Inter Pipeline Ltd. is a Canadian energy infrastructure company that owns and operates oil and natural gas liquids transportation, processing and storage assets across Western Canada and abroad. Its business is organized into four segments – Transportation, Facilities Infrastructure, Marketing and the Heartland petrochemical complex – and the company positions itself as a long-term, responsible operator with a strong focus on ESG performance and relationships with local communities.
Role of Inter Pipeline in the funding ecosystem
Beyond its core commercial activities, Inter Pipeline administers a structured community investment portfolio that channels financial support, sponsorships and in-kind resources into external organizations and projects. Through the Inter Pipeline Cares (iCare) Fund, the company supports charitable organizations, Indigenous communities and specific programs that address basic societal needs such as food, shelter and wellness, with an emphasis on vulnerable or underserved populations within its Canadian operating areas. Community Investment Committees made up of employees and management review requests and decide which initiatives to fund, often through multi‑year commitments for community infrastructure and services.
Inter Pipeline also operates the Discovery Awards Program, which provides bursaries to high school students who need financial assistance to pursue post‑secondary studies in fields related to the company’s operations, from engineering and trades to business and finance. Schools or Indigenous communities nominate students based on academic consistency, community involvement and financial need, and successful recipients may reapply for a second year of support. Dozens of bursaries are awarded annually in communities where Inter Pipeline’s facilities and pipelines are located.
Key funding themes and partnerships
- Basic needs and community well‑being: Through the iCare Fund and related giving, Inter Pipeline prioritizes charities that provide food, shelter and wellness services, and encourages employee volunteering at funded programs and events.
- Youth education and sport: The Discovery Awards bursaries and the Inter Pipeline Scholarship Program with the Alberta Junior Hockey League support youth pursuing education and personal development, including student‑athletes who demonstrate leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship.
- Environmental protection and research: The company funds environmental partners such as the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, where its contributions have financed wildlife care facilities and mobile units. Inter Pipeline has also committed $10 million over ten years to the Plastics Research in Action (PRIA) applied research program with NAIT, focused on plastic waste reduction, circular economy solutions and process optimization at its Heartland Petrochemical Complex.
- Social impact and inclusion: Long‑term partnerships with organizations like APPLE Schools, the Missing Children Society of Canada, the Robb Nash Project and Women Building Futures demonstrate ongoing investment in health promotion, child safety, mental health and women’s access to skilled trades training.
Target communities and access to funding
Inter Pipeline concentrates most of its community giving on charities and initiatives operating in the regions where it does business, primarily across Alberta and other Canadian jurisdictions linked to its pipeline and petrochemical assets. The company explicitly invites eligible charitable organizations to apply for funding through an online application form, and encourages Indigenous communities and local groups to engage with its Indigenous Relations and community investment teams. Funding decisions are guided by community needs, available resources and alignment with the company’s focus areas of basic needs, education, safety and environmental stewardship.
Through this combination of corporate philanthropy, bursaries, sponsorships and large‑scale research investments, Inter Pipeline plays a notable role as a discretionary funder in the communities where it operates, complementing its role as a major private‑sector infrastructure operator.
