How IREN’s data center supports the Mackenzie community

A closer look at the people and programs shaping a stronger future

Every year, the Mackenzie Community Grants ceremony brings together neighbors, volunteers, and local leaders for an afternoon that feels less like an event and more like a gathering of old friends. The room fills with small moments that stay with you. Familiar faces greeting one another. Stories shared over lunch. A quiet pride that everyone in the room understands.

This year, 17 organizations received funding that will help them continue work that strengthens daily life in Mackenzie, British Columbia. These groups are led by people who show up early, stay late, and care deeply about the place they call home.

For IREN, the leaders of these local programs are our friends and neighbors. In this piece, we highlight two of these organizations to demonstrate how their efforts are fostering stability, connection, and dignity across the community.

St. Peter’s Pantry: A steady hand for families who need it

Walk into St. Peter’s Pantry on a distribution day and you find kindness at work. Volunteers move with gentle purpose, greeting families by name and offering small words of comfort while making sure each person leaves with what they need. Food security takes on a different weight in a rural community. Grocery options are limited. Distance makes small gaps feel bigger. For many families in Mackenzie, St. Peter’s Pantry is the difference between stress and stability. Seniors on fixed incomes rely on consistent access to nutritious food. Parents facing temporary hardship can keep their households steady while they regain their footing.

Pictured: David Shaw (IREN), Heather Miller (IREN), Trudy Tremblay (St. Peter’s Pantry), Charmaine Lavallee (St. Peter’s Pantry), Nicole Dill (IREN), Darylene Canuday (IREN)

Support from IREN’s Community Grants Program helps St. Peter’s Pantry stay reliable all year. It strengthens essential supplies, fills gaps that are hard to meet, and allows the team to scale during moments of higher need. One example many residents remember is the challenge of accessing milk from the pantry. Before St. Peter’s Pantry received grant support in 2022, the ability to provide dairy was often unpredictable. That changed when the Pantry secured funding to make milk consistently accessible, which made a meaningful difference for families with children and for seniors who depend on balanced nutrition.

The Pantry offers more than food. It offers dignity. Neighbors who step inside feel encouraged and cared for, surrounded by people who want them to succeed. Volunteers return week after week because they know how much these simple moments matter. A warm greeting or a brief conversation can lift someone’s day and remind them they are not alone. Mackenzie is stronger because of their steady, compassionate work and the comfort the Pantry provides to families who rely on it.

The Mackenzie Men’s Shed: A place where connection grows through shared work

If you step into the Mackenzie Men’s Shed on a weekday morning, you hear the familiar rhythm of tools, quiet music, and the easy conversation of people who trust and understand each other. It is a simple space with a meaningful purpose.

Pictured: David Shaw (IREN) and Knut Herzog (Mackenzie Men’s Shed)

For many men in rural regions, connection becomes harder as life changes. Retirement, job shifts, and distance can lead to isolation. The Shed gives them a place to belong, build, and contribute. Members work on woodworking, welding, repairs, and service projects that help local organizations and residents.

The practical value is clear, but the deeper impact shows up in the friendships that form and the sense of purpose that grows through shared work. Support from the Community Grants Program is helping the Shed install air filtration and welding systems that will make the workshop safer and more accessible. These upgrades open the door to expanded programming, new training opportunities, and an environment where members of all ages and skill levels can participate comfortably.

"At one of our coffee time meetings, it's not unusual for 20 guys to get together and have 10 different conversations going on,” said Knut Herzog, volunteer at the Shed. “We connect people with the community and life!"

The Shed embodies the practical and generous character of Mackenzie. Community members participate not for recognition but because helping one another is a shared value. The grant strengthens a place where connection, skill building, and service come together naturally.

Many hands shaping a resilient community

These two organizations are part of a much wider landscape of local effort that IREN supports. Schools are expanding hands-on learning and athletic opportunities. Recreation groups are bringing families together. Safety programs are improving training and equipment. Local media and business organizations are investing in technology that supports communication and economic growth.

Each grant helps these groups bring good ideas to life. Together, they create more opportunities for residents to learn, grow, and stay connected.

A shared path forward

The Mackenzie Community Grants Program honors the simple truth that strong communities grow from the dedication of their people. We are thankful to be part of Mackenzie and to stand with those who are shaping its future.

St. Peter’s Pantry and the Mackenzie Men’s Shed demonstrate a true commitment to service. It is steady. It is rooted in community. They are driven by volunteers who act not for recognition but because doing the right thing matters. These organizations reflect the kind of community IREN is proud to be part of, one where kindness is standard and progress is shared. After all, Mackenzie is our home, too—it’s where our colleagues live, work and raise their families. We all have a stake in Mackenzie’s shared prosperity.

IREN operates an 80MW next-generation data center in Mackenzie, where our 25 employees support digital infrastructure purpose-built for power-dense computing applications. At our Mackenzie site, IREN is connecting Northern British Columbia to fast-growing opportunities in the AI economy.

“As the community evolves, IREN will continue to listen, learn, and support the people who make Mackenzie a place defined by heart and possibility,” said Heather Miller, Vice President of People, Culture and Community. “The grants are one small part of that commitment, and each year serves as a reminder of why this partnership matters.”

The success of these organizations is the story worth celebrating, and contributing to their momentum is something we are proud to do.

Pictured: IREN team members and members of the Mackenzie Men’s Shed