Imperial Oil Foundation gives $1 million to the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy

Calgary, AB, October 30, 2009

The University of Calgary announced today that the Imperial Oil Foundation is donating $1 million to the university's School of Public Policy to support Energy for Life—an innovative, new program that will enhance policy development and public dialogue on energy, economy and the environment.

The gift will also establish the Imperial Oil Foundation Distinguished Lecture Series, a quarterly event that will bring notable figures in energy and related fields to Calgary to present perspectives and contribute to the dialogue and research on energy policy issues.

"The School of Public Policy depends on support from both the private and public sectors," said University of Calgary President Harvey Weingarten. "Imperial Oil Foundation's generous gift will help further our goal of making The School of Public Policy a major contributor to and influencer of public policy in this country. This new lecture series will be an excellent fit at the University of Calgary where studying energy and environmental issues is already a key priority."

Bruce March, chairman, president and CEO of Imperial Oil Ltd. said, "Imperial is committed to supporting the dialogue and analysis that will help create effective energy-related public policy in Canada. It's important to all of us that we have policies that strike the right balance between the economy, the environment, and the world's need for energy."

Jack Mintz, director of The School of Public Policy, said the Imperial Oil Foundation's gift would be invaluable for elevating thinking around practical policy to drive an intelligent and sustainable energy industry in Canada. "This level of community leadership helps us bridge the gap between government and business in terms of public policy and that's what our school is all about."

The donation and launch of the Imperial Oil Distinguished Lecture Series was kicked-off Friday, Oct. 30 with a speech by Andrew Swiger, senior vice-president and member of the management committee of Exxon Mobil Corporation on "The Outlook for Energy: The Importance of Innovation and International Cooperation in Meeting the World's Energy Needs."

The Imperial Oil Foundation has been a long-time supporter of the University of Calgary, contributing to various engineering disciplines, education initiatives and geology, geophysics and health care projects.

The School of Public Policy provides a practical, global and focused approach to public policy research and education that builds policy capacity in government; enhances public policy discourse outside of government and brings a global perspective to bear on Canadian public policy theory and practice.

With a goal to being an active member of the community and to building a life-long learning system in Canada that ranks among the best in the world, Imperial Oil has been contributing to communities across Canada since 1880. In 2008, Imperial Oil contributed about $12.1 million to various programs across Canada. Supporting organizations where we live and work, the company emphasizes investment in education of math and sciences, environment, and civic and community programs where we have employees or business operations.