Alstom Foundation donation to Bent Arrow supports Equipped to Work

Alstom Foundation donation funding is being directed to Edmonton-based Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society to support the Equipped to Work project, an employment readiness initiative for Indigenous people newly arrived in the city, according to Alstom.

In addition, the program focuses in particular on Indigenous youth and women facing multiple barriers to employment.

“Alstom is committed to the communities where its employees and customers live and work; and is particularly dedicated to investing in projects that promote social and economic reconciliation.”

Olivier Marcil  Vice-President Public Affairs and Communications, Alstom Canada

Also, Alstom announced the donation on 25 February 2026. The company described the Equipped to Work project as a community-focused effort that helps participants get ready to enter the urban workforce. The program supports participants in attaining professional certifications.

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It also provides access to practical resources that can stand between candidates and employment, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and monthly transit passes, as outlined on the Alstom Foundation project page. Alstom said the project is intended to strengthen employability while helping participants become engaged, self-sufficient members of Edmonton’s urban workforce.

Equipped to Work project Edmonton: what the program provides

Alstom said the employment readiness initiative is built around practical steps that support workforce integration. For example, participants can work toward professional certifications and connect with resources needed to start work safely and consistently, including PPE and monthly transit passes. The stated goal is to improve employability while supporting participants in becoming fully engaged and self-sufficient members of Edmonton’s urban workforce.

“Alstom is committed to the communities where its employees and customers live and work; and is particularly dedicated to investing in projects that promote social and economic reconciliation. The Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society project resonated with us especially because of its goal of removing barriers to employment for Indigenous people in Edmonton, a city we care about and in which we are deeply invested,” says Olivier Marcil, Vice-President Public Affairs and Communications, Alstom Canada.

Bent Arrow said the project fits with its broader work connecting Indigenous job seekers with culturally relevant supports that reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors. “The Equipped to Work project aligns closely with our existing mission to connect Indigenous job seekers with the culturally relevant resources to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors. Specifically, it strengthens opportunities for Indigenous people to engage in skill development and workforce integration, reducing barriers to mobility in the city, thus paving the way for long-term stability and autonomy,” adds Murray Knutson, Deputy Executive Director, Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society.

EDC donation and Alstom Canada Indigenous reconciliation commitment

Meanwhile, Alstom also said it has promoted the work of the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society within its networks, which led Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide a donation to the organization in late 2025. The company described EDC as committed to advancing reconciliation and supporting Indigenous communities across Canada through partnerships and community investment, and said EDC’s donation reflects shared values in supporting Indigenous youth, families, and community-driven healing.

At the same time, Alstom said it is a partner of EDC’s under the Crown corporation’s Global Corporate Partnerships Program and works with EDC on outcomes including incremental investment in Canada and new supply chain opportunities for Canadian companies.

Separately, Alstom tied the donation to a statement it made on September 29, 2025, when Alstom Canada announced its commitment to Indigenous Peoples in advance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The company said it intends to strengthen relationships with Indigenous businesses, create opportunities for them to join its Canadian supply chain, and invest in community projects that support social and economic reconciliation.

Valley Line Southeast LRT Edmonton and Alstom’s Alberta role

Alstom highlighted its growing presence in Alberta through the delivery, operation and maintenance of Edmonton’s Valley Line Southeast LRT, which opened for service in 2023. The company said it played a role in the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of 26 light rail vehicles, as well as signalling, communications, power supply and distribution, the overhead catenary system, related depot equipment, and system integration.

In addition, Alstom said it also participates in the operation and maintenance of the system until 2050, as noted in Alstom’s Valley Line Southeast launch statement for Edmonton (Alstom).

In outlining its broader approach, Alstom Canada said it acknowledges its operations take place on Indigenous territories and stated its commitment to honouring the historical, cultural, and spiritual connections Indigenous Peoples maintain with these lands. The company said it is grounded in the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and aims to build equitable partnerships based on dialogue, recognition, and co-development, while embracing the principles of the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Alstom also reiterated that the Alstom Foundation, established in November 2007, supports projects intended to improve living conditions and economic prospects for communities located near Alstom facilities and sites worldwide. The company said projects are conceived, presented and supported by Alstom employees working with expert partners, and are carried out in strong partnership with local or global NGOs with a proven ability to implement projects on the ground.

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