Don Thompson is president of The Oil Sands Developers Group (OSDG). His extensive experience with the oil sands industry, in combination with his educational background in forestry, zoology, executive and financial management, has earned him a reputation as a trusted and reliable source to lead and speak on behalf of OSDG. Its mission is to ensure information dissemination to government, key stakeholders and other interested parties about industry perspectives, while bringing forward issues and challenges for the orderly development of Alberta’s oil sands deposits.

In 1979, Thompson joined Syncrude Canada Ltd. becoming corporate secretary and officer in 1998 — a position he held until 2007. Over this period, he was responsible for ensuring the governance of both Syncrude and its housing affiliate, Northward Developments Ltd. Thompson is now focused on Syncrude’s regulatory and external affairs, particularly on responding to the large number of environmental and external relationship challenges facing Syncrude — a position directly related to his work with The Oil Sands Developers Group — and on mentoring the “next generation” of Syncrude expertise.

Setting the Record Straight

Abstract: Canada’s oil sands are a controversial topic and virtually every newsmaker and layperson seems to have an opinion about this 179 billion barrel resource. The oil sands represent 97 per cent of Canada’s remaining oil reserves, but misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the facts are threatening development of a resource that generates significant employment and tax revenue for Canadians.  Join Don Thompson, president of the Oil Sands Developers Group, as he dispels the top ten myths about Canada’s oil sands and presents an alternative perspective on an industry that can play a critical role in North America’s economic recovery.