Renewable energy company Drax has donated $96,000 to UBC Forestry’s Wild & Immersive (W&I) program. The donation, given through the Drax Foundation, will continue the strong environmental and educational work UBC Forestry’s program already provides in the community.
Located in both Williams Lake and Maple Ridge, the Wild & Immersive program increases recreational opportunities for the community as well as financial bursaries allowing equal access to those interested in their programming.
“UBC Forestry’s Wild & Immersive (W&I) program is grateful to receive support from the Drax Foundation for the second consecutive year,” said Mark Gill, Wild & Immersive Education Program Supervisor, Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF). “This year’s grant will help develop a new publicly accessible trail and dock at AFRF, as well as continue supporting the bursary fund allowing for widespread participation in our programming.”
The Drax Foundation donated over $480,000 in 2024. Organizations supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, green skills training, nature-based education, and community green spaces, received grant funding to enhance their communities.
“This year’s grant will support the redevelopment of nature and community greenspaces for the W&I program at the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) in Maple Ridge, creating more opportunities for W&I participants and the local community to learn, recreate, and explore,” said Hélène Marcoux, Manager of MKRF. “The grant will fund new interpretive signage in the arboretum, trail maintenance, and the addition of 10 physical challenge stations on the Wilderness Adventure Loop, featuring wildlife-related activities for children.”
The Drax Foundation provides grant funding for non-profit organizations that share our commitment to improving equitable access to STEM education, nature and community green spaces, and measures that improve energy.
“Drax values the ability to contribute and support the communities we live, and operate in,” said Sandy Sung, Drax’s Canadian Community Manager. “We look forward to seeing the benefits of this grant funding in the communities and the advancement of outdoor education and recreation in Williams Lake and Maple Ridge.” said Sung.
To learn more about the Drax Foundation and Drax’s community efforts, visit Our communities – Drax Canada or contact [email protected] for additional information.
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Contact Information:
Caroline Bleay
Communications Manager, Canada
780-502-1571
[email protected]
About Drax
Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.
Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com/ca/
Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 18 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around five million tons a year.
Drax is targeting eight million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over three million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.
Drax’s pellet plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.
