XCG Consulting Limited has been helping our clients solve environmental issues since 1990 and we strongly believe in giving back and supporting the communities we serve.
The year 2020 was a challenging year for many in our communities. Though some of the community events we typically take part in were cancelled for the year, we still continued to give back.
We Gave Blood – Partners for Life Memorial Blood Donor Pledge and Engineering Challenge
Many XCG staff, family, and friends have registered to have each of their blood donations throughout the year count towards our pledge of 40 donations per year in memory of our colleague Scott Ferguson. In 2020 we surpassed our pledge with a total of 44 units donated. If you are interested in having your donation count toward the memorial pledge, you can register by adding the partnership ID INME762471 on your www.blood.ca account.
Each year the Canadian Blood Services challenges all Engineering, Planning, & Consulting Companies in Greater KW & Guelph Area to see who can get the most blood donation points in January & February. XCG participated in the 7th Annual challenge in 2020 and came in third place, with a total of 12 points that equated into having 48% of our staff represented.
XCG will be participating again in 2021 and encourages everyone within the region to give a little and help us save lives. Please help us with the challenge in January and February so we can win bragging rights for being the regions' #1 Life Saving Engineers! For more information on how your donation can be counted towards XCG’s total, please contact one of our staff. For details and to give at any time of year, visit Canadian Blood Services at www.blood.ca .
We Supported United Way
Several employees in the Kingston and Kitchener office support United Way through payroll deduction contributions throughout the year. Our Kingston office has been recognized for their contributions by the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington the past several years at a volunteer appreciation luncheon (which did not occur this year due to the pandemic). Awards for 2020 have not been announced yet, but for 2019 our Kingston office was the recipient of the Platinum Participation Award and the Spirit Participation Award, a testament to our hard work and leadership. For a full list of 2019 winners, and information on how you can get involved, visit https://www.unitedwaykfla.ca/2019-workplace-volunteer-award-winners/.
We Bowled to Support Youth Programs in Waterloo Region
On March 2nd, 2020 (just before we were placed into ‘lockdown’ in Ontario due to COVID-19) staff from our Kitchener office hit the lanes to support local youth in our community as we participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region – Bowl for Kids Sake. XCG raised $890 for the event.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region (BBBSWR) facilitates life-changing relationships that empower children and youth. While there are a lot of successes to celebrate, over 300 children are waiting to access BBBSWR’s services in our community alone. Donations to Bowl for Kids’ Sake, directly help more children access these crucial mentoring programs and are contributing to the healthy development of children in the Waterloo Region. For more information about the BBBSWR Bowl for Kids’ Sake campaign, visit: https://waterloo.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/event/bowl-for-kids-sake/.
We Supported Earth Rangers
Earth Rangers is a kids’ conservation organization dedicated to educating children and their families about biodiversity, inspiring them to adopt sustainable behaviours, and empowering them to become directly involved in protecting animals and their habitats.
In August 2020 XCG volunteered and participated in habitat restoration activities at the Earth Rangers Campus in Vaughan during ONEIA’s Emerging Leaders Network Community Volunteer Day.
For more information about Earth Rangers, visit their website: https://www.earthrangers.com/.
We Supported Mental Health Initiatives
XCG supported a 200-mile charity run in the Huron Natural Area, which is conveniently located across the street from our Kitchener office. Clay Williams (Canal Pursuit for Mental Health) was raising funds for Mood Disorders Society of Canada during his “Three Days in the Park” at the beginning of October 2020. Through his various runs in 2020, Canal Pursuit reached their fundraising goal of $15,000. To donate to the 2021 fundraising campaign, visit https://mdsc.akaraisin.com/ui/DefeatDepression2021/g/25557
Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) is a national non-profit charity which works collaboratively with health, research, sector, and government partners so that these organizations keep people with mental illness at the forefront of their activities. MDSC seeks to improve access to services, more research, better programs, and government policies that have our interests in focus. For more information visit their website to learn more: mdsc.ca.
We Supported Frontline Workers
XCG supported the FUNDS 4 THOUGHT – A GRAND LOCAL MUSIC NIGHT, through the Cambridge North Dumfries Community Foundation (CNDCF). The event raised funds for the CNDCF and included providing fire department first responders with a boxed meal and access to the concert stream. XCG was proud to sponsor the event for Fire Hall #7 (Huron), located just around the corner from our Kitchener office. For more information on the CNDCF please visit www.cndfoundation.org.
We Supported Local
Like everything else in 2020, our holiday celebrations looked a bit different. As an employee-owned consulting firm, XCG is well aware of how important it is to support small businesses and local vendors during these times. In lieu of a party this year, our Kitchener staff were provided with gift baskets full of goodies from local vendors. XCG was proud to support local. We would like to share our list of the local vendors we included, and encourage everyone to try: -Baden Coffee Company -Junction 56 Distillery -Lancaster Smokehouse -Oak Manor Organic -Play-A-Latte Cafe -Reids Chocolates Cambridge -Schmidt Family Syrup -SweeTs by Too Nice to Slice (New Hamburg) -Trius Winery -Wilhelm Rustic Design -Willibald Farm Distillery & Brewery -Vincenzo's Waterloo -Zehrs Kitchener
To learn more about XCG and our community involvement, please visit our website: https://www.xcg.com/community-and-charity. We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2021 from the entire XCG Consulting Team.