The end of 2016 is almost upon us and, as I look back over the last 12 months, it is amazing to consider how far we have come.
So much of our success this year—and every year—has been because of our people. The theme for this issue, People Make It Possible, and the stories we have highlighted from across Teck make it clear that our employees make so many good things possible—for their co-workers, for the communities in which we operate and for our shareholders.
Much of this good work focuses on what matters most—safety, sustainability and productivity. These themes have been tremendously important to Teck during recent years and have helped guide us through one of the most challenging periods in our company’s history.
Safety in this issue takes us to the front line, where our employees often see a better, safer way to work. “Rolling Into Safety” is a great example from Carmen de Andacollo Operations of innovation, ingenuity and collaboration working hand-in-hand to help keep our employees out of the ‘line of fire’.
Examples of the good work being done to ensure our operations are environmentally and socially responsible can be found in the Sustainability section of this issue. These include “Teck’s Harlequin Romance”, which describes our efforts to protect the habitat of the colourful harlequin duck, found near our Cardinal River Operations, and “Protecting Flora and Fauna”, which provides us with a look at some of the vegetation and wildlife native to the Tarapacá Region of northern Chile and the focus of conservation efforts by the team at that operation.
Productivity improvements always come from our people, those who know the work best, how it can be improved and the right people to do it. This is particularly true in “Unified Communications: A Dream Realized”, which chronicles the work done by IS+T’s Collaboration Services to take the complexity out of communicating across Teck sites and offices, making it better, easier and more cost-effective.
Our company’s strength has always been our people. Throughout the many challenges we have faced, our employees have remained focused and determined and, in doing so, have helped keep Teck strong.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Senior Management Team, I would like to thank all employees across Teck for their tremendous efforts throughout this year. I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season, and I look forward to what we will make possible in 2017.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this issue of Connect are forward-looking, including statements about our future growth and production, supply and demand of commodities, prospects for our business and operations, statements that Fort Hills is well positioned for an increase in demand for oil, the statement that we will remain well-positioned and competitive, whichever way the markets move, potential for mine life extension at Pend Oreille.
Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to many factors that will cause actual results to differ materially from the results suggested by the forward-looking statements.
In addition, forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions which, if incorrect or inaccurate, could also cause the results suggested by the forward-looking statements to be materially incorrect.
Additional important information regarding risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could affect forward-looking information is contained in our most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
