Spring 2016 In This Issue: Cell Towers Up and Running in Athabasca Communities • Message from CEO and Board Chair December marked the completion of a $6M project in the Athabasca region that began • How does Athabasca with a donation announcement on a stormy Basin give back to its day in November 2013. communities? On December 21, 2015, SaskTel announced that the new cellular towers serving the • Flyer Electric opens communities of Stony Rapids and Black Lake Second Office were fully operational and residents could in Regina, Expands now enjoy the benefits of SaskTel wireless Team service. Wollaston Lake and Fond du Lac’s towers were operational in September 2015. • News In Brief The extension of wireless cellular service to these Northern Communities was made • West Wind Aviation possible through a partnership between SaskTel, Athabasca Basin Development and Expands Huawei Canada. This partnership is based Saskatchewan on SaskTel’s Community Participation Model, Operations which encourages communities to raise funds to assist in installing cellular infrastructure where it may not otherwise be economically feasible for SaskTel to do so. “SaskTel remains committed to connecting all the residents of this vast province to technology and the opportunities it brings,” said Minister Responsible for SaskTel Jim Reiter. “In addition to this important initiative, with support from the Connecting Canadians Program, SaskTel is also working on extending and increasing broadband internet speeds to an additional 26 Northern communities.” “This is a great day for the people in Stony Cell tower in Black Lake. Photo courtesy of SaskTel. Rapids,” said Mayor Daniel Powder. “We’ve Lake First Nation. “One of the most significant for the Athabasca region,” said Geoff Gay, CEO heard from our neighbors in Wollaston and challenges for our area is accessibility, and of Athabasca Basin Development. “We look for Fond du Lac about how much easier it is to these towers are helping improve connectivity opportunities that provide long lasting benefit communicate in the community and within to the rest of Saskatchewan. Initiatives like for the Athabasca communities, and this one Saskatchewan. To have dependable cellular these serve as an important step in building was such a perfect fit. We are so pleased that service now in our community means so a better future for our residents, and I see this all four towers are now operational, and that much for our residents.” as a significant and vital investment in our the people in the Athabasca region have “This cell tower represents such an important community.” access to increased connectivity and all the benefits that come with that.” investment into our community,” said Rick “Huawei is extremely proud of our long- Robillard, Chief of Black Lake First Nation. term partnership with SaskTel, and of our A video is currently being produced by “The increased ability to communicate opens partnership with the Athabasca Basin Bamboo Shoots and SaskTel that will help so much more potential for our business Development Corporation, to work together show the tremendous impact these towers climate and improves the lives and safety to make this new service a reality,” said Sean are having on the Athabasca communities. of our residents. I am very excited that these Yang, President Huawei Canada. “Wireless Stay tuned to ABD’s social media channels towers are operational in Black Lake!” broadband and mobile services will bring for future updates. The total cost of this project was $6 million both economic and social benefit to the with Athabasca Basin Development residents of Stony Rapids and Black Lake, Corporation providing $249,000 and and reinforces the critical importance Huawei contributing $385,000 in funding of ensuring all Canadians, regardless of and telecommunications equipment. location, have access to leading-edge telecommunications services.” “I am very happy to see this improvement in cellular service for the members of our “I’d like to thank SaskTel and Huawei Canada community,” said Chief Bart Tsannie of Hatchet for their partnership in this exciting initiative Message from the CEO and Board Chair While we do continue to expect 2016 to be a weaker shareholder communities, we would not be where year in terms of financial performance, we see we are today. “Building a Future Through Investment” great positive momentum in our investments. The is accomplished through the pillars of building management teams are looking at new ideas, new wealth for the communities, donations, community opportunities, new directions, and most importantly, distributions, building a reputation, and building looking ahead, planning for the future, and continuing capacity. We have featured several stories in this to grow their companies. We have featured two stories newsletter about ways we give back to the Athabasca of growth in this newsletter – Flyer Electric and West communities, because this remains a key priority for Wind Aviation are both exploring new opportunities our company, as it has been since ABD’s formation back in different ways. It is in the more difficult economic in 2002. times that the strength of our investments’ Geoff Gay, CEO and Anne Robillard, Board Chair Operational excellence, in ABD as well as our management teams really show. investments, allows us to be optimistic during difficult We’ve been here before. Canada’s reliance on natural It is also in the more difficult economic times when economic times. We know that a focus on operational resources leads to an economy that moves up and down. remaining true to our strategic priorities becomes execution will allow ABD and our companies to continue As most of our investments service the natural resources critically important. Continuing our strategies of to excel and make a positive impact on the Athabasca industry, we have weathered the storms of downturns reinvesting profits and diversification will be the communities. Our success up until now has allowed in the past. We have learned from past experience that key to ensure Athabasca Basin Development grows us to make donations such as the cell tower feasible. economic downturns can also create opportunity. and remains strong in any economic condition, and While this will not be a record year for us, we can see Difficult economic conditions force a company to take ultimately, build reliable wealth for the Athabasca opportunities and we are optimistic about the future. region. We continue to be actively seeking investment a good, hard look at itself, and become a bit more After all, we’ve been here before. With the continued opportunities, and we are open to considering entrepreneurial. Often, the best ideas for new directions support of our shareholders, employees, industry, and companies both in and outside the resource sector. come during slow times. When it’s busy, you tend to partners, we will continue to see success and make an simply focus on operating the business and serving your Remembering our roots and being true to the original impact moving into the future. customers instead of strategic direction. vision of the community leaders continues to be important to us; without the unity from our How does Athabasca Basin give back to its communities? “Building a Future Through Investment” is accomplished “southern” business community and to the government, Donations through the pillars of building wealth for the Athabasca and helps us to find good investment opportunities to As part of our donations strategy, we primarily look for communities, donations, community distributions, continue growing the company. opportunities that will benefit the entire Athabasca building a reputation, and building capacity. Some region. While we do make donations in other parts of Building Capacity and Economic Development of these are financial benefits – such as donations, Saskatchewan, the vast majority of our donations go One very crucial impact of our company’s growth is on distributions, and building wealth – while others have towards initiatives in the North. Here are some recent employment opportunities. All of our investments are a more intangible value – such as building a reputation. highlights from our donations program: committed to hiring Athabasca residents and Aboriginal The key to making all benefits possible is in building people wherever possible, and many have invested in • Student Christmas Dinner wealth for the communities; without this foundation, training programs that provide transferable skills to help • Forest Fire Evacuation Relief the other pillars would not be possible. employees obtain meaningful employment beyond our • 2015 Christmas in the North Building Wealth companies. Through the years, our investments have • Helping Develop a New Task Force By continuing to build wealth, we remain in a position been a transitional employer for many. We see this as a • Stony Rapids and Fond du Lac Community Garden to pay reliable dividends that can be leveraged by the success and a win-win scenario for everyone. Athabasca communities to finance other larger projects. We’ve got two upcoming donation Working with local subcontractors is another priority Community Distributions for Athabasca Basin Development and its investments. announcements coming soon Since 2007, we have paid a total of $3.32M in community The ABD Board of Directors is comprised 100% of – stay tuned to our social media distributions. As we move into the future, the ability to representatives from the Athabasca communities. increase