in business, advanced technologies and skilled trades to almost 85,000 learners worldwide. Known for student success, NAIT also engages with business and industry in applied research and innovation and provides corporate training around the world.