2024 Impact Awards winner: Gas King Oil Co Ltd.

In 1985, Don Morris founded Gas King in Lethbridge, Alta., knowing that he had to differentiate his company from all others in a fiercely competitive business. 

He believed he could stand out from his competitors by focusing on giving to local charitable organizations. Don Morris passed away in 1992. 

To honour his commitment to the communities that helped his company become successful, the Don Morris Gas King Memorial Fund was established. 

It began simply, with coin boxes collecting spare change from customers with funds going to various charities. 

Every three months the money is collected and donated to the local community foundations where its sites are in southern Alberta. 

Aside from donations at checkouts, Gas King has installed AIR-Serv’s Air for Charity tire inflators at numerous locations over the last two years. The company matches all funds donated to the memorial fund. 

“We were thrilled to keep the founder’s memory alive,” says company president Brent Morris, who is Don’s son. “Everyone who comes to the checkouts sees his smiling face. The fact that our customers open their wallets and continue to donate change in our name says a lot about what we are doing and how we are impacting the communities we serve.”