Preliminary Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2021 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS FROMLETTEROUR CEO03 OVERVIEWCOMPANY04 ABOUT REPORTTHIS08 05 History in Canada 06 Adding to the Family 07 Mission and Vision 07 Core Values 09 Overview of Company Initiatives SAFETY10 11 Safety 11 Training 12 Security 12 Certifications 12 Accreditation 13 Safety Goals ENGAGEMENTCOMMUNITY26 27 Contributions & Sponsorships 27 Customers Service 27 Reputation 28 Partnerships 29 Community Engagement Goals WELL-BEINGEMPLOYEE14 15 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 17 Education & Development 18 Wellness 19 Longevity 20 Employee Recognition 21 Employee Well-being Goals CLOSING30 31 Appendix SUSTAINABILITYENVIRONMENTAL22 23 Reforestation 23 Resource Use 24 Waste 25 Environmental Sustainability Goals
This report will highlight the progress we have made and will continue to make regarding: ‒ Safety ‒ Employee Well-being ‒ Environmental Sustainability ‒ Community Engagement I encourage you to read through our inaugural report and learn how WCH is a leader in providing sustainable environmental solutions to the industries we serve that align with our core values of safety, integrity, excellence, teamwork, innovation and family.
The Canadian entity to North American parent company Wright Service Corp. (WSC), WCH was formed in 2017 and is comprised of Spectrum Resource Group (SRG), Wright Tree Service of Canada (WTSCA), ArborCare® and CNUC of Canada (CNUCCA). Our operations and clientele stretch across Canada from British Columbia to New Brunswick. We are an innovative group who are open to new opportunities and face challenges head-on that come along the way.
All the companies under the WCH umbrella have added new services or improved upon current ones while continuing to expand our footprint across Canada. The last year brought many changes to our lines of business and leadership but what has not changed is my view of the shared vision and the strategy of our company, as we move forward. The key to our success is ensuring that our employees, and most importantly their safety, is top of mind. We have been able to attract, retain and reward the highest quality talent in the industry because safety is our number one value. We train and develop our employees to ensure safe practices on the job and at home. Our employees are part of our family and if they go home safe each night, that means we have done our job as a company.
LETTER FROM OUR CEO
Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) represents a family of companies in environmental services, with several sustainability initiatives taking place across Canada. We wanted to be able to share our story on our terms and there is no better time than now. We are a leader in innovative solutions and services that align with our core values. As an employee-owned company, our employees are at the forefront of every decision we make, and it is our employees who are behind our success.
As a company that is made up of environmental services, we understand the responsibility we have to strive to protect all ecosystems. Both as a company and as individuals, we want to make positive environmental, social and economic impacts in the communities we serve. Sustainable business is good business, not only for our employees but also for our clients and the public.
Scott D. Packard Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
OVERVIEWCOMPANY The following pages highlight how we incorporate environmental sustainability into our project services and business operations using innovative processes, initiatives, and technology.
ArborCare® // Founded in 1983
Owned and operated by WTSCA, providing commercial and residential tree and lawn care services. ArborCare provides exceptional service in Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.
Assisting utilities in improving their utility vegetation management programs through inspection and auditing services, emergency response, consulting, and research, often combined with software and LiDAR solutions in Canada.
CNUC of Canada // Formed in 2020
HISTORY IN CANADA
A reforestation, forest management and vegetation management solutions provider working actively in forestry, oil and gas, utility and community resource industries across Canada. In 2017, a partnership with Wright Service Corp. formed causing SRG to become a part of the family of companies under the WSC umbrella.
Wright Canada Holdings // Formed in 2017
Wright Tree Service of Canada // Formed in 2019
Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
Offering the entire package of vegetation management services, including integrated vegetation management, storm restoration, and work planning services to utility companies and their communities across Canada.
Spectrum Resource Group // Founded in 1986
Holding company to Spectrum Resource Group (SRG), Wright Tree Service of Canada (WTSCA), ArborCare® (a division of WTSCA) and CNUC of Canada (CNUCCA).
6 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement ADDING TO THE FAMILY ESOP 1933 1961 1993 2002 2006 2007 2008 2012 2013 2017 2019 2021 of Puerto Rico of Canada 2020
To be a leader in providing innovative solutions and services that align with our core values. To enable our customers to sustainably manage their products or services for the betterment of all communities. To ensure long-term viability of the company supported by attractive value appreciation to our employee-owners. To provide team members with an environment that enables them to achieve their personal and professional career goals. Leverage our core competencies to create new environmental product lines and services. By 2024, traditional business lines will represent 50% of the company’s gross profit margin while continuing to remain #2 in our core market segments. Be a leader in sustainable environmental solutions to the industries we serve. Expand into new services and market segments that will align customer and environmental needs with our expertise and capabilities. ‒ Grow our company in the U.S., Canada, and beyond. Attract, retain and reward the highest quality talent in the industry.
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EXCELLENCE We continually strive to exceed our customer’s and our own expectations. anticipate our clients’ needs and we deliver creative services and solutions. FAMILY It is our foundation; it is who we are.
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SAFETY It is everyone’s responsibility, we each own it.
TEAMWORK It is how we operate and we hold each other accountable.
ANDMISSIONVISION VALUESCORE
INTEGRITY We abide by the highest ethical standards.
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7 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement Mission ‒
Vision ‒
INNOVATION We
ABOUT REPORTTHIS WCH Sustainability Report / CSR Mission Statement Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) is dedicated to supporting the well-being of our employees, our environment, and our community while reflecting the passion of environmental stewardship in the services the family of companies provides. KPI Overview WCH’s core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be used to track the progress in key target areas and will be used by each company in coming years to gauge progress. These will help shape goals to drive continuous improvement.
OVERVIEW OF COMPANY INITIATIVES 2021 Highlights Trees GeneralPlantedForeperson School Employee Benefits Plan Partnerships with IndigenousCommunitiesin5Provinces 19,524,645ExpandedEnhancedHeldSafety-certifiedFirst
As a family of companies who are in the environmental services industry, we strive to protect and preserve all ecosystems. We continue to reduce our footprint and promote carbon positive practices at our offices and in the communities we serve.
Environmental Sustainability
Employee Well-being Our employees create a rich work environment. Our family culture is what makes WCH unique and attractive to the next generation of the workforce. This includes a safe, enjoyable, diverse environment that offers opportunity for professional growth within. As competition for talent grows, WCH is committed to offering an attractive workplace to retain and foster talent through our family of companies at all levels. WCH is proud to be employee owned through the deferred share unit (DSU) plan. Continued training, education and development, and our employees’ well-being are top of mind.
9 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
WCH supports activities that benefit our employees and add value to the communities where we live and work. Through monetary and in-kind donations such as labor or education, we are able to support various causes and organizations that align with our values. We take pride in building and developing relationships with our employees, clients and communities.
Community Engagement
Safety Safety is our number one value. Our employees are trained on a consistent basis to ensure best safe practices are in place and mitigate any potential risks or hazards. Internal protocols are routinely reviewed and updated by our legal, risk mitigation and safety departments to ensure the latest trainings and protocols are followed to reach our goal of zero recordable incidents, allowing our employees to get home safely each night.
SAFETY Safety is our number one value. Our employees are trained on a consistent basis to ensure best safe practices are in place and mitigate any potential risks or hazards. Internal protocols are routinely reviewed and updated by our legal, risk mitigation and safety departments to ensure the latest trainings and protocols are followed to reach our goal of zero recordable incidents, allowing our employees to get home safely each night.
Vast terrain differences, from muskeg, prairie, mountains and Seasonalcoastvariations that take temperatures from -35°C to Seasonality+35°C in our business opportunities
First Aid All crew leaders undergo basic first aid training as a normal course of their employment.
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The physical demands of access and work types
TRAINING
SAFETY
Our operations in Canada are spread out over multiple business lines, crossing many Provincial jurisdictions that regulate workplace safety. There are challenges with finding consistent measurements for our performance when the jurisdiction or the activity classifies our risk and our outcomes by variable means. Within these challenges we are faced with: Large distances between our work crews
Ensuring consistent and thorough training for a large cohort of young and new workers Our footprint in Canada has attained and maintained high levels of safety credentials, industry involvement and representation within regulatory consultation processes.
General Foreperson School Normally hosted at the company’s North American headquarters in West Des Moines, Iowa, the Wright Tree Service (WTS) led General Foreperson (GF) School took place in Canada for the first time. GF School is a week-long program for employees to participate in a variety of trainings and handson exercises under the direction of the WTS safety manager, one senior safety lead and two safety supervisors. Topics ranged from computer skillsbased training to hands-on training. Fifteen employees completed the first training.
*Hours
Cyber Security Wright Service Corp.’s (WSC) information technology (IT) department is dedicated to cyber security and business continuity. In 2019, a cyber security team was created to improve our information security posture and execute a two-year strategic security roadmap; doing so maintains and strengthens our company’s ability to protect internal and client data. The team conducted a comprehensive security assessment and remediated identified issues. Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection was deployed to help improve our detection and prevention of attacks on our company’s equipment.
12 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
In 2022, WSC will continue to implement tools and training for increased company preparedness and due diligence against growing cyber security risks.
We encourage staff to become certified or earn credentials in their respective areas of work. We have employees with the following qualifications:
A security awareness program was launched May of 2020.
2144155%
- Wildlife Danger Tree Assessor - Tree Faller Certification - Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) - CPA - International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist® - ISA Certified Arborist® - ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) Tree and Plant Resource Group Appraisal Qualification (TPAQ) ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist® (RCA) - Certified Utility Arborist (CUA) - Utility Tree Worker (UTW) - Utility Tree Trimmer (UTT) - Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) - Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP)
- Professional Agrologist - Registered Professional Forester (RPF) - Forester in Training (FIT)
- Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio)
Cyber Security cyber training completion compared to a 73% industry average total hours executed on monthly cyber security trainings over the year based on 104 employees hours of required annual cyber security trainings
We maintain a certificate of recognition (COR) in British Columbia and Alberta, with reciprocity in three other provinces.
Wright Tree Service of Canada, ArborCare® and CNUC of Canada
SECURITY ACCREDITATIONCERTIFICATIONS
Wright Tree Service of Canada and ArborCare® continue to hold a Tree Care Industry Association accreditation with high remarks from a third-party auditor.
Spectrum
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Employees undergo monthly training to spot ‘phishing’ scams and other spam emails. These fraudulent requests are sophisticated and can use known company contacts to lure others into sending funds to illegitimate recipients or compromise confidential data and information. As scams are ever changing, awareness and trainings are provided to arm our employees with the knowledge to be a digital Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper. On occasion, employees will be tested internally and if the employee fails, they are required to go through additional training.
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Additional Security Measures
Spectrum Resource Group also holds COR for Alberta and British Columbia; both companies are externally audited by ISNetworld, Complyworks, and Avetta.
Security: Conduct monthly virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) and Executive meetings to ensure company goals and controls are met while mitigating cyber security risks.
Security: Ensure company participation and improvement by 10% or 50 hours of additional security awareness training across all companies.
Safety: Demonstrate improvement within our incident rate metrics and injury management outcomes.
Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
Certifications: Establish tracking method for Wright Tree Service of Canada and ArborCare®.
Safety: Determine and report on common safety metrics across all service lines.
Training: Assess current training offerings and assign based on companywide or position-specific requirements.
Safety: Engage the safety, education and training team to increase cross company training opportunities.
Safety: Increase the use of remote based platforms to narrow the geographical gap between our crews and the knowledge and training they need to maintain healthy and safe workplaces.
SAFETY GOALS
Our employees create a rich work environment. Our family culture is what makes Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) unique and attractive to the next generation of the workforce. This includes a safe, enjoyable, diverse environment that offers opportunity for professional growth within. As competition for talent grows, WCH is committed to offering an attractive workplace to retain and foster talent through our family of companies at all levels. Continued training, education and development, and our employees’ well-being are top of mind.
WELL-BEINGEMPLOYEE
15 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION At the end of our fiscal year, September 30, 2021, we had 353 employees from seven provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. The number does not account for those hired as a seasonal worker during the year. During the peak of the season (May through August), WCH had as many as 586 employees. Chart data as of September 30, 2021 when referring to all employees. Chart data is based on total tracked from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. 50% 66% 48% 32% 2% 2% WTSCA WTSCACNUC CNUCSRG SRG NEW HIRES BY COMPANYEMPLOYEES BY COMPANY GENERATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Gen Z Gen Z Generation X Generation XMillennialMillennial Baby Boomers Baby Boomers 31% 53% 11% 5% 54% 38% 5% 3% All EmployeesWCHWCHNewHires REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION Alberta OntarioBritish Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba AlbertaQuebec OntarioBritish Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba Quebec New Brunswick Newfoundland 32%37% 36% 28% All EmployeesWCHWCHNewHires 13% 20% 8% 6% 4% 5% 4%2% 1%1%
16 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement CNUCCA GENERATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Gen Z Generation XMillennial Gen Z Generation XMillennial 29% 57% 14% 44%57% 44% 43% 11% AllEmployeesCNUCCACNUCCANewHires CNUCCA REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION AlbertaAlberta SaskatchewanSaskatchewan56% AllEmployeesCNUCCACNUCCANewHires 44% SRG GENERATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Gen Z Generation XMillennial Baby Boomers Gen Z Generation XMillennial Baby Boomers 37% 50% 10% 3% 58% 38% 1% All EmployeesSRGSRGNewHires SRG REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION British Columbia OntarioNewfoundlandAlberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Quebec 47% All EmployeesSRGSRGNewHires 23% 11% 8% 3%4% 1%2%2% 70% 14% 8% 3% 3% 1%2% 2% BritishOntarioColumbia NewfoundlandAlberta SaskatchewanQuebecManitoba New Brunswick Nova Scotia
For the past 10 years, Spectrum Resource Group (SRG) has conducted an annual employee survey. The intent is to provide a venue for employees to let us know how we are doing and provide anonymous feedback. It is a series of questions using either a 1-5 rating scale or open-ended questions.
Year over year, SRG looks at the top five items that we can act on to improve the work life of our employees and take their suggestions into account when looking to improve work processes and operational expenditures. In 2021, we had a 35% response rate. This year’s survey pointed to some necessary improvements in the delivery and consistency of our training for new drivers and for the expansion of the breadth of our first aid training curriculum. The survey also revealed an opportunity to improve our camp facilities and communication flows.
17 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement WTSCA GENERATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Gen Z Gen Z Generation X Generation XMillennialMillennial Baby Boomers Baby Boomers 25% 56% 13% 6% 36% 46% 11% 7% All EmployeesWTSCAWTSCANewHires WTSCA REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION British ColumbiaSaskatchewanAlberta OntarioManitoba Newfoundland British ColumbiaSaskatchewanAlberta OntarioManitoba Newfoundland 63%66%All EmployeesWTSCAWTSCANewHires 15%13% 12% 5%3% 1% 12% 6% 3% 1% Employee Engagement
In honour of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, SRG invited all staff to attend the Talking Circle Webinar to gain a deeper understanding of the lasting impact that the residential school system has had on the social fabric of our Wecommunities.invitedall employees to wear orange on this day in remembrance of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Survivors and their families and communities. The day is a time to come together to listen, learn and affirm every child matters while honouring the experiences of Indigenous People.
UNIVERSITY
Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) hired Indigenous Corporate Training for a three-hour training on indigenous awareness. The purpose of the training was to build a better understanding of some of the issues heard in the news. During the training, employees: - Reviewed historical events and their relation to the present day - Reviewed major court cases and their implications - Began to understand the cross-cultural perspectives of the same issue - Became familiar with terminology and being respectful of Indigenous peoples and their culture Learning Management System
Wright Service Corp. University (WSCU) is a learning platform that documents and tracks employees’ online training. WSCU creates the ability to reach every employee in the company who has a company email for training and continued learning. Topics include management, leadership, customer service, productivity, tips and tools, and more. The training and development department will be introducing the system to WCH employees in 2022. Continuous Professional Development We encourage staff to attend trainings, workshops or conferences in their field of work to continue to learn about any changes, updates or best practices in their profession or the industry.
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT&IndigenousAwarenessTraining
Employees are encouraged to utilize the resources that are made available to them. This includes e-learnings such as stress management, conflict resolution, and daily workflow prioritization techniques.
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- Book review - Dale Carnegie course - Capstone article and
EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT&
Through health plan enrollment, employees and their immediate families have access to confidential counseling and comprehensive services to assist with life problems and concerns. The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) services provider offers 24x7 counseling, a network of community resources, referrals and extensive resources across a wide range of topics.
The group benefit program provides cost effective extended health care coverage for employees and their family’s needs. Coverage is available on a cost share basis for just the employee or for the employee and their family. Health coverage extends beyond governmental mandated coverage to include eligible expenses for prescriptions, paramedical services, authorized medical services and supplies, private hospitalization, emergency travel assistance, and vision care. Dental coverage includes both preventative, endodontic, and periodontic services.
Additionally, employees have available optional life and disability benefits including life insurance, dependent life insurance, accidental death, disease and dismemberment insurance, and longterm disability coverage. These plans are available at groups rates and are employee paid.
Benefits, including Employee & Family Assistance Plan Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) employees who have 3 months of continuous employment and work a minimum of 30 hours per week can enroll in optional health and dental plan coverage.
Spectrum Resource Group (SRG) has also partnered with the Northern Society for Domestic Peace (NSDP) CAMP Program. Our reforestation department is comprised of a young demographic and works in close knit communities. The CAMP Program educates our employees about bullying and harassment, reporting, and creating a safe working and living environment. SRG has several jobs that are labor intensive and repetitive. Because of this, the company takes a proactive approach to physical health and well-being. These programs include training in taping techniques to reduce stress on musculoskeletal strain injuries, virtual physio sessions and a robust injury management program that helps an employee remain engaged in the workforce if injured at work. The injury management and return to work program has seen great success in the past few years. It has kept employees working productively, expanding their skill sets and in certain cases, has provided new and exciting careers.
shadow - Mentorship
continued WELLNESS
SRG’s managers are encouraged to feel secure, educated, and able to appropriately conduct ongoing wellness checks on their employees, as well as themselves. This fosters a culture of mental and physical wellbeing in our employee group.
Mental Health Mental Health Awareness Training was undertaken for all SRG managers in 2021. This daylong session was conducted remotely so that it could be inclusive of all our managers working remotely.
LEAD Program
18 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
The Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Program is an 18-month, Wright Service Corp. (WSC) sponsored program. Following a nomination process, individuals who have shown they are dedicated to their career and growth within our family of companies are selected. We utilize this program to give selected employees a comprehensive perspective of our family of companies, a platform for cross-company networking, and the tools to enhance their leadership potential. Since the program’s inception, sixty-one employees have graduated from the program, seven from our Canadian companies. The latest cohort, which took place 100% virtually except for their final session leading to graduation, concluded their journey in November 2021 and completed a total of 1,632 training hours.
Although the LEAD Program has continued to evolve over the years, the foundation of the curriculum has remained the same with a mix of: - Online learning - In-person and virtual sessions A job program presentation
19 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
who
INCLUDING
and
we
Each spring, we celebrate our employees who reached milestones (5, 10, 15, 20, and so forth) in their years of service within our family of companies. In 2021, we were able to recognize employees virtually during an all-employee meeting. Nine employees reached milestones, eight were recognized for five years of service and one was recognized for 10 years of service.
we
The DSU enables employees to directly affect profitability and value and see the results. Employees have pride in the company and a vested interest in making sure the value of their account grows. In addition, the plan has also allowed the company to protect jobs and support the communities work in.
YearsLONGEVITYofService
Employee Ownership After expanding into Canada, a Deferred Shared Unit (DSU) plan was established for Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) and its subsidiaries. Through shared ownership, employee ownership helps promote a positive, unique organizational culture and supports company success. This assists our employees with their retirement and provides them with a financial stake in the company. For our customers and partners, we are empowered to provide exceptional service and innovative solutions. At all levels of the company, you will be working with an employee owner – individuals comparison of active participants the percent six years, MILESTONES ONE WHO WAS RECOGNIZED FOR 10 YEARS OF SERVICE are invested in the success of the company and the quality of service deliver.
FY2021
a participant is 100% vested. vested20% 36% vested40% 10%vested60% 6% vested80% 10% vested100% 38% VESTED DSU Stats 5796 ACTIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE DSU PLAN IN FY2021 ACTIVE EMPLOYEES ADDED ON OCTOBER 1 9 EMPLOYEES REACHED
Employees are eligible if they are at least 18 years of age, worked for the company for one year and worked at least 1,500 hours within a 12-month time period. They are automatically enrolled on October 1 following their 1-year anniversary date with the company.
vested. Upon
Rewarding Success
The Rewarding Success Program recognizes employees who exhibit Spectrum Resource Group’s values in an exemplary manner. Since launching the program in 2021, 24 employees have been recognized and acknowledged for exemplifying the company’s values in FY2021.
Employee Spotlight Employees are nominated or asked to participate in an employee spotlight where the company is able to highlight the employee to discuss their career path and get to know them on a personal level.
Nominated employees receive a credit to the company’s merchandise and apparel store and a certificate, sometimes presented in-person by the supervisor if possible.
24 EMPLOYEES WERE RECOGNIZED IN FY2021 FOR EXEMPLIFYING THE COMPANY’S VALUES
This Rewarding Success is for Eric Torres who has shown operational excellence, leadership and going the extra mile in the delivery and support of our Kwadacha client's projects.”
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Joshua Quaite is receiving Rewarding Success for continued leadership on the Atco project and his willingness to chip in wherever required.”
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Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING GOALS Diversity & Inclusion: Increase job opportunities for indigenous community members. Diversity & Inclusion: In 2022, WCH will adopt a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) statement. Education & Development: Continue creating opportunities for key personnel to expand industry knowledge. Employee Recognition: Expand the employee recognition program to the other Canadian entities.
carbon
As a family of companies who are in the environmental services industry, we strive to protect and preserve all ecosystems. We continue to reduce our footprints and promote positive practices at our offices and in the communities we serve.
SUSTAINABILITYENVIRONMENTAL
Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
Fleet & Equipment Wright Service Corp. (WSC) has had the opportunity to be front and center to several exciting things with Geotab. With the support and guidance of our Geotab reseller, Gridline, WSC was the first company in the world to see and experience, pilot and deploy a Geotab/Lytx integration that allows the Lytx user interface to be visible interactive within Geotab.
WSC was recommended and selected as a participant in the Geotab Global Advisory Group. This group meets quarterly to “take a peek under the hood” of Geotab roadmap ideas and strategies, with an opportunity to weigh in on/collaborate on their product and service decisions, business needs and pose questions to Geotab leadership and other Geotab clients around the world.
WSC deploys crews with bucket trucks, chip trucks, and chippers as well as specialized equipment including all terrain tree trimmers, brush-cutter tractors and more for high-impact mechanical line clearance.
Calgary has one building for shared use by Wright Tree Service of Canada (WTSCA), ArborCare® and CNUC of Canada (CNUCCA) employees. The office is owned by the company and all utilities are handled directly. Building repairs are managed by the fleet supervisor. WTSCA rents a small office and bay shop in Edmonton. Water is included in rent and paid for by the landlord. Electric and gas are the direct responsibility of WTSCA.
At 18 years of age, a tree is considered to be fully mature. It will then sequester atmospheric carbon for about 100 years before slowly dying off. When a tree reaches maturity, it has a carbon sequestration capacity of up to 6 tonnes per hectare per year totaling a maximum of 67,500 tCO2e over its lifetime. Reducing atmospheric carbon is a drawdown practice, combating climate change.
Spectrum Resource Group has an office in Prince George, Mackenzie and Grande Prairie. There is also a storage facility and yard location in Prince George. These are jointly managed between the management team. All of these locations are rented.
REFORESTATION RESOURCE USE 6,750,00019,524,645 SE QUESTRATING UP TO TREES PLANTED IN FY2021 TONNES OF CO2E OVER THE TREES’ LIFETIME
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Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement FUEL USAGE
Our team is exploring and making the transition to battery operated chainsaws where appropriate in the fleet. This transition would decrease the amount of fuel, oil, and labor for the chainsaw fleet upkeep. Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) generates vegetative waste through the maintenance and new infrastructure development efforts daily in support of our clients. This organic waste product is often left onsite in environments where it is appropriate to naturally breakdown and provide benefits such as nutrients and habitat to the local ecosystem. The waste may be chipped and added to the local landscape. In urban settings, wood may be left onsite at the request of the homeowner or removed and stored at a WCH property. WCH may further process wood waste into mulch and provide free of charge to local communities. A significant effort is made to provide a second life to that vegetative waste product not to be disposed of in a landfill setting. Nearly 30,000 cubic yards of woodchips were sent to feedlots in 2021. Wood waste from Spectrum Resource Group fuel risk reduction operations gets sold as logs to local mills or as log fuel to local energy plants.
RENEWABLE TRANSITION
Geotab has the capacity to track fuel and fuel efficiency. The Canadian operations track fuel usage through other systems. Some fuel is provided via bulk fueling or client fueled which is not included in annual reporting at this time. Bulk fuel, when available, is an efficient way to prepare the fleet without spending excess labor time and resources to travel to the nearest fueling station. WTSCA and CNUCCA have 143 vehicles with the Geotab tracking technology utilized, the fleet traveled 904,257 miles in 2021. Of these vehicles the average miles per gallon was 18 in 2021. Unproductive idle time is currently being tracked along with miles per gallon efficiency.
Each job site and geography across North America operated by WSC subsidiaries provide a variety of alternative uses of wood waste generated. An evaluation effort is underway to estimate the amount of vegetation co-product generated by division and the end-use category respectively.
RESOURCE USE continued WASTE30,000143 NEARLY CUBIC YARDS OF FEEDLOTSWEREWOODCHIPSSENTTOIN2021 WTS OF CANADA & CNUC OF CANADA VEHICLES HAVE THE GEOTAB TECHNOLOGYTRACKING
FY2022.
Reforestation: Increase number of trees planted in Resource Use: Begin a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory (following the GHG Protocol and Corporate Standard) with 2022 serving as the base year. Use: Evaluate Geotab and Gridline reporting to improve efficiency through reduction of unproductive idle time. Waste: Establish a tracking program for wood waste streams.
Fuel
Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
ENGAGEMENTCOMMUNITY
Wright Canada Holdings (WCH) supports activities that benefit our employees and add value to the communities where we live and work. Through monetary and in-kind donations such as labor or education, we are able to support various causes and organizations that align with our values. We take pride in building and developing relationships with our employees, clients and Incommunities.2021,$11,350 was contributed in donations, sponsorships and in-kind donations.
In 2021, ArborCare received more than 19,000 calls averaging 2 minutes and 46 seconds per call. Our team has a number of inhouse trainings on items such as phone etiquette, best practices and reviewing calls to continuously improve our processes and conversations with our clients. Industry Memberships & Associations
Every fall, the high school in Mackenzie, British Columbia, has students participate in a day of planting. SRG sponsors the School Ecology Program, the McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest and Wildlife Infometrics’ efforts by donating planting equipment.
Wright Tree Service of Canada was a platinum sponsor at the Professional Vegetation Managers Association’s (PVMA) Spring Conference, a two-day event full of educational sessions focusing on expertise for changing times. Habitat for Humanity ArborCare® partnered up with Foothills Nursery to supply trees and shrubs for a Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta project. Our team helped direct the volunteers to ensure they were planted properly. Varieties included Pyramidal Mountain Ash, Navigator Ornamental Pear, Starlite Ornamental Crabapple, Prairie Spire Green Ash and Wichita Junipers trees, Artic Fire Dogwood, Dwarf European Cranberry, Dwarf Artic Willow, Ivory Halo Dogwood, Dwarf Garland Spirea and Fireball Burning Bush shrubs.
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On June 10th, Spectrum Resource Group (SRG) participated in “Best Day Ever,” a day started by the Western Forestry Contractors’ Association to recognize tree planters across Canada. 414,255 trees were planted between 234 planters.
CAUSESWAS$11,350CONTRIBUTEDTOVARIOUS&ORGANIZATIONS
Best Day Ever
Employees are encouraged to join industry-related organizations and participate as members or on their boards. Our companies are proud supporters of and/or have employees who are board members in the:
- Tree Care Industry Association - Western Forestry Contractors’ Association - Invasive Species Council of BC - Association of BC Forest Professionals - Professional Vegetation Managers Association - Integration Vegetation Management Association of Manitoba/ Saskatchewan - Canadian Nursery Landscape Association - Landscape Alberta
CONTRIBUTIONS & SPONSORSHIPS CUSTOMER REPUTATIONSERVICE
Veterans Association Food Bank of Edmonton and The Veterans Food Bank of Calgary ArborCare is proud to support local Veterans Food Banks in both Edmonton and Calgary, Veterans Association Food Bank of Edmonton and The Veterans Food Bank of Calgary. When customers buy firewood from ArborCare, 10% of sales goes toward these organizations.
PARTNERSHIPS
28 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
Working with WorkBC and the College of New Caledonia, SRG has successfully built a curriculum to help local workers develop the certifications and training required to work in wildfire risk reduction, invasive plant management and forest development roles. Training courses offered include chainsaw certification, first aid training, forest resource road driving certification, invasive species training, S100/ S185 fire suppression, pesticide applicator training and certification, and “in-field” technology training on iPads and GPS.
Wright Tree Service of Canada expanded partnerships with indigenous communities through the Yinka Dene Economic Development to address their mission to build their community of Wet’suwet’en First IndigenousNation.
First Nations & Indigenous Groups
We have now had two intakes for the program and are thrilled to report that in a 10-day period we are able to provide the training and opportunity for employment to potential participants that are actively engaged in finding employment. Ten program graduates began working for Spectrum immediately following graduation from the
In addition, Spectrum has a very active presence in the Mackenzie, British Columbia, region and has partnered with the municipality, the regional college and the provincial government to create a skills-based training program for displaced forestry workers.
community members that we had involved in program delivery last year included three with the Williams Lake First Nations and one with a Métis citizenship. They worked approximately 371 hours. Spectrum Resource Group (SRG) has a partnership with the McLeod Lake Indian Band and work with them closely on silviculture, timber Colleges & Communities
KWADACHA FIRST NATION
SRG is a proud partner with Kwadacha First Nation, providing internship opportunities for students in their community. Through this learning experience, the students can learn and experience career opportunities in forestry. This training also had an invasive plant awareness and training component. Spectrum organized the program and found partners to be part of the program.
development and harvesting activities, and have worked with them in terms of invasive plant awareness and training in the field.
Thisprogram.hasbeen a very successful program to date, and we hope to continue building upon this success while possibly expanding the program in the future. Our world is changing, and our team has begun adapting and finding new and creative ways to bring the resources to our door that will allow us to continue in our positive growth trajectory.
Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement Contribution: Increase opportunities for employees to partake in volunteer efforts to support the communities we live and work in. Partnerships: Increase partnerships with indigenous communities. Youth Interaction: Track and increase opportunities to discuss the forestry and vegetation management industry at high school and college career fairs. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOALS
CLOSING Wright Canada Holdings and our employees strive to live out our values and will continue to improve our sustainable practices to ensure a safe and bright future for our employee-owners. We are committed to a better world for all, by investing in the communities we serve through innovation, integrity and teamwork. We want to ensure that the decisions we make today make a positive impact on our employees, clients, community and the environment.
Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement
An evaluation by EcoPractices®, a sustainability risk management tool from Sustainable Environmental Consultants, a Wright Service Corp. (WSC) subsidiary, in partnership with WSC. This report is intended to showcase the sustainability journey of Wright Canada Holdings Ltd., dedicated to recognizing their responsibility toward their mission, vision and values for their employee owners, partners, clients, and the public. This preliminary Corporate Social Responsibility Report will be further expanded upon in the coming years to comply with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
APPENDIX
32 Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement © 2021 Wright Canada Holdings Ltd.
