Environmental Intersections of Arts and Conservation

Calgarians are passionate about conservation and our natural spaces. You can see it in the enthusiasm for learning about the world around us – just look at the success of Arts Commons Presents: National Geographic Live! For ten years, ConocoPhillips Canada has been supporting National Geographic Live, which is a key part of Arts Commons Presents programming.

Headquartered in Calgary, ConocoPhillips Canada can trace its roots back over 110 years, from the earliest discoveries of oil in our province. Over the years, the company has shown support for many programs and initiatives that support our communities.

“We strongly believe that responsible resource development and conservation can co-exist and we are proud to support environmental stewardship programs in the communities near our operations,” says Chris Malkin, Vice President of Asset Development and Commercial at ConocoPhillips Canada. “As well, we value and understand the importance of education which is why we sponsor a wide variety of educational initiatives that align with our values: Safety, People, Integrity, Responsibility, Innovation and Teamwork.”

For the past decade, ConocoPhillips Canada’s support for National Geographic Live has made it possible for thousands of students to fill the Jack Singer Concert Hall to be inspired by the science, exploration, and discovery of these stewards of the natural world. Not only is this a unique teaching tool, but it also offers the opportunity for the scientists and explorers of tomorrow to learn directly from National Geographic Explorers.

“Following the show, conversations continue over lunch, on our outside walk and on the train back to school,” says a teacher from Robert Thirsk High School in Calgary, whose students participated in National Geographic Live. “Students were asking questions and commenting on what they thought was cool and interesting. The wonder and awe that these programs always generate in students is awesome.”

At a time when we cannot gather due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ConocoPhillips Canada’s support has made it possible to share these same learning moments virtually in classrooms.

Along with their support of the environment, education, and the arts, they also prioritize programs that support restoration and conservation. Beyond their longstanding support for National Geographic Live, ConocoPhillips Canada has supported the Calgary Zoo since 1989. You may recognize one of the flagship programs that they sponsor: the Whooping Crane Recovery Program.

“The Whooping Crane Recovery Program is essential for the health of ecosystems across North America. ConocoPhillips Canada’s support has allowed the zoo to breed and release whooping cranes across their traditional range and has also supported our population ecologists as they seek to understand the major problems facing this iconic species,” says Kimberly E. Greenlaw, Manager, Sponsorship at the Calgary Zoo.

If you’ve ever visited the Calgary Zoo, you’ll likely remember the Biofacts that are on display in the summer months on grounds, yet another initiative sponsored by ConocoPhillips Canada. The Biofacts collection allows the zoo to procure replica and real biological artifacts which guests then get to interact with, creating a lasting and impactful connection with the natural world.

“The support of ConocoPhillips Canada has ensured the Calgary Zoo can take bold strides forward, both to save wild spaces and to educate people about the importance of the natural world,” says Kimberly.

Through their longstanding support of National Geographic Live, the Calgary Zoo, and more sponsorship initiatives across Canada, ConocoPhillips Canada has helped to inspire and foster a love for our environment and the animals that live within it.

If you’d like to learn more about the environmental and educationally minded programs that ConocoPhillips Canada supports, please visit their website.

If you have yet to experience a presentation of National Geographic Live Virtual, you haven’t missed your chance! Join us for Diva Amon and David Gruber: Mysterious Seas on June 7, 2021. Register for free now!