Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, owns the 5-time Stanley Cup Champion Edmonton Oilers and operates Rogers Place, North America’s premier and most technologically advanced sports and entertainment venue. OEG’s growing staff of over 1,600 full- and part-time employees help to deliver exceptional sports, entertainment and other special event programming to fans and patrons in Canada and the United States. It also owns the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, and the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
Oilers Entertainment Group is dedicated to supporting diversity and inclusion within our organization and is a leader in this area within our larger community of Edmonton and the sports and entertainment industry. OEG is committed to maintaining a vibrant working environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and unique talents and perspectives are valued. Our hiring policies reflect this sentiment. We pride ourselves on having an inclusive culture and hiring employees of diverse backgrounds and abilities. We recognize that diversity makes our business stronger and we work with a variety of local organizations to promote and grow our diverse workforce, including the Bredin Centre for Learning, Bissell Centre, Gateway Association, EmployAbilities, the Pride Centre of Edmonton, the Accessibility Advisory Committee and the University of Alberta On Campus Program.
OEG is also invested in promoting diversity in our community and in the sport of hockey. The Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) participates in the NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone (HIFE) initiative, which is a year-round program that uses the game of hockey – and the League’s global influence – to drive positive social change and foster more inclusive communities. In 2018 and 2019 the Edmonton Oilers hosted Hockey Is For Everyone nights to proudly celebrate diversity and inclusion in hockey and our wider community. This year, the Oilers invited 450 special guests from various local organizations, community groups and non-profits that support diversity and inclusion to come and enjoy the game. These organizations were also recognized with a special on-ice presentation. They included amiskwaciy Academy (an indigenous-based public school) and the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, as well as the Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind, Edmonton Adaptive Sports Association, Pride Tape and the Pride Centre of Edmonton.
This year, as part of HIFE the Edmonton Oilers hosted an Introduction to Hockey session. Thirty participants from the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers were invited to the Downtown Community Arena attached to Rogers Place for the chance to try hockey with Oilers/NHL Alumni members Shawn Belle, Mark Fistric and Rob Brown. For a few participants, it was even their first time on skates. The Edmonton Oilers also invited 80 students from the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers SKY Club to attend a practice viewing to become more familiar with the game. This partnership created a great opportunity to introduce the children to new recreation opportunities and a sport that is so culturally significant in Canada. It is our goal to make the sport of hockey accessible and welcoming to all those who want to play.
Accessibility is also at the heart of OEG operations. Rogers Place design and operation far exceed barrier-free guidelines for the province. This success came through extensive partnership and collaboration with the accessibility community in Edmonton to seek input and take action on suggestions to improve design and operation. OEG has also built accessibility training into our employee onboarding and education programs to ensure continuous commitment and improvement.
The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation also has a long history of supporting charities and community groups that foster diversity and inclusion in our community. This past year the Foundation provided a donation to the Intercultural Child and Family Centre in support of their Oilers Literacy Backpack program, which encourages young children to learn through creativity and hands-on discovery with the support of their families.
The EOCF also provides ongoing support to Inner City High School, one of the Foundation’s legacy projects. This alternative high school is accredited by Alberta Learning and supports Edmonton’s inner- city youth with a stable and consistent path that goes beyond the classroom. The school focuses on offering youth both an academic and arts-based alternative to a high school diploma. Youth are given guidance regarding accommodation, counselling, nutrition and medical care. Its strong sense of community has created a safe haven offering many at-risk youth a solution and promising future. In December 2010, the EOCF purchased the former Native Friendship Centre on 101 St to serve as Inner City High School’s new home. The new facility, spearheaded by the EOCF, accommodates 150 students marking a 125 per cent increase from the previous school building’s capacity. Inner City High School’s goal to help youth achieve their full potential both academically and personally is a perfect complement to the EOCF’s mandate to support programs that focus on health and wellness, education and minor hockey programming for youth. Through this initiative, the EOCF continues to leave a lasting legacy for the City of Edmonton and its downtown core.
Oilers Entertainment Group will continue to celebrate diversity and inclusion in our workplace and in the community, recognizing that diversity makes our company and our community stronger.
