ATCO Pipelines Signs Agreement with Ermineskin Cree Nation

HOBBEMA, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - June 27, 2013) -

Editor's Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

ATCO Pipelines announced today that it has signed a relationship agreement with the Ermineskin Cree Nation that will see the two parties cooperate on the replacement of a 219 mm (8 inch) pipeline currently running through the First Nation.

This pipeline is a critical piece of a larger network that provides natural gas service to communities between Red Deer and Viking, including Lacombe, Ponoka, Camrose, Wetaskiwin and the four First Nations near Hobbema. The original pipeline was constructed in 1946.

"We look forward to working with the Ermineskin Cree Nation," said Brendan Dolan, President, ATCO Pipelines. "Not only does this allow us to begin upgrading a critical piece of infrastructure that serves several central Alberta communities, but we are also able to provide a number of long-term benefits to this community,"

This agreement demonstrates ATCO Pipelines commitment to its First Nations partners and builds upon ATCO's track record of creating mutually-beneficial relationships with Aboriginal groups across Canada. Specifically, the agreement outlines a commitment by ATCO Pipelines to explore employment and training opportunities with the First Nation related to this project, as well as see the company invest in the community through its support of the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund.

"Thanks to this agreement, we are building a long and productive relationship with ATCO Pipelines," said Chief Craig Makinaw, Chief of Ermineskin Cree Nation and Grand Chief of Treaty 6 First Nations. "This relationship will give us the opportunity to continue offering much needed programs and services to the people of the Ermineskin Cree Nation."

The Ermineskin Cree Nation is one of the four bands comprising the Mascwacis and falls under the provisions of Treaty 6. It is located south of Wetaskiwin, near Hobbema, with a population of approximately 2,600 people living on the reserve.

ATCO Pipelines, part of the ATCO Group of Companies, provides reliable and efficient delivery of natural gas and is committed to operational excellence and superior customer service while ensuring the safety of our employees and the public.

ATCO Group, with more than 9,400 employees and approximately $14 billion in assets, delivers service excellence and innovative business solutions worldwide with leading companies engaged in Structures & Logistics (manufacturing, logistics and noise abatement), Utilities (pipelines, natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution), Energy (power generation, natural gas gathering, processing, storage and liquids extraction) and Technologies (business systems solutions). More information can be found at www.atco.com.

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