K+S Potash Canada Supports COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – K+S Potash Canada GP (KSPC) announced today that it is partnering with the Food Banks of Saskatchewan by matching every donation made to the Food Banks of Saskatchewan: COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund from April 27 – May 3 up to $50,000.

“KSPC is proud to support the Food Banks of Saskatchewan which is helping feed those in need during this very difficult time,” said Maeghan Dubois, Vice President, Communications, Americas. “Our potash helps ensure food security around the world. It only seems natural that, during these unprecedented times, KSPC supports the food bank that provides much needed food security for our local communities.”

Food Banks of Saskatchewan’s Executive Director Laurie O’Connor states, “Food banks are stepping up to tackle a variety of extreme challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. All sorts of folks are finding themselves in unchartered territory, and food banks are there to help people make it through a very trying time. There is no crystal ball to tell us what the future will look like in Saskatchewan, but we do know that we will need additional resources to respond. And so on behalf of our members, I would like to thank K+S Potash Canada for recognizing the importance of Saskatchewan’s food banks and the 30,000 people served in rural and urban communities each month. This generous donation will be well-utilized by Saskatchewan’s food banks.”

Donations to the Food Banks of Saskatchewan can be made at www.skfoodbanks.ca.

KSPC is also enabling employees to give back to the community during this time. In addition to the Food Bank donation, KSPC is providing each employee $300 to donate to the organization of their choice. This initiative is an adjustment to the regular Volunteer+ program offered to employees which combines 8 hours of paid volunteer time with a donation by the company. For the next four weeks, KSPC has waived the volunteer time requirement and is allowing employees to access the dollars if they wish to give to an organization that is providing COVID-19 relief services.

Additionally, KSPC is continuing to temporarily accelerate the payment of invoices to its small, Saskatchewan vendors and suppliers. KSPC supports many small, locally-based businesses including some Indigenous-owned companies in and around the Treaty 4 Territory where the Bethune mine is located. Recognizing that the economic fallout of COVID-19 can hurt small, local businesses, KSPC made changes to help ease the cash-flow burden.

The company employs over four hundred people between its mine near Bethune, its headquarters in Saskatoon, and a small logistics office in Port Moody, BC.

KSPC will also be making a $5,000 donation to SHARE Family & Community Services Food Bank in Port Moody, BC, to support COVID-19 relief efforts.

“During this pandemic, it has become very apparent that we are reliant on each other to keep our communities strong and safe. KSPC is committed to doing its part by donating to the local food banks, expediting payments to small, local companies, and by enabling our employees to give back as well,” said Sam Farris, President and General Manager, Operations, K+S Potash Canada. “We’re proud to be part of such a great mining community in the province who are all stepping up to do their part. We’re in this together.”