Universal Geomatics Solutions Announces Net-Zero Carbon Emissions For 2020 Fleet

May 27, 2021

 

As a capstone to the first year of its Environmental Sustainability Program (ESP), Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. (UGS) is commissioning the planting of 2209 trees by Tree Canada in their National Greening Program to compensate for the emissions of its truck, ATV and snowmobile fleet, from January 1 to December 31, 2020. Canada is one of the world’s leaders when it comes to managing its forests sustainably and has one of the lowest rates of deforestation. UGS is proud to contribute to helping green areas in need of reforestation or afforestation.

UGS engaged the services of GHG Accounting Services Ltd., a firm which provides specialized greenhouse gas accounting, decarbonization and sustainability consulting, to assess the company’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for 2020. The total GHG emissions from UGS operations in 2020 was 448 t CO2e, of which 54% (243 t CO2e) was emitted by its truck, ATV and snowmobile fleet. The company is looking into solutions to reduce the total carbon emissions of its operations, however, when it comes to in ensuring its field crews get safely in and out of the remote sites they work, current vehicle technologies for the fleet are limited. Given the beneficial impact of trees on the environment, UGS determined it was able to reallocate certain overhead expenditures, to be better served at this time, in planting trees to compensate for its 2020 fleet emissions.

Over the past few years, market conditions and the needs of industry have inspired UGS to reimagine the way it does business.  UGS has ramped up its focus on Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) in order to ensure it has a sustainable and thriving business model well into the future. The company’s ESP is a critical element for sustainability at UGS, as the program aims to minimize UGS’ carbon footprint, reduce its overall costs, and reallocate certain overhead expenditures in more impactful ways.

Majority female-owned, UGS is a high-performance geomatics firm, providing client-focused solutions in land surveying, construction support, mapping, and project management to a variety of industries, since 1986.

 

 

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Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. Announces Certification As A Women Business Enterprise

April 13, 2021

 

 

Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. is certified as a Women Business Enterprise by the Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada), Canada’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women.

We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government organizations today and we can add diversity to the supply chain.

 

 

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Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. Announces Commitment to the Progressive Aboriginal Relations Program

February 12, 2021

 

 

 Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. (UGS) is pleased to announce the commitment to the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program.

 Established in 2001, the PAR program includes an online management and reporting tool that supports participating companies’ efforts towards progressive improvement in Aboriginal relations, and a certification program that confirms corporate performance in Aboriginal relations at the bronze, silver or gold level.

 The PAR Program provides a high level of assurance through the independent, third party verification of company reports on measurable outcomes and initiatives in four performance areas: Leadership Actions, Employment, Business Development, and Community Relations (Engagement and Support).

 Greg Boggs, UGS CEO, said, “UGS is privileged to undertake the PAR program with CCAB to improve our company’s commitment to Aboriginal relations.  We believe the time has come for all survey firms in Alberta to become PAR certified and invite fellow companies to join the program.”

 UGS is a high-performance geomatics firm, providing client-focused solutions in land surveying, construction support, mapping, and project management to a variety of industries, since 1986. A majority female-owned business, UGS is purpose-driven and committed to finding solutions to help maximize sustainability for industry at large. With industry-leading program development in Indigenous inclusion, diversity, environmental sustainability, and safety, UGS prioritizes a best-in-class workplace for its entire team and pursues innovative initiatives to enhance the beneficial impact of its operations on all stakeholders.

 

 

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Majority Female-Owned Land Surveying Firm Marks Significant ESG Milestone

January 21, 2021

Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. (UGS) is excited to announce that it has recently become a majority female-owned business, after recent share transactions within its existing shareholder group. This is a significant milestone for Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) at UGS. A purpose-driven company, UGS champions best-in-class initiatives in sustainability for industry. Diversity and inclusion are critical to the company’s ongoing success and UGS is proud that its commitment to equal opportunity is now evident within its ownership structure. “One of the first things I noticed when I started working for Universal, was the level of diversity in the boardroom. This company and its ownership team have impressed me over the years with all that they have managed to accomplish, but this is truly momentous.” – Mandy Lunn, VP Strategic Sustainability & Innovations at Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp.

A landmark year for UGS, the company’s progress over the course of 2020 can be attributed to the dedicated contribution of every employee. From the staff’s unparalleled engagement in environmental sustainability and Indigenous inclusion, to flawless execution of the COVID-19 business continuity plan in transitioning to remote work, the team at UGS has come together to enable the company to thrive.

UGS is a high-performance geomatics firm, providing client-focused solutions in land surveying, construction support, mapping, and project management to a variety of industries, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, since 1986.

 

 

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Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. Officially Launches Environmental Sustainability Program Development

 February 7, 2020

 

 As an official launch to the development of our integrated Environmental Sustainability Program (ESP) today, Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. kicks off the first phase of the process with an Employee Engagement Survey on Environmental Sustainability. This survey will help us to ensure that we develop a program that is most aligned with our company’s culture and values.

 Universal’s ESP initiative is closely aligned with other ongoing work that Universal is undertaking in 2020 to enhance our company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, such as:  continued implementation of an industry leading Indigenous Inclusion Program; focused advancement and honing of a progressive Safety Program; and additional strategies prioritizing an innovative, best-in-class workplace for our entire team.

 We look forward to the results of our Employee Engagement Survey and the important work that will follow over the months to come.

 

 

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Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. Announces Environmental Sustainability Program Development

January 6, 2020

 

Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. Board of Directors has voted in favour of the development of an integrated Environmental Sustainability Program, to begin in January 2020.

The global investment community is becoming increasingly socially conscious in screening investment opportunities, and the impact of this reality on the oil and gas industry has been significant. It is evident that many oil and gas companies are not only enhancing their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, but with the ever-changing landscape of how information is communicated in the world today, these companies are also working to be more transparent and diligent in communicating this to the public. Universal recognizes that the oil and gas companies cannot do this all on their own, and that there is an opportunity for service providers to the industry to increase their support in these endeavours. As such, Universal is committed to do its part in finding solutions to help maximize beneficial outcomes in the industry’s overall ESG performance.

In 2019, Universal began strengthening its ESG by implementing a new Indigenous Inclusion Program, which has now been fully integrated into its operations. Upon yearend review of the company’s current ESG, the team found that another significant opportunity to augment performance is to develop an integrated Environmental Sustainability Program (ESP).

“In 2019, our Indigenous Inclusion Program exceeded all of our expectations. We have been very impressed by the support that we have received from our team, the industry, and our extended network. Now we are excited to develop an Environmental Sustainability Program, which will help to increase our performance substantively. This should not be a competitive realm. When it comes to diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability, we want to ensure that we do our part.” – Jennifer Jackson, President at Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp.

Universal is a high-performing geomatics firm, providing comprehensive land survey, construction support, mapping, and project management services to a variety of industries, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, since 1986.

 

 

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Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. Land Survey Assistant Training at Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation #128 Great Success

September 5, 2019

 

From August 19-23, 2019, UGS hosted a Land Survey Assistant Training Course at Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation #128.  Designed and instructed by UGS personnel, the course is five days of hands-on training in the basic usage of all survey equipment and any other gear that a Land Survey Assistant should know how to use.  Thanks to Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation for helping to make this training pilot a success.  We look forward to future training courses and the development of training for further advancement within the field of land surveying, as part of our employment recruitment and training process.

 

 

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Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. Launches New Indigenous Inclusion Program with KAIROS Blanket Exercise

July 23, 2019

 

One of the pillars of Indigenous inclusion at Universal is Employment & Training, which includes providing employees with cultural awareness and inclusion training.  On July 23, 2019, Universal marked the launch of our new Indigenous Inclusion Program by gathering our office staff in Red Deer to participate in a KAIROS Blanket Exercise, facilitated by Anne Harding/Forum Community Relations Inc. and Elder Doreen Healy, and organized by Annie Korver/Rise Consulting Ltd.  We are so thankful for the moving learning experience that these women provided for us, and look forward to the next time when we will bring our field personnel together for another Blanket Exercise. For more information on the KAIROS Blanket Exercise please visit: www.kairosblanketexercise.org.

 

 

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Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. becomes an Aboriginal Procurement Champion

July 4, 2019

 

As a Business Member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) since 2013, Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp. (UGS) is proud to announce that it has become a CCAB Aboriginal Procurement Champion, supporting both UGS’s and the CCAB’s efforts towards economic reconciliation.

“UGS supports Truth and Reconciliation and being a business that supports Indigenous inclusion in all aspects of our business is integral to our success and those we work with. We value our relationships with Indigenous communities and with the CCAB, and appreciate its leadership when is comes to building beneficial business relationships between Indigenous businesses and the rest of the business community in Canada.” – Greg Boggs, CEO at UGS.

Becoming an Aboriginal Procurement Champion is not only a critical step in the process of revitalizing UGS’s Indigenous Inclusion Program, it is also important in the overall growth of the company. One of the pillars of UGS’s Indigenous Inclusion Program is business development and with this comes a focus on its supply chain. The CCAB’s Aboriginal Procurement Champion program provides UGS with access to the CCAB Aboriginal Procurement Marketplace, a directory of Certified Aboriginal Businesses. Access to the Aboriginal Procurement Marketplace supports the company’s understanding of, and provides enhanced access to, the Indigenous suppliers that it can work with.

“We are thrilled to welcome Universal Geomatics Solutions Corporation to our growing team of Aboriginal Procurement Champions,” says JP Gladu, CEO & President of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. “As a Champion, UGS joins our Supply Change initiative and are committed to increasing opportunities for Aboriginal businesses to participate in their supply chains. Their support and efforts to improve and facilitate procurement opportunities help foster an equitable and sustainable economy across Canada.”

UGS is a high-performing geomatics firm, providing comprehensive land survey, construction support, mapping, and project management services to the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, since 1986.