Hibernia contributes $840,000 to Manuels River for Educational Programming

  • Programming offers students a unique outdoor learning experience
  • Complements current science curriculum

Conception Bay South, NL, March 4, 2014. The Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) is contributing $840,000 to support educational programs at the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre. The funding will be used to design and deliver four years of science lessons for elementary, intermediate and high school students.

“The programming will provide students with experiential learning opportunities in earth’s natural laboratory – the great outdoors,” said Shannon Harding, education manager at the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre. “It will reinforce classroom teaching.”

“The hands‐on approach at the centre is exciting for students,” says Jamie Long, president of HMDC. “We hope it will encourage more young people to enroll in science and engineering classes.”

“The new Centre will facilitate easy access to one of nature’s greatest classrooms and provide students with unique outdoor learning opportunities,” said Todd Woodland, program development specialist at the Newfoundland and Labrador Dept. of Education. “The programming will have particular relevance for science teachers and students in grades 4, 7 and 8, as well as high school science.”

Half the province’s students live close enough to take a day trip to Manuels River. The Hibernia contribution also allows for subsidies to schools for transportation and teacher expenses.

HMDC is a strong supporter of science education and provides funding to the Johnson GEO CENTRE, Let’s Talk Science and Memorial University. Manuels River will coordinate with these organizations to support their training programs.

The Manuels River Hibernia interpretation Centre features the internationally renowned trilobite fossils found along the Manuels River and highlights the outstanding and unusual ancient geological features of the area. The Centre’s education programs cover various aspects of the environment – geology, geomorphology, biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental issues.



From left: Steve Tessier, Deputy Mayor of CBS; Ken McDonald, Mayor of CBS; Nancy Bennett, Chair of Manuels River Natural Heritage Society (MRNHS); Jamie Long, HMDC President; Dr. Jeremy Hall, Chair of Education and Exhibits, MRNHS and Shannon Harding, Education Manager, MRHI Centre



About Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd.

Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) is the operator of the Hibernia field which began petroleum production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador in November 1997. HMDC is owned jointly by ExxonMobil Canada (33.125%), Chevron Canada Resources (26.875%), Suncor Energy (20%), Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation (8.5%), Murphy Oil (6.5%) and Statoil Canada Ltd. (5%).