In today’s world, it seems more important than ever that we come together to effect positive change—that we embrace cooperation over conflict and inclusion over exclusion.
At Teck, creating positive change is also reflected in our core values, notably Integrity and Respect: we are honest, ethical and fair in our words and our actions; and we value diversity and treat everyone with respect.
In this issue of Connect, we are highlighting the positive impact we—individually, collectively, and through the products we produce—are having on the world.
In “Giving Back: Teck Employees Making an Impact” you will read about the volunteer work employees and their families are doing locally and across the world, making a real difference in people’s lives and helping build healthy, vibrant communities.
And when we talk about making the world a better place, people sometimes wonder what role a mining company can play towards building a better future.
Mining has been a driver of human progress since the dawn of civilization; we even describe periods of history and advancement based on what was being mined at the time: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age.
And now people call this the Information Age, and mining has a huge role to play. The digital technology we take for granted—our smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi—all rely on a backbone of metal: data servers with miles of copper for wiring and power transmission, lithium for portable batteries, gold for connectors, and you may not see it, but “the cloud” is really made of metal.
In “Everyday Essential Elements” you will find these and other examples of how the products we produce are fundamental to our modern, sustainable society and to solving some of the world’s most critical challenges.
I recently had the opportunity to chair the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference—two of the 260 participants were Teck employees—and this is a key question that those young leaders were tasked with: how can we work together to tackle some of the greatest challenges facing our society and build a better world. Their experiences are featured in “Leadership Lessons: Looking to Canada’s Future”.
Part of building a better world is making sure our society and workplaces embrace diversity and inclusion. In “A Supportive Workplace for Everyone”, it is encouraging and inspiring to hear of two transgender employees in the Elk Valley who share their stories and how their respective workplaces helped provide an inclusive and supportive environment.
I would like to thank the employees featured in this issue, along with the many more doing work in their communities and beyond. I hope you continue sharing your stories, inspiring others to come together, and building a better future for all of us.
