Partnerships with Indigenous businesses, workers build mutual success in the oil sands 

ConocoPhillips Canada aims to build relationships with companies that share its passion for economic development and has sought out opportunities to partner with several sub-contractors on employment, apprenticeship, and training programs in various trades.  

In recent years, the company supported electrical, heavy-duty mechanic, plumbing, power engineer, warehousing, operations services and hospitality management positions and millwright apprenticeship opportunities from local Indigenous communities near its Surmont project.  

One of its past apprentices, Dillen from Conklin, Alberta, began working on a ConocoPhillips project in 2017 when he was 19 years old as a first-year heavy duty mechanic through a partnership with Dene Sky Site Services Ltd. Dillen worked closely with two highly experienced mechanical mentors at the Surmont project and received experience on various equipment such as on-site vehicles, generators, skid steers and aerial work platforms.  

Dillen was supported throughout his schooling and left the apprenticeship program after three years to continue his training with another company in the Fort McMurray area. He is now a journeyman red seal heavy duty mechanic and works on mine and support equipment such as off-road trucks, loaders, bulldozers, excavators, and mining shovels. ConocoPhillips is proud that its apprenticeship program supported Dillen in achieving his goals.  

Local contracting strategy 

ConocoPhillips contracting strategy includes identifying mutually beneficial opportunities to work with Indigenous communities near Surmont by sharing a 6-12 month contract forecast and working collaboratively with the community to match opportunities with Indigenous-owned or Indigenous-partnered companies.  

ConocoPhillips often works with contracted companies to put a local and Indigenous benefit agreement in place to help ensure that Indigenous communities in its operating area share in receiving positive benefits across our project.