Former Syncrude head recognized for relationships

The former head of Syncrude Canada has been recognized nationally for his extensive dealings with Aboriginal businesses.
Eric Newell, a 67-year-old Edmonton resident, received this year’s Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations.

This marked the second year that officials from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business have presented the award.
Newell received his award at the CCAB gala, which was held Sept. 27 in Vancouver.

“It’s a big honour,” Newell said. “I’m quite pleased by it.”

Newell though felt he is not the only one who deserves recognition. He believes the entire Syncrude management team as well as all the Aboriginal entrepreneurs he dealt with over the years should also be commended.

From 1989 until his retirement in 2003, Newell was the CEO of Syncrude Canada, the largest producer in the country of synthetic crude oil from oil sands.

In the mid-80s, the company was doing about $3 million a year in business with Aboriginal companies. Newell felt this number could be increased to about $30 million per year by working more closely with Aboriginals.

“Right from the onset the Syncrude leadership was committed to the fact that Aboriginal people should benefit equally,” he said.
Newell and his team were viewed as pioneers in the oil sands industry. Syncrude became the largest industrial employer of Aboriginal people. And today the company does about $140 million in work with Aboriginal businesses.

“I like to tell people Syncrude was an overnight sensation,” Newell said. “But it took 30 years to get there.”

Newell said it was simple business sense that prompted him and Syncrude officials to strengthen their relationship with Aboriginals.

“You don’t do this for philosophical or altruistic purposes,” he said. “It’s for economic reasons.”

Newell said while other companies were bringing in workers from outside the area, Syncrude was employing local Aboriginals.

Angela Bishop, CCAB’s director of program development, says Newell is a deserving recipient.

“He’s a gentleman who really challenged the status quo,” she said. “He saw there was an opportunity to do something and he did it.”

Newell, who has no Aboriginal ancestry, also continues to be heavily involved in Aboriginal education.

In 1997 he founded Careers: The Next Generation. This province-wide program raises awareness for youth about various career opportunities. The program also has an Aboriginal Initiatives segment. Program officials visit every First Nations school, schools in Métis settlements and even urban schools with a high number of Aboriginal students. The students are put through various career workshops and learn about various internships available to them.

“In terms of education he’s been really raising the bar,” Bishop said, adding Newell’s work in this area was another reason which led to him winning his national Aboriginal award.

The inaugural recipient of the award is former Prime Minister Paul Martin.

“He’s a good friend and not a bad guy for a Liberal,” Newell joked. “We talk about this all the time. It’s a passion of mine, combining education and Aboriginal interests. And I do feel like I’m in good company with Paul Martin.”

Newell also served as the chancellor at the University of Alberta from 2004-08 and was on the university’s Board of Governors from 1996 through 2002, the last four of those years serving as chair.

Newell continues to sponsor a number of scholarships at the university and has been instrumental in trying to get a Gathering Place for Aboriginals at the university.

Photo caption: Eric P. Newell sizes up the ribbon shirt he was given at a celebratory lunch on Sept. 24 at the University of Alberta after he was named the 2012 recipient of the Award of Excellence in Aboriginal Relations by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and Sodexo Canada.